Architects are tasked with creating buildings for all manner of challenging settings. For these to be successful they need to satisfy the needs of the inhabitants effectively, catering for their safety and allowing them to achieve their goals. The setting can have a huge impact on various aspects of the design, from the shape to the materials that are used and the layout. Imagine how tricky it is then to create buildings for polar research bases.

Antarctica has a surprising architectural history. It was the last continent that humans stayed overnight on. The very first building was built in 1899; a pine hut with a seal skin roof held weighted down by coal. It is still standing to this day, making it the only continent where the first human dwelling is still there.

There are now 40 year round research stations in Antarctica and an additional 60 seasonal ones. The architecture of these structures has advanced a great deal; no more need for seal skins. Some of them feature really cutting edge designs, particularly in terms of their green, eco-friendly features.

The summer-only Princess Elisabeth Station stands out in this regard. It is kept warm by energy from the sun as well as the heat produced by the occupants and electrical appliances used inside. The walls are 50cm thick, featuring nine layers of materials. This includes aluminium cladding, paper, wool felt, and even polystyrene. The end result is an internal temperature that is stable at 20 degrees Celsius whilst it is around minus 50 outside. The base is the only zero emission structure in Antarctica.

The architecture in Antarctica is innovative and provides a lot of inspiration for architects based all around the world. Although the location does provide long hours of sunlight in the summer, meaning that it is easier to generate energy, there are dangerously low temperatures to contend with. The perfect balance can be struck.

At Coffey Architects we always look at the designs of buildings that are situated in harsh environments. They provide great inspiration and help us to consider the various strategies that can be used for the buildings we design. It is this commitment to our craft that helps us to remain a great choice for people wanting to work with the best architect London has.