Structure,Form and Meaning in Microgravity — The Integral Space Habitation

Abstract

There will likely be an intensive colonization movement into Space within the foreseeable future. Presupposing eventual adaptation to the microgravitational environment, the structural, habitable, and meaningful environment of Space Architecture will be fundamentally redefined. The primary shift in spatial conception will be from a two-dimensional decentralized horizontal schema with singular up-down vertical axis, to a three-dimensional centralized polyaxial schema with in-out the primary existential axis.

Mega-structures are proposed, which provide ample habitable space in Space. Their structure is provided by means of centralized tensile lattices stressed by pneumatic enclosures. These are envisaged to be large-scale, of about 13 kilometers in diameter each, with Primary Tensile Lattice ties of 1 km length. The geometry of the tensile lattice is given by the author's centralized polyaxial zonahedral expansions. Secondary tensile assemblages are then stressed by means of the primary tensile lattice, with tertiary and subordinate assemblages as desired. This permits a “soft” non-rigid architecture to be developed.

Principles of Traditional Architecture are relevant to Space Habitation studies, and indicate Space Habitation theory should seek to integrate metaphysical, psychic, and physical human needs appropriate to dwelling in microgravity. Ideally the Space Habitation should integrate structure, form and meaning.

This paper encapsulates ideas presented in the author's book, The Integral Space Habitation — Towards an Architecture of Space.

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