Halley VI in action (via Hugh Burghton Architects & British Antarctic Survey)
February 5th, 2013 marked the grand opening of the newly designed Halley VI Antarctic research station. For years, scientists that chose to endure year-long research exploits in the Antarctic struggled to stay sane while managing to fend off the onslaught of snow, moving ice, and frigid temperatures wreaking havoc to their home base. Now, an ingenious approach to Halley’s construction by the Hugh Broughton Architects has been built to extend the research facility’s life span while keeping the 50 or so scientists inside productive, cozy, and entertained.
The new Halley VI research station is reminiscent of a caravan of Walkers from the Star Wars movie franchise. Though the station can’t walk, each of the station’s 8 interconnected modules is equipped with 4 retractable hydraulic legs with giant skis fitted as shoes. In order to overcome the Antarctic ice, which piles up at a rate of three feet per year, the legs are placed above three feet of snow and retract upward over the consecutive year. The skis allow the entire research station to be pulled along the ice with the help of a bulldozer - this was a crucial part of the design since the melting ice shelf flows toward the ocean at a quarter mile-per-year. The station is also oriented perpendicular to the direction of the wind, allowing the howling Antarctic breezes to drive snow away from its base.
Setting up in the evening (via Hugh Burghton Architects & British Antarctic Survey)
Seven of the modules are painted blue, while a red module rests as a common area near the center of the research convoy. All modules are constructed of glass-reinforced plastic, to keep -60-degree weather outside, and linked together by flexible corridors.
The red module is also one of the key components of the design. The platform serves as a social space for scientists to hang out and relax, consoling each other from the harsh winter blues. Battling the sub-zero temperatures, 100+ mph winds, and permanent darkness can cause scientists to experience “winter-over syndrome” - a depression and stress-filled state caused by the extreme environment. The remedy? A hydroponic salad garden for healthy eats and garden hobbyists, a climbing wall for an exciting workout, and Lebanese cedar lined walls for its pleasant scent. The architects also worked with color psychologists to design a shades for bedside lamps that simulate the rising sun.
(Left) Red module concept (Right) Inside picture of final design (via Hugh Burghton Architects & British Antarctic Survey)
In addition to the common space, the research station also accommodates for air traffic controls, an operating theater, and a power plant. The renovation of the Halley VI research was a masterfully crafted feat that is now set for its life in the lonely and cold Antarctic. It is now in the hands of the many brave scientists that dare to weather the harsh environment and make use of its state-of-the-art construction. Though, it does sound cozy in there, it shouldn’t be all that bad.
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