Six multi-disciplinary firms have been shortlisted to design a new scientific research station in Antartica.

Six multi-disciplinary teams have made the shortlist in a competition to design a new scientific research station in Antartica. The Halley VI competition attracted 86 entries and was run by the British Antacrtic Survey and RIBA. The shortlisted entries are:

  • Buro Happold/Liftschutz Davidson/ Garrad Hassan & Partners/SLR Consulting/Human Engineering
  • Faber Maunsell/Hugh Broughton Architects/Colour Affects/DMJM
  • Francis Design/Ove Arup & Partners/ BMT Nigel Gee and Associates/Gardiner & Theobold
  • Hopkins Architects/Expedition Engineers/Davis Langdon/HL Technik/Rowan Williams Davies & Irwin
  • Make Places/The Design Laboratory/Ove Arup & Partners/ Richard Horden & Archicafe/Davis Langdon
  • Richard Rogers Partnership/Ove Arup & Partners International/BDSP Partnership.

The compeition brief was to create a self-sufficient research station on a 150m-thick floating ice shelf, which would be able to withstand temperatures of -30 degrees centigrade. The new complex replacing the Halley V Research Station would also need to have a minimum impact on the environment.

The interntional competition held by the British Antarctic Survey and RIBA attracted 86 entries. Director of BAS, Professor Chris Rapley, who chaired the Jury Panel, said:

"We are delighted with the global interest from design teams in this competition. Judging was tough as the standard of entries was extremely high. The panel are very happy with the shortlist and look forward to moving on to the next stage of the competition."

An exhibition of the six short-listed concept designs will be displayed at the RIBA from 15 November - 8 January 2005 in Gallery 2.