robots + ruins

This project aims to explore the application
of solar sintered regolith blocks in the construction of
lunar habitats. Through research into the construction
history of Nubian and Catalan vaulting techniques, the
design develops a masonry structure that does not require mortar or formwork for construction. Experimentation with interlocking and osteomorphic geometries helped in the design of specific block shapes and parametric combination algorithms. Finally, the design process employs robotic construction techniques to repurpose this vernacular structural form language for future autonomous construction.
The moon is covered in regolith, a powder-like
substance with high glass content, that is abrasive and
needs to be avoided for machinery and human health.
However, regolith has an abundance of metals and silicon
in its makeup which can allow for it to be used as a building material. Considering the high costs of transporting materials to the moon, NASA supports the use of local materials for construction under its In-Situ Resource Utilisation (ISRU) protocol. In accordance with this the project employed a process called solar sintering, where focused sunlight melts the regolith, bonding it layer by layer to produce a block. It further aimed at creating interlocking geometries that can be used for construction without mortar or formwork. The final proposed block is a modified tetrahedron whose shape is defined by robotic constraints.
With the developed interlocking system that resolves the lunar construction constraints, the harsh environment needed to be addressed by encasing the habitable spaces in a substantial barrier for protection from
radiation and micro-meteorites. Here, Louis Kahn’s process of ‘wrapping ruins around buildings’ influenced the design of the project’s protective barriers. Additionally, this project took inspiration from the geometric fascination of Carlo Scarpa and Mario Botta, in which they create juxtapositions of lightness and weight. The architectural language of masonry developed through the ages and celebrated by these architects guided the final design of this lunar habitat.