Featured Publications
Books by our Members

[2023]
Living Beyond Earth: Architecture for Extreme Environments

Edited by LIQUIFER Systems Group and Jennifer Cunningham.

Published by Park Books, © 2023, 224 pages
ISBN: 978-3-038603450 (softcover)
[enlarge cover]  Order 

Conquering the extremes: LIQUIFER Systems Group, a design and research firm based in Vienna and Bremen, has been addressing the issue of human life on Earth and elsewhere in the universe for two decades.  Their work demonstrates how consideration of technology-based design solutions and careful use of available resources can enable us to live in space.  Their concepts, feasibility studies, and technological developments all deal with the key issue of scarcity that defines life everywhere: on Mars, on the Moon, in orbit, as well as on Earth.  LIQUIFER Systems Group’s projects range from a simulated Mars mission in Spain’s Rio Tinto region and the interior design for the habitation module of the planned Gateway space station, to the EDEN ISS mobile greenhouse in Antarctica and biogenerative studies in which microbes are integrated into buildings to generate energy and recycle materials.

LIQUIFER.  Living Beyond Earth is the first book to present the practice’s groundbreaking work.  It features spectacular images and visualizations, detailed plans, and drawings that are supplemented with an introduction by and a conversation between the LIQUIFER team, as well as a prologue and an epilogue by renowned American space architects Brent Sherwood and Christina Ciardullo.  It enables the reader to delve into the visionary world of Europe’s leading space design firms.

[2021]
Space Architecture: Human Habitats Beyond Planet Earth

By Olga Bannova.

Published by DOM Publishers, © 2021, 240 pages
ISBN: 978-3-869226644 (softcover)
[enlarge cover]  Order 

For many, the idea of Space Architecture as a discipline lies in the domain of science fiction, where everything is possible simply because it happens “very far in the future”.  Is Space Architecture a fiction or reality?

This book explores if and how architectural principles and strategies need to be transformed when applied to the extreme conditions of outer space.  It presents concepts developed by great minds in the fields of space exploration and science-fiction, ones which can inspire new ways into the future.

The book also presents the philosophy of Space Architecture, arguing for example that the design of space habitats needs to be human-centred while defining ways for humans to co-exist in new environments.  These views are complemented by examples of architectures from current and planned space missions, organised by private companies as well as government agencies.

[2021]
Space Habitats and Habitability: Designing for Isolated and Confined Environments on Earth and in Space

By Sandra Häuplik-Meusburger and Sheryl L. Bishop.

Published by Springer, © 2021, 250 pages
ISBN: 978-3-030-69739-6 (hardcover)
ISBN: 978-3-030-69742-6 (softcover)
ISBN: 978-3-030-69740-2 (e-book)
[enlarge cover]  Order 

This book explores creative solutions to the unique challenges inherent in crafting livable spaces in extra-terrestrial environments.  The goal is to foster a constructive dialogue between the researchers and planners of future (space) habitats.  The authors explore the diverse concepts of the term Habitability from the perspectives of the inhabitants as well as the planners and social sciences.

The book provides an overview of the evolution and advancements of designed living spaces for manned space craft, as well as analogue research and simulation facilities in extreme environments on Earth.  It highlights how various current and future concepts of Habitability have been translated into design and which ones are still missing.  The main emphasis of this book is to identify the important factors that will provide for well-being in our future space environments and promote creative solutions to achieving living spaces where humans can thrive.  Selected aspects are discussed from a socio-spatial professional background and possible applications are illustrated.

Human factors and habitability design are important topics for all working and living spaces.  For space exploration, they are vital.  While human factors and certain habitability issues have been integrated into the design process of manned spacecraft, there is a crucial need to move from mere survivability to factors that support thriving.  As of today, the risk of an incompatible vehicle or habitat design has already been identified by NASA as recognized key risk to human health and performance in space.  Habitability and human factors will become even more important determinants for the design of future long-term and commercial space facilities as larger and more diverse groups occupy off-earth habitats.

The book will not only benefit individuals and organizations responsible for manned space missions and mission simulators, but also provides relevant information to designers of terrestrial austere environments (e.g., remote operational and research facilities, hospitals, prisons, manufacturing).  In addition it presents general insights on the socio-spatial relationship which is of interest to researchers of social sciences, engineers and architects.

[2016]
International Space Station: Architecture Beyond Earth

By David A. Nixon.

Published by Circa Press, © 2016, 416 pages
ISBN: 978-0-9930721-3-0 (hardcover)
[enlarge cover]  Order 

In 1984 President Ronald Reagan gave NASA the go-ahead to build a Space Station.  A generation later, the International Space Station is an established and highly successful research centre in Earth orbit.  The history of this extraordinary project is a complex weave of powerful threads – political, diplomatic, financial and technological among them – but none is more fascinating than the story of its design.  This book provides the first comprehensive account of the International Space Station’s conception, development and assembly in space.  As a highly accessible chronicle of a complex piece of design and engineering, it will appeal to readers far beyond the space field.

NASA Astronaut Nicole Stott, a veteran of International Space Station Expeditions 20 and 21 and Shuttle Missions STS-128, STS-129 and STS-133, introduces the book with a personal memoir – ​“A Home in Space”.

