2024-04-27T11:15:37-04:00 https://archinect.com/news/article/150131584/som-s-new-moon-village-concept-brings-us-one-giant-step-closer-to-human-settlement-on-the-lunar-surface Katherine Guimapang 2019-04-12T10:31:00-04:00 >2024-03-15T01:45:58-04:00 <img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/d2/d289541a00bf70c8c2a66533645729a0.jpg?fit=crop&auto=compress%2Cformat&enlarge=true&w=1200" border="0" /><p>In light of a&nbsp;<a href="https://twitter.com/MIT_CSAIL/status/1116305444878864384" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">recent breakthrough</a>&nbsp;within the topic of space, the architecture design firm <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/94713/skidmore-owings-merrill" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Skidmore, Owings, and Merrill (SOM)</a> shares their partnership with the <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/625816/european-space-agency'" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">European Space Agency (ESA)</a> and the <a href="https://archinect.com/news/tag/349100/massachusetts-institute-of-technology" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT)</a> in designing the first "full-time human habitat on the lunar surface." All three teams are working towards the planning, designing, and engineering of the settlement known as "Moon Village." According to SOM design partner Colin Koop, "the project presents a completely new challenge for the field of architectural design. The Moon Village must be able to sustain human life in an otherwise uninhabitable setting. We have to consider problems that no one would think about on Earth, like radiation protection, pressure differentials, and how to provide breathable air.&rdquo;</p> <figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/05/05be25d0713e0f1e2845b7c7d46b9881.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=1028" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/05/05be25d0713e0f1e2845b7c7d46b9881.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Moon Village master plan. Image &copy; SOM</figcaption></figure><figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/de/de83236427903093413b84ce88529259.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=1028" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/de/de83236427903093413b84ce88529259.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Aerial view rendering of Moon Village. Image &copy; SOM | Slashcube GmbH</figcaption></figure><figure><p><a href="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/8a/8aeb1278c183cb43a4bc8adcf887cd1f.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=1028" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><img src="https://archinect.gumlet.io/uploads/8a/8aeb1278c183cb43a4bc8adcf887cd1f.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&amp;w=514"></a></p><figcaption>Berm rendering in Moon Village. Image &copy; SOM | Slashcube GmbH</figcaption></figure><p>With this new venture, ...</p>