Cathedrals on Mars: conversations with an Italian Space Architect
Milan / Italy 〰️ Melbourne / Australia 〰️ Moon & Mars / Milky Way
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Milan / Italy 〰️ Melbourne / Australia 〰️ Moon & Mars / Milky Way 〰️
Spacehuman, Valentina Sumini in zero gravity. Image: MIT, Steve Boxall
TL;DR: A little while from now, in a galaxy not too far, far away… (spoiler alert: it’s our one)
So what? You might be taking a sip of fresh water thawed from Martian permafrost, harvesting tomatoes in a greenhouse on Mars, or planning your next vacay to a hotel on the Moon, all designed by Space Architect Valentina Sumini.
All architects wrestle with ‘space’ as a design constraint, but Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Media Lab Research Affiliate, Valentina Sumini, is a literal Space Architect. That’s right—a capital “S” Space Architect.
While she originally trained as an architect and engineer, Sumini’s love for the extra terrestrial dates back to 2009 when she designed MOOREA, a hotel on the moon. Since then, she’s designed an award winning low earth orbiting Space Hotel, a greenhouse on Mars, a system for extracting ice and water from Martian permafrost (what the?), and an immersive portal to improve the psycho-physical wellbeing of astronauts during space missions, to name a few.
Space Architecture is a multidisciplinary endeavour, one that Sumini’s research shows has the power to influence our species’ terrestrial destiny here on earth in the face of climate change—and in the extraterrestrial environments we might call home in the future.
At Tools For After, a major exhibition bringing together Italian thinkers from architecture, design, and science, Sumini helped us navigate the complexities of Space Architecture, the synergy between designing for Earth and outer space, and what pizza has to do with life aboard the International Space Station (ISS).
NV: Nice to meet you, Valentina! I have to say, your bio is one of the most fascinating I’ve ever seen. Can you tell me about how you got started working in space exploration?
VS: Throughout my life, I've been deeply influenced by the allure of space exploration. As many of my generation and even more in the youngest ones that came after the Moon race and the first space exploration season, the quest for a new frontier has been a very strong stimulus. However, it was my exposure to initiatives like the MIT Space Exploration Initiative within MIT Media Lab that truly ignited my passion, enhancing such a stimulus and giving birth to the idea that it could be real in an effective “democratic” way.
How did MIT fuel your conviction for the importance of space exploration?
The MIT Space Exploration Initiative not only fostered my enthusiasm but also instilled in me the belief that space exploration could become a reality through collective effort and innovation. It inspired me to actively engage in the design of cutting-edge technologies, architecture, and the development of human experiences that are shaping our vision of a Sci-Fi space future.
Can you tell us what Space Architecture is?
The inception of Space Architecture represents a profound shift in the way we think about design. It emerged not only from the necessity of creating habitable environments in space but also from a collective realisation that architecture could transcend the boundaries of our home planet.
Given the field of Space Architecture is relatively new compared to Earth Architecture, what sort of other disciplines does the field work with?
Indeed, Space Architecture underscores the importance of this multidisciplinary endeavour, acknowledging that it draws upon orbital mechanics, psychology, medicine, design, and art, among other fields.
In several research papers this notion has been reinforced by highlighting the essential role of Space Architecture as a bridge between human space exploration and design innovation. It emphasises the collaborative nature of Space Architecture, bringing together experts from various fields to address the complex challenges of designing for space.
How do you even begin to design for environments like the Moon or Mars? And, do you have any idea when we’ll know more about what our lives could look like living there?
On the Moon nothing in the local environment can be considered useful for life: so this implies that we should be able to build a complete life capsule. For Mars it could be quite different and the context more positive and feasible: but we have to wait for the final step of the Perseverance Mars Return mission in 2033 and analyse what the Earth return module will give us to effectively evaluate such possibilities.
A panorama of the surface of Mars. Image: Perseverance, NASA
I’d say most Earth based developers, architects and engineers would say “Perseverance” is an apt name for the development, approvals and construction process itself. What are some of the constraints that Space Architects have to think about when designing?
Space Architecture, the fusion of architectural design and space exploration, confronts a multitude of challenges in its quest to design habitable environments beyond Earth. One of the most fundamental challenges lies in the stark contrast between our home planet, with its life sustaining atmosphere, and the vacuum or thin atmospheres of celestial bodies such as Low Earth Orbit (LEO), the Moon, and Mars.
The reduced gravity of the Moon and Mars, being substantially weaker than Earth's, does not inherently offer significant benefits for habitat structures that are pre-integrated on Earth. This is mainly because these structures are primarily designed to withstand the prevalent pressurisation load and the rigorous launch loading experienced under Earth's gravity.
Then, the challenge posed by the cosmic rays and the solar flares, i.e. we have to protect life from radiation and from the activation issues posed by the radiation fields. Last but no least, the risk posed by the impact of micro-meteoroids.
