Design and Assembly of Efficient Component-Based Off-Earth Infrastructure: From Vernacular to Contemporary Form-Finding Methods

Off-Earth infrastructure has fascinated humanity for decades. This gave rise to a wealth of research and development in relation to structures and systems that can support life outside our planet. Currently, efforts for sustained human presence on our moon and Mars are resurging. Therefore, it is timely to reflect on challenges and opportunities posed by current thinking relating to off-Earth design. Specifically, this chapter focuses on large-scale infrastructure such as habitat shields and discusses their adaptability and reconfigurability. It is suggested that the extra-terrestrial setting—characterized by stringent constraints in resources, construction methods, and labour—relates to an extreme case of the on-Earth built environment. Consequently, it is proposed that vernacular methods of construction and contemporary form-finding method can benefit the off-Earth context, through their inherent material efficiency and use of local materials.