10:00 03.08.2026
The country’s facade facing the ocean: An expert explains what Arctic architecture should be like
© RIA Novosti / Fred Grinberg
Despite the severity of its climatic conditions, the Arctic region remains an exceptionally significant territory for the country, as it concentrates the most vital natural resources. Simultaneously, the northern regions continue to face the persistent challenge of population outflow. To remedy this, it is imperative to provide residents with infrastructure meticulously tailored to the demanding climate.
This article by the Russian Arctic and Far East Development portal examines the challenges the Far North presents to architects and the solutions advanced by Soviet and Russian specialists.
The extremity of the northern region is defined not only by its harsh climate but also by its sparse population, extraordinarily complex logistics, and distinct economic and social challenges. Nevertheless, the Arctic remains a region of critical importance for the country, affirms Professor Sergei Galeyev, head of the Department of Architecture of Extreme Environments at the Moscow Architectural Institute (MArchi).
“Colossal natural resources are amassed here; therefore, the search for a mutually beneficial equilibrium between human necessities and the fragile, yet unyielding, natural environment assumes paramount importance,” he emphasized.
Adapting architecture to the polar landscape
In an era of rapidly shifting global and climatic conditions, traditional approaches to developing the North are no longer viable, the scholar argues. Nonetheless, prior concepts and projects contain much of enduring value that can be effectively leveraged today.
For instance, in the 1960s and 1970s, architect Alexander Shipkov, who advanced the theory of the living environment under extreme conditions, introduced the concept of noo-architecture, an architectural approach that harmoniously integrates into the austere landscape, rather than merely opposing it.
“Its principal tenet is the ‘trinity of the noo-urban sphere,’ which encompassed the preservation of people, nature, and culture – concepts that have been repeatedly discussed at the International Arctic Forum,” explained Sergei Galeyev.
Design of a residential complex for polar cities by architect Alexander Shipkov of the Leningrad Zonal Institute of Experimental Design
© RIA Novosti / V. Nikitin
The professor further noted that the contributions of Georgy Bagramovich must not be overlooked. He established the engineering groundwork for the region’s development, ranging from the innovation of specialized equipment to the establishment of logistics chains and the training of personnel for the operation of Arctic facilities.
Since that time, there have been no major breakthroughs in the architectural development and construction of the Arctic, and the rate of global change has far outpaced our response.
“Due to outdated transportation systems and resource extraction technologies that are poorly adapted to local conditions, the ecosystem of the Russian Arctic is suffering greatly today. This is precisely why a fundamentally new technological paradigm is required for both the infrastructural arrangement and domestication of territories, as well as for the development of specific mechanisms for architectural adaptation,” the professor observed.
At the same time, Sergei Galeyev stressed, it is essential to remember that people do live beyond the Arctic Circle, and their southward migration continues at a rapid pace. Residents cannot be forcibly compelled to stay. Therefore, it is necessary to create comfortable living conditions and provide people with the requisite infrastructure, such as kindergartens, schools, and hospitals.
“However, at present, developers are reluctant to invest in Arctic housing due to low profitability, high costs, and climatic difficulties. Furthermore, permafrost is gradually thawing, rendering traditional construction not merely expensive but also hazardous,” the scholar underscored.
Facade of a residential building
© RIA Novosti / Alexander Sukhov
Most acute, according to Sergei Galeyev, are the challenges of designing new types of residential communities on perennially frozen soils, as well as infrastructure along the Northern Sea Route. Paradoxically, the waters of this route often prove to be a more stable and predictable environment than the permafrost itself.
A community under a dome and self-propelled platforms
Global warming, the expansion of territories afflicted by extreme environmental events, and the increasing frequency of these phenomena demand urgent action from architects, researchers, and designers.
In light of these challenges, a segment of the architectural community sees promise in the construction of residential mono-block complexes capable of accommodating 200 to 500 people. Such complexes should embody an inclusive approach to polar architecture and operate on alternative energy sources, thereby aligning with the principles of green construction. Experts stress that it is significantly easier to organize a comfortable environment for small residential communities near industrial facilities than for larger cities.
Residential buildings in the city of Norilsk
© RIA Novosti / Alexandr Kryazhev
Sergei Galeyev remarked that dome structures developed during the Soviet era remain highly relevant. These structures can both shelter entire communities, creating an artificial microclimate, and safeguard compact nuclear power stations.
“Moreover, the deployment of self-propelled platforms may hold great promise. For example, architect Vitaly Troshin proposed a design for a self-propelled, walking multifunctional platform capable of supporting industrial, residential, public, and defensive facilities,” he added.
The scholar highlighted that today’s architects confront a host of problems: a relentless climate, a Soviet-era settlement system that has lost its relevance, obsolete technological and urban planning strategies, worn infrastructure, and environmental degradation.
How can these obstacles be overcome? According to Sergei Galeyev, innovative architectural and urban planning concepts alone are insufficient. The solution lies in a comprehensive ideological and philosophical quest, one that must involve not only designers but also administrators at every level.
“At the close of the 19th century, Admiral Stepan Makarov declared, ‘Russia is a building whose facade faces the Arctic Ocean.’ If the Arctic is the facade, then a vast expanse is open to the architect for the realization of this ambitious vision,” he concluded.
