Life Beyond Earth Architects at SOM team up with The University of Manchester to envision graphene-enhanced structures in space.
What does an architectural practice do when
advanced structural capabilities such as radiation
they’ve mastered the built environment on planet
shielding, as well as developing and employing
Earth? They set their sights on outer space, of
a new generation of robotic machines to make
course. Having designed everything from airports
these graphene-enhanced frameworks, has the
and hotels to workplaces and cultural institutions
potential to revolutionise high-performance
– not to mention the world’s tallest skyscraper –
lightweight forms.
Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) have now put forward a vision for a space habitat. Working with experts at The University of
supported by Graphene@Manchester, which leads
Manchester, the interdisciplinary studio has
business-facing development of graphene at the
revealed what human life in space could look like
university – are creating a scaled prototype of a
– with a graphene-enhanced habitat developed
space habitat with pressurised vessels designed
to meet anticipated demand for settlements
to function in a space environment.
beyond Earth. “As architects, our role is to
“The work being led by Dr Koncherry and his
combine and integrate the most innovative
colleagues is taking the development of new
technologies, materials, methods, and above all
composites and lightweighting to another level,
the human experience to designing inhabited
as well as the advanced manufacture needed to
environments,” comments Daniel Inocente,
make structures from these new materials,”
Senior Designer at SOM. “Conducting research
explains James Baker, CEO of Graphene@
using graphene allows us to test lightweight
Manchester. “By collaborating with SOM there
materials and design processes that could
are opportunities to identify applications on our
improve the efficacy of composite structures for
own planet as we look to build habitats that are
potential applications on Earth and future use
much smarter and more sustainable.”
in space.”
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Adding to SOM’s design and engineering expertise, Dr Vivek Koncherry and his team –
The space habitat launch coincides with a
Graphene, which was first isolated by Nobel
series of world-firsts for graphene in the built
Prize-winning scientists at Manchester in
environment – including the first external pour
2004, offers new possibilities in a variety of
of graphene-enhanced Concretene, a pioneering
applications. Incorporating the material for
road surfacing material.
