© Ivo Filatsch TEAM RED
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Mars surface habitats: architectural designs
and concepts for planetary outposts, 2000
Barbara Imhof, Architect, Institut
fuer Hochbau II, TU-Vienna, LIQUIFER
Hans Schartner, Architect, University of Technology, Institute for Design
and Building Construction, Vienna
in cooperation with the Univeristy
of Technology Munich
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It is essential for architects to investigate
every design program for better and revised solutions.
Multifunctional spaces, deployable spaces, the need for noise reduced privacy
- e.g. the Alpha Room, which allows individuals to close themselves from
their surrounding confined environment for private recreation - prove the
point for these investigations. Creating new cross-connections and establishing
relations between different topics and spaces can produce new knowledge.
The future shelter project is an ongoing project and has already led to
distinct new findings up to now. Specifically, it aims to stimulate discussion
on the following specific topics addressed:
- Expandability of habitats as a mean of providing additional
space for individuals in an extreme
environment and thus contributing to the crew members' well-being. This
crucial design parameter is based on the feasibility of implementing
flexiblevolume structures, which have been studied since the 1960's,
on the basis of continued technological progress.
- Upgrading and re-interpreting utility rooms with clearly
defined, mostly technical functions, such as the greenhouse as a supplementary
room offering a particularly pleasant environment for both
recreation and work. This report has focused on the greenhouse as an
example for this general
concept. In view of the beginnings of space tourism, engineering and
technical solutions for this architectural program must be found, e.g.
regarding the materials used and the transport costs involved.
- Flexible inscribed spaces: as opposed to the conventional
concept of multi-functionality, this
type of programmatic space utilization involves multiple use of a space
that is not clearly defined or 'coded'. The space may fulfill different
purposes owing to its physical, but also virtual flexibility.
- Relevance of architecture-specific topics for the field
of space architecture, such as sculptural
values, computer modeled spaces...and the issue “How architecture
is about designing conditions rather than conditioning designs”
(Bernard Tschumi)
- Regarding a space project as an "ordinary"
building project which should also be open to architectural discourse.
More specifically, the "building in space" should also be
assessed according to quality criteria, such as shape, expression, functionality
and technical implementation. The points of discussion raised above
call for a reinterpretation or expansion of traditional design studies,
and are reflected in the design studies shown in this report. They have
left their imprint on the Gestalt and content of the projects:
- The type of expandability and flexibility a habitat
offers, smaller volumes that adapt to climatic
conditions.
- The spatial shape of the habitats – reinterpreting
volumes by inscribing new spaces
- The concept of the greenhouse as a valuable living and
working area
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