bjarke ingels proposes massive mars space simulation city in the UAE desert

the government of dubai has announced that bjarke ingels is slated to build the largest ever space simulation city in the UAE desert, a destination which will mimic the conditions of life on mars. covering 1.9 million square feet, ‘mars science city project’ will provide a realistic model to simulate life on the surface of the red planet. a series of monumental domed structures will host laboratories for food, energy and water, agricultural testing and studies about food security, and a museum displaying humanity’s greatest space achievements. the walls of the museum will be 3D printed, using sand from the emirati desert.

all images by BIG-bjarke ingels group

‘mars science city’ is to be led by a team from the mohammed bin rashid space centre and dubai municipality in cooperation with bjarke ingels / BIG and a team of emirati scientists, engineers and designers. the scheme includes an experiential element involving a team of people who will live inside the simulated red planet city for one year. replicating the conditions on the surface of mars, it is hoped the experience will become a model for innovation, particularly in regards to sustaining life in a hostile planetary environment. additional experiments will study self-sufficiency in energy, water, and food.

laboratories will simulate mars’ harsh terrain and environment through 3D printing technology, heat, and radiation insulation. ‘mars science city’ is hoping to attract the brightest scientific minds from around the world in a collaborative contribution in the UAE to human development and the improvement of life. ‘building settlements on mars will be like inventing a new vernacular architecture,’ says bjarke ingels. ‘martians will be like indigenous settlers, inventing structures for the first time and understanding local materials, climate, physics, safety and comfort.’

‘the UAE seeks to establish international efforts to develop technologies that benefit humankind, and that establish the foundation of a better future for more generations to come,‘ explains sheikh mohammed bin rashid. ‘we also want to consolidate the passion for leadership in science in the UAE, contributing to improving life on earth.’

since BIG’s plans were first revealed in 2017, the UAE has been preparing to send a probe into mars’ orbit. launching on july 15, 2020, the ‘hope probe’ will be the first probe to provide a complete picture of the martian atmosphere and its layers when it reaches the red planet’s orbit in february 2021. 

project info:

name: mars science city
architect: BIG-bjarke ingels group
type: commission
client: government of united arab emirates
collaborators: mohammed bin rashid space centre, dubai municipality, BIG landscape, BIG ideas, BIG engineering
size: 56,810 sqm / 611,498 sqf

partners-in-charge: bjarke ingels, jakob lange, andreas klok pedersen
project leader: dimitrie grigorescu
team —
architecture: ovidiu munteanu, tyrone cobcroft, teodor fratila cristian, joao albuquerque, yasmin asan, viktoria millentrup, joanna m. lesna, diana daod, mattia de carlo, andrea tecceros, paula madrid bergillos, luca pileri
engineering: cecilie søs brandt-olsen, duncan horswill
BIG ideas: kristoffer negendahl, tore banke, yehezkiel wiliardy, hugo soo
landscape: christian eugenius kuczynski, ulla hornsyld, joanna anna jakubowska, sze ki wong