Northern Reach: Architecture of a Thawing Arctic

Abstract

As our climate continues to shift, it is fundamental to understanding these unprecedented changes through field research done in biomes most critically impacted. Due to the remoteness and extreme climatic nature of these research stations, they are typically either hastily built flat pack constructions or sterile pill boxes with little consideration of the immediate surrounding. This investigation looks at structuring the restrictions of environment to give the architecture a sense of place, rather than looking at these extremes as limitations. This proposal is sited in the Alaskan Arctic circle, where research is being conducted to understand the intertwined issues of climate change and permafrost melt.

It is the intent of this project to present a prototype of a responsible and responsive architecture for Toolik Station, Alaska,a renowned destination for arctic climate research. This thesis synthesizes unpredictable site and environmental factors, elements which will become increasingly commonplace as our planet's climate shifts. The proposal for the Northern Reach interrogates and responds:

How are we best equipped to live and work in a rapidly changing measure of extremes? What imbues an architecture with a sense of place when that place is inherently mercurial?