Space Architecture in Venice Biennale 2021: A Moon Village by SOM

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) proposes its vision of Space Architecture through the Moon Village project in the 17th International Architecture Exhibition of Venice Biennale. The proposal brings an almost real experience through the Life Beyond Earth installation that takes the visitors on a virtual journey to the Moon.

The Moon Village is the result of an incentive by the European Space Agency (ESA) aimed at international and multi-disciplinary cooperation, to explore new technologies for the extraterrestrial architecture and adapt to major changes in the environment. Life Beyond Earth will open on 22 May 2021 alongside other installations of the Biennale Architettura.

Life Beyond Earth comprises two large-scale, detailed models of an individual habitat module and a film that together help the visitors envision life in the Moon Village. It is believed that such an experience will unfold opportunities for employing engineering and technology to be resilient against endangering conditions. Especially in times of the COVID 19 crisis. “The challenges confronted here inspired new solutions and enabled us to envision a future for humanity beyond Earth.” Stated the SOM Senior Designer Daniel Inocente.

Skidmore, Owings & Merrill (SOM) designed a sustainable, self-sufficient ecosystem. The Moon Village is envisioned to rely on continuous daylight to produce energy, while other life-sustaining elements will be obtained from in-situ resources. The master plan of the Moon Village introduces interconnected individual habitats, each supported by an exterior structure, maximizing both flexible functions and seamless circulation across habitats.

Courtesy of SOM

The 17th International Architecture Exhibition is curated by the architect and scholar Hashim Sarkis, and is titled “How will we live together?” SOM answers this question by adopting the concepts of coexistence and responsible resource utilization. Life Beyond Earth stresses the importance of space habitation research and points at the benefit of interdisciplinary approaches in creating integrative and resilient systems.