Could the future of Martian colonization involve not just living on the red planet, but living under its surface? That’s the provocative question posed by Clouds Architecture Office (Clouds AO) with their ambitious “Mars Hydrosphere” project, showcased at the recent Venice Architecture Biennale. This visionary proposal reimagines human settlement on Mars, moving beyond the familiar imagery of surface habitats and instead proposing a thriving underwater merchant city nestled within a massive, geologically formed reservoir.
The “Mars Hydrosphere” concept tackles the significant challenges of establishing a long-term human presence on Mars, particularly the hostile surface environment with its thin atmosphere, extreme temperature fluctuations, and radiation exposure. Clouds AO’s solution is both ingenious and visually striking: to utilize the potential of subsurface water bodies, hypothesizing the existence of large, stable, and radiation-shielded liquid water reservoirs deep beneath the Martian crust.
Designer: Clouds Architecture Office
Their proposal envisions the creation of a sprawling, submerged urban center within such a reservoir. This underwater city, dubbed a “merchant city,” is not simply about survival; it’s about establishing a self-sustaining and commercially vibrant community. The design draws inspiration from aquatic life and the unique properties of water, suggesting a network of interconnected, buoyant structures anchored within the vast underwater space.
Renderings of the “Mars Hydrosphere” depict a mesmerizing world of floating modules, illuminated by artificial light penetrating the water. These modules would house residential areas, research facilities, and, crucially, commercial hubs. The “merchant city” aspect suggests a future where resources extracted from Mars or traded with Earth could be processed, exchanged, and utilized within this unique environment. The stable, temperature-controlled, and radiation-protected underwater environment would provide a sanctuary for human life and allow for diverse activities, potentially including aquaculture and advanced materials processing.
While acknowledging the significant technological hurdles involved in such a project, including the initial discovery and access to large subsurface water reservoirs, the creation of large-scale underwater habitats, and the development of efficient transportation systems to and from the surface, Clouds AO emphasizes the long-term viability and potential benefits of this approach. The natural protection offered by Mars’ geology and the properties of water allows the “Mars Hydrosphere” to offer a compelling alternative to traditional surface-based colonization efforts.
The project serves as a thought-provoking exploration of the possibilities for future human settlements beyond Earth. By challenging conventional ideas and embracing a more aquatic vision, it invites us to consider the diverse and perhaps unexpected ways in which humanity might one day make Mars its new home.
