Skidmore, Owings & Merrill

Life Beyond Earth results from an international multidisciplinary initiative to explore the limitations of inhabited environments beyond earth including advancing the territory of architecture and inspiring usto confront the consequences of future societiesin new environments.This work examines what it takes to maintain life underthe extreme conditions of extraterrestrial environments. By working together, SOM and ESA established a unique cross-functional multidisciplinary design and engineering methodology.The partnership implemented an unconventional approach to develop near-term habitat architecture and strategies for master planning lunarinfrastructure. Allowing science, industry, human factors and experience to influence the outcome.
Life Beyond Earth showcases a singular capsule, part of the larger proposed Moon Village, which harnessesthe creative and scientific expertise of the building and space industriesto utilize current and near-term technologies that can be implemented.The installation examines a fundamentally different way of integrating space architecture and urbanism with self-reliance, autonomousliving, and sustainable resource management to provide a distinct way of life beyond earth.

Image 1 – How will we live together?
In Life Beyond Earth, Skidmore, Owings & Merrill and the European Space Agency explore what it would take to extend human civilization beyond earth and establish a new frontier in space. 

Photo: Moon Village © SOM | Slashcube Gmb

Image 2 – Sneak peek of the project

Image 2a
Life Beyond Earth represents a commitment to inspire the international community – the public, government, and industry – about the potential for long-term habitation on the Moon. 

Image 2b
Life Beyond Earth will present a futuristic concept for space architecture, and illuminate how that concept can provide into coexistence and resource utilization to solve problems on earth.

Photos: Moon Village © SOM | Slashcube GmbH

SOM: Colin Koop, AIA; Daniel Inocente, LEED AP; Georgi Petrov, PE, AIA, LEED; Preetam Biswas, PE, LEED; Christoph Timm, AIA; Saul Hayutin, AIA; Stanley King, PE; Catharine Pyenson, AIA; Lu Lu; Yike Qin, AIA; Edwin O’Brien; David Amdie; Leathen Hanlon; Luke Leung, PE, LEED Fellow; Jesse Beacom; Alice Guarisco; Michael Cascio, PE; Tony Zhang, AIA, NCARB; Donald Marmen; Marzia Sedino; Michael Filar; Alexander Smillie; Sheya Finkelstein; Nathan Bluestone; Ryan Flores; David Vanderhoff; Grace Hsu

ESA: Johann-Dietrich Wörner; Claudie Haigneré; Isabelle Duvaux-Bechon; Dr. Advenit Makaya; David Binns; Brigitte Lamaze; Piero Messina; Hanna Lakk; Marlies Arnhof; Ina Cheibas; and the ESA Concurrent Design Facility (CDF) Team

MIT: Jeffrey A. Hoffman, Valentina Sumini

Playdead 
Managing Director: Pamela Nelson, Creative Director: Kevin McCrae, Producer:Tita Ortega, Art Director: Timo Noack, Lead Designer: Ross Sneddon, Senior Designer: Daniel Harper, 3D Artist Craig Simmers, Elis Ekdahl; VFX Generalist Olaf Blomerus; Music & Sound Design, BXFTYS

RJ Models
Founder/Director: Ray Cheung, Partner: Jeff Lam, PA to Partner: Summer Zhao, Senior Project Manager: Hong Hui

Translation: Camilla Pieretti