What we can learn from building on mars | Peter Zurbrügg | TEDxLausanne

today I’m going to talk about life on

today I’m going to talk about life on Mars I don’t mean icky little green man

Mars I don’t mean icky little green man

Mars I don’t mean icky little green man I mean what will it takes for human

I mean what will it takes for human

I mean what will it takes for human beings to live permanently on the red

beings to live permanently on the red

beings to live permanently on the red planet and build houses there when we

planet and build houses there when we

planet and build houses there when we talk to people about our Mars project

talk to people about our Mars project

talk to people about our Mars project the first reaction is always a little

the first reaction is always a little

the first reaction is always a little smile maybe they think there aren’t

smile maybe they think there aren’t

smile maybe they think there aren’t really serious but we are serious we our

really serious but we are serious we our

really serious but we are serious we our aim is to push the students beyond

aim is to push the students beyond

aim is to push the students beyond thinking outside the box we want them to

thinking outside the box we want them to

thinking outside the box we want them to sing off the planet by challenging them

sing off the planet by challenging them

sing off the planet by challenging them with completely different conditions we

with completely different conditions we

with completely different conditions we hope to give them tools to solve

hope to give them tools to solve

hope to give them tools to solve building design problems we face here on

building design problems we face here on

building design problems we face here on earth in very new and innovative ways

earth in very new and innovative ways

earth in very new and innovative ways the course I’m talking is held at EPFL

the course I’m talking is held at EPFL

the course I’m talking is held at EPFL School of Architecture civil and

School of Architecture civil and

School of Architecture civil and environmental engineering and up in

environmental engineering and up in

environmental engineering and up in groups the students must design a person

groups the students must design a person

groups the students must design a person a permanent habitat that supports 100

a permanent habitat that supports 100

a permanent habitat that supports 100 colonists the next few minutes I’m going

colonists the next few minutes I’m going

colonists the next few minutes I’m going to tell you a little bit how we do and

to tell you a little bit how we do and

to tell you a little bit how we do and what challenges we have to face I will

what challenges we have to face I will

what challenges we have to face I will share with you some of our findings and

share with you some of our findings and

share with you some of our findings and at the end I want you to see how our

at the end I want you to see how our

at the end I want you to see how our Mars project can lead to approaches that

Mars project can lead to approaches that

Mars project can lead to approaches that could be applied even here on earth but

could be applied even here on earth but

could be applied even here on earth but before talking about our work let’s have

before talking about our work let’s have

before talking about our work let’s have a look what fate we have to face on Mars

a look what fate we have to face on Mars

a look what fate we have to face on Mars what conditions first Mars is 50 percent

