With the huge cost of transporting materials, people and machinery into space, extraterrestrial construction concepts have to utilize local materials and versatile, compact technology. Designs like SEArch+ and ICON's 3D-printed lunar base (pictured) incorporate both -- their initiative, Project Olympus, uses moon dust as the main building material. Scroll through to see more amazing designs for space habitats.
Project Olympus isn't the first foray that SEArch+ has made into space habitat design. In 2019, the New York-based architects won first place in the third phase of NASA's 3D-Printed Habitat Challenge with Mars X House, designed with 3D-printing experts Apis Cor. Much like Project Olympus, this design uses Martian soil to construct a 3D-printed habitat, which blends seamlessly into the dusty red landscape.
In space, the main goal is to "protect the astronauts from extreme environmental conditions," like high levels of radiation, says SEArch+ co-founder Rebeccah Pailes-Friedman. The hourglass shape of Mars X House -- seen here being constructed by robots -- maintains the habitat's pressurized atmosphere, while shaded windows provide both natural light and radiation protection.
In 2015, NASA confirmed the presence of water on Mars — opening up a world of possibilities for human habitats. The Mars Ice House, another concept from SEArch+, turns the ice into water to 3D print an external, transparent, protective shell. Water is an excellent natural barrier against radiation, and temperatures on Mars average around -81F (-63C), allowing the water to freeze and form a permanent ice structure.
Pailes-Friedman says SEArch+ "designs from the human perspective," because during longer missions "human needs become paramount for mission success." While most designs for a habitat on Mars involve underground accommodation, this proposal allows natural light into living areas of the habitat. This innovative conservatory-like building would also house gardens and serve as a recreational space.
Inspired by Russian nesting dolls, Testlab envisions a multi-layered moon base with modular pods beneath a protective membrane. Winner of the 2017 Moontopia Competition, the base includes compartments for sleeping, living and research that can be sized up and down according to requirements. The outer membrane is 3D-printed and shields the structure from radiation and meteorites, as well as capturing hydrogen atoms from solar winds to produce a system for oxygen and water production for the base.
Maximizing natural light while protecting astronauts from radiation is one of the biggest design challenges in space architecture. Lunar Light House is 3D-printed with nano-cellulose, a super strong, translucent substance found in plants which could, potentially, be grown on the moon. The base would be coated in moon dust for extra radiation protection.
While most architecture projects for the moon look at the practicalities of living, eating, sleeping and breathing in space, Arc' de Exploration proposes a monument for the first lunar civilization. Mimicking earthly landmarks like the Arc de Triomphe, the arch is designed to be seen from afar and beautifully frames the planet it orbits.
While most habitat proposals for the moon aim to house four astronauts, some look at scaling up. "Moon Village," a project by architects Skidmore, Owings and Merrill (SOM) in collaboration with the European Space Agency and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, conceptualizes a modular design with interconnected inflatable pods. A solid external frame -- rather than a solid central core -- allows each module to be used flexibly and protects occupants from the moon's harsh environment.
SOM has suggested placing the base at the moon's south pole. Little studied, this area is of interest to scientists, and looks like a good place to set up a lunar habitat: with continual daylight for more than 200 days a year and situated close to moon ice sites, it would allow access to water and solar energy.
Taking several giant leaps, international architects Abiboo have envisioned an entire Martian city for up to 250,000 inhabitants. Nüwa City is comprised of a network of tunnels and pod-like "macro-buildings" built into the steep cliff face. This offers protection from radiation and meteorites while still providing sunlight through sheltered windows.
Nüwa City is designed to be built from local materials, including carbon and other minerals. The plans include ideas for the production of food, oxygen and energy, as well as water processing. The city would initially be supplied by Earth but, ultimately, it would become self-sufficient and sustainable.
From the same architects who built Spaceport America comes another futuristic space building — this time, for Mars. Foster+Partners' speculative space base features a modular design, mixing 3D-printing with prefab inflatable structures, which can easily be extended.
Foster+Partners' Mars habitat would be powered by solar energy, while autonomous robots would 3D-print protective shells and fit inflatable habitat pods into them ahead of astronauts landing on the Red Planet. The habitats would be completed by the first human arrivals.
Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) conceived a simple but effective way to survive on Mars: live in a bubble. Giant inflatable biospheres create a pressurized habitat, with 3D-printed buildings, gardens and pavilions inside.
While most space bases are purely theoretical, BIG adapted its design in 2017 for a potential Earth-bound prototype in the Emirati Desert outside of Dubai. If chosen for the project, Mars Science City would join Dubai's Mohammed Bin Rashid Space Centre (MBRSC) as an education and research center.
BIG has continued developing 3D-printed space base concepts, and its latest project with ICON is backed by NASA. The donut-shaped habitat is packed with moon dust on the outside, to protect from radiation and meteorite impacts.