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Open Competitions

Space

Moon Station

YAC and European Space Agency's Topical Team launch a call for ideas aiming to imagine the first moon research base. 

Moon Station

Overpopulation, resource depletion, ecosystem collapse: after due consideration, from a planet that is at breaking point, the ultimate unexplored horizon, the only untouched frontier seems outer space. 

Space is a mysterious and mysteriously violent place. It is a place of abyssal distances and magnitudes such as to go beyond the most refined comprehension. Space is the place where human science still falters getting excited at the slightest step forward in the knowledge of a void as ancient as time full of mysteries and concealed secrets.  

In that dark and unknown abyss, the safest shelter, the closest haven is inevitably the Moon.

50 years after the last human moon landing, a renewed interest in space has driven a group of public and private international partners to go back to our silent satellite. Through the Artemis program, in November 2022 the first no-crew mission was launched.

Humans are expected to walk on the moon again by 2025. After that, the Moon will become the most important scientific base of humankind. In all likelihood, the most significant scientific discoveries of the coming decades will be made there.  

In this remarkable scenario, YAC is proud to present Moon Station in collaboration with the Topical Team on Planetary Caves of the European Space Agency. This competition aims to design the first moon research base. 

Moon Station invites architects to take part in a unique and revolutionary challenge. A visionary challenge which is rooted in the reality of future space travels, of a man that is no longer content with Earth’s experiences and that is now able to venture into places that seemed impossible to reach until the last century.   

Moon Station requires the design of a first-time architecture. It will be an iconic place that is the symbol of the most futuristic exploration of humankind. Here, the most daring people of the planet will enjoy silver deserts and skies that have never been seen before. They will walk amid silent craters to see the light-blue globe of their distant planet in a black horizon day and night.   

This architecture will go down in history and become a legend as the Pillars of Hercules, Apollo 11 and any other human object aiming to trace the new frontier of human exploration: the new frontier of a renewed humankind, of a humanity which has already become “multiplanetary”.   

YAC and ESA’s Topical Team thank all architects who will take up this challenge.

 

Jury

Each jury is nominated with utmost care and is composed by professionals of the highest repute whose activity is consistent with the theme of the competition.

  • Sandra Häuplik-Meusburger
    Vienna University of Technology (TUW)
  • Georgi Petrov
    SOM - Skidmore, Owings & Merrill
  • Francesco Sauro
    ESA Topical Team on Planetary Caves
  • Xavier De Kestelier
    HASSELL
  • Melodie Yashar
    ICON
  • Julian Ocampo Salazar
    BIG Bjarke Ingels Group
  • Daniel Inocente
    Architect & Space Architect
  • Nicola Scaranaro
    FOSTER + PARTNERS
  • René Waclavicek
    Liquifer System Group

Prizes

All awarded projects will be sent to websites, magazines and architectural platforms. Furthermore, they can be displayed in national and international architectural events.

1st Prize

€ 8.000

2nd Prize

€ 4.000

3rd Prize

€ 2.000

Gold Mention

€ 500

Gold Mention

€ 500

Honorable Mention

10

Finalist Mention

30

Timeline

Complying with deadlines is a fundamental requirement to take part in the competition. All architects are encouraged to pay the utmost attention to the timeline and to complete each phase in advance.

* +22% VAT. Fulfilling an “Early bird”, “Standard” or “Late” registration does not affect submission deadline.

Early Bird Registration

€ 65 / team*

Standard Registration

€ 85 / team*

Late Registration

€ 115 / team*

Material Submission Deadline

Jury Summoning

Results Announcement

Download

YAC provides architects with content-rich competition material so that they can best express their ideas and thoughts wherever they live.

MS_3D

3D model and textures for Moon Station Competition

MS_images

Images useful to the competition and lava tubes understanding

Rules Ita En Es Fr Pt Zh Ru

Rules of the competition

FAQ

Is it possible to participate without a team?

Is there an age limit to take part in the competition?

Can a team submit more than one proposal?

Is it possible to modify the team’s participation in the competition if the payment has already been made?

Shall all the elements listed in the program be designed or is it up to the designer's decision?

Shall the elements listed in the program be designed as independent modules? Is it possible to combine more functions in the same module?

Where will the Moon Station be located?

Is it possible to use modular and prefabricated elements that will be transported from Earth?

Is it possible to insert glazed surfaces?

What is the approximate dimension of the competition area?

Partners

YAC thanks all the people who have been engaged in organizing the competition by sharing time, materials and resources to make the experience of architects unique.

LiqueferICONHassellFoster+PartnersBIGSOM - Skidmore, Owings & MerrillTopical Team Planetary Caves of the European Space AgencyDaniel Inocente

Space

Moon Station

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