An icebreaker ship navigating through icy waters, creating a wake behind it.

MOON

A fourteen-day experience exploring the lunar surface with reflective contemplation of Earth’s beauty and delicacy, based at Sinus Medii

FOR RIBA GUERILLA TACTICS CONFERENCE 2011

Close-up of a lunar module on the moon's surface with a robotic spacecraft and astronaut visible, illuminated by the module's lights against the moon's rocky terrain.

This was a conceptual competition to design a hotel on the Moon.

In thirty years’ time, 1% of 1% of the world’s population is predicted to own over 60% of the world’s resources. Presumably only they will be able to afford to go to a hotel on the Moon.

Our idea envisaged a two-week lunar vacation: one week in sunlight, the other in total darkness. Holidaymakers would enjoy visits to natural and human-made sites, zero-gravity training, solitary ‘Moon camping’, and a communal Full Earth Party on their final night in space.

With the hotel sited in the Sinus Medii, where the earth is always directly overhead, the tour would afford visitors unique moments of reflection. Will the 1% of the 1% be changed by the experience – as all astronauts are? Will they grasp our planet’s beauty and vulnerability? And importantly, how will those on earth view the travellers – with respect or contempt?

Diagram illustrating the lunar phases and lunar cycle, showing the moon's appearance from Earth over a 29.5-day lunar month, with phases from new moon to full moon and back, including labels for moon day, Earth, and moon night.
A fighter jet on a snowy or icy surface with some small structures or equipment nearby.

ARRIVAL

The visitors arrives at the base. A series of training courses help them to get adjusted to moving around and dealing with low gravity.

Concept art of a futuristic, autonomous, multi-wheeled vehicle designed for sleeping and traveling, alongside a schematic diagram showing its features for resting and transportation.

MOON BUGGY - EXPLORING THE MOON ON YOUR OWN

The holidaymakers are provided with a Moon Buggy with a personal driver. After having spent a few days at the hotel base the visitors are ready to explore the Moon and the most important sites on their own.

An astronaut suit helmet view shows the lunar surface with a lunar module in the background, illuminating the moon's landscape. The image includes labels of Apollo missions, Earth's moon's north and south poles, and features of the lunar surface, indicating a comparison of human and natural history related to the moon.
A futuristic robotic rover vehicle on the surface of the moon, with stars visible in the night sky.

MOON CAMPING - AN UNFORGETTABLE EXPERIENCE

The Moon Buggy is designed to be able to drop of the rear department to offer the holidaymakers a very personal experience. Will they be changed by this experience - as all astronauts are? Will they grasp our planet’s beauty and vulnerability?

Futuristic scene on a snowy, icy landscape with a large domed structure in the background and six small vehicles parked and moving towards the structure, under a starry night sky with the moon visible.
View from inside a spacecraft looking out into space, with Earth in the distant background and stars scattered across the sky.
Diagram illustrating Earth's position relative to a hot air balloon data collection system, showing Earth, the eye, glass floor, Earth room, plan for 24 people, and the balloon axis.
A computer-generated spacecraft with a textured metallic surface and sharp fins, parked on a snowy landscape under a starry sky, with a path of lights leading away from it.

THE EYE & THE EARTH ROOM

The roof of the base is designed to open and shut in relation to solar radiation. At the beginning of the holiday the roof will be shut but open up more and more towards the end of holiday as the solar radiation reduces. From the Earth Room below the 'eye' of the hotel the amazing view of the Earth can be appreciated. This would also be a room for reflection and discussion in relation to how to act upon the experiences the visitors have had while visiting the Moon.

Night sky with stars, full moon, some clouds, and tree silhouettes in the foreground.

FULL EARTH PARTY

The visitors celebrate their last night of their Moon holiday with a Full Earth Party.

Futuristic digital artwork with a spiral pattern converging towards the moon at the center, surrounded by a tree canopy and glowing lights.

LOCATION

Earth’s Moon

RESEARCH THEMES

Light, space tourism, sustainability

STATUS

Competition

CLIENT

RIBA Guerilla Tactics Conference 2011