My final project for my Space/Materiality class was to create our own design of a Martian habitat that would support humans to live on Mars. In the end, my final product was a futuristic double layered dome, designed to fit in the harsh environment and cold temperature of mars. First of all, I did lots of research on Mars as a planet; its environment, climate conditions, food supply, etc. The problem I focused on is its climate, including strong wind, and extreme solar radiation. This part of the research allowed me to get an idea of what kind of structure is needed so that humans could inhabit it. I looked up real materials that would be able to survive strong wind and protect us from extreme radiation, and what came up was to make a double-walled structure with its outer lining made out of glass because glass is strong and allows light to still pass through. For the inner part of the double walled structure, I could make it out of concrete which would be made out of Martian rocks.
After researching the practical things, I then sketched my designs and ideas. My main focus was to make something futuristic, which is why from all my sketches, I chose the alien-like dome, which is shiny and iridescent to make it look like a spacecraft and would reflect the Martian surface, therefore able to camouflage in Mars. I first looked at different materials to imitate the real materials for the Martian habitat. I decided to use foam as a replacement to the concrete because it is easy to form, allowing me to shape it alien-like. I found an iridescent paper that allows me to make a shiny surface. I decided to use thin acrylic to replace the glass as the double wall layer. The whole making process includes shaping the foam, pasting iridescent paper and then heating the acrylic using a heat gun to create a double walled structure.
My sources of inspiration were previous designs of martian habitat, it allowed me to think of the structure of my design but also the materials that are possible. I was also inspired by futuristic things (spaceships, rocket forms, alien habitat designs) because this habitat would only exist in the future. Overall this project made me move outside the box, I had to really think of new designs and materials that were possible yet also innovative, which is not easy since it is not something I am used to doing since it requires a lot of research, data gathering, and creative thinking.
