California – A closed-loop village designed to prepare humans for life on Mars is set to open in the Mojave Desert in 2021.
Created by Interstellar Lab, the EBIOS (Experimental Bio-regenerative Station) village will feature a network of biomes built with ‘regenerative life support technologies’. Elements of these buildings will allow researchers to test the possibility of living in this type of system on Mars. Complete with a system for water treatment, waste management and food production, the village and its inhabitants will leave a carbon-neutral footprint, will be zero-waste and will also host a nature preservation. With sustainability at its core, EBIOS will also produce and recycle water, food and energy for up to 100 people. Having collaborated with NASA on the project, Interstellar Lab also plans to analyse human behaviour within the closed environment to plan for how future communities will exist.
As architects and city planners become increasingly aware of the need to be both climate positive and future-proofed in terms of design and functionality, they are innovating the building environment through environmentally friendly alternatives. For more, read our interview with Snöhetta about its energy-positive Norwegian hotel.