Towards a New Antarctic Architecture : Terra Nova II Expedition by Taylor Gray Medlin B.E.D.A (North Carolina State University) 2006 A thesis submitted in partial satisfaction of the requirements for the degree of Master of Architecture in the Graduate Division of the University of California, Berkeley Committee in charge: Professor Ron Rael , Chair Professor Rene Davids Professor Walter Hood Spring 2010 a The thesis of Taylor Gray Medlin is approved: Chair ______________________________________________ Date _____________ ______________________________________________ Date _____________ ______________________________________________ Date _____________ University of California, Berkeley b Towards a New Antarctic Architecture : Terra Nova II Expedition © 2010 by Taylor Gray Medlin c Abstract Towards a New Antarctic Architecture : Terra Nova II Expedition by Taylor Gray Medlin Master of Architecture University of California, Berkeley Professor Ron Rael, Chair The “Terra Nova II expedition” will be departing from Berkeley, CA for the distant shores of Antarctica on May 14th, 2010 to attempt to survive and thrive in one of the most inhospitable locations in the world. The definition of an expedition is “a journey undertaken by a group of people with a definite objective.” For all of those brave souls that volunteer for the expedition, our objective will be to prove the plausibility and usefulness of construction in Antarctica using only a minimum amount of resources and materials for comfortable habitation. Antarctica’s isolated location results in a gross misuse of materials from a construction and logistical point of view. Not only does every scrap of material used to build have to be flown over from the mainland, but when a building deteriorates {usually within 10 years} that same material has to be hauled all of the way back out of Antarctica. Together, as a coalition, we will prove that it is not only possible to build in Antarctica with minimal external resources, but that it is the beginning of a new age of construction for the continent! Chair__________________________________________ Date____________ i to my family for always believing in me, or at least telling me you did. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Prologue : A Brief History of TANAAC {1} Encountering World’s End {2} Life Support Modules {3} ICE 9 System {4} Habitation Pods {5} The ARK Epilogue: A New Future Appendix: Data iii TOwArdS A NEw ANTArCTiC ArChiTECTurE “With other men, perhaps, such things would not have been inducements; but as for me, I am tormented with an everlasting itch for things remote. I love to sail forbidden seas, and land on barbarous coasts. Not ignoring what is good, I am quick to perceive a horror, and could still be social with it- would they let me- since it is but well to be on friendly terms with all the inmates of the place one lodges in. By reason of these things, then, the whaling voyage was welcome; the great flood-gates of the wonder-world swung open, and in the wild conceits that swayed me to my purpose, two and two there floated into my inmost soul, endless processions of the whale, and, mid most of them all, one grand hooded phantom, like a snow hill in the air.” -Herman Melville iv ACkNOwLEdgEmENTS This thesis owes an enormous debt to Ron Rael for all of his tireless support, enthusiasm, and late-night/early-morning e-mails. Thank you for your kind words on hard days and pushing the project to a place that it would have never gotten without your guidance. Special thanks to Rene Davids, Gary Black, Zoe Prillinger and Luke Ogrydziak for taking even the bad ideas seriously, but more importantly, laughing at the good ones. Heartfelt thanks are also owed to Gavin Knowles, Megan Johnson, Peter Lingamfelter, Ben Gold- er, Nick Sowers, Rocky Hanish, and Dave Bowen for scripts, scrolls, fictitious histories, breakfast conversations, Kahn/Thesis talks, and dressing up in jump suits {respectively}. v PrOLOguE : A BriEF hiSTOry OF T.A.N.A.A.C. 1 VOLUNTEERS WANTED for hazardous journey, small wages, bitter cold, long months of complete darkness, constant danger, safe return doubtful, architectural honor and recognition in case of success. Come get cold, Founder T.A.N.A.A.C A “warm” thanks to all of our generous sponsors. T.A.N.A.A.C. TERRA NOVA II EXPEDITION 2 9’ 10’ metal formwork metal ties