Ever wondered what it would be like to live on Mars? Well, now a house designed to showcase the possibilities for human life on the red planet has gone on display in Bristol.
The huge two-storey gold inflatable building, next to M Shed on the Harbourside, was designed by artists Ella Good and Nicki Kent to support an imaginary community on the fourth planet from the sun. The idea is to get people to think about what everyday life would be like if humans settled on Mars and new ways of living on Earth, too.
The duo worked with construction companies, scientists, experts from the University of Bristol, engineers, architects, designers and the public on the project - known as 'Building a Martian House' - over seven years. The building finally opened to the public on Wednesday (August 24).
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According to the artists, the house can withstand temperatures as low as -63C and super-high radiation levels. It is powered by solar panels and has a hydroponic living room - filled with plants - private living space as well as virtual reality and life-support control rooms.
From now until October, Bristolians are being invited to visit and help finish off the interior. All the essentials are up for debate, from Mars-appropriate clothes to wallpaper and toothbrushes, the focus being on items that are easy to repair and are multifunctional.
“Considering how we might live on Mars helps us re-think every aspect of our lives here on Earth,” said Nicki. “Mars is a place where you’d have to live carefully and sustainably and so helps bring sharp focus on how we live today. Our project shows that we can all have input into how we think about the future.”
Southern Construction Framework (SCF) - a public sector support organisation for construction schemes - worked alongside Ella and Nicki, and construction companies including BAM, Galliford Try, Keir, Morgan Sindall, Wates Construction, Sir Robert McAlpine and Willmott Dixon, on the project. Each company provided time, expertise and building materials worth an estimated £170,000 to bring the house to life.
"It’s fair to say we’re all very proud of the Martian House project, and I’m on cloud nine seeing the building form over the last few weeks after over a year of development and coordination,” said Emma Bull, SCF senior framework manager.
Over the next three months there will be a programme of workshops, talks and events at the house, including a live panel discussion with the design team.
Hugh Broughton Architects - experts in extreme architecture - worked in partnership with design studio Pearce+ to develop the design. The firms created a lightweight prototype building which they say can be “easily transported” to Mars while withstanding its inhospitable conditions.
Metro mayor Dan Norris added: “It’s great to see this Martian house land at M Shed, the very first space dwelling to be built in the whole country! This is a really important project - by imagining how we would live on Mars, the Martian House project offers a sharp lens on our lives here on planet Earth, helping focus conversations around how we can live more sustainably.”
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