This spring, you can spend the night in an off-grid Mars habitat upstate
All renderings via AI SpaceFactory, © Plomp
If you’re intrigued by all the talk of living on Mars but don’t actually want to depart planet Earth, you can have a shot at semi-extraterrestrial living this spring. AI SpaceFactory, the architects behind NASA’s Mars habitat MARSHA, are bringing a “Mars habitat designed for off-grid living on Earth” to a site an hour-and-a-half north of NYC along the Hudson River (h/t Curbed). For a donation as low as $175, you’ll be able to spend the night in the TERA cabin and get “a glimpse into the future of sustainable life on and beyond our planet,” according to a press release.
As Curbed notes, in May, AI SpaceFactory won NASA’s competition for a 3D-printed habitat for life on Mars or the Moon. The eco-conscious firm immediately announced further plans to start an Indigogo campaign to raise funds for a similar structure on Earth. “We realized the materials and technology we developed for long-term missions on Mars had the potential to be leaps and bounds more sustainable than conventional construction on Earth,” said David Malott, AI SpaceFactory’s CEO and chief architect.
Therefore, TERA will be 3D-printed on-site and constructed using the same plant-based material that NASA deemed three times as strong as concrete. After its lifecycle, it can be broken down, recycled, and reprinted elsewhere to be minimally invasive to its surroundings. The two-story, cone-shaped structure has a geometric pattern of diamond windows on one side, while the rear is more covered and holds the entrance.
The first floor is the “living area,” complete with a bathroom and shower, “food preparation counter,” and a seating area that opens onto the terrace. Up a curved staircase is a convertible, private area with furniture that can be configured for sleeping, lounging, or dining. It can accommodate two adults and one child.
Though the company isn’t giving specifics on the location, they do say that it’s “nestled in the woods of Upstate New York with sweeping views of the Hudson River.” Pre-bookings are now being accepted through the Indigogo campaign beginning in March 2020. The cabin will be available for one year before it is recycled. Currently, the project has raised nearly $52,000. A $175 donation gets you a stay for one weeknight; $250 gets you two weeknights. The early bird specials and weekend packages are already sold out, so book your stay here >>
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All renderings via AI SpaceFactory, © Plomp
