At the extremes

With the world’s population expected to reach nine billion by the year 2040 according to the US Census Bureau, more and more people will be forced to find accommodation in areas of extreme climate.

One area being explored is Antarctica – which covers some 14 million square kilometres. Designers are currently experimenting with building techniques that will allow people to live for long periods in this inhospitable environment. Halley VI, the latest station for the British Antarctic Survey, is one such model.

Home to 52 scientists in the summer, the accommodation consists of separate modules that can be coupled together like a train and moved across the Antarctic ice shelf on huge skis. The modules sit on stilts which can be jacked up to stop them being buried by the Antarctic snowfall.

Other previously uninhabited areas being explored are those exposed to flooding. With 60 per cent of the country under sea level, the Netherlands has a history of flooding. To counter this threat, floating homes have been built in the town of Maasbommel. Rather than sitting on solid foundations, the homes are fixed to hulls by steel poles that anchor them, but allow them to move up and down by up to four metres.

Experiments are also being conducted with subterranean living and technology developed for US submarines is being used to construct underwater living pods off the coast of Fiji. Twenty-four of these 10-metre pods are currently being developed and access will be via a lift fixed at a water-level reception.

The uninhabited wilds of Southern Chile are also being explored and a hotel, designed by the architect German del Sol, has recently been constructed to test the practicality of living in such exposed conditions.

Extreme Architecture, by Ruth Slavid, is published by Laurence King. Copies can be ordered at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

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