MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

BAS station on thick floating ice

A competition to design an Antarctic research station, intended to be built on a 150 metre thick floating ice shelf and capable of being moved, is now in the final stages.

British Antarctic Survey (BAS) launched the competition with the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) in June 2004 in order to find a design for the new BAS research station at Halley.

When first launched, over 80 designers expressed an interest in the project. From those, six were chosen to submit concept ideas and then three were commissioned by BAS to develop their concepts.

A spokesperson for BAS said, "The Jury Panel and technical advisory team have a difficult choice to select just one from three stunning solutions." The most important consideration with any of the designs will be its ability to, "...withstand Antarctica's extreme environment.

"Each scheme is elevated above the ice to avoid burial by snow; and is capable of being relocated inland periodically as the ice shelf flows towards the sea." The winner of the competition will be announced at the Royal Institute of British Architects in London on Tuesday July 19.

The spokesperson added, "In addition to the huge engineering and technical challenges posed by building on a floating ice shelf, each team has demonstrated their creative and aesthetic expertise to design a stimulating living and working environment that is safe, comfortable and sensitive to BAS requirements for energy efficiency and protection of Antarctica's pristine environment." (PN).-