Abstract
Picture Singapore and Antarctica: Antarctica - one of the largest, remote and most sparsely populated continent in the world. Now contrast this with Singapore - one of the smallest, most connented and most densely populated nations in the world. The two could not be more different. Yet, the fates of the two are interwined. Our prolific use of energy contributes to Singapore ranking 26th in terms of CO2 emissions per capita1, the effects of which are contributing to the melting of ice at the poles and the subsequent rise of sea levels globally. As a low-lying island, Singapore is especially vulnerable to this. What happens to Singapore matters. But what is happening to Antarctica also matters, especially since so many are unaware to its plight. Often known as ‘the last frontier’, Antarctica is the most undeveloped continent in the world, partly due to the Antarctic Treaty System (ATS)8 which came into force in 1961. The ATS is a series of treaties aiming to curtail anthropogenic activities on the continent, covering a range of issues from the banning of arms testing to the protection of the landmass’s flora andfauna. However, in recent years, its reputation as an isolated, pristine and otherworldly landscape has attracted an increasing amount of attention from would-be visitors9, outside the current population of researches permanently or semi-permanently stationed there. If not properly handled, this attention may be a burgeoning issue for the continent’s unique ecosystem as the Environmental Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty does not specifically address tourism itself. Additionally, this trend of increased visitor numbers may intensify with the expiration of the ATS in 2048 – global geo-politics may not allow for its renewal in its current form, meaning the previously unclaimed and untouched, resource and nature- laden land is up for grabs by keen countries, and with it, the provision for more human settlement on the continent. With this in mind, how can I manipulate space and architecture in order to come up with a solution that may help Antarctica cope with potential mass tourism/ influx of people?