Polar base’s luxury look stirs some doubts
The redevelopment of Scott Base looks like a high-end polar lodge, says an Antarctica academic, who fears increasing commercialisation of the icy continent.
Dr Alan Hemmings, a specialist on Antarctic governance at the University of Canterbury, says the similarities between the project’s architectural drawing and a highend hotel are not accidental.
“A glorious Scott Base might actually be usable as a scientific station and be much nicer than the present one,” says Hemmings. “But in 10 or 20 years’ time, what is to stop it being turned into a hotel?”
Architects Jasmax have designed dramatic, wing-like structures for the Ross Island station, and dubbed it “New Zealand’s coolest redevelopment”.
The Green Star five-star design significantly upgrades the current buildings, some of which have been in place since Sir Edmund Hillary’s
1957 expedition. “Significant thought” has been put into a design that reflects Ma¯oritanga and uniquely Kiwi ties to the continent, with “durability, comfort, economy and style”, says lead architect Hugh Broughton.
At the centrepiece in the dining area, the 100 occupants will be treated to “a glazed end wall with spectacular views towards Mt Erebus and Mt Terror”.
Hemmings says Antarctica NZ’s revamp is similar to Australia’s $472 million Davis Station expansion, which includes a permanent runway.
Tourism is one of many pressures driving an explosion in investment and hardware in Antarctica. Visitors have tripled over the past decade to almost
60,000 summer guests. Since 2003 NZ’s official policy has been to limit tourism and other non-governmental activities there.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Mfat) limits its support to “humanitarian assistance and basic hospitality” to the few hundred tourists and adventure seekers who make their way to the Ross Sea every summer.
But there are signs the hardline stance against Antarctic tourism is beginning to thaw. “Antarctic tourism has been growing rapidly,” said an Mfat spokesperson.
Covid interrupted last year’s season but forecasts for the 2021/22 summer estimated a fiveship and 1138 passenger season, a six-fold increase on 2019.
“I think New Zealand’s missing a huge opportunity,” says Aaron Russ, director of Heritage Expeditions, the only NZ-based operator visiting the continent.
“If you’re looking at where the first Antarctic hotel will be, there are a few candidates,” he says. “If you’ve got a runway and you have a commercial partner there’s no reason why that can’t occur.”
Mfat identifies human visitation as one of the most important changes in the region over the next 10 years. “While the region remains largely unchanged by human intervention, the small number of visitors to Antarctica continues to increase, and there’s international interest in ensuring that activities in the region are planned, safe and environmentally responsible.”
It is over this 10-year period that the Scott Base redevelopment is being delivered.
“We’re not looking to make it a hotel any time soon,” says Ceisha Poirot, general manager for policy, environment and safety at Antarctica New Zealand.
“It’s a matter of looking after our people to 2021 standards.”
But Hemmings thinks they may be leaving the hotel-plan door ajar.
Important reviews over the next three decades include the equally aged legal infrastructure. Not only is New Zealand’s policy towards tourism in the Southern Ocean 20 years old, but the international Antarctic Treaties have some important milestones and reviews.
“Most states are hedging their bets, as a result of that ambiguity
. . . after the middle of the century,” Hemmings said.