Resilient and Adaptable Desert Habitat

As the population grows and humans develop the technology to explore and inhabit environments previously thought impossible to reach, the way we live and thrive is constantly evolving. I have always wondered what a human habitat in a foreign world would look like, and with humans inhabiting increasingly harsh and extreme environments here on our home planet, we might see that technological advancement very soon.

For my habitat, I chose to design a habitat around the extreme desert environment for multiple reasons. Firstly, deserts constitute over one-fifth of all land on earth. Of course, now most people choose to live in regions where the weather is cooler and there are more plentiful natural resources, but as the human population grows, we must find ways to take advantage of available land and overcome the challenges of human inhabitation in those extreme environments. If sustainable and reliable options for desert-dwelling are established, humans could increasingly inhabit those regions currently unlivable as the population increases. Secondly, as time passes and the human population increases, so does the effect climate change has on our way of daily life. As global temperatures rise and natural resources become more scarce, especially water, humans will need to adapt to living in desert-like conditions, even in areas that currently have cool climates and plentiful resources. Both in regard to the increasing human population and the effects of climate change on the planet, research and development into sustainable solutions for extreme-desert habitation is becoming increasingly important.

For an extreme desert environment, the materials the habitat is constructed of will play the dominant role in its resilience to natural forces and overall function. After researching the preeminent structural materials for housing in high-heat environments, concrete stuck out to me as a particularly fitting solution to the challenge of construction in such a challenging environment for the following reasons:

Thermal Conductivity

Compared to other building materials, concrete has a low thermal conductivity, meaning that it is resistant to quick fluctuations in temperature and can regulate internal heat efficiently. This allows the structure to withstand long periods of sun exposure without excessive heating.

Resistance to Environmental Factors

Concrete is a remarkably strong material and is perfectly suited for applications in extreme conditions. Concrete is water-resistant, and therefore can endure the occasional heavy rains and flash-floodings common to desert environments. Furthermore, concrete is resistant to erosion and abrasion, two necessary qualities for desert construction materials. During a sandstorm, sand picked up by the wind can over time wear down softer building materials such as wood through abrasion, but concrete remains strong.

Environmentally Friendly

Compared to other more synthetic building materials, concrete is made out of natural resources, mainly gravel, sand, and water. Because of this, concrete produces less carbon emissions in its production when compared to other structural materials. Additionally, the strength and longevity of concrete allow for fewer repairs, thus saving on the use of more material in the long run. Recently, environmental and civil engineers have begun research and testing into the use of natural desert sand as a fine aggregate in concrete for construction. Research papers such as this one published in the Journal of Building Engineering explore the possible mechanical benefits of using desert sand in concrete over conventionally produced sand, including cost and energy savings. Concrete made using desert sand would be perfect for an extreme desert habitat because the concrete could be made on-site using nearby sand, and would not have to be trucked in pre-mixed.

For the windows of the habitat, tempered glass is used. The same glass used in oven doors, tempered glass can withstand extreme temperatures and is resistant to thermal expansion. It is also more resistant to scratches compared to other types of glass, making it ideal for weathering abrasive sandstorms. To prevent the sun from entering through the windows and heating up the structure through the greenhouse effect, an IR and UV reflective film is applied to the outside of each glass panel. This technique of reflecting the infrared light let in by windows and thereby reducing the internal temperature of a home is already in use across the country, and has proven to be quite effective for desert architecture. As an additional measure for preventing heat from entering the home through the windows, all of the windows in the structure are double-paned. By constructing the windows using two separate panes of glass separated by a thin gap, the windows are less conductive and heat cannot easily transfer through them into the interior.

In addition to the concrete and glass for the main structure of the habitat, solar panels, electric batteries, lights, water storage, filtration, and heating tanks, and steel for framing are needed for the basic habitat.

To make the CAD models for this project, I used Autodesk's Fusion. I knew that this project would need a powerful modeling program, and I had used Fusion in the past, but only for very simple models using the basic tools. I used this project as an opportunity to improve my Fusion skills, and after many hours of reading Fusion forums, watching YouTube videos, and asking questions on the Fusion Discord server, I can now model confidently in Fusion using the entire toolset. Throughout this project, I learned advanced modeling skills including designing and importing my own textures, creating intricate geometry structures, and working with complex assemblies.

