A house on the coast of King George Island, Antarctica, near Teniente R. Marsh Airport, was designed for a pair of scientists studying the region’s fauna without disturbing its natural habitat. Built using prefabricated materials, the structure allows for quick assembly and disassembly in case of extreme blizzards or prolonged in accessibility due to heavy snow fall and lack of daylight.
Oriented north to maximize natural light throughout the year—keeping in mind that daylight lasts only half the year—all living spaces are positioned to take full advantage of this orientation. The exception is the kitchen, which is set at a double height and a couple of step below the main floor, capturing the low, diagonal sunlight. At its core, a central fireplace provides warmth, inspired by the ancient principles of northern igloos.