Principles of Formation of Sustainable Architectural Objects in
Extreme Conditions of the Habitat Determined by Physical and
Climatic Parameters
Kristina Andreevna Pshenichnikova
a
Moscow Institute of Architecture (State Academy), Moscow, Russia
Keywords: Extreme environmental conditions, habitat, sustainable architecture, physical and climatic parameters.
Abstract: The article is devoted to the actual problem of the formation of sustainable architectural objects for extreme
living conditions, caused by physical and climatic parameters. It has been established that globalization, the
acceleration of the pace of scientific and technological progress, the growth of the global population and the
increasing pressure on the environment caused by these factors lead architects, engineers and researchers to
the need to quickly respond to changing conditions and form a favorable artificial environment in extreme
environments, which are determined by physico-climatic, anthropogenic physical and socio-economic
parameters. The purpose of the study is to identify the principles of the formation of architectural objects in
extreme conditions in the context of international architectural and engineering trends. The methodological
approach to the study of this issue is based on system analysis and is based on the materials of implemented
and designed buildings and structures, as well as the study of open scientific research. The materials of the
article can be used for the theory and practice of the formation of an artificial environment for extreme living
conditions.
1 INTRODUCTION
An extreme environment is a part of the environment
that, by its psychophysiological, climatic, natural,
economic and geographical characteristics, is
unfavorable for life.
With the passage of time and the development of
technology, man has learned to create the necessary
environment for artificial habitats, however, today,
the anthropogenic and natural components are closely
intertwined with each other, which leads to the need
to search for structured principles of organizing a
sustainable balance.
Extreme physical and climatic conditions create
difficulties for architects and designers, so buildings
should be designed that respond in response to
environmental parameters, not only as a protective
measure, but also for the well-being of future
generations. In response to these requirements,
architectural objects must be designed and built in
accordance with the ideas of sustainability and energy
efficiency. Housing construction, in particular,
a
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2781-1973
should provide autonomy to reduce dependence on
external infrastructure networks.
Thus, the design of a habitable built environment
must be based on an effective response to scarcity,
inaccessibility and unpredictability - factors that are
characteristic of extreme conditions.
An analysis of world practice in the field of
architecture of extreme environments shows that the
information on this issue is quite extensive. The
following specialists and institutes have been
engaged in theoretical research, design and
experimental developments, including related works,
at various times: Saprykina, N.A., Timantseva N.L.,
Kartashova K.K., Lezhava G.I., Rakov A.P.,
Kronenburg R., Horden R., as well as researchers
from the Royal Danish Academy, Department of
Building Construction and Design: Institute of
Architecture and Design - Vienna University of
Technology", "SHEE Consortium". At the Moscow
Institute of Architecture (State Academy) on the basis
of the department "Architecture of Industrial
Structures", the department "Architecture of Extreme
Environments" (AEE) was organized to perform
342
Pshenichnikova, K.
Principles of Formation of Sustainable Architectural Objects in Extreme Conditions of the Habitat Determined by Physical and Climatic Parameters.
DOI: 10.5220/0011571600003524
In Proceedings of the 1st International Conference on Methods, Models, Technologies for Sustainable Development (MMTGE 2022) - Agroclimatic Projects and Carbon Neutrality, pages
342-349
ISBN: 978-989-758-608-8
Copyright
c
2023 by SCITEPRESS – Science and Technology Publications, Lda. Under CC license (CC BY-NC-ND 4.0)
qualifying research and design work of masters, as
well as to perform work within the framework of
international and interuniversity cooperation.
2 MATERIALS AND METHODS
When studying this issue in order to identify the basic
principles for the formation of architectural objects
for extreme living conditions, due to physical and
climatic parameters, it is necessary to determine the
historical prerequisites for the development of the
issue and the classification features of extreme
environments. The study includes the study of
bibliographic sources and Internet resources,
conceptual and implemented design solutions, as well
as the analysis and systematization of the experience
of forming architectural objects in extreme habitat
conditions.
2.1 Historical Preconditions
The historical prerequisites that cause the expansion
of architectural typology into the area of extreme
living conditions were global natural disasters, the
problem of overpopulation and the likelihood of
climate change.
Since the middle of the 20th century, the typology
of architectural objects has been developing, which is
closely related to the development of new living
conditions by humans (Rakov, 2017). Today, there is
an active development of the Arctic and Antarctic,
space tourism projects are being created, as well as
research programs aimed at colonizing the Moon and
Mars. Since the 1960s, space organizations have been
exploring planetary science to understand the nature
of climate change.
A design methodology incorporating the basic
principles of extreme environment architecture to
provide habitable space is required for future
developments that include sustainable adaptive
design, an important factor in creating livable
conditions in extreme environments.
