PixabayIf you’ve ever wondered what Mars might look like if humans lived there permanently, look no further.
Architectural experts have drawn up prototypes of what living conditions on Mars might be like if the Red Planet is colonised by humans.
A panel of specialists worked alongside a visualisation team to predict how future homes on Mars are likely to look, with interior and exterior images released for a variety of futuristic residential builds.
Images have been released for three distinct living spaces: an apartment aimed at young professionals, a family home, and a luxury mansion. I don’t know about you but my mind is slightly blown at all of this. A mansion? On Mars? How would that even be possible?!
The team took into consideration various issues such as light, and how to protect the homes from cosmic rays and hazardous levels of radiation, as well as insulation from the cold, and protection from severe dust storms.
So why have these drawings been released, you might ask. Are scientists planning on upping and moving us all to space within the year?
Thankfully not! Instead, they’ve been produced after research revealed one in ten Brits would move to Mars tomorrow if they could. I’m sorry what? Why on Earth (pun intended) would anyone ever want to do this?
PAWell, apparently the top reasons for wanting to swap planets is to enjoy more space, escape human dangers on Earth, and to experience an adventure.
Stephen Petranek, author of the book How We’ll Live on Mars, which the National Geographic series MARS is based on, said:
It’s exciting to think humans will be living on Mars far sooner than most people think. The second series of MARS considers how a community might be built and sustained on the Red Planet in the 2040s, and what the challenges will be both from a practical and a human standpoint.
For this forward-thinking project, we’ve predicted what different homes on Mars might actually look like, with options to suit a range of budgets. There are plenty of elements to consider, from ensuring an adequate shield to the harsh radiation Mars endures because its atmosphere is so thin, to the need for homely touches reminiscent of Earth.
Ultimately, living on Mars must seem more appealing and psychologically inviting than living on Earth or not enough people will want to make a new life there. As we make these predictions now, we can only wonder what designs we will actually adopt as hundreds of thousands of people eventually move to the Red Planet.
2040’s? I’m sorry, I’m out. How do I exit the world?
But to give an insight into what life on Mars could really look like, the apartment block would feature a number of living pods aimed at individuals and couples, with tunnels leading to a shared garden and work spaces.
It’s protected from the sun’s rays by tinted glazing – featuring coating technology developed to filter out the radiation – and rammed Earth walls, which protect from the cold as well as cosmic rays.
Take a look at the apartment block below:
SWNSThe family home would be built within a protective cave, with a driveway leading to an inbuilt garage as well as a conservatory-style veranda made from protective glass.
Clearly, no natural light is getting in so it would be simulated via LEDs and camera systems which can show the outside landscape in real-time, to mimic windows.
The mansion is part of a ‘crater community’ and has three levels; it boasts a huge living space with private indoor garden and multi-gym that allows for ‘outdoor’ activities such as sports to take place in an artificially-oxygenated environment.
You had me up until ‘artificially-oxygenated environment.’
Have a look at the family home and mansion below:
SWNS
SWNSAccording to the National Geographic research, a fifth of Brits predict it’ll be possible to move to Mars within their lifetime, and how there’s a significant appetite to do so.
One in six admitted, with people struggling to get on the housing ladder on Earth, buying a property on Mars is looking like a more attractive prospect.
Brits revealed the opportunity to enjoy a better quality of life, the desire to seek new adventure and the need to flee human dangers on Earth such as war would be the most likely factors to precipitate a move to Mars.
However, almost nine in ten predicted they’d miss some aspects about life on Earth, including their pets and even the British weather.
Never thought you’d be saying that would you?
MARS series 2 is on National Geographic every Sunday at 8pm.
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A Broadcast Journalism Masters graduate who went on to achieve an NCTJ level 3 Diploma in Journalism, Lucy has done stints at ITV, BBC Inside Out and Key 103. While working as a journalist for UNILAD, Lucy has reported on breaking news stories while also writing features about mental health, cervical screening awareness, and Little Mix (who she is unapologetically obsessed with).