Physical model of the Lunar Additive Base (LAB) with Earth visible in the background

Lunar Additive Base (LAB) - Audtodesk Design Competition

First Prize Winner
$5000 USD Scholarship

Project Overview

The Lunar Additive Base (LAB) is a habitat design for lunar environments, developed as part of the Autodesk Make it Resilient Student Design Contest. This project challenged participants to create sustainable living solutions for extreme environments, pushing the boundaries of architectural design and engineering innovation.

To view the complete competition submission and detailed project documentation, you can visit the official submission on Instructables.

3D CAD wireframe showing the structural framework and geometric patterns3D render showing the detailed exterior of the lunar habitat

Design Challenge

The competition tasked participants with designing a habitat for an inhospitable environment. I chose the lunar surface as it presents unique challenges including extreme temperature variations, radiation exposure, and micrometeorites. The design needed to consider limited construction resources and the complex logistics of space transportation.

Technical floor plan showing the layout and arrangement of the lunar base

Floor plan showing living quarters, work areas, and machinery.

Solution & Innovation

The LAB design incorporates several innovative features that address the unique challenges of lunar habitation:

  • Additive manufacturing techniques using lunar regolith for construction
  • Modular design allowing for future expansion
  • Radiation shielding through layered construction
  • Centralized life support systems
Interior visualization showing the living space and custom furniture

Interior visualization showing living quarters with custom-designed furniture and storage solutions

Development Process

This project spanned over two months, involving extensive research, multiple design iterations, and detailed CAD modeling. The development process included:

  • Environmental analysis of lunar conditions
  • Material research and selection
  • Structural engineering design
  • 3D modeling and visualization
  • Scale model construction

Achievement

The project was awarded First Prize in the Autodesk Make it Resilient Student Design Contest, earning a $5000 USD scholarship.