| dc.description.abstract | This thesis explores a design of a colony in outer space able to comfortably sustain a dense growing population of 1 million inhabitants. This visionary colony, will exist in the Moon-Earth Lagrange Point 1 and aims to take advantage of the unique physical, phenomenological, and technological aspects of space while providing a level of comfort on par with that of a first world city. This paper engages the practice of architecture by exploring beyond our current ability to shape our habitation, examining a new frontier, one enabled by being surrounded in outer space. Ultimately the work seeks to answer the question of ‘what sequence of events will allow for a self-sustaining and expanding city in space, and what type of life may we lead within?’ The major studies in this thesis revolve primarily around four categories: the potential technology required, the abstract mechanics of how various systems would interact to support life, the timeline that would be required for a space colony to be built, and the urban design that a city of the sky should enjoy. The goal is to synthesize these areas and ultimately determine the schematic design approach for the creation of a space colony. To this end topics relating to energy production, mining, ecological footprint, modern scenes of fantasy, mechanical and structural engineering, alternative housing, linear cities and political governing will be explored topics of study. The overarching goal of all of this is to discover how we can to build a habitat in orbital space based on our current and projected technology, and to explore the emerging field of space urbanism. | en |
