Habitation in Extreme Environments (Harvard GSD Studio Reports)

In a context of harsh environments, it is especially important to design buildings that respond to prevailing conditions. Given dramatic climate shifts, housing design translates into a matter of immediate life safety. Remote settlements in the North must be designed and constructed in accordance with ideas of self-sufficiency and back-up energy systems. This situation requires incisive designs that respond to irregular loading from strong winds, heavy snowfall, avalanches, and extreme cold. The dichotomy between vernacular housing traditions and the latest innovation in building technology establishes an interesting terrain for the design of comfortable living environments. Designing inhabitable environments must therefore respond effectively to scarcity, inaccessibility, and unpredictability with innovation particular to extreme climates.