Hugh Broughton Architects and Faber Maunsell won the international RIBA competition to design the new Halley Research Station for the British Antarctic Survey on 9 July 2005.

In January 2006 Hugh set off on the trip of a lifetime to visit the site for the new base. His journey took him from the UK via the Falkland Islands and the British base at Rothera on Adelaide Island, arriving at Halley on 19 January. During his trip Hugh filed regular reports for the Architects’ Journal and BBC Mundo. His diary entries are reproduced here and give an insight into our practice’s passion for the Antarctic.

12 January 2006
Stanley, Falkland Islands
A balmy summer day

15 January 2006
Rothera Research Station, Adelaide Island, Antarctica
-2°C, snowing

18 January 2006
Rothera Research Station, Adelaide Island, Antarctica
2°C, fine

22 January 2006
Halley Research Station, Brunt Ice Shelf, Antarctica
-6°C, a dazzlingly beautiful day

27 January 2006
Halley Research Station, Brunt Ice Shelf, Antarctica
-2°C, very poor contrast, moderate wind

31 January 2006
Halley V Research Station, Brunt Ice Shelf, Antarctica
-4°C, clouding over

5 February 2006
Halley V Research Station, Brunt Ice Shelf, Antarctica
-2°C, Cloudy

8 February 2006
Halley V Research Station, Brunt Ice Shelf, Antarctica
-8°C, Stunningly clear blue skies

14 February 2006
Cape Town, South Africa 25°C,
Beautifully warm with clear skies