We believe that in order to deal with today’s challenges, architecture can profitably move into a field that has been largely unexplored. Not least due to the influence from multicultural exchange, global economical flows and communication technologies, that all together require new ways of architectural and urban organization. BIG’s architecture emerges out of a careful analysis of how contemporary life constantly evolves and changes. The office is currently involved in a large number of projects throughout Europe, North America, Asia and the Middle East. Mars Dune Alpha will take us one step closer to becoming a multiplanetary species.”īIG is a Copenhagen, New York, London and Barcelona based group of architects, designers, urbanists, landscape professionals, interior and product designers, researchers and inventors. “The data gained from this habitat research will directly inform NASA’s standards for long-duration exploration missions, and as such will potentially lay the foundation for a new Martian vernacular. The 1,700 square-foot structure, located at Johnson Space Center in Houston and 3D printed by ICON’s next-gen Vulcan construction system, will be home to the crew of which NASA is now actively seeking. “Together with NASA and ICON, we are investigating what humanity’s home on another planet will entail from the human experience,” says Bjarke Ingels, Founder and Creative Director, BIG-Bjarke Ingels Group. Mars Dune Alpha’s analog missions – part of NASA’s Crew Health and Performance Exploration Analog (CHAPEA) program – will provide valuable insights for NASA’s space food system, as well as physical and behavioral health and performance outcomes for future space missions. The 3D-printed research habitat, Mars Dune Alpha, will aid in long-duration science missions to realize future civilization on Mars.