‘Mars Trip’: Architecture Design Competition for Space center 2040 — Design Competition
Reaching outer space
We have always looked up in the night and have wondered about our place in the universe. This wonder and curiosity have accelerated space exploration to new heights. From fiction to reality, space exploration began after WW2 with strong rockets and aircraft, the Soviets and Americans started their journey into space. Sputnik 1 was the first artificial satellite in space. In 1961, Yuri Gagarin became the first human to orbit the earth, and in 1960 Neil Amstrong was the first human to step on the moon. The era after the moon landing inspired many to take space exploration seriously, giving hope to mankind. Science has moved fast in exploring unheard domains and understanding the mysteries of the universe. Technological upgrades are being introduced every day, paving ways towards insights into space travel.
In the past few decades, no legendary feats like landing on moon space exploration had lost a significant public interest till visionary private companies have started talking about space travel in a new light.
It has again sparked the curiosity of the common man.
Mission Mars
After the journey to the moon, the next step for major space programs was Mars. Early highlights of Mars missions comprise NASA’s Mariner 4 spacecraft, which in 1965 captured the first close-up images of this foreign world. It was followed by the Soviet space program that sent the first spacecraft into Martian, capturing eight months of observations about the planet. Simultaneously, over the years other countries started their space programs and launched orbiters that collected more detailed data every time.
Every 26 months, Mars and Earth align in a way that minimizes travel times and expense, enabling interplanetary journeys in almost half a year. In 2020 many agencies launched probes during this period, including UAE, China, and the United States. Studying the planet’s history and topography gives a whole lot of information about planetary changes, and habitable conditions.
In the next 25–30 years NASA and many other agencies promise human landing on Mars and we may finally know the possibilities of multi-planetary habitats.
Brief of the competition
All the probes and orbiters are the groundwork for sending humans to Mars. NASA is targeting 2030 as a year for sending human life on Mars. Orion, a space capsule is being developed to ferry humans on the moon and as well as Mars in the future. SpaceX, the newest player in revolutionary technologies is also into getting to Mars, Elon Musk, its CEO has publicly said humanity must become a multi-planetary species. His agendas include million people living on Mars before the end of this century. In the possible future of Mars landing and further ventures, how will space exploration after 10 years of the landing, be viewed like?
How will Mars landing change perspectives and encourage the youth?
How will space centers of the future change with this inspired demographic and future technologies?
How will architecture house this future and interactive spaces in a space center?
Brief: Envision a Space Centre set in 2030 where we have landed on Mars. Design based on the trends of today that would possibly evolve in 2040.
Design objectives
The challenge is to design a space exploration center primarily for kids and teenagers to ignite the spark for learning about outer space. The center for space is not a space history museum. It is a place where the young generation can learn and be a part of activities about outer space, experience the life of astronauts through simulation and trends in VR and AR that could engage themselves in other fun learning activities.
The center must reflect upon the values of a never-ending quest for knowledge and will to explore beyond bounds. It should be a manifestation of human achievement and a symbol of hope for the future.
- Evolution: How will the place evolve with more dynamic technologies?
- Spaces: What will be the spaces like for viewing, interaction, and play function?
- Learning: What will spaces of learning look like? Experiment with alternate typologies and evolving trends to make learning fun.
- Child Friendly: Should be designed with the young generation in mind.
The above objectives can be a point of beginning to conceive this design.
Participants can assume their context before beginning their design problem.
Site
- Location: Florida, USA
- Site Area: 15,361 sq.m.
- Height restriction: 12 meters
- Maximum Built Up Area: 15,361 sq.m.
- Ground coverage: 50%
- Coordinates: 28°31'37.2"N 80°39'43.2"W
Kennedy launch site has witnessed launches of legendary missions and will continue to do so. The faculty consists of extensive facilities for real space missions and related programs. The site is located near the Launch Site in Florida. MarsTrip 2040 will act as an extension to the existing space center and facilities.
Originally published at https://uni.xyz.
