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THE VIA LUNA SPACE ELEVATOR
MY INFO
5TH YEAR ARCHITECTURE STUDENT
@ CALIFORNIA STATE POLYTECHNIC UNIVERSITY - POMONA
STUDIO INFO
THE TOPIC STUDIO EMPHASIZES ON DESIGNING A SPACE ELEVATOR EARTH BASE THROUGH MEANS OF BIOMIMETICS, INTERACTIVE SYSTEM CONTROLS, AND SUSTAINABLE ELEMENTS. *under "linx," click on fountains of paradise for more info*
biomimetics (bī'ō-mĭ-mět'ĭks)
-noun (used with a sing. verb)
The study of the structure and function of biological systems as models for the design and engineering of materials and machines.
The study of the structure and function of biological systems as models for the design and engineering of materials and machines.
CONCEPTUAL IDEA
THE VIA LUNA'S PURPOSE IS TO ACCLIMATE THE SPACE TRAVELERS AT ALL THE LEVELS THEY WILL ENCOUNTER IN SPACE. THEY ARE ACCLIMATED PHYSIOLOGICALLY, PSYCHOLOGICALLY, SOCIALLY, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY, SPATIALLY. THIS IS ACCOMPLISHED THROUGH THE CONSTRAINED PROGRAM THE THE VIA LUNA HOUSES, WHICH IN TURN IS SPATIALLY SIMILAR TO WHAT WILL BE AVAILABLE IN THE SPACE BASE.
BIOMIMETIC CONCEPT (SHAPE AND FORM)
THE VIA LUNA FOLLOWS THE PRINCIPALS OF A SPIDER'S BUOYANCY ON WATER AND HOW IT IS ABLE TO SPREAD ITS WEIGHT ON THE WATER AND ULTIMATELY FLOAT. IN ADDITION, THE VIA LUNA CONCEPTUALLY INTERPRETS THE FUNCTION OF A SPIDER WEB NOT BY THE CAPTURE OF PREY BUT BY THE CAPTURE AND HARNESSING OF ENERGY. FURTHERMORE, THE CORE OF THE VIA LUNA BIOMIMETICALLY REPLICATES THE FUNCTION OF A COCOON IN THAT IT HOUSES THE SPACE TRAVELERS UNTIL THEY ARE READY TO BREAK FROM THE MOLD AND RIDE THE SPACE ELEVATOR INTO SPACE.
ARCHITECTURAL/DESIGN CONCEPT
AN ENERGY-SUSTAINABLE SPACE ELEVATOR EARTH BASE THAT IS COMPOSED OF TWO SKINS. AESTHETICALLY, BOTH SKINS CONTRAST IN SHAPE AND FORM, BUT ARE JOIND BY THE CURVES THAT SEPARATE THEM. ULTIMATELY THE DOUBLE SKIN BREAKS DOWN THE STRUCTURE INTO TWO PARTS: THE WEB AND THE CORE. THE DOUBLE SKIN'S MAIN PURPOSE IS TO COOL THE INTERIOR THROUGH CROSS-VENTILATION AS WELL AS TO HARNESS ENERGY THROUGH SOLAR AND WIND PANELS.