A Life On Mars

Half Street

ACADEMIC WORK 6 weeks Fall 2022 Design Excellence Recipient

SOFTWARE : Revit, Rhino, AutoCAD, Illustrator, InDesign, Photoshop, Adobe XD

Project

Although architecture has been seemingly constrained by the physical realities of Earth, the architecture of outer space has provided meaningful technological advances in the way we think about structure, systems, and habitation. Through research and history, this project was meant to explore the possibilities of architectural influence outside of our current world.

Solution

A Life on Mars is about more than just survival, it is about finding a way to enjoy living in a completely foreign environment. Erich Ansems, Jadyn Anderson, Emily Jones, and myself designed a series of habitats and larger forms in the largest canyon in the solar system. Erich, Jadyn, and I equally collaborated on most work for this project because of the nature of representation used. We provided the context for a larger community to allow for private and public spaces to coexist while in a unique and evocative environment. The idea of living on mars is currently an extreme take, however, this project pushed the correct boundaries and won the design excellence award for that semester.

by designing habitations for Mars, we can not only advance planetary architecture, but influence the production of architecture on Earth.

WHERE? VALLES MARINERIS

Element Protection

The canyon protects from planet wide electric-dust storms

Thermal Insulation

Extreme martian temperatures are more bearable below the surface

Moisture Content

Studies have revealed that water may exist underground and within the regolith

Radiometric Dating

To learn about martian history and to inform the future

MICRO-STRUCTURE

To solve problems specific to mars, Biomimicry from earth provided a unique answer. The morpho butterfly has a naturally dust-repellent and colorful micro-structure that can be replicated for use in space suits, paint-like substances, and color choice for certain materials. This allows the space suits and other materials to be dust-repellent and gives the ability to choose emotionally responsive colors that contrast the martian environment.

Mental Health

The lighting condition on mars is less drastic than earth because of how the sun’s energy interacts with the planet’s atmosphere. The interior spaces boast circadian rhythm lighting as well as soft colors for enhanced calming and focusing feelings.

The way residents would move around this community was a discussion that persisted the duration of the project. Pictured to the right is the final answer: a series of tunnels that are connected to everything in a horizontal line and pressurized with a breathable environment. Those tunnels are connected by three main elevator cores.

Habs

The habitations in this purposed martian community were driven by the central project idea of living after surviving. Conditions that provide comfort and life here on earth inspired the space layout while elements such as circadian rhythm lighting applied mars specific constraints to the habs. The end product realized a vision that marries modular and engineered with sympathy and livability.

“Plug-in” life support systems module

Aquaponics

In space, food has to be produced in combinations with other usable materials or products. Aquaponics provides the opportunity to grow plants and fish in the same system.