![]() ![]() This is because the conditions at many locations in the two polar regions are suitable for testing vehicles and equipment in the field. The Arctic and Antarctic are also important places for space travel. “The future looks great, our design worked better than expected which puts us on a solid trajectory to build in outer space,” Aristotelis concludes.The polar regions are not only of interest to natural scientists engaged in research on Earth. Having lived for months in conditions that resemble those in outer space, the two young architects collected a significant amount of data which they will analyze with a focus on human well-being and psychology. It’s far away, remote and isolated so the experiment conditions forced our design to be easy to deploy,” said Aristotelis. At the same time, the arctic has the most similar lighting conditions to the moon. The cold arctic was the best bet for that. If we as architects want to test the effect of architectural countermeasures in space we also need to simulate a realistic amount of stress on the participants (in our case ourselves). “We wanted to make the most realistic simulation mission. The duo also collected data about their psychological wellbeing, the impact of isolation, and how to deal with conflicts under extreme conditions which will help them make LUNARK even better for real missions. In the two months spent in extreme isolation in Greenland, SAGA collected data about the performance of the unfolding origami structure and the circadian light panels that form the artificial sky inside the habitat. The two architects, Sebastian Aristotelis and Karl-Johan Sørensen, then went on a two-month mission to experience extreme isolation in northern Greenland where they tested LUNARK and its technologies themselves for future moon missions while enduring -30°c, hurricane winds, and hungry polar bears! We wanted to create a home, not a survival machine – and the habitat really ended up feeling like home,” adds Aristotelis.Įarlier in 2020, SAGA developed a prototype for LUNARK using the principles of Japanese origami folding with biomimicry. So we needed a much more pleasant living environment. We are not trained professional astronauts, our tolerance is much lower. ![]() Furthermore, the interior design and spatial organization worked well. The unfolding was possible by just two people and no heavy machinery – and in the extreme cold of the arctic. “The habitat worked beyond all expectations. The main principle behind LUNARK is its expanding volume, as the structure expands 750% after transport while testing it was a great success as it was easy to unfold and strong enough to withstand the extreme environment. Its exterior is tough as a tank while its interior is a cozy home with a sense of Nordic “hygge”. ![]() It unfolds from a tight bud to a large ovoid shape with a rigid carbon fiber shell. LUNARK’s form was inspired by the patterns seen in a budding leaf as it unfolds and origami. The LUNARK habitat shows what can happen when the architect steps back and allows the extreme environment on the Moon and the high arctic to mold a habitat around human beings. SAGA has one mission – make outer space a little cozier for future human inhabitants. SAGA is a Danish architecture studio that designed LUNARK which is a modular shelter that expands and becomes 750 times its original size! It was crucial to design a structure that would be easily transportable (to the moon!), have a zero-waste ecosystem, and could withstand arctic temperatures and meteor showers – LUNARK does it all, in fact, it was taken out on a test run in Greeland by the architects themselves! Studying space exploration is a side hobby of mine so this extreme-weather resistant origami moon habitat is one of my dream homes. ![]()
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