The first modu­lar research stati­on in the world which moves by itself

The Halley VI research stati­on designed by the Bri­tish Hugh Brou­gh­ton Archi­tects stu­dio was built by ACE­OM. This excep­ti­o­nal modu­lar object is situa­ted on the Brunt Ice Shelf in Antarcti­ca. The Halley VI stati­on con­sists of eight rai­sed modu­les res­ting on exten­da­ble hyd­rau­lic legs. The legs are equip­ped with giant skis for adap­tati­on to vari­ous snow and ice levels and for trans­port to a dif­fe­rent location. 

The stati­on is con­struc­ted as a cara­van per­pen­dicu­lar to the pre­vai­ling wind directi­on. The modu­les are inter­con­nec­ted by short fle­xi­ble corri­dors. The blue modu­les are used for research acti­vi­ties and for resi­den­tial pur­po­ses whi­le the red cen­t­ral modu­le is designed as a social spa­ce with a kit­chen and a pla­ce for rest and recre­ati­on. The inte­ri­ors are equip­ped with hyd­ro­po­nic plants and are pain­ted and fur­nished in varied colour sha­des to help the crew sur­vi­ve bet­ter in the polar win­ter darkness. 

Can you ima­gi­ne a structu­re like this being built using any­thing other than a modu­lar system?

Archi­tec­tes design: Hugh Brou­gh­ton Architects

Rea­li­zati­on: AECOM