Mars Settlement Center and Exhibition

A Mars educating facility in Egypt would be an important step in raising awareness of space exploration and inspiring the next generation of scientists and engineers. Unfortunately this topic is given little to no attention in Egypt, despite the country’s long history of scientific and technological achievements. A Mars educating facility would help change this by providing a space for learning and exploration, and by connecting young people with role models in the space industry.

Project overview:

The facility offers a variety of educational programs, such as lectures and workshops. It also provides a space for public events and discussions. And it houses a collection of space artifacts, exhibits and a simulation of a Mars habitat.

Design objective:

Creating a space that would give visitors the feeling of being on Mars by choosing the right materials, colors and lighting.

The project consists of two main parts and functions; an educational floor and an Exhibition. Each with a separate entrance and exit.

The core of the building is a full scale standing mars habitat enclosed by three floors ensuring that visitors and students would always be able to see the habitat and be reminded that it is the ultimate goal that they’re all working for.

The exhibition experience starts upon entering the building; visitors would find themselves in a dim, muted space with the habitat in front of them, surrounded by curved screens displaying mars landscape thus making them feel like they just landed on the planet.

The mars habitat is a simulation of how a living space on mars is imagined to be. It is self-sufficient, enclosed and designed to meet all necessary human needs. With a living quarter and exercise area, laboratory, vertical farm, kitchen, bathroom and sleeping pod.

After finishing the habitat tour, visitors exit the habitat through a dark tunnel that displays documentaries about the threats facing humanity on Earth. This stop is called ‘‘Humanity: Where to..?’’.  And by moving through the tunnel, visitors find light at the end, a suggested solution for saving humanity.

By exiting the tunnel visitors enter the ‘‘Why Mars..?’’ stop, where space artefacts and spacesuits are displayed introducing Mars as an alternative home for humanity, and why it is the most suitable planet for life after Earth.

The last stop in the exhibition is called ‘‘Life on Mars’’ and it’s where rovers and examples of 3d printed habitats are displayed.

The educational floor is accessed through a separate entrance and includes several lecture rooms and a conference hall.

(This project is a redesign of Mask architects’ proposal for the Seoul Photographic Art Museum international competition.)