Tuesday 21 May 2013

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 illustrates 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 and opens at Architecture and Design Scotland, The Lighthouse in Glasgow from 26 July to 2 October 2013 before touring to MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry) as part of Manchester Science Festival (21 October - 6 January) and then internationally. From the newly opened British Antarctic Survey’s Halley VI Research station to the speculative Iceberg Living Station, Ice Lab gives 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 includes 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’ are on display as well as a newly commissioned light and audio work by international visual artist Torsten Lauschmann. The Glasgow-based artist has created this work in collaboration with ‘We Made That’, the exhibition’s designers. 

Ice Lab highlights 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 amongst 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 Antarctica 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 David A. Garcia / 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.

An events programme will run alongside the exhibition including film screenings, talks and workshops in architecture, design, art and science. Full details of these are below.

Vicky Richardson, Director Architecture, Design, Fashion at the British Council, said: “The new wave of Antarctic research stations show the inventiveness in design and engineering required to build in Earth’s most extreme conditions. In the same way that scientists from around the world collaborate in Antarctica, these buildings are made possible by cooperation between nations, so it is highly appropriate that the British Council should be commissioning this exhibition, which will tour in the UK before travelling overseas.”

Jim MacDonald, Chief Executive of Architecture and Design Scotland, said: “It's great that we’re hosting the premiere of this fascinating exhibition. By exploring a series of innovative building projects in one of the harshest climates on earth, the exhibition can help us develop ideas on sustainable design for our own changing and challenging climate. We hope as many people as possible take this opportunity to see the innovation and ingenuity shown in these amazing projects.”

Notes to Editor

Commissioned by the British Council and curated by The Arts Catalyst, Ice Lab: New Architecture and Science in Antarctica is at Architecture and Design Scotland at The Lighthouse, 26 July – 2 Oct 2013 and then at MOSI (Museum of Science & Industry) as part of Manchester Science Festival, 21 October - 6 January before touring internationally

Ice Lab: New Architecture and Science in Antarctica features the work of Hugh Broughton Architects, bof Architekten, David Garcia/ MAP Architects, Space Group, International Polar Foundation and Torsten Lauschmann.

Events Programme

To compliment this unique exhibition Architecture and Design Scotland are presenting a varied events programme of film screenings, talks and workshops in architecture, design and science. Supported by The National Lottery through Creative Scotland.

For bookings and further information please email 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
Free

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.

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
The Lighthouse, Glasgow
Tickets £6/£3

An evening exploration of ideas, architecture and science for extreme environments, featuring a mix of architects, filmmakers, climate change scientists and designers.

Exhibition dates:

Glasgow
26 July – 2 Oct 2013
Architecture and Design Scotland, Level 2, The Lighthouse
11 Mitchell Lane,
Glasgow G1 3NU

Manchester (during the opening of Manchester Science Festival)
21 October - 6 January
Museum of Science & Industry
Liverpool Road
Castlefield
Manchester M3 4FP

For more information about the British Council contact:

Alex Bratt, Senior Press Officer, 0207 389 4872, alex.bratt@britishcouncil.org

For more information about the Arts Catalyst contact:

Jo Fells, Head of Marketing and PR, 020 7251 8567, jo.fells@artscatalyst.org

For more information about A+DS contact:

Anja Ekelof, Communications Manager 0131 550 0938 / 07519602637, anja.ekelof@ads.org.uk

For more information about British Antarctic Survey (BAS) contact:

Paul Seagrove, 01223 221414, psea@bas.ac.uk

About the British Council

The British Council creates international opportunities for the people of the UK and other countries and builds trust between them worldwide. We are a Royal Charter charity, established as the UK’s international organisation for educational opportunities and cultural relations.  Our 7000 staff in over 100 countries work with thousands of professionals and policy makers and millions of young people every year through English, arts, education and society programmes. 

We earn over 75% of our annual turnover £739 million from services which customers pay for, education and development contracts we bid for and from partnerships.

http://backoftheenvelope.britishcouncil.org/

About Architecture and Design Scotland (A+DS)

Architecture and Design Scotland is Scotland’s champion for architecture, design and placemaking, including a programme of  exhibitions, events and education based at The Lighthouse, Glasgow.

www.ads.org.uk

About the Arts Catalyst 

The Arts Catalyst is one of the UK's most distinctive arts organisations, distinguished by ambitious art commissions and its unique take on art-science practice. Our primary focus is commissioning new artists' projects, presented in a range of museums, art galleries and other public spaces in the UK and internationally.

www.artscatalyst.org