The Lighthouse

Commissioned by the British Council and curated by the Arts Catalyst, Ice Lab: New Architecture and Science in Antarctica is a new international touring exhibition that will illustrate how innovative contemporary architecture is enabling scientists to live and work in one of the most extreme environments on our planet.

The exhibition features five imaginative designs for Antarctic research stations from the newly opened British Antarctic Survey’s Halley VI Research station to the speculative Iceberg Living Station. Ice Lab will give visitors a unique view of the inspiration, ingenuity and creativity behind architecture in the coldest, windiest, driest and most isolated place on earth.

The first exhibition of its kind, Ice Lab will include architectural drawings, models, photographs and films that give the visitor a sense of what it takes to live and work in Antarctica. Sources of inspiration for the projects including original drawings from Archigram’s ‘Walking City’ will be on display as well as a new commissioned light and audio work by international visual artist Torsten Laushmann. The Glasgow-based artist will create this work in collaboration with ‘We Made That’, the exhibition’s designers.

Ice Lab will highlight the diverse and cutting edge science that takes place on the frozen continent – from collecting 4.5 billion year old meteorites that illuminate how the solar system was formed to drilling ice cores whose bubbles of ancient air reveal the earth’s climate history; from cutting edge astronomy peering into the world’s clearest skies to studying its Dry Valleys, the closest thing to ‘Mars on Earth’.

The featured projects are:
British Antarctic Survey’s Halley VI The first fully relocatable polar research station in the world became fully operational in February 2013 and signals a new dawn for 21st Century polar research. Opening 100 years after Captain Scott’s famed Antarctic expeditions, this new state of the art facility, designed by Hugh Broughton Architects and engineered by AECOM (UK) fulfils the UK’s ambition to remain at the forefront of scientific endeavour. Located 10,000 miles from the UK on a floating ice shelf, the new station is designed to be self-sufficient, able to withstand freezing winter temperatures of minus 55ºC, have minimal impact on Antarctica’s pristine environment, and be an aesthetically stimulating place to live and work.

Princess Elisabeth Antarctic Conceived, designed, constructed and operated by the International Polar Foundation (Belgium), Princess Elisabeth is Antarctica's first zero-emission station. Perched on a nunatuk, 200km from the coast, at an altitude of 1400m, the aerodynamic stainless steel structure can withstand strong Antarctic wind, and is layered so that no form of interior heating is needed. The station seamlessly integrates renewable wind and solar energy, water treatment facilities, passive building technologies and a smart grid for maximising energy efficiency.

Bharati Research Station India’s third Antarctic research station by bof Architekten / IMS (Germany) is a striking modernist structure made from 134 prefabricated shipping containers. Wrapped in a special aluminium case its extensive glazing offers magnificent panoramic views whilst withstanding powerful winds, below 40 degree Celsius temperatures, blizzards and unfathomable loads.

Jang Bogo Korea is becoming a significant player in Antarctic research and Jang Bogo, by Space Group (South Korea), will be one of the largest year-round bases on the continent when it opens in 2014. The station’s aerodynamic triple-arm design will provide resistance to the elements and accommodate up to 60 personnel during the busy summer season.

Iceberg Living Station A speculative design by MAP Architects (Denmark) for a future research station made entirely from ice, Iceberg Living Station negates the need to transport foreign materials to Antarctica. The station will be holed out of a large iceberg, using caterpillar excavators that are traditionally used to clear snow. It will eventually melt, resolving the issue of removing it at the end of its life course.

The following events programme will run alongside the exhibition and includes film screenings, talks and workshops. If you would like more information or to book on any of these events, contact events@ads.org.uk

Hugh Broughton Talk

6.00pm 5 Sept 2013

The Lighthouse, Glasgow

Free


Hugh Broughton of Hugh Broughton Architects will discuss the design of his extraordinary polar projects, focussing on the British station Halley VI. Highlighting the challenges faced and the solutions achieved in the most extreme, remote and environmentally sensitive locations on the planet.

Chasing Ice Film Screening

7.00pm 16 Sept 2013
CCA, Glasgow

Tickets £4/£3


Acclaimed photographer James Balog was once a skeptic about climate change. But through his Extreme Ice Survey, he discovers undeniable evidence of our changing planet. In Chasing Ice, Balog deploys revolutionary time-lapse cameras to capture a multi-year record of the world’s changing glaciers. His hauntingly beautiful videos compress years into seconds and capture ancient mountains of ice in motion as they disappear at a breathtaking rate.

Screened in partnership with the CCA.

Ice Lab Family Workshop

12-4pm 22 Sept 2013

The Lighthouse, Glasgow


Have a go at large scale building and play around with our den kits to create your own shelter from the extreme weather that is the Scottish Summer. Suitable for all ages and FREE.

The Great White Silence Film Screening

7.00pm 24 Sept 2013
CCA, Glasgow

Tickets £4/£3


A newly restored version of Herbert Ponting's official record of Captain Scott's legendary expedition to the South Pole. After the expedition’s tragic outcome Ponting devoted the rest of his life to ensuring that the grandeur of the Antarctic and the expedition’s heroism would not be forgotten. The alien beauty of the landscape is brought dramatically to life, showing the world of the expedition in brilliant detail.

Screened in partnership with the CCA.

Beyond the Real Workshop
A New Taxonomy of Representations

10am – 4pm 2 Oct 2013

The Lighthouse, Glasgow

Tickets £10


A full day masterclass for 4th and 5th year architecture students led by David A. Garcia of MAP Architects, Denmark.

Ice Lab Pecha Kucha
6.00pm 2 Oct 2013

Tickets £6/£3

An evening exploration of extreme architecture, science and sustainability featuring an entertaining mix of architects, filmmakers, climate change scientists and designers.