Last year, Eleven magazine summed up the results of the Moontopia international architectural competition for the best design of the first self-sufficient lunar colony intended for life, work, research and space tourism. A competent jury selected the 9 best out of hundreds of submitted projects.
While some day and night dream about the colonization of Mars, others want to "conquer" the natural satellite of the Earth. In August 2016, Eleven magazine launched an international competition to design the first livable colony on the moon. Designers, scientists, architects, artists and everyone from various professional fields were invited to participate in it. The organizers did not impose strict restrictions on the format and content of the project. The works of the contestants were accepted until November 2016, and the announcement of the results was scheduled for January 2017. And so it happened. An authoritative jury, which included, among others, NASA employees, reviewed more than a hundred works and decided on the winning project Moontopia. In addition, the jury also singled out 8 other projects. Read more about all of them in our material.
"Test laboratory". Winner
Authors: Monika Lipińska, Laura Nadine Oliver and Inchi Liz Ogun.
The winning project involves the gradual settlement of the moon through 3D printing and easy assembly. In the initial stages of the project, astronauts will have to assemble origami-like structures from carbon fiber. In the future, with the expansion of the base, the organization of space tourism is possible.
"Test laboratory" / Monika Lipinska, Laura Nadine Olivier & Inci Lize Ogun.
Promotional video:
Momentum Virium
Authors: Sergio Bianchi, Jonghak Kim, Simon Fracasso, Alejandro George Velasco Ramirez.
The project, which won the second place, involves the construction of a station, with the help of which it would be possible to explore the Moon and extract useful resources without harming the Earth's satellite. All buildings are proposed to be erected not on the surface of a celestial body, but in its orbit. An elevator will connect the station to the Moon.
Momentum Virium / Sergio Bianchi, Jonghak Kim, Simone Fracasso & Alejandro Jorge Velazco Ramirez.
"People's Choice". Modulpia
Authors: Alessandro Giorgi, Kai Feng, Xuyang Pan Esteban Analuiza.
This project was recognized as the best in the online voting. Modulpia developers propose to build houses from modular structures. The first building on the moon should be a plant for the production of modules, thanks to which research laboratories and housing for scientists will be built in the future.
MODULPIA / Alessandro Giorgi, Cai Feng, Siyuan Pan & Esteban Analuiza.
Platinum City
Posted by Sean Thomas Allen.
Sean Thomas Allen's project, which won one of six honorable mentions, involves the construction of a dwelling on the moon for 3,000 people. What will the lunar townspeople do? To extract minerals and develop space tourism.
Platinum City / Sean Thomas Allen.
Bottom up
Authors: Ryan Tung Voy In, Ho Win Tsit Terezina, Joshua Ho.
Another incentive prize went to a group of architects from Hong Kong who developed a project in which the construction of an "inverted" colony-test site is supposed to be built on the moon to accumulate experience and resources for the further colonization of Mars.
"Upside Down" / Ryan Tung Wai Yin, Ho Wing Tsit Teresina & Joshua Ho.
Lono
Authors: Prapatsorn Sukkaset, Saran Chamrunkul.
The developers of this project, designers from Indonesia, see the moon as an ideal place for contemplating space landscapes. Therefore, people here do not live in houses, but in bubbles.
Lono / Prapatsorn Sukkaset & Saran Chamroonkul.
Moon eye
Authors: Yling Chu, Yao Ding, Yang-Fei Jiang, Hui Tian.
The Moon Eye project by a Chinese team of architects also won an honorable mention. Its authors propose the construction of colonies in lunar craters, which would be covered with special covers for protection from asteroids.
Moon Eye / Yiling Chu, Yao Ding, Yan-Fei Jiang & Hui Tian.
Lunar oasis
Author: Edward Chew.
Probably the only reason why the Malaysian architect's project did not take first place is that its implementation is possible only in 2110 - 140 years after the first manned landing on the moon. The author focuses on the development of green landscapes on the earth's satellite.
Lunar oasis / Edward Chew.
Aerosphere
Posted by Stephanie Steers.
Stephanie Steers' project involves the creation of a rich tourism cluster on the moon, whose clients will be able to try out the possibilities of alternative medicine.
"Aerosphere" / Stephanie Stiers.
Ilya Vedmedenko