To start the design process, I began researching the different types of structures being developed for use in extreme environments. In current residential desert architecture, a more traditional approach is taken for the outside structure of homes. Defining features include large, blocky buildings with flat walls and roofs. Although these may work for residential homes in more moderate climates, big flat walls are not suited for strong winds in extreme desert environments, and the large, flat roof prevents efficient air circulation throughout the home. It was through my research that I learned about how an icosahedron-based structure overcomes these challenges. The curved interior of the structure allows for efficient circulation of hot air throughout the habitat, as the hotter air rises and is guided to the top of the structure by the curved walls, away from the inhabitants. In terms of wind resistance, the outside of the icosahedron is curved and thus has reduced wind resistance compared to traditional structures. Additionally, the fact that the outside faces of an icosahedron-based structure are at different angles means that no individual panel is in direct exposure to sunlight for very long, keeping the internal temperature of the structure cooler. To serve as a starting point for my model, I used the Truncated Icosahedron model provided by the Aurelia Institute and based my design on its shape and dimensions.

From the beginning, I knew that I wanted my habitat to be modular. Being able to create different habitats depending on the surrounding terrain and requirements of the inhabitants is extremely important. The structure might need to be designed to be built around a certain geographical feature such as a boulder or crater, or even have certain parts of it at different elevations if built on a slope such as a sand dune. Additionally, the habitat might need to accommodate different living scenarios. Extra inhabitants would require extra dormitory space, or if a habitat was specifically designated for research, a lab and additional storage space would need to be added. To allow the habitat to be resilient and adaptive to its surroundings, it is designed to be fully customizable and easy to configure.

To make the habitat easily configurable, I designed all of the modules to fit together like building blocks. The basic module has between one and three entry points, and there are different variations for different entry layouts. There is also a larger module for greenhouses, garages, or storage areas, which is an extended version of the basic module. The entries to the modules are all a standard size, so the same hallway can be used to connect between all of them. The windows are standardized as well, with two hexagonal sizes being used in the majority. The fact that the different modules are similar to each other in most aspects of their design makes construction easier and more efficient, and additionally, it is easier to create new custom modules. The habitat configuration that I modeled is the standard, default configuration, with all of the modules necessary for everyday living included.

When living in an extreme desert environment, the ability of a habitat to make the most out of resources is essential to its effectiveness. Unlike water, an extreme desert environment has an overwhelming abundance of sunlight. Being able to take advantage of this natural resource is extremely important considering that already-established energy infrastructure is not easily accessible and that other common ways of on-site power generation commonly used in urban environments such as hydroelectric and wind turbines won't work in the desert. It became immediately obvious to me that my habitat would have to utilize solar panels to fully meet its energy consumption. On the top of each standard module, there are five hexagonal solar panels, each with an area of just over 87 square feet, amounting to approximately 435 square feet. The solar panels on each module generate enough energy to sustain their own power consumption, including lights, appliances, and cooling. The panels are connected to two batteries housed in the garage, which are used to power the habitat during nighttime.

Although the heavy sun exposure in the extreme desert environment makes solar panels especially effective, the heat caused by the sun exposure can actually make the solar panels less efficient. In fact, for each degree over 77°F (25°C), the efficiency of a solar panel can drop by 0.3-0.5 percent. That loss in efficiency is not so much of a problem in a normal suburban environment, but in extreme desert conditions where the temperature regularly exceeds 100°F (38°C), it can significantly reduce the overall output of a solar array. After reading this paper published on the efficiency of photovoltaic cells in relation to temperature, I knew I would need to implement a system for cooling the panels. After some research on both passive and active cooling systems, I decided that liquid cooling would be the best solution. Liquid cooling the solar panels is much more effective than passive systems like ventilation and heat sinks, and the energy created by the panels can be used to power the pump. To take advantage of the heat the coolant absorbs from the panels, I designed the coolant to be used in heating the habitat's hot water supply. After the coolant flows through the water blocks on the backs of the panels, it is routed to the water heating tank in the garage. The coolant flows through a copper coil inside of the tank, transferring the heat from the coolant to the water in the tank. This way of using the coolant loop for two complimentary purposes is already seen in residential housing today, where water from a swimming pool is used to cool the panels, heating the pool at the same time. With the coolant loop, the solar panels are kept at high efficiency and additional energy is saved on water heating.

