Architecturally, it’s a challenge.
Design a new Antarctic research base that is self-sufficient, environmentally friendly, energy efficient, transportable, aerodynamic and can withstand temperatures of –30°C on a moving ice shelf.
But four former University of Queensland tutors and lecturers, and one recent graduate, took up the challenge to win a global competition to design the new $55 million base.
The Royal Institute of British Architects and Antarctic research group, the British Antarctic Survey, are running the competition to replace the 15-year-old Antarctic base, Halley V Research Station.
Architects Bud Brannigan, Ben Gepp, Marco Giaroli, Craig Ferguson, graduate Nadia Sugden and landscape and urban designer Alan Grant, have teamed up with London architects to be one of six finalists out of 86 entrants.
Mr Brannigan, the director of Bud Brannigan Architects, said their design had to be portable to allow the base to be moved every two to five years.
The design allows the base to be taken apart and reassembled but previous Antarctic bases were either dragged to new spots or left to be buried under snow.
The group hands over a conceptual scheme to competition judges in London tomorrow [Friday, October 15] with eight presentation panels, a 50-page report outlining how the design will work and a model of the base.
Being buried by snow is an ongoing problem for the current base which comprises four main buildings on legs which can be jacked up.
Its summer accommodation building and garage are built on skis and the current power cable is 26 metres under snow.
If shortlisted, the team plans to use UQ’s high-speed wind test tunnels, lightweight materials research and geography and planning experts to create detailed designs.
Mr Brannigan said he had spoken to UQ’s Executive Dean of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Architecture Professor Michael Keniger about a partnership with UQ.
The field will be narrowed to three finalists, before a winner is announced.
Mr Brannigan said his team had the edge over other designs because of their consideration of Antarctic conditions such as snow drift, their light-weight structures and conceptual planning.
Media: contact Bud Brannigan (phone: 07 3368 3105, 0419 667 093, email: bbarch@eis.net.au) or Miguel Holland at UQ Communications (phone: 3365 2619, email: m.holland@uq.edu.au)
