UK Artists Unveil Two-Story Inflatable House Design for Living on the Harsh Red Planet
Video: Reuters
Artists Ella Good and Nicki Kent have teamed up with a diverse group of space scientists, architects, engineers, designers, and even children to explore how humans could live on Mars. This innovative house is the culmination of a seven-year research project, designed by experts experienced in creating structures for extreme conditions, such as those found in Antarctica.
The two-story, 53m2 house is powered by solar panels and is built to withstand average temperatures of -63 degrees Celsius. It features a living room surrounded by hydroponically grown plants, providing residents with a relaxing environment that supports a healthy diet.
The research team considered both transporting materials to the Red Planet and utilizing what is available there, including a type of makeshift concrete made from water and hard soil found on the planet’s surface.
Simulation of an inflatable house on Mars. (Photo: Hugh Broughton)
Prototype of the inflatable house on Mars displayed in Bristol, UK.
“The key to living on Mars is that your buildings must be completely airtight, as the external atmosphere is essentially toxic. It also needs to shield against all cosmic radiation and harmful solar radiation. Therefore, our house will be partially built underground, inside the large craters that exist beneath the Martian surface. That is where the bedrooms and bathrooms will be located. The living room—the yellow inflatable section—will be above ground,” said Hugh Broughton, the lead architect of the house.
The prototype of the Martian house is currently on display at a public art project in Bristol, UK, and will be open to the public from late August to the end of October. The project also aims to demonstrate how humans can live more sustainably on Earth.
“This is a place for people to think about life in the future and how the prospect of living on Mars relates to how we live on Earth. Because when on Mars, you will have to live in a really small community. You will need to fix everything when it breaks and consider every aspect of your daily life,” Ella added.