Since water is scarce in an extreme desert environment, making the fullest use of every drop is critical for long-term sustainability. Growing up in California, I have become well acquainted with conserving water in creative ways to combat the persistent water droughts in the region. In the past, my family has set up rain collection barrels to capture rainwater from our gutters and use it to water the plants in our garden. Unfortunately, this would not work well in the desert due to the lack of rain, or any natural water sources for that matter. I decided that my habitat would instead conserve water by collecting, purifying, and then recycling it internally. In my design, the water used in cleaner applications is collected throughout the habitat and reused for agricultural purposes. Water is collected from cleaner sources such as showers, hand-washing sinks, and washing machines. This water, known as greywater, is then sent to a purification tank in the garage, where an active carbon filter removes any physical debris and chemicals like soap or detergent. The water is then sent to the outdoor storage tank, where it is used to water the plants inside the greenhouse.

The entry room is the first room of the habitat. It connects the garage and greenhouse to the rest of the structure and serves as a storage for gear like backpacks, shoes, and coats. In the entry room, there are hooks for hanging gear as well as shoe shelves for easy shoe storage. There are two large windows on either side of the entry, so inhabitants can see who is outside the large wooden door.

Like any living space, having a garage is essential for storing vehicles, gear, and utilities. The garage is large enough to house two medium-sized vehicles, with room to spare for additional gear storage. Mounted against the far wall are the two batteries which store the energy produced by the solar panels, and they are easily accessible with data panels for charge capacity and power usage information. Above the batteries, there is a rack which holds extra vehicle tires. On the opposite wall sits the two water tanks. One is the hot-water tank heated by the coolant from the solar panel cooling loop, and the other is the reclaimed water processing tank, where an activated carbon filter purifies greywater from the house for use in the greenhouse. They both have information panels mounted on the front to display information on if filters need to be changed, what temperature the water is heated to, and how full they each are. The floor of the garage is paved with smooth-finished concrete for durability and easy cleaning. In the back of the garage is the entry into the greenhouse. The garage also serves as storage for the greenhouse and for larger equipment such as wheelbarrows or fertilizer.

Since natural plant life is notoriously hard to come by in the desert, a climate-controlled greenhouse is necessary for growing crops. Having a greenhouse allows the habitat to be more self-sustainable and provides an additional nutritious food source for inhabitants when fruits and vegetables can be hard to come by. Unlike the other modules, the entire roof of the greenhouse is made out of glass to allow the most light possible into the structure, and the tint on the windows is reduced to allow for the greenhouse to stay warm but not too hot. The soil bed is arranged in a curved shape around a set of concrete tiles which form a path so that all of the plants can be easily accessed. Near the entry to the greenhouse, there is room for gear storage for basic gardening tools and fertilizer, and a compost bin so that food scraps can be re-used for crop production. On the outside is the water storage tank for use in the greenhouse. It is made out of corrugated metal for strength, with inlet and outlet pipes for water transfer.

Every living space needs a designated room where inhabitants can rest, recuperate, and enjoy quality time together. In my design, the living room is just off the entry to the habitat. It has a couple of couches, a table, and other furnishings common to such a space. The living room connects straight to the kitchen for easy movement between them and is also connected to the bedroom via hallways. I designed the living room to be more central in the home, so it feels natural to spend time there and there are great views of the surrounding landscape through the windows.

