Czech startup MARS Buildings has received support from the space technology incubator ESA BIC Czech Republic this year. It is now unveiling the first architectural designs for its houses, and although they have not yet been officially launched, the company is reporting early takers.
“The MARS Buildings geodesic house represents a revolutionary step in architectural solutions and the construction industry. Our houses have a dome-shaped form that allows for efficient use of space while being resistant to adverse weather conditions,” explains Pavel Konečný, founder of MARS Buildings. “Our houses are inspired by the design of space habitats and use a patented geometry that allows a significant reduction in the amount of material used and provides absolute flexibility in the floor plan due to the absence of internal load-bearing walls.”
XTEND Design, a London and Prague-based studio founded by spatial architect Tomáš Rousek, collaborated on the architectural design of the buildings. Tomáš is known worldwide for his research for NASA and ESA and his concepts for lunar bases. “When designing space architecture, you have to consider how to efficiently transport materials to build it. This is one of the many key advantages of the MARS houses. All the parts can be folded into conventional containers and assembled on site without the need for high-rise equipment. So you can ship them all over the world from one factory,” says Rousek of the house’s design.
MARS Buildings respond to the long-term trend of rising housing costs caused by the high cost of new construction and expensive energy. They offer an alternative that makes it possible to build energy-efficient homes quickly and affordably. The project is based on the vision that houses should be produced in a similar way to cars – from standardised parts that can be put together to suite individual requirements.
“The issue of sustainability is also relevant in the field of space technology. That is why I’m pleased that examples like MARS Buildings show that, thanks to the support of the ESA BIC incubator, companies can be created that provide sustainable solutions,” says Ivo Denemark, Director of the Startups and Venture Funds Division of the CzechInvest agency, which manages the ESA BIC programme in the Czech Republic.
Although MARS Buildings has yet to present an architectural proposal, it has already received initial interest. The company has also secured a general contractor so that the innovative geodesic houses could have their first residents as early as next year. In addition, the company plans to work on other projects in the future to further expand its portfolio of sustainable architecture.
zdroj: ESA BIC Czech Republic
