SpaceSuits.Us: A Case for Ultra Thin Adjustments

Until now, architectural design and space exploration have remained relatively separate domains. Though similar strategies have been developed in parallel for buildings, the direct adaptation of fabric layers as a retrofit strategy is novel. Drawing parallels between astronauts in extreme environments and urban dwellers facing extreme environmental shifts, SpaceSuits.US explores how heat reflection, thermal insulation, and ultra-thin adjustments to existing buildings can provide an architectural solution for impending climatic emergencies. Building on NASA’s material research, SpaceSuits.US features a method of tailored assembly, in which the materials in question can be pinned, cinched, or draped onto leaky old houses.