2.2 Classification of Extreme Habitat
Conditions
The NASA Astrobiology Institute (NAI) defines an
extreme habitat as an environment that is
characterized by extreme physical conditions that are
outside the boundaries in which humans can
comfortably live. These conditions include: pressure,
air temperature, humidity, air quality, radiation, and
alkalinity/acidity (Bannova, 2014).
Today, the extreme environment is determined by
location, but due to the negative factors described
earlier in the article, unfavorable environments can
develop in different areas (Timantseva, 2010). Thus,
the scope of architecture of extreme conditions has
expanded and includes natural and anthropogenic
layers.
2.2.1 Natural Layer
In the natural layer, negative factors are associated
with physical and climatic conditions (Timantseva,
2010):
1. Extreme natural zones - South, North, high-
altitude areas;
2. Extreme natural environments - earth, water,
air, space;
3. Extreme natural elements - water, terrestrial,
air.
2.2.2 Anthropogenic Layer
In the anthropogenic layer, in addition to physical
parameters, such as restrictions on building
development, protected natural and historical
landscape, and inaccessibility, extreme social
parameters can be distinguished (Saprykina, 2019):
1. Public - social conflicts, project constraints,
extreme recreation;
2. Political - foreign policy (state of war,
territories with consequences of military
actions, other foreign policy conflicts);
3. Economic - lack of resources, social housing,
resource conservation;
4. Environmental - over-compaction, deviations
in the normative indicators of the environment
- humidity, pollution, etc., the proximity of
man-made sources of danger - highways, metro
lines, railways, factories, urban landfills.
2.3 Types of Extreme Environments
In the course of the analysis to determine the
classifications of extreme living conditions in order to
identify the principles of the formation of
architectural objects, the boundaries of the study were
determined within the framework of physical and
climatic conditions - an extremely hot climate;
extremely cold climate; water environment; air space;
Space.
2.3.1 Extremely Hot Climate
In an extremely hot and arid climate with high
temperatures, humidity and dust flows, it is important
Principles of Formation of Sustainable Architectural Objects in Extreme Conditions of the Habitat Determined by Physical and Climatic
Parameters
343
to take into account climatological features.
Sustainable or “bioclimatic” design in extremely hot
and arid climates must take into account the following
factors: microclimate, emissivity, glare and dust
collection, solar radiation control, wind control,
evaporation control (Shady and Ingrid, 2014).
To take into account these factors, the design
should include light translucent structures (pneumatic
shells), a high percentage of vegetation, water spaces,
as well as alternative energy sources that increase the
energy efficiency of architectural objects in
extremely hot and arid climates.
An example of a «green» facility in a hot climate
is the implemented project of the Zaha Hadid Center
for Oil Exploration and Research, built in Riyadh
(Figure 1). In the complex named after King Abdullah
of Saudi Arabia, scientists from all over the world
will be engaged in research in various scientific
fields, united by a common theme of energy. Three
main areas are identified: politics and economics,
energy and environmental technologies, and energy
information and modeling (Frolova, 2010). The main
building takes into account the principle of
modularity and consists of hexagonal cells with
permeable overlaps and a free plan that stimulates
dialogue between scientists of different specialties.
Figure 1: King Abdullah Oil Research Center.
2.3.2 Extremely Cold Climate
Harsh climatic conditions that challenge comfortable
living conditions characterize the difficulties in
designing architectural objects in the North, Arctic
and Antarctica, taking into account the irregular load
from strong wind, snowfall, avalanches and cold.
When forming habitable architectural objects in the
conditions of the North, it is necessary to respond to
scarcity, inaccessibility and unpredictability with
innovations characteristic of extreme climatic
conditions (Rok, Spela, 2014).
Extreme factors of construction in a cold climate
include: hydrometeorological phenomena (ice, severe
frosts, icing, fog); hydrogeomorphological
phenomena (avalanches); endogenous (earthquakes,
tsunamis, volcanism).
Extreme climate conditions and related
phenomena, of course, have a significant impact on
both the operational characteristics of the structure of
buildings and the psychological and emotional state
of a person living in these areas. Thus, objects built in
such conditions should be completely autonomous
and mobility.
Autonomy implies its own heat supply, arranged
taking into account the location, ventilation, its own
source of electricity - batteries or alternative sources.
Mobility in relation to architectural objects is
applied in two aspects. On the one hand, this means
that the dwelling corresponds to the changing needs
and lifestyle of people, on the other hand, it is
understood as physical mobility, manifested in
transformation and movement (Saprykina, 1986).
Examples of projects in extreme cold conditions
that implement the principles of autonomy and
mobility are the work of «Iceberg Living Station» by
MAP Architects and «Halley VI Antarctic Research
Station» by Hugh Broughton Architects.
