Centred on the Arctic — The Peirce Quincuncial Projection
Most world maps begin at the equator.
It’s the viewpoint we’ve grown used to — continents stretched horizontally, oceans widening east to west. But the Peirce Quincuncial Projection takes an entirely different approach, centring the globe on the Arctic Circle and arranging the earth within a precise square grid.
The result is a world map that feels both geometric and organic — a mosaic of continents radiating from the North Pole. Visually striking, mathematically elegant, and increasingly relevant today, it offers a perspective that quietly elevates the importance of northern territories — none more so than Greenland.
Re-centring the World Around the Arctic
Unlike traditional world maps that focus on the equator, the Peirce Quincuncial projection centres on the Arctic Circle. With the North Pole positioned at the middle of the square, the northern hemisphere radiates outward — bringing polar regions into prominence rather than pushing them to the margins.
And at the heart of this Arctic focus sits Greenland.
No longer peripheral, Greenland becomes spatially central — reframing how we perceive its role on the world stage.
Greenland — From Edge to Epicentre
On a Mercator projection, Greenland often appears enlarged yet isolated, floating at the top of the map.
Here, it takes on a far more connected role:
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Bridging North America and Europe
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Anchoring trans-Arctic routes
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Linking Atlantic and polar geographies
The layout reflects Greenland’s growing real-world significance — geopolitically, environmentally, and economically.
Why It Feels So Current
Viewing the world through this Arctic-centred lens highlights several modern dynamics:
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Melting ice reshaping climate systems
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Emerging Arctic shipping routes
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Increased focus on natural resources
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Strategic geopolitical positioning
From this perspective, Greenland shifts from remote landmass to global focal point.
Geometry Meets Global Insight
The projection’s square, tiled structure distributes continents in a repeating grid — almost kaleidoscopic in effect — while preserving local shapes through its conformal mathematics.
The result is a projection that is:
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Scientifically grounded
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Visually unconventional
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Historically rich
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Strikingly contemporary
And by centring the Arctic, it mirrors the shifting priorities of our modern world.