Project

Micro Mobile

Copyright

Joseph H Kennedy Jr

Joseph H Kennedy Jr 

Joe Kennedy – Harvard University: Graduate School of Design, DDes; Morgan Ip – Cambridge University: Scott Polar Research Institute, Post-Doc; Ramon Weber – MIT: Building Technology, PhD


Svalbard is one of the locations most dramatically impacted by climate change in the world, with the annual temperature rising 4 degrees Celsius in the last half century. Due to these rapidly changing and extreme environmental conditions, the settlement of Longyearbyen has had to adapt to shifting foundations and landslides that has resulted in the destruction of homes and the displacement of residents due to avalanche risk. In response to this contextual uncertainty, we explore how dynamic architectural solutions for mobile shelter can accommodate dramatically shifting temperatures, wind and topographical conditions. By combining advanced digital manufacturing with computational design and environmental simulation, we intend to prototype a lightweight portable living capsule in harsh environments both for future space pioneers and climate refugees who will require new forms of housing and shelter that can adapt to impending environmental extremes.

Svalbard’s remoteness, its barren geologic topography, as well as the angle and cycle of sunlight exposure roughly approximate some of the environmental conditions that would be present in the southern pole of the moon, an area that has been considered for a future space settlement.

Copyright

Joseph H Kennedy Jr

The fieldwork is split into 3 main topics that relate to the fabrication, design and performance of the mobile capsule habitat:

1. Site survey and local material sample extraction / refinement for use in LDM (Loose Deposition Modeling) 3D printing.

- Soil sample extracted from sites across Longyearbyen with local refinement of clay and initial tests of clay extrusion through nozzles of different diameters. Transportation of more promising soil samples back to Cambridge for testing with 3D printing

2. Testing and analyzing maneuverability of prototype across varying topographies and terrain conditions.

- Three 3D printed scale model iterations of the rolling capsule enclosure that will test different exterior forms, interior volumes, and lightweight thermal insulation. Tracking and documentation of both unaided and mechanically actuated movement among different capsule designs.

3. Simulation of circadian solar rhythms and active heat capture through assisted tracking with window in response to irregular sun path.

- Documentation of temperature and light fluctuations among different capsule designs. The capsules will contain a go pro camera and temperature logger with a DSLR camera on a tripod set up to track and compare the outside environmental conditions to the interior conditions during three separate days, over a 6 hour continuous period.

Copyright

Joseph H Kennedy Jr

Copyright

Joseph H Kennedy Jr

Copyright

Joseph H Kennedy Jr

Copyright

Joseph H Kennedy Jr

Copyright

Joseph H Kennedy Jr

Copyright

Joseph H Kennedy Jr

Copyright

Joseph H Kennedy Jr

Copyright

Joseph H Kennedy Jr

Copyright

Joseph H Kennedy Jr

Copyright

Joseph H Kennedy Jr