Ok those are definitely different design constraints to hoping a kitchen gets good sunlight, or preserving heat in winter. How do we get building materials up to other planets and moons? Will we still build in space with materials we’re familiar with on Earth like timber, concrete and steel?
The primary challenge lies in the fact that we cannot transport all our resources from Earth. Therefore, we aim to master the utilisation of in-situ materials (In Situ Resource Utilization – ISRU), such as lunar and Martian regolith, ice water, and possibly 3D printed components. We also focus on establishing autonomous robotic mining techniques to extract the necessary resources for construction and life support systems.
MARINA, a Low Earth Orbit hotel. Image: MIT
Why is it important that humans discover ways to sustainably live on other planets? I mean, shouldn’t we concentrate our efforts on our home planet—or do you think we can discover more through exploring both?
We are in search of a new frontier, a fresh opportunity. It's unimaginable to accept that we are bound to remain confined solely to our home planet, Earth. However, as every astronaut knows, Earth looks so beautiful and fragile from space that we should implement any effort to preserve it.
When working for Space Applications, we are aware that the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030 are not only a target that we could eventually miss, but a standard that we must comply with practically in every aspect.
The title “How we will live together” chosen by Professor Hashim Sarkis, Dean of MIT School of Architecture and Planning, for the Venice Biennale 2021 where, for a first time, a space-oriented installation like the Moon Village (designed by SOM, MIT and European Space Agency) has been presented and displayed in all its fundamental aspects, perfectly describes the goal that the Space Architecture shares with everyday life.
MIT, ESA and SOM’s inflatable Moon Village. Image: SOM
It’s somehow reassuring to know that Space Architecture and architecture here on earth can have a kind of symbiotic relationship, rather than one in competition. It’s also strangely reassuring to reflect on the fact that what we as a species create in space, will have its roots in disciplines we’ve created here on Earth too.
If we would look to a possible way of life for humans in space, we have to consider that Space Architecture is an interdisciplinary field that emerges from the convergence of multiple domains, interlacing space sciences, architecture, engineering, robotics, industrial design, medicine, ergonomics, psychology, and art. This dynamic discipline governs the design of habitats tailored for space missions, whether in Low Earth Orbit or on celestial bodies like the Moon or Mars.
Indeed, Space architecture requires an engineering mindset that incorporates human factors and architectural principles. It is essential to prioritise human requirements and construct structures capable of sustaining human life both physiologically and psychologically. Design considerations should prioritize safety and comfort, with a human-centered approach being paramount, as future astronauts residing in these settlements will experience prolonged periods of isolation and confinement. Consequently, architectural designs must accommodate human needs and provide spaces that promote comfort and wellbeing.
Furthermore, the imperative to maintain a careful balance and effectively manage limited resources such as energy, water, air, and food reinforces the need for a heightened awareness of sustainability. Applying similar principles and criteria when addressing sustainability concerns on Earth can contribute to guiding humanity towards a secure and prosperous future.
“The time span associated with the implementation of the life environment on Mars is like the one that in the past architects considered in the Middle Age when building the more famous cathedrals: none of them had the chance to see their work finished...”
Prompt: A cathedral on the surface of Mars. Image: Midjourney
On Earth how do you design for a future with environmental conditions that are likely to become more challenging with climate change?
When addressing the challenges posed by climate change on Earth, we draw inspiration from the famous NASA motto: “Failure is not an option.” In space, every aspect of life and related devices must be inherently sustainable. We aspire to extend this “sustainability by design” approach to our design principles for terrestrial activities
And conversely, on Mars how do you design for the current environment with a view towards improving Mars’ environmental conditions over time?
The time span associated with the implementation of the life environment on Mars is like the one that in the past architects considered in the Middle Age when building the more famous cathedrals: none of them had the chance to see their work finished. We can develop some ideas, but it is an extremely long process.
What an incredible analogy. Personally I find it hard to relate to the concept of living in space, it seems so far removed from my life. Having that timeline metaphor of the cathedrals is somehow grounding as a concept. What’s something else that people who don’t think about Space Architecture every day might be curious to know about living in extreme conditions?
Did you know that astronauts on the ISS have enjoyed delicious pizza? They use tomato sauce as a 'glue' to keep the toppings together in the low-gravity environment. Just ask Italian astronaut Paolo Nespoli!
Thats amazing—and so perfectly Italian! Speaking of which, what do you hope people who engage with Tools for After learn?
What we hope you take away from engaging with Tools for After, both at the exhibition and through our literature program, is a sense of unwavering hope and a commitment to embracing new ideas. We encourage you to reflect on your current way of life and consider adopting a sustainable 'by design' approach in your daily routine.
Tools For After is presented by The Italian Cultural Institute of Melbourne. Architecture at Tools For After presents alternative ecological, natural and biotechnological materials for a culture of construction that ranges from ancient cultures of building to projects for a human environment on other planets.
