Second Place Winner
Ares Base I
Design by
Mohamed Mohamed safy, Mohamed eslam Attiya, mohamed sayed & abd el rahman hemdan
Juror’s Comment:
A beautifully resolved and deeply human-centered proposal that transforms survival architecture into a meaningful, livable Martian environment.
Work on:
The project could further explore mobility, adaptability, or expansion beyond the central typology to match its otherwise strong systemic thinking.
Mohamed Mohamed safy, Mohamed eslam Attiya, mohamed sayed & abd el rahman hemdan
Mohamed Safy is a Design Technology Manager, Architect, and Space Architecture Researcher with over 12 years of experience in digital design and BIM management across the UAE and Saudi Arabia. He has led the delivery of large-scale residential, healthcare, urban, and high-rise developments, driving the integration of design, technology, and project delivery workflows. His interests focus on the intersection of architecture, advanced construction technologies, and the future of sustainable human settlements on Earth and beyond.
Mohamed Eslam Attia is a Senior Design Architect with over 15 years of experience in architectural design, urban planning, and design management. He received his Bachelor of Architecture degree from Cairo University, Egypt, in 2010. Throughout his career, he has contributed to numerous large-scale and award-winning projects across the Middle East, covering residential, commercial, hospitality, educational, and civic developments. His professional expertise includes architectural design, master planning, landscape design, project coordination, and multidisciplinary design management. He is particularly interested in sustainable design approaches, digital design technologies, and the relationship between architecture, culture, and the built environment.
Celebrating Creativity & Vision
Winner’s Spotlight: An Exclusive Interview
Discover the story behind the victory — from concept to creation.
Concept & Vision
What was the central idea behind your proposal, and how did you interpret the challenge of designing a sustainable and inspiring human settlement on Mars?
The central idea of ARES BASE I is to move beyond survival by creating a Mars settlement that supports emotional resilience, psychological well-being, and long-term human presence. The project balances realistic engineering solutions with human-centered spaces that promote belonging, comfort, and community.
Designing for Life Beyond Earth
Mars presents environmental conditions that are vastly different from Earth. What were the most critical challenges you addressed in your design, and how did they influence your architectural approach?
The design addresses radiation, extreme temperatures, low atmospheric pressure, dust storms, toxic regolith, and long-term isolation. These challenges led to a layered protective habitat using regolith shielding, inflatable pressure systems, enclosed farming, and controlled outdoor environments.
Human Experience & Well-Being
Beyond providing shelter, how does your proposal support the physical, psychological, and emotional well-being of future Martian inhabitants?
The proposal places all living spaces around the 'Inner Eden' courtyard, creating constant visual access to greenery, water, food production, and social activity. The surrounding 'Printed Eden' landscape further reduces isolation by introducing familiar Earth-like colors and visual diversity.
Community & Social Interaction
Creating a sense of belonging is essential in isolated environments. How does your design foster community, social connection, and shared experiences among colonists?
Community life revolves around the central farm courtyard where residents interact daily while living, dining, working, and relaxing. Shared facilities, sports areas, educational spaces, and interconnected circulation systems strengthen social bonds and collective identity.
Sustainability & Resource Management
Resource scarcity is a defining challenge of extraterrestrial living. What strategies did you incorporate for energy generation, resource efficiency, food production, water management, or waste reduction?
The habitat uses aquaponics, integrated farming, water recycling, waste-to-resource biological systems, and local resource utilization. A Kilopower reactor provides continuous energy, while fish, quail, plants, and recycled nutrients create a regenerative food-production loop.
Adaptability & Future Growth
As a Martian colony evolves over time, flexibility becomes crucial. How does your proposal accommodate future expansion, changing needs, and long-term resilience?
The settlement is based on repeatable hexagonal habitat modules that can be expanded as the population grows. Monorail connections, underground corridors, and modular infrastructure allow the system to evolve into a larger settlement network.
Innovation & Technology
What innovative technologies, construction methods, or speculative ideas played a significant role in shaping your proposal, and how do they contribute to the feasibility of life on Mars?
The proposal combines hybrid 3D-printed regolith construction with inflatable structural systems, robotic construction arms, water-filled radiation-shielding domes, and a deployable dust-protection canopy. These technologies improve safety, scalability, and long-term sustainability while reducing dependence on Earth.
Humanity's Future in Space
What do you believe architects and designers can contribute to the future of space exploration, and how do you envision human habitation beyond Earth evolving in the coming decades?
Architects can help transform extraterrestrial habitats from purely technical systems into places that support human life, identity, and well-being. Future settlements should become scalable, self-sufficient communities that balance engineering performance with human experience.
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