The Iceberg Living Station architectural project
by MAP Architects aims to design with minimal
environmental impact (Figure 2). To achieve this, the
architects sought to avoid traditional construction
methods, which involve transporting materials that
will never leave Antarctica (Iceberg Living Station,
2013). Instead, the residential station is dug into a
large iceberg that covers an area of about 2.5 square
kilometers and will eventually melt in 7-10 years. The
architects took into account that icebergs are
compacted snow, which turns into ice at a depth of 25
meters and serves as effective insulation, as the
experience of building the Igloo shows.
Figure 2: Iceberg Living Station.
Located on the frozen floating Brunt Ice Shelf in
Antarctica, Hugh Broughton Architects' Halley VI
Antarctic Research Station is the world's first fully
mobile and relocatable polar research station and was
designed for scientists working in some of the most
extreme environments on Earth. (Figure 3). In order
MMTGE 2022 - I International Conference "Methods, models, technologies for sustainable development: agroclimatic projects and carbon
neutrality", Kadyrov Chechen State University Chechen Republic, Grozny, st. Sher
344
to minimize the impact on the fragile environment
during the entire life cycle from construction to
decommissioning, the necessary energy efficiency of
the plant was taken into account - reducing water
consumption and improving the waste management
strategy.
Figure 3: Halley VI Antarctic Research Station.
2.3.3 Water Environment
Modern scientists predict that the critical level of
overpopulation of the Earth may occur in the middle
of the 21st century. The solution to the problem can
be «hydropolises», which are underwater skyscrapers
(Vorobieva, 2019). Researchers hypothesize that
living in them is more comfortable than on land, since
there are no atmospheric phenomena, earthquakes,
pressure and temperature drops under water. It is
assumed that underwater cities will receive energy
using tidal power plants and generators operating on
temperature differences, which is consistent with the
principles of energy efficiency and sustainability.
The relevance of the design of architectural
objects on water and under water is determined by the
need to expand comfortable and safe housing in large
metropolitan areas that are overpopulated
(Shumskaya, 2014), as well as taking into account
global climate change, which necessitates the
adaptation of residential spaces to floods and
technologies for creating an environmentally friendly
and operational effective construction in the aquatic
environment.
As examples of architectural objects in the aquatic
environment, it is advisable to cite the projects
«Drilling Water-Scraper: Power Plant And
Underwater Recycling Center" from architects
Xuejun Bai, Chucheng Pang, Lei Zhai, Yuyang Sun,
Dianao Liu, which was presented as part of the 2020
Skyscraper Competition, as well as the Ocean Gate
Observatory by Antireality.
The architects of «Drilling Water-Scraper: Power
Plant And Underwater Recycling Center» are
addressing the recycling of marine waste as well as
the discovery of pure combustible ice in the deep sea
(Figure 4). The team suggests using plastic waste for
3D printing and creating new building materials
(Barandy, 2020). There are two main paradigms in
the project: downward materials and upward energy.
The energy tower turns plastic waste into 3D printing
materials and prints the building as well as the energy
reservoir along the main cylinder, making the
skyscraper self-evolving and «growing».
The architects from Antireality have developed
the concept of an underwater observatory «Ocean
Gate» for the Bahamas (Naser, 2021). The aim of the
Figure 4: Drilling Water-Scraper.
Principles of Formation of Sustainable Architectural Objects in Extreme Conditions of the Habitat Determined by Physical and Climatic
Parameters
345
project is to try to create a marine observatory whose
structure will be integrated with the beach area
without overloading the seaside landscape (Figure 5).
Figure 5: Ocean Gate Observatory.
2.3.4 Air Space
One of the first ideas of floating architecture was
presented in the USSR in 1928 by Krutikov G. (the
graduation project of flying communal houses) and
Iozefovich I., who designed the flying House of
Congresses of the USSR, since early Soviet architects
strove for the ideal, futuristic and sublime (Krivitsky,
2018, Saprykina, 2016). Today, flying architecture is
of interest to modern architects in connection with the
ecological orientation of society to solve the problems
of sustainable development.
An example of a floating building project is the
Dandelion Vessel: Inflatable Skyscraper For Natural
Disasters, designed by architects Wei Ke Li, Sheng
Jiang, Xing Chun Zhi Zhang as part of the 2016
Skyscraper Competition (Figure 6).
The project was created for the hard-to-reach part
of Northern Guangxi Rongshui County as a refuge
from natural disasters and to provide residents of
hard-to-reach areas with the necessary medical
equipment. Air shelters are designed from pneumatic
structures, and the surface of the master station is
made of strings and connected to a balloon that can
lift it to the desired position (Friis, 2016).
