Conservation carpenter Jo Oliver shares how we have introduced a simple, carefully designed solution to manage rainwater and protect Bransfield House while preserving its original character.
As precipitation increases on the Antarctic Peninsula, our historic buildings at Port Lockroy are facing new challenges. This season, Dan and I – serving as conservation carpenters at Port Lockroy –introduced a subtle yet effective intervention to protect the buildings from water damage, while preserving their historic character.
A changing climate on the Antarctic Peninsula
One of the most noticeable shifts in weather patterns on the Antarctic Peninsula is an increase in precipitation. As temperatures rise, more of this falls as rain rather than snow. For the historic buildings in our care, this presents a growing conservation challenge.
The structures, erected in 1944, were never designed to cope with sustained rainfall. Built primarily from timber, they are particularly vulnerable to water ingress and the long-term risk of decay. Antarctica has traditionally been considered a polar desert, and when these buildings were constructed, extensive weatherproofing was not seen as necessary.
You can read more about how we are addressing these wider challenges in our previous blog on Port Lockroy: Managing the melt: tackling water and drips at Port Lockroy
Balancing preservation with practical intervention
As conservators, our approach must always be both sensitive and pragmatic. We aim to protect these buildings without making significant changes to their historic appearance or character.
At Port Lockroy, increased rainfall has led us to explore ways of managing water more effectively. One key issue is rainwater running down the building’s exterior, particularly over vulnerable elements such as window joinery. Left unchecked, this can lead to water ingress and gradual deterioration of timber features.
To address this, we developed a simple drip detail designed to direct water away from the building. The aim is not to radically alter the structure, but to introduce a discreet addition that improves its resilience.
A simple solution: the drip detail
The solution we devised is deliberately straightforward: a wooden moulding fixed to the face of the building, extending the roofline slightly outward. This encourages rainwater to fall clear of the walls, rather than running down their surface.
A small slot on the underside of the moulding ensures that water cannot track back towards the building. Instead, it drops cleanly to the ground, reducing the risk of moisture penetrating the structure.
This intervention was installed during the renovation of the north wall of the New Generator Shed, AKA the shop, this season. Alongside the drip detail, the project also included faithfully reconstructed windows, new felt on the walls, and a replacement fascia.
Materials and method
Larch was selected for the moulding due to its durability and its close match to the original building materials. The installation process involved carefully peeling back the existing roofing felt and then reinstating it over the new moulding, ensuring the addition itself is well protected from the elements.
In keeping with the building’s appearance, the underside of the drip detail was painted black to blend seamlessly with the existing structure.
Why simple works best
Where possible, we favour mechanical solutions like this—ones that rely on basic principles such as gravity rather than modern sealants or specialist materials. In such a remote and extreme environment, simplicity often proves to be the most reliable and sustainable approach.
The finished result achieves exactly what we set out to do: a practical, effective way to shed water away from the building, while preserving the historic look and feel that makes Port Lockroy so special.
If you love a place, protect it
UKAHT is committed to making Antarctica, its heritage and its stories accessible to everyone.
Eighty years in Antarctica have left their mark on this beloved site. Now, Port Lockroy urgently needs restoration to protect its future. Please donate today.
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