The most important room in a home is arguably the kitchen. It is where inhabitants eat their meals, and spend time socializing and talking. The kitchen is outfitted with all the necessary features including an oven, stove, sink, cabinet storage, appliances, and refrigerator. The counter is curved along the edge of the room to maximize the workspace and create more free room in the center of the kitchen. The cabinetry houses the built-in refrigerator as well as the oven and also includes foodstuff and cookware storage. On the opposite side of the kitchen is a dining table with chairs to enjoy meals at. The kitchen floor is tile to allow for easy cleaning, and as a unique feature, the kitchen has 180-degree windows so that inhabitants can enjoy the surrounding landscape while cooking or dining.

The bedroom is designed to be an efficient but comfortable resting place, as a good night's sleep is fundamental to a healthy lifestyle. The beds in the bedroom are designed in the form of bunk beds and are dimensioned to perfectly fit two units in the room without creating a feeling of claustrophobia. The bunk bed frames are made out of wood, and feature a ladder for easy access to the top bunk. Beside each bed is a nightstand shelf, where lamps and alarm clocks can sit. The windows of the bedroom also have built-in curtains mounted at the top, so the room can be made dark when needed.

As with any complete living space, there is a bathroom. In my design, it is located off of the bedroom through a short hallway for convenience. It is complete with a shower, lavatory, and space-efficient vanity, contoured to the edge of the room. The bathroom is also furnished with a laundry hamper and bath mats, and is separated by a door from the bedroom for privacy.

In any living space, construction features and design aspects can have an enormous impact on the mental health of its inhabitants. For my habitat, I wanted to make sure that I designed the living spaces with pro-mental health principles in mind. I began to research the different core principles behind the architectural design for mental well-being and discovered the Design for Mental Health In Housing Guidelines written by Áine O’Reilly, Emer Whelan, and Isoilde Dillon. This paper from 2017 covers the mental-health implications of every single aspect of housing design, from the importance of natural light to the positive effects of sound-dampening insulation. The guide was an awesome resource to refer to when creating the interior spaces of my habitat, and a lot of the principles outlined in the guide are represented in my design. These are the design principles that had the biggest impact on my habitat:

Natural Light

According to the guide, lighting is one of the largest contributing factors to the mental health of the inhabitants of a living space. To allow natural light into the home from multiple angles, each module has panoramic windows running the edge of the room, starting at waist height and extending up into the ceiling. Not only does this allow for natural light to flood into each room, but it also lets the inhabitants enjoy the stunning views of the surrounding desert environment, and saves on power consumption from lighting during the daytime. At the center of the ceiling in each module is a skylight, so each module is bathed in natural light during the afternoon and the moon shines through at nighttime. This presence of an abundance of natural light creates a feeling of peace and being integrated with nature when inside the habitat, and research has shown that natural lighting can help reduce symptoms of depression, regulate the circadian rhythm, and reduce stress.

Surface Materials and Colors

In a home, the colors and materials used in decorating the interior have a large impact on its inhabitants. In my design, the majority of the space has hardwood flooring. The appearance of natural wood has been found to have positive impacts on stress reduction and creates a warm, cozy, and natural feeling in a living space. This theme of natural materials is seen throughout the home, with wooden furniture, and counters cut out of marble and granite. The colors of the living space are warm, soft, and natural. The walls are a warm off-white and the artificial lights are neutral in tone.

Open Areas and Clean Design

In any kind of habitat, having a clean and open living space is very important. Tight hallways, cluttered rooms, and low ceilings can create a sense of confinement, and a habitat without a natural-feeling pathway between rooms can feel claustrophobic. To make the space as open and free-flowing as possible, I followed three design techniques when creating the modules. Firstly, the ceilings of the habitat are tall and dome-shaped. Tall ceilings make rooms feel more spacious, and they come with benefits like better air circulation. The curved nature of the ceilings also gives the interior geometry of the habitat a more natural feeling, and instead of harsh angles, there are soft curves. Secondly, all of the rooms are connected in a way that feels natural and intuitive. The entries to a room are aligned along the same side so that it is easy to pass through them. The hallways are also large and have 180 degrees of windows, two things that make them feel less claustrophobic when passing through them. Thirdly, in all of the rooms, the furnishings are designed to align with the curvature of the structure, making as much space as possible in the center of the room. These three design techniques give the habitat good internal flow, and the open floor plan promotes peace of mind.

