Mars Science City Location: Dubai, UAE Architect: BIG Mars Science City – a series of lab-like sites designed to simulate Mars’ harsh environment – will include a museum displaying “humanity’s greatest space achievements�, with educational areas to engage young people and inspire in them a passion for space, exploration and discovery. The series of domes, designed by Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), will include food, energy and water labs, as well as agricultural testing and research into food security. It’s being billed as “the most sophisticated building in the world�. The vast space simulation development is part of Dubai government’s strategy which seeks to build the first settlement on Mars in the next 100 years. “There will be a presence of Mars on Earth to begin with, and then eventually there will be a presence of Earth on Mars,� says BIG founder Bjarke Ingels. “It’s incredibly exciting.� Plans include an experiential element which will involve a team living in the simulated red planet city for a year. The experience will enable the development of a model for sustaining life in hostile planetary environments.
82 CLAD book 2018
the most sophisticated building in the world