what conditions first Mars is 50 percent

what conditions first Mars is 50 percent further away from the Sun than we are

further away from the Sun than we are

further away from the Sun than we are this is why the temperature on the

this is why the temperature on the

this is why the temperature on the surface are very low between minus 20

surface are very low between minus 20

surface are very low between minus 20 and minus 120 degrees

and minus 120 degrees

and minus 120 degrees Mars has also an envelope an atmosphere

Mars has also an envelope an atmosphere

Mars has also an envelope an atmosphere but this pressure is 100 times less than

but this pressure is 100 times less than

but this pressure is 100 times less than we have on earth and it contains mainly

we have on earth and it contains mainly

we have on earth and it contains mainly co2 so as you see the environment is on

co2 so as you see the environment is on

co2 so as you see the environment is on Mars is cold and hostile but not

Mars is cold and hostile but not

Mars is cold and hostile but not impossible to handle

impossible to handle

impossible to handle the first issue have to solve is the

the first issue have to solve is the

the first issue have to solve is the environment in which the colonists

environment in which the colonists

environment in which the colonists really the question to answer is what

really the question to answer is what

really the question to answer is what are the very basic needs for human

are the very basic needs for human

are the very basic needs for human beings well they are air to breathe we

beings well they are air to breathe we

beings well they are air to breathe we need to drink and then we need food but

need to drink and then we need food but

need to drink and then we need food but we have also take into account that our

we have also take into account that our

we have also take into account that our producer but he produces outputs but

producer but he produces outputs but

producer but he produces outputs but every breath will release co2 and after

every breath will release co2 and after

every breath will release co2 and after digesting food we eject urine and faeces

digesting food we eject urine and faeces

digesting food we eject urine and faeces on earth we receive fresh air for free

on earth we receive fresh air for free

on earth we receive fresh air for free by opening windows we get to drink at

by opening windows we get to drink at

by opening windows we get to drink at the bar and food comes from the

the bar and food comes from the

the bar and food comes from the supermarket while we were in a thesis

supermarket while we were in a thesis

supermarket while we were in a thesis disappearing toilets but of course on

disappearing toilets but of course on

disappearing toilets but of course on bars this wouldn’t work our colonists

bars this wouldn’t work our colonists

bars this wouldn’t work our colonists are too far away from Earth to expect a

are too far away from Earth to expect a

are too far away from Earth to expect a regular supply from a supermarket or a

regular supply from a supermarket or a

regular supply from a supermarket or a bar we will have to use other strategies

bar we will have to use other strategies

bar we will have to use other strategies than then than this to make an

than then than this to make an

than then than this to make an independent ecosystem an ecosystem that

independent ecosystem an ecosystem that

independent ecosystem an ecosystem that produces everything we need to support

produces everything we need to support

produces everything we need to support life on site the key will be the use of

life on site the key will be the use of

life on site the key will be the use of plants to grow plants need basically co2

plants to grow plants need basically co2

plants to grow plants need basically co2 nutrients water and light the first

nutrients water and light the first

nutrients water and light the first three of this will be available from the

three of this will be available from the

three of this will be available from the outputs of our colonists now the other

outputs of our colonists now the other

outputs of our colonists now the other side

side

side plants will be a source of food and

plants will be a source of food and

plants will be a source of food and produce oxygen so if we are able to

produce oxygen so if we are able to

produce oxygen so if we are able to create a balanced ecosystem where all

create a balanced ecosystem where all

create a balanced ecosystem where all the flexes of air water the nutrients

the flexes of air water the nutrients

the flexes of air water the nutrients are closed where everything is recycled

are closed where everything is recycled

are closed where everything is recycled then we will have a stable and life

then we will have a stable and life

then we will have a stable and life supporting environment all we have to do

supporting environment all we have to do

supporting environment all we have to do is to supply it with energy in form of

is to supply it with energy in form of

is to supply it with energy in form of light on earth we have light for free

light on earth we have light for free

light on earth we have light for free and grows plants grow mostly outside on

and grows plants grow mostly outside on

and grows plants grow mostly outside on Mars the colonists help to organize the

Mars the colonists help to organize the

Mars the colonists help to organize the food production inside as it will be

food production inside as it will be

food production inside as it will be difficult to have very transparent

difficult to have very transparent

difficult to have very transparent lopes they will usually usually use

lopes they will usually usually use

lopes they will usually usually use lamps to light the greenhouse plants

lamps to light the greenhouse plants

lamps to light the greenhouse plants another challenge is the design of the

another challenge is the design of the

another challenge is the design of the food production you have to install

food production you have to install

food production you have to install greenhouses to produce vegetables

greenhouses to produce vegetables

greenhouses to produce vegetables cereals potatoes fruit salads and so on

cereals potatoes fruit salads and so on

cereals potatoes fruit salads and so on from our findings the greenhouses will

from our findings the greenhouses will

from our findings the greenhouses will represent more or less 2/3 of the marsh

represent more or less 2/3 of the marsh

represent more or less 2/3 of the marsh habitat volume but these large

habitat volume but these large

habitat volume but these large greenhouses can also be an opportunity

greenhouses can also be an opportunity

greenhouses can also be an opportunity to provide recreation spaces where the

to provide recreation spaces where the

to provide recreation spaces where the colonists could spend free time what I

colonists could spend free time what I

colonists could spend free time what I like about this artificial ecosystem is

like about this artificial ecosystem is

like about this artificial ecosystem is that the humans the space habitat is not

that the humans the space habitat is not

that the humans the space habitat is not a machine

a machine

a machine service for humans the humans are part

service for humans the humans are part

service for humans the humans are part of the system colonists could not

of the system colonists could not

of the system colonists could not greater live without the plants but the

greater live without the plants but the

greater live without the plants but the plants could not grow without the humans

plants could not grow without the humans

plants could not grow without the humans both depend on each other another topic

both depend on each other another topic

both depend on each other another topic we have to address is the question of

we have to address is the question of

we have to address is the question of the building materials on Mars we must

the building materials on Mars we must

the building materials on Mars we must find to produce building materials

