Graduate Architect | Designer
KLAF2019 Competition - Shortlisted Entry
Mars First Colony : The Mars Intelligent Greenhouse
The beginning of the project will need a base camp to be set up on Mars and a greenhouse may be the answer. The M.I.G is a modular intelligent greenhouse unit for Mars. One unit is designed to accommodate 13 settlers. 8 modular units will make up a circle that will be the first human colony on Mars to hold 104 people in total. The unit is semi-buried to protect humans from the hostile mars environment. In order for humans to survive, we have to create a liveable environment where the basic human need is met: shelter, security, water, food, and breathable air.
Concept
A basic greenhouse is a structure with walls and roof made of transparent material in which plants requiring regulated climatic conditions are grown. The Mars Intelligent Greenhouse (MIG) takes the concept of a basic greenhouse function; that is a controlled environment. The MIG is the controlled environment created to protect the lives it holds which will hold plants and human life as well. Humans are interdependent with plants as we need oxygen from the plants, while plants benefit from the carbon dioxide humans have released. The key to creating a contained liveable environment is the growth of plants.
Special-feature
The design of the MIG's most crucial structure is the shell that will be the exposed part of the structure. The material for the shell will be of the tough metal support structure with quartz glass that can withstand heating and cooling without cracking. The transparency of the glass is vital to provide sunlight to the interior. The upper part of the shell is an intelligent surface structure where it can harvest solar energy via photovoltaic panels and doubles as radiation protection. How this works is that it trap ice and convert to water; water is radiation protection.
Construction/buildability
With the technological advances made to date, it is possible to make telecommunication to Mars via robots. The first ship to be sent to Mars will contain robots, machinery, and necessary materials from the earth. The robots and machinery will be controlled from the earth for the 1st stage of colonization. Once the machines are positioned, it will start to dig up the foundation. After that, the construction of the rest of the structure will begin and the assembly of the modular unit will be monitored one at a time. The construction is further reinforced with the help of mixing martian soil with sulfur that produces strong and quick-drying concrete.
Once the base camp is prepared, it is ready for humans to come. The 2nd stage of colonization is when the second ship will arrive with human passengers ready to live at the already set-up base camp. It is crucial for humans to constantly monitor the environmental conditions during the construction process so that we can predict the possibility of growing crops in the new structure. Once humans have arrived, they can start planting seeds or plants in the greenhouse. They can also check first-hand on the structure and continue any necessary adjustments on-site when needed.
