Extreme catalogue for space: Building a registry for extreme environment architecture

Abstract

This paper aims to discuss the integration of architectural education into the human planetary exploration endeavour, through experiences on design courses. The research is conducted in the frame of three academic programmes, at the Vienna University of Technology, PhD Programme in Building Technology, Faculty of Architecture and Planning; Yeditepe University, Istanbul, Graduate Programme in Building Technology, Faculty of Engineering and Architecture and Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University, Istanbul, Undergraduate Programme, Faculty of Architecture and Planning. Based on a design transfer system, for the use of space infrastructure planners and space architects, this paper provides different perspectives on the contribution of academic elements in the human space exploration endeavour. The design transfer system, originally proposed in the paper presented at RAST 2007 by the author (Özdemir, K. The Integration of Terrestrial Extreme Environment Design Concepts to Lunar Base Designs, 10.1109/RAST.2007.4284078), featured a two-element system for design transfers. Two main elements of the presented design transfer system are the design library and the design transfer procedure. The proposed and prototyped design library is a collection of designs for terrestrial extreme environments (e.g. diving bells, nomad tents, battlefield shelters), registered in the library with their distinctive and relevant features in design. The design transfer procedure is comprised of a step-by-step set of actions, tuned for optimum benefit from the existing designs and the transfer of relevant know how into the new designs.