A team of designers imagines sustainable housing on Mars
With the modern attention once again focused on the space race, it doesn’t seem too futuristic to envision what everyday life on Mars might look like. Architects Burak Celik, Naz Kaplan and Zeynep Ege Odabasi are ahead of the curve with a prototype of Genesis v.2, an extraterrestrial housing design for our future on the Red Planet.
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With colonization coming into focus as a possibility, the project aims to create an architectural solution that responds to the unique environment on Mars. They also aim to use what we’ve learned on our own planet to build sustainable systems when we do break ground.
Related: What will homes in the future look like?
The concept begins with the basic idea of minimal site impact. In response to this concern, the circular structures will sit within natural craters on the planet. The units have the capacity to adapt to growth within the colony and accommodate the size of different craters.
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The designers feel we have a fresh opportunity to treat the planet better in Martian settlements than we have on our home planet of Earth. Like any planet, Mars also has limited resources. Therefore, energy efficiency, material selection, waste minimization and other sustainable practices must be part of any colonization plan.
It’s a concept model that leaves many questions about building on Mars to answer later. However, Genesis v.2 sets targets for a balance between consumption and production, while presenting a malleable prototype.
The basic idea is to rely on a ring system to support the structures, in addition to using the natural characteristics of the craters. This allows us to create a minimum footprint. It will also have the capability to easily adapt the design for whatever size craters we encounter. With two rings at the basis of each structure, they can be moved or expanded with minimal effort and no demolition waste.
The structure is also designed to respond to the weather conditions. This is to maximize natural light, temperature control and renewable resources, such as biofuel created by algae farming.
+ Burak Celik, Naz Kaplan and Zeynep Ege Odabasi