New laboratory is to be built at Bulgaria’s Antarctic base

This year, Bulgaria starts the construction of a new modern research laboratory building at the country’s Antarctic base.

Bulgaria has received the recognition to host the annual meeting of the Council of Managers of National Antarctic Programs.

Professor Hristo Pimpirev, head of the Bulgarian Antarctic Institute, which co-ordinates Bulgarian activities in Antarctica, said in an interview for BNT on August 2 that for 30 years Bulgaria has been a respected nation for its achievements in polar research. Therefore, it was selected to host such an event, because it defines the direction of the polar studies of all the great countries exploring this continent, including Bulgaria, he added. Prof. Pimpirev explained that it is important for the team to have a building where research can be carried out.

Penka Stancheva, the architect of the Bulgarian laboratory in Antarctica told BNT that the project was designed to replicate the forms of the existing buildings, at the same time to be simple, modular and repeatable, to allow easier installation in the harsh conditions of Antarctica.