From Hong Kong to Mars: How this local architect won Nasa's Habitat Challenge award
Nasa honours Sidney Tang and his teammate for their 3D-printed vision for a Mars habitat that would be cost-effective and use in-situ materials
A Hong Kong architect is encouraging fellow dreamers in the city to keep pursuing their ambitions after he picked up a prize for his house design for future residents of Mars in Nasa's 3D Printed Habitat Challenge.
Contestants were asked to develop architectural concepts that took advantage of 3D printing's unique capabilities to imagine what habitats on Mars might look like. Tang's team was the only one from Hong Kong that was shortlisted, and it won one of three honourable mentions, placing after the first, second and third-prize winners.
Tang said the design had a spacious interior and arranged three circular domes in an overlapping triangle formation, ensuring strong structural integrity and optimal aerodynamics with sparing use of building materials.
The elements that helped the team win an honourable mention included emphasis on sourcing construction materials from the red planet, recycling and cost-effectiveness.