Antarctic Composite Living Module

Known affectionately as the “Big Green Box”, FDL manufactured this composite living module for Scott Base, New Zealand’s Antarctic research station.

The unit was developed as the first mobile habitat in a new, more durable construction design being trialled by Antarctica New Zealand. Designed for one of the harshest environments on the planet, the self-contained module had to withstand extreme conditions including winds of up to 200 km/h and temperatures as low as −60°C. 

Strength, rigidity and thermal insulation were all critical considerations in the design, making composite construction particularly well suited to the project.

The result was a robust, transportable living module capable of providing reliable accommodation in a demanding Antarctic environment while demonstrating the potential of composite materials for specialist modular structures.