David Nixon is an architect with a particular interest in designing for space exploration.  In 1978 he cofounded Future Systems with Jan Kaplicky and was among a handful of architects invited to work on the design of the International Space Station.  He later established an office in Los Angeles to focus on work across the space field.  In 2000 he formed Astrocourier to develop miniature space­flight experiments for schools.  This book is the result of seven years’ research.

​“If you are a space fan, fascinated by the kind of venture the International Space Station represents, this book is an absolute must, full of juicy details and intriguing insights.”
— Popular Science, March 2016

“This book should be essential reading for a wide audience – any­one who wants an insight into the field of human space­flight in general, and the International Space Station in particular.”
— Madhu Thangavelu, Sky at Night, June 2016

“Arguably the best book available for a serious and deeply detailed analysis of the origin, evolution, development and fabrication of the largest international space endeavor yet mounted.”
— David Baker, Spaceflight, June 2016

“As a history of the planning, design, assembly and functioning of the Space Station, this book is unlikely to be surpassed.”
— Andrew Crumey, Literary Review, June 2016

[2016]
Space Architecture Education for Engineers and Architects: Designing and Planning Beyond Earth

By Sandra Häuplik-Meusburger and Olga Bannova.

Published by Springer, © 2016, 320 pages
ISBN: 978-3-319-19278-9 (hardcover)
ISBN: 978-3-319-79268-2 (softcover)
ISBN: 978-3-319-19279-6 (e-book)
[enlarge cover]  Order 

This book considers two key educational tools for future generations of professionals with a space architecture background in the 21st century: (1) introducing the discipline of space architecture into the space system engineering curricula; and (2) developing space architecture as a distinct, complete training curriculum.  Professionals educated this way will help shift focus from solely engineering-driven transportation systems and “sortie” missions towards permanent off-world human presence.  The architectural training teaches young professionals to operate at all scales from the “overall picture” down to the smallest details, to provide directive intention – not just analysis – to design opportunities, to address the relationship between human behavior and the built environment, and to interact with many diverse fields and disciplines throughout the project lifecycle.  This book will benefit individuals and organizations responsible for planning transportation and habitat systems in space, while also providing detailed information on work and design processes for architects and engineers.

[2011]
Architecture for Astronauts: An Activity-Based Approach

By Sandra Häuplik-Meusburger.

Published by Springer, © 2011, 316 pages
ISBN: 978-3-7091-0666-2 (hardcover)
ISBN: 978-3-7091-1936-5 (softcover)
ISBN: 978-3-7091-0667-9 (e-book)
[enlarge cover]  Order 

Living and working in extra-terrestrial habitats means being potentially vulnerable to very harsh environmental, social, and psychological conditions.  With the stringent technical specifications for launch vehicles and transport into space, a very tight framework for the creation of habitable space is set.  These constraints result in a very demanding “partnership” between the habitat and the inhabitant.

This book is the result of researching the interface between people, space and objects in an extra-terrestrial environment.  The evaluation of extra-terrestrial habitats in comparison to the user’s perspective leads to a new framework, comparing these buildings from the viewpoint of human activity.  It can be used as reference or as conceptual framework for the purpose of evaluation.  It also summarizes relevant human-related design directions.  The work is addressed to architects and designers as well as engineers.

[2009]
Out of This World: The New Field of Space Architecture

Edited by A. Scott Howe and Brent Sherwood.

Published by AIAA, © 2009, 400 pages
ISBN: 978-1-56347-982-3 (hardcover)
ISBN: 978-1-56347-987-8 (e-book)
[enlarge cover]  Order 

This collaborative book compiles thirty chapters on the theory and practice of designing and building inhabited environments in outer space.  Given the highly visual nature of architecture, the book is rich in graphics including diagrams, design drawings, digital renderings, and photographs of models and of executed and operational designs.

Written by the global network of practicing space architects, the book introduces a wealth of ideas and images explaining how humans live in space now, and how they may do so in the near and distant future.  It describes the governing constraints of the hostile space environment, outlines key issues involved in designing orbital and planet-surface architecture, surveys the most advanced space architecture of today, and proposes far-ranging designs for an inspiring future.  It also addresses earth-based space architecture: space analogue and mission support facilities, and terrestrial uses of space technology.

In addition to surveying the range of space architecture design, from sleeping quarters to live-in rovers to moon bases and space cities, the book provides a valuable archival reference for professionals.  Space enthusiasts, architects, aerospace engineers, and students will find it a fascinating read.

[2005]
Transcripts of an Architectural Journey: Musings Towards a New Genre in (Space) Architecture

By Barbara Imhof, Susmita Mohanty, Constance M. Adams, Sandra Häuplik, Hannes Stiefel, and Susan M. Fairburn.

Published by LIQUIFER Systems Group, © 2005, 292 pages
[enlarge cover]  Order 

“What is space architecture?  Admittedly, I still don’t know for sure.  The term seems to be a pleonasm since the designing of space actually is the goal of architecture.  Thus, space architecture is architecture tout court – right?”