2.3.5 Space
New advanced space exploration programs around
the world demonstrate the growing demand for
human factors research, interactions between space
station inhabitants and the environment, as well as
problems associated with long distances from the
Earth, mission time and architecture of space
structures.
The methodology for designing habitable shells in
outer space should include the ability to adapt to
extreme environments such as the Moon, Mars, and
current and future extreme locations on Earth (Dede,
2022).
The architectural approach to the design of space
structures affects all elements of the constructed
environment. When designing space systems,
architects need to address the experience of living in
similar conditions on Earth (submarines, bunkers,
Antarctic bases) and take into account the provision
of physical and psychological comfort while in space.
It should be noted that adaptive design strategies
are valuable tools in creating livable conditions and
should include the principles of autonomy,
Figure 6: Inflatable Skyscraper For Natural Disasters.
MMTGE 2022 - I International Conference "Methods, models, technologies for sustainable development: agroclimatic projects and carbon
neutrality", Kadyrov Chechen State University Chechen Republic, Grozny, st. Sher
346
modularity, mobility, sustainability, as well as the
principle of «self-deployment» previously outlined in
the study. In addition, it is advisable to use innovative
digital modeling and 3D printing technologies.
Examples of projects that reflect the above
principles of the formation of architectural objects in
space are the work of Punch O. from School of
Architecture, University of Limerick (SAUL),
Ireland and «Self-deployable habitat» from SHEE
Project. The architectural project Punch O. is
dedicated to research in extreme conditions and aims
to create a structure using the materials of the
surrounding landscape using sustainable building
methods (EAM Best Diploma Projects, 2015).
Located on Mars, the complex explores the need for
architectural responses to extreme environments that
may also occur on Earth and considers the possibility
of innovative design - adaptability of form, function,
structure and resilience to new challenges (Figure 7).
SHEE Project's work uses an alternative approach
to designing a habitat that can be deployed using rigid
shells. SHEE is a self-deployable habitat that can save
crews time when creating quarters in remote locations
such as Mars (Osborne, 2016). Each module provides
support for two crew members during a mission
lasting at least two weeks. Several modules can be
connected together to create a "SHEE settlement",
which allows you to increase the number of crew, the
duration of the mission or software capabilities
(Figure 8).
Figure 8: Self-Deployable Habitat (SHEE)
3 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Thus, in the course of the study, the main principles
of the formation of architectural objects in extreme
conditions, determined by physical and climatic
parameters and including extremely hot climate,
extremely cold climate, water environment, air and
outer space, were identified:
1. The principle of modularity is a constructive
approach that subdivides the building system into
smaller parts - modules that can be created and
combined in various configurations
independently of each other, and then used in
different systems. The principle of modularity is
also characterized by functional separation.
2. The principle of autonomy implies relative
engineering (power generators, water supply,
etc.), technological, planning and design
independence of the structure and its elements
from neighboring objects at various levels with
Figure 7: Punch O., University of Limerick.
Principles of Formation of Sustainable Architectural Objects in Extreme Conditions of the Habitat Determined by Physical and Climatic
Parameters
347
the possibility of regulating or changing the
degree of autonomy.
3. The principle of mobility based on transformation
and movement is to change the building by
transforming the internal elements while
maintaining its constant dimensions, which
ensures the multifunctional use of the internal
space; changing the size and configuration of the
building (constructive transformation), as well as
the possibility of moving the structure, which is
carried out in an assembled form or already ready
for operation (Saprykina, 1986).
4. The principle of sustainability lies in the
combination of engineering and architectural
solutions, with the help of which it becomes
possible to balance the high quality of the natural
environment of human life in order to maintain
ecological balance. The principle includes energy
efficiency - reducing the consumption of energy
resources (renewable and non-renewable) and
improving the construction and operation of
buildings.
5. The principle of «self-deployment» consists in the
possibility of creating self-deploying modules that
can be assembled on site in extreme environments
in a short time and without the involvement of
builders and special equipment. The principle of
self-deployment can be applied both in designing
in space conditions and in extreme environments
due to anthropogenic physical and social
parameters.
The identified principles of the formation of
sustainable architectural objects for extreme living
conditions within the framework of physical and
climatic conditions can be applied at all stages of
design and operation in order to create dynamic,
adaptive and energy-efficient buildings and
structures.
4 CONCLUSIONS
Summing up the results of the study, the following
main conclusions can be formulated. The
development of the field of extreme environments in
architecture is determined by the influence of various
factors and prerequisites. It is advisable to consider
the phenomenon of extreme architecture
comprehensively, since its development is due to
successes in various fields of science.
Only taking into account innovative
achievements in the field of creating new materials,
technological and digital tools, having studied the
factors influencing the formation of architectural
objects in various extreme conditions, as well as the
principles of their creation, it is possible to make a
forecast of the further development of this direction
in architecture.
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