From the Arctic Drifter to the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Station, these buildings were made to provide comfort in the harshest of conditions

Designed to endure the extreme weather of polar ice caps, these structures -- almost alien in appearance -- are like nothing we have seen before. Their unique aesthetic, however, is nothing more, and nothing less, than an honest response to the specific locations and climates in which they've been constructed. Their shells, as you can see, are completely stripped of the unnecessary or decorative, adornments that might be unfit for the harsh conditions.

Recent climate changes have presented extreme design with an even greater impetus to address adaptability and mobility, and it is a fact worth noting that these fascinating buildings have gradually grown more and more capable of providing their inhabitants with comfort and protection from the elements.

View the complete OpenBuildings collection: Sub-Zero Structures.

Image: Hugh Broughton Architects.