project04:P2
P2
Abstract
Among the various approaches to lunar habitation, inflatable and mobile architecture have emerged as promising solutions. Inflatable structures, commonly used for temporary installations on Earth, offer significant advantages for lunar deployment due to their lightweight construction, addressing payload constraints both in transport and on-site assembly. Mobile lunar habitats, on the other hand, provide adaptability, enabling habitation to relocate based on mission demands, scientific exploration, and crew needs, such as accessing polar regions, lava tubes, and permanently shadowed craters.
While both inflatable and mobile architecture align with the evolving objectives of lunar exploration, current research remains largely engineering-driven, prioritizing material performance, structural integrity, and automated mobility. Existing projects like Sierra Space’s LIFE Habitat and Toyota’s Lunar Cruiser primarily address physiological and safety needs, overlooking the psychological and social aspects critical for long-term habitation. Insights from space analog missions, including HI-SEAS and EXP 65, highlight astronauts’ dynamic social needs, such as balancing engagement with solitude and modifying spatial configurations over time. Furthermore, studies show that supporting crew autonomy positively influences well-being and mission success.
This research proposes a reconfigurable architectural system that integrates inflatable and mobile technologies to overcome the limitations of each approach in isolation. The system envisions multiple mobile, inflatable units that can disassemble and reassemble, maximizing adaptability while maintaining a lightweight, compact form. Interior spatial flexibility is further enhanced by inflatable furniture and other reconfigurable elements that align with the broader structural strategy.
By integrating mobility, reconfigurability, and inflatable technologies, this project seeks to move beyond survival-driven lunar habitats, fostering an environment that supports evolving human needs—creating spaces where astronauts can live, work, and thrive.
Adaptive Architecture on the Moon: Integrating mobile and inflatable approaches to address changing human needs on the Moon
Lava Tube Mission & Workshop 1
Lava Tube Mission Video
Workshop 1 Process Video
