ARCHITECTUAL CONCEPT & DESIGN

It all began by drawing inspiration from nature. In an attempt to spark the notion of community in space, beehives were chosen as the primary concept for this project, as well as one of the main research topics on this mission. This concept offers many advantages when it comes to space. One of them, of course, being its geometrical advantages, such as: compared to a circular shape, the hexagon doesn’t leave an empty space between each hive; It has a flat surface „walls“, making it perfect for attaching additional units; allows equal expansion in multiple directions, while providing sufficient space for multiple functionalities, making it a perfect choice for our mission as the primary goal is expansion.

The main design objectives are the following:

- All necessary functionalities within one module

- Multi-directional expansion ability of the module

- A fully automated deployment process.

The habitat is designed as a hybrid structure, which includes a telescopic rigid core in the middle and an inflatable. During transport, the top of the core carries interior elements, and is used as a water tank after assembly. The bottom carries waste management equipment. A cupola allows natural light to enter right in the center of the unit, the water tank around protects from radiation. Two metal frames contained within one another form the telescopic structure. The center of the unit is where the sanitary facility will be located.