FOUNDATION FOR CONSTRUCTION ON FROZEN SUBSTRATA

A foundation construction, particularly useful for buildings and other supported structures in Arctic regions wherein a permafrost condition typically prevails, is provided by a construction pad having at least one or more perforated and ventilated conduits positioned within a cushion of air-permeable particulate material, said cushion containing the perforated conduit being substantially thermally isolated from the supported structure by means such as encapsulating with an insulating material. Generally, the pad is overburdened with, or imbedded in, a suitable gravel fill material. The pad can substantially reduce, and in certain instances eliminate, the necessity of providing piling supports in Arctic regions and furthermore provides both a thermal barrier restricting heat flowing downward from the building to the frozen substrata and a type of thermal shunt blocking heat from the structure while admitting a certain amount of geothermal heat flowing upward from the ground to an ambient air heat sink.