find to produce building materials

find to produce building materials locally the first material the Martian

locally the first material the Martian

locally the first material the Martian colonists will find is regulate it’s a

colonists will find is regulate it’s a

colonists will find is regulate it’s a flower like stone powder that covers all

flower like stone powder that covers all

flower like stone powder that covers all the surface of Mars regolith would be

the surface of Mars regolith would be

the surface of Mars regolith would be the main resource for Mars concrete and

the main resource for Mars concrete and

the main resource for Mars concrete and this would be very well adapted for

this would be very well adapted for

this would be very well adapted for erecting structures with large-scale 3d

erecting structures with large-scale 3d

erecting structures with large-scale 3d printers another obvious building

printers another obvious building

printers another obvious building material is stone available everywhere

material is stone available everywhere

material is stone available everywhere stone could be extracted for mass

stone could be extracted for mass

stone could be extracted for mass quarries stone bricks assembled at MIT

quarries stone bricks assembled at MIT

quarries stone bricks assembled at MIT with mason robots would lead to an

with mason robots would lead to an

with mason robots would lead to an interval of walls columns orcs and walls

interval of walls columns orcs and walls

interval of walls columns orcs and walls a third possible material is water as

a third possible material is water as

a third possible material is water as the temperature outside are always below

the temperature outside are always below

the temperature outside are always below the freezing point water in form of ice

the freezing point water in form of ice

the freezing point water in form of ice could be used alone or as a glute for

could be used alone or as a glute for

could be used alone or as a glute for Mars concrete and the last resource is

Mars concrete and the last resource is

Mars concrete and the last resource is co2 from the atmosphere with the

co2 from the atmosphere with the

co2 from the atmosphere with the photosynthesis nature officers aware a

photosynthesis nature officers aware a

photosynthesis nature officers aware a way to harvest carbon out of co2

way to harvest carbon out of co2

way to harvest carbon out of co2 so colonists could grow building

so colonists could grow building

so colonists could grow building materials in greenhouses for instance

materials in greenhouses for instance

materials in greenhouses for instance bamboo it grows fast and offers various

bamboo it grows fast and offers various

bamboo it grows fast and offers various applications so as you see the

applications so as you see the

applications so as you see the architecture of the future not only on

architecture of the future not only on

architecture of the future not only on Mars will certainly be a combination of

Mars will certainly be a combination of

Mars will certainly be a combination of high-tech and low-tech Assemblies of 20

high-tech and low-tech Assemblies of 20

high-tech and low-tech Assemblies of 20 century first centuries and traditional

century first centuries and traditional

century first centuries and traditional materials and finally we work also on

materials and finally we work also on

materials and finally we work also on the case question of shape and space as

the case question of shape and space as

the case question of shape and space as the atmospheric pressure outside is 100

the atmospheric pressure outside is 100

the atmospheric pressure outside is 100 time less than inside we have to deal

time less than inside we have to deal

time less than inside we have to deal with the fact that Marsh habitat will be

with the fact that Marsh habitat will be

with the fact that Marsh habitat will be inflated like balloons or tires pressure

inflated like balloons or tires pressure

inflated like balloons or tires pressure forces are much more important than

forces are much more important than

forces are much more important than gravity forces the consequence is that

gravity forces the consequence is that

gravity forces the consequence is that the envelope must be curved in a certain

the envelope must be curved in a certain

the envelope must be curved in a certain way and the resulting building shapes

way and the resulting building shapes

way and the resulting building shapes are mainly spheres cylinders Tory or a

are mainly spheres cylinders Tory or a

are mainly spheres cylinders Tory or a combination of these but small sphere

combination of these but small sphere

combination of these but small sphere will produce weak forces within the

will produce weak forces within the

will produce weak forces within the envelope and big spheres will produce

envelope and big spheres will produce

envelope and big spheres will produce strong forces so the first thing we have

strong forces so the first thing we have

strong forces so the first thing we have to do when starting a building design is

to do when starting a building design is

to do when starting a building design is to find a way a good compromise between

to find a way a good compromise between

to find a way a good compromise between form dimension and space the envelope

form dimension and space the envelope

form dimension and space the envelope must be stay ensured the stability while

must be stay ensured the stability while

must be stay ensured the stability while deform and this the size of the building

deform and this the size of the building

deform and this the size of the building must create nice and adapted living

must create nice and adapted living

must create nice and adapted living spaces sleeping working playing sport

spaces sleeping working playing sport

spaces sleeping working playing sport and so on all this activity we do it on

and so on all this activity we do it on

and so on all this activity we do it on earth at home or elsewhere must be happy

earth at home or elsewhere must be happy

earth at home or elsewhere must be happy inside the marsh habitat so we have to

inside the marsh habitat so we have to

inside the marsh habitat so we have to carefully reefing on the correct

carefully reefing on the correct

carefully reefing on the correct questions like how would people live

questions like how would people live

questions like how would people live within a small area what kind of space

within a small area what kind of space

within a small area what kind of space do they need for all these activities

do they need for all these activities

do they need for all these activities and how these spaces should be lighted

and how these spaces should be lighted

and how these spaces should be lighted and at the end the Mars habitate will be

and at the end the Mars habitate will be

and at the end the Mars habitate will be an optimized construction that contains

an optimized construction that contains

an optimized construction that contains all the activity within one same

all the activity within one same

all the activity within one same building a kind of a small city with

building a kind of a small city with

building a kind of a small city with apartments meeting era’s workings places

apartments meeting era’s workings places

apartments meeting era’s workings places and who knows perhaps even a bar or a

and who knows perhaps even a bar or a

and who knows perhaps even a bar or a supermarket finally instead of waiting

supermarket finally instead of waiting

supermarket finally instead of waiting for space engineers to bring us to Mars

for space engineers to bring us to Mars

for space engineers to bring us to Mars within a few decades

within a few decades

within a few decades we should start building Mars habitats

we should start building Mars habitats

we should start building Mars habitats down here on earth it would help us to

down here on earth it would help us to

down here on earth it would help us to brave challenges of our own world thank

brave challenges of our own world thank

brave challenges of our own world thank you

you

you [Applause]