British Antarctic Survey Halley VI Research Station

Architect: Hugh Broughton Architects
Type of works: supply and installation of stainless-steel door furniture, including closers, hinges and lever handles.

The new station will provide a home and work place for 16 people during the winter and 52 in the summer and needs to respond to some extreme environmental challenges. Located 10,000 miles from the UK, the station will be located on a 150m thick floating ice shelf, which moves 1km per annum towards the sea.

Snow levels rise by around 1m and the sun does not rise above the horizon for 100 days per year. The new self-sufficient complex will replace the current Halley V Research Station and will be re-locatable. Designed to withstand extreme winds and freezing winter temperatures of around -50°C, the design provides a safe, enjoyable place for scientists to live and work, in a building designed to have minimal impact on Antarctica’s pristine environment.

The new prefabricated modular research station features a dramatic central social and recreational module, as well as laboratories and living/sleeping accommodation.

The ironmongery had to be able to function in the harsh climate conditions with closers, hinges and lever handles working in contrasting external and internal temperatures.

As the station is also a residential building the ironmongery has to give a contemporary look and easily withstand the rigours of everyday life.

Yannedis supplied the full range of modern stainless-steel ironmongery to the project to suit the extreme conditions of the Antarctic. Stainless steel is easy to maintain, looks good over time and requires virtually no maintenance.

Sarah Besly, Senior Architect, Hugh Broughton Architects Ltd said, “HBA have used Yannedis for a number of projects over the years and have found their service to be of a high standard with robust products at affordable prices.”

Macnaughton Blair Architectural Ironmongery Division consists of Lloyd Worrall in GB, Yannedis in London, MB Architectural in NI and MB Doorplan in ROI.