Designing buildings for scientists in Antarctica

Students of Department of Architecture, Faculty of Fine Arts and Design, Izmir University of Economics (IUE) designed buildings for scientists conducting research in the South Pole. Students accumulated background information related to Antarctica’s geography, weather, year-round temperature extremes, logistics and sustainability.

Buildings that will meet the needs of scientists doing research in Antarctica (South Polar Region) have been designed at Izmir University of Economics. The buildings, which will find solutions to basic accommodation problems of researchers, are designed to resist harsh weather and ground conditions, allow growing food, and are logistically advantageous. Second year architecture students Hilal Kaleli, Ecem Turnagöl, and Sevay Yanık modelled their designs, inspired by natural things, via three-dimensional printers. Kaleli stated that she was inspired by polygala vulgaris, known as the common milkwort, in her design. She said, “There is an external construction that enclose the buildings I design and allow them to be combined with insulation and other buildings. This allows research base to expand to meet the future needs.” Turnagöl said, “I was inspired by albatrosses. They spend a great majority of their lives on water.  I designed a structure that could float by considering the breaking of icebergs in South Pole. My design also allows using seawater through special filtering system.” Yanık, who got inspired by the fur of polar bears, designed a building that is resistant to snow piles and does not stick snow, said, “Smaller rooms and labs are attached to the center of the buildings I designed. This way, it can expand to meet new demands.”

Social Needs and Sustainability is Important

Kaleli pointed that, in addition to meeting the basic needs, it was important to meet the socialization needs of the people there. “A research base with labs and places to sleep is not inspiring scientists for efficient studies. Therefore, with the increasing number of scientists, places where they can interact with each other becomes a necessity,” said Kaleli. While Turnagöl stated that she would use renewable, sustainable energy systems to make the best of the limited resources in Antarctica, Yanık said, “Food that will be consumed by researchers living in these buildings will be grown in special areas. So, the need to carry food to the research base all the time will be minimized. These buildings will ensure the continuity of studies in harsh conditions when transportation is interrupted.”