CRUNCH: Extraplanetary Habitats: An Imminent Frontier?

About

Architecture is paramount to space exploration, as humans cannot survive off-world without adequately designed environments. But what happens when a sophisticated machine or interplanetary vessel transforms into a home or an emblem of human civilisation on another planet? A paradigm shift occurs – from purely technical, rational parameters towards design intuition, soft skills and the unquantifiable variables of spatial design.

This conversation between architects and a scientist explores how architecture and space interact with each other. Drawing from projects spanning architecture, urbanism, industrial design, social sciences, space technology and climate physics, the speakers examine terrestrial, lunar and cislunar programmes – asking how we create both survival capsules and places where humans can live.

The discussion reveals how extreme-environment design generates innovative approaches to resource-constrained living, material innovation and human resilience that directly inform sustainable practices on Earth.

This event is part of the flagship CRUNCH Series at The Bartlett School of Architecture.

Please note this event has limited capacity and operates on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors close at 18:40.

Speaker biographies

Barbara Imhof is an internationally renowned space architect and co-founder of LIQUIFER Vienna–Bremen, an interdisciplinary team spanning architecture, space technology and science. Her work develops innovative living spaces for extreme environments while also exploring sustainable approaches to life on Earth. She has led projects on resource-constrained habitats, material innovations and new manufacturing methods. Since 2023, she has been Professor at the University of Innsbruck’s Department for Experimental Architecture, where she integrates space-related research into the Integrative Design group with a focus on extreme environments.

Irene Gallou is Senior Partner and Head of Specialist Modelling Group at Foster and Partners. She leads the practice's research and development unit, specialising in building physics, simulation, complex geometries and digital fabrication. Since joining in 2006, she has advanced research in post-occupancy evaluation, large-scale 3D printing in steel and concrete, and the design of 3D-printed extraterrestrial habitations.

Alan Smith is Professor of Space Instrumentation at UCL with extensive experience in astrophysics, instrumentation and space research, including eight years at the European Space Agency. He was previously Director of UCL’s Mullard Space Science Laboratory, and he currently leads the UK’s hardware contribution to the European Space Agency’s PLATO (PLAnetary Transits and Oscillations of stars) mission and teaches project management and systems engineering across UCL.

Marjan Colletti is Professor of Building Technology and Post Digital Practice at The Bartlett School of Architecture and chairs the Institute for Experimental Architecture at the University of Innsbruck. He directs design-research at The Bartlett, founded REX|LAB and has exhibited internationally with over 100 shows. His research investigates post-digitality combined with Neobaroque traits, exploring how these shape current and future paradigms in architectural design and cultural production.

Image: Augmented Space Station by Luke Parkhurst (Architecture MArch, PG20, Year 5), The Bartlett Summer Show 2022

https://www.ucl.ac.uk/bartlett/events/2025/oct/crunch-extraplanetary-habitats-imminent-frontier