Nine leading construction businesses and SCF donated time, expertise and resources to the ‘Martian House’ project, preparing for life on Mars
The construction industry is preparing for life on Mars, as Southern Construction Framework(SCF) and a network of suppliers have supported the construction of a full-scale ‘Martian’ house, a two-storey gold inflatable house in the heart of Bristol, designed to showcase the possibilities for human life on Mars.
Nine leading contractors and architects collaborated on the project
As part of a group of construction companies led by SCF Construct, BAM, Galliford Try, ISG, Kier, Morgan Sindall, Sir Robert McAlpine, Wates Construction and Willmott Dixon have generously donated time, expertise and resources worth an estimated £170,000 to bring the art project to life.
The companies sprang into action in support of the five-year project spearheaded by artists Ella Good and Nicki Kent after they asked SCF to help them turn their vision into reality.
The project- based at the M Shed Square in Bristol- has so far brought together space scientists, architects, engineers, designers and the public to explore how we live today and stimulate visions for new ways of living here on Earth and on Mars.
The team worked alongside scientific and engineering experts Professor Lucy Berthoud, Dr Bob Myhill and Professor James Norman from University of Bristol.
The Martian House must be able to handle transit and inhospitable conditions
Designed in collaboration with Hugh Broughton Architects, and Pearce Plus, the futuristic 53 sqm house comprises of two storeys with an external staircase and a platform lift to the upper level.
The upper level is powered by solar panels and is formed using a pressurised inflatable gold-coated foil, making it lightweight enough to be easily transported to Mars whilst withstanding its inhospitable conditions.
The building considers what life would really be like on Mars, with the lower level of the house designed to be built below the ground in the Martian lava tubes.
Inside this level there is a flexible, private living space that can be used as a bedroom, virtual reality (VR) area and a built-in ecosystem.
Preparing for life on Mars by looking at our own lives
Emma Bull, SCF Senior Framework manager, who led the SCF response, commented:
“Collaboration is at the heart of everything Southern Construction Framework does, so we’re all delighted to have played a role in creating the truly extraordinary Martian House by bringing together leading contractors.
“The way the companies in Southern Construction Framework’s supply chain have collaborated is also extraordinary and for nine separate bodies to come together on an artistic project appears to be unprecedented.”
The artists behind Martian House, Ella Good and Nicki Kent, praised the contractors for their contributions and reflected on how the project can inform decisions made for Earth-based housing.
Nikki Kent said: “Considering how we might live on Mars helps us re-think every aspect of our lives here on Earth. Mars is a place where you’d have to live carefully and sustainably and so helps bring sharp focus on how we live today. Our project shows that we can all have input into how we think about the future. ”
Building a Martian House is open to the public from 17 August until 30 October 2022 on M Shed Square in Bristol.
There will be a three-month programme of workshops, talks and events for all ages including a live panel discussion with the design team.