For my physical model, I wanted it to serve not only as a visual representation but also as a tool for planning different module configurations. Since I designed the habitat to be modular and able to be adaptable to its surrounding geography or specific use case, I wanted my physical model to function as a way of assessing different configurations, where a person could use a set of modules and connecting hallways to design different habitat layouts.

For fabricating the prototype, I chose to 3D print the model. With 3D printing, I was able to keep a high level of detail in the finished build. I exported the CAD model from Fusion, and imported it straight into Cura, a 3D print-slicing software, I printed the model at a 1:200 scale in PLA.

Next, I sanded and cleaned up the prints, and then applied a white primer. I painted the prints with acrylic paint to match the CAD model.

To allow the modules to be easily connected and re-configured, I embedded magnets in the entry points of each module and hallway. I modeled and 3D printed small, 90-degree brackets to mount the magnets to with hot glue, and then attached them to the inside of each connection point. The magnets sit flush with the outside of each module, so when they are connected together the magnets are touching and the link is seamless.

The physical model turned out awesome! The different modules and hallways snap together easily with the magnets, and it's super easy to make different configurations.

Here are some examples of different habitat configurations using the set.

What if extreme environment habitats embraced their unique surroundings to enhance human well-being?

As the population grows and climate change takes its toll on the planet, humans must adapt and find innovative solutions to living in environments previously thought uninhabitable. Coming to understand the different ways in which habitats can embrace their unique surroundings is the key part of this process. Using sustainable materials found in the environment and embracing renewable, natural resources for energy generation will be an integral part of any successful habitat, and overcoming the challenges faced by life in these extreme habitats will be a core part of human life on earth.

What did you learn through this process that you could apply to address a problem of the built environment in your own community? 

Although by no means as extreme of an environment, my community in Southern California faces a lot of the same environmental challenges that I tackled when designing my habitat. Through this project, I learned about the different kinds of technologies that can be used to overcome these challenges, and I have come to realize how those technologies could change daily life in my own community. I learned about the different ways water can be collected, purified, and recycled, and I think that implementing water-recycling systems like those in my design would help combat droughts in my community. Recycled water could be used for things like watering plants and washing cars so that fresh water is conserved for necessary uses. Over the course of this project, I also learned about the benefits of solar energy, and how solar arrays could be built to be more efficient and effective. I think that my community could use solar power to become more resilient to summer blackouts caused by too much strain on the grid from air conditioning and also to power small infrastructure such as stoplights and lamposts.

This project was an incredible opportunity for me to learn Autodesk Fusion, practice my problem-solving skills, and learn about all kinds of different ways in which humans can coexist with the environment around us. I think there should be continued interest and investments in this field, and extensive research and development in order to address the material challenges facing human habitation in extreme environments, whether here on Earth or beyond.

For this project, I used a variety of different educational resources and 3D models to make the design come to life.

Educational Rescources

Information on using desert sand in concrete applications https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S2352710223020235 https://cor-tuf.com/everything-you-need-to-know-about-concrete-strength

Information on UV, IR, and reflective window films and coatings https://blog.solarart.com/does-reflective-window-film-really-keep-out-the-heat https://www.dezeen.com/2020/06/12/invisible-house-mirrored-chris-hanley-joshua-tree-national-park-desert/

Information on solar panel efficiency and cooling systems https://www.researchgate.net/publication/325146765_effects_of_heat_on_photovolatic_modules https://ilumsolar.com/how-does-temperature-affect-solar-panel-energy-production/

Information on design principles for promoting mental health and inhabitant well-being https://www.housingagency.ie/sites/default/files/.%Design%for%Mental%Health%Guidance-MAY-2017.pdf https://www.health.qld.gov.au/newsroom/features/how-light-affects-your-mental-health#:~:text https://aberdeenstudio.co/blog/2023/8/15/wood-is-good-the-psychological-effects-of-wood-on-our-health

Some of the decorative models in the design are inspired by / modified versions of these:

Greenhouse Plants Shovel Jeep Wheelbarrow Couch 2 Mixer Oven Toilet Shower Sink Toaster Sink 2 Credenza Backpack