Engaging space: extraterrestrial architecture and the human psyche.
The human fascination with exploring and inhabiting the space that lies beyond Earth's atmosphere continues to grow. Nevertheless, 40 years of experience to date have clearly established that humans in outer space routinely suffer significant psychological impairment arising from their stressful extraterrestrial living conditions. This paper explores those extraterrestrial conditions through the interactions between the extraordinarily harsh environment of outer space, the sensations that humans encounter in space, and the qualities of a habitat that physically interposes itself between the two. The objective of this paper is to develop a habitat that expresses the extraterrestrial condition while supporting the mental health of its inhabitants, so as to augment the success of prolonged extraterrestrial residence and interplanetary travel.
Sequin
Angel Marie
AM
MAIBC, M. Arch., B.E.D., Intern Architect, Canada. amseguin@canada.com
D000162:Acoustics; D000223:Adaptation, Psychological; D000389:Air Conditioning; D018480:Astronauts / Q000523:psychology*; D003624:Darkness; D006804:Ergonomics; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D005160:Facility Design and Construction; D018470:Gravity, Altered; D006801:Humans; D007374:Interior Design and Furnishings; D008021:Life Support Systems / Q000295:instrumentation*; D008027:Light; D012934:Social Isolation / Q000523:psychology*; D019445:Solar Activity; D012993:Solar Energy; D013026:Space Flight; D018531:Spacecraft; D014893:Weightlessness