Abstract
This paper reviews the role of lightweight structures in remote- and
pristine-areas, in particular the Antarctic and sub-Antarctic region, which
can be seen as a natural laboratory for testing minimal-impact design
strategies due to its extreme harsh natural conditions and the environmental
threat represented by the increasing human presence. The first part of the
paper briefly reviews the evolution of Antarctic infrastructure and some of
its characteristics. It then goes on to discuss the role of lightweight
structures in the southernmost region, and to present a set of case-studies
of minimal structures particularly designed for this context. Some common
aspects and unique qualities are then derived from the design and
construction processes of these projects. Finally, an explorative
geometry-based design method is presented, which intends to respond to some
of the specific problems of working with lightweight structures in remote
areas.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - 20 Sept 2011 |
| Event | 2011 IASS Annual Symposium: IABSE-IASS 2011: Taller, Longer, Lighter - London, UK United Kingdom Duration: 20 Sept 2011 → 23 Sept 2011 |
Conference
| Conference | 2011 IASS Annual Symposium: IABSE-IASS 2011: Taller, Longer, Lighter |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | UK United Kingdom |
| City | London |
| Period | 20/09/11 → 23/09/11 |