Design
Antarctica New Zealand is developing a fully self-sufficient off-the-grid building in the coldest, harshest place on earth.
Aotearoa’s coolest project
The new base will enable Aotearoa New Zealand’s long legacy on the continent to continue and strengthen Antarctica New Zealand’s ability to support world leading research in one of the most remote places in the world! The new base will comprise spaces dedicated to:
The new base will accommodate up to 100 people. The additional beds will enable Antarctica New Zealand to accommodate people safely during peak times and unexpected circumstances, such as flight delays or programme changes. The new base will be located where it currently sits at Pram Point. Other locations were considered, but only 0.2% of Antarctica isn’t covered by ice, so Pram Point is considered a pretty special place. The new base has been designed to facilitate world-leading science and will better support local and deep-field science with improved efficiencies. The base includes wet and dry laboratories, science workspaces, biosecurity facilities, event staging, and storage areas. There is also an external deck for testing equipment or preparing samples for shipments. |
Culture and History
The design of the new base will embody the cultural diversity of Aotearoa New Zealand and represent expeditionary endeavours in the Ross Sea region.
Antarctica New Zealand has engaged Matapopore as a key collaboration partner to assist the project team in ensuring Te Ao Māori values are appropriately reflected in the design of Scott Base. Matapopore is the mana whenua voice of the Ngāi Tūāhuriri hapū – of the Ngāi Tahu iwi.
Maintaining a New Zealand presence on Te Tiri o Te Moana / Antarctica is a key means of showcasing New Zealand to the world and displaying our values of collaboration and kaitiakitanga / environmental stewardship.
Many cultural and historical items, such as the famous winter over photos, will find a home in the new base.
The 1957 Trans-Antarctic Expedition (TAE) Hut will remain preserved at Pram Point. Also known as Hillary’s Hut, it holds significant historical significance.
Adapting to climate change
The potential impacts of climate change and natural hazards have been considered in the design of the new base.
The new base will be situated 14 metres up the Pram Point hill. The maximum predicted sea level rise in the next sixty years at Scott Base is at most 1.07 metres.
Allowing for sea level rise and other uncertainties, it is estimated that the maximum plausible tsunami run-up height would be eight metres above the current day high-tide level.
