architecture projects

Brazilian Research Base in Antarctica

PROJECT INFO

Location
Peninsula Keller, Antarctica

Status
Project

Client
Brazilian Navy

Type
Research Center

Size
3.500 sq. meters

Other Features
Pre-fab Construction

Energy Efficiency Control

Environmental Research

The project was conceived with the imperative of rapid construction under adverse climatic conditions, resulting in a design driven by a rigorous modular system.

The modular concept was developed so that the entire project could be approached from the perspective of construction and assembly. Designed to meet the highest standards of prefabrication, the system enables a streamlined building process, significantly accelerating on-site execution.

The spatial organization of the complex is structured around a longitudinal circulation axis—a connecting walkway that links the various programmatic elements of the station and supports the daily flow of users.

The core principle guiding the proposal was not simply to build and occupy, but to respect the polar environment—to understand nature in its entirety, to blend seamlessly into the landscape, and to embrace the challenge of building without asserting a dominant presence.

Architecturally, the project presents a harmonious formal composition derived from a single organizing shape: the cube. This geometric clarity is enhanced by a thoughtful site placement, favoring the flattest area of the terrain—already altered by previous construction—in order to minimize environmental impact and preserve the integrity of the surrounding landscape.