Good design isn’t just about how a building or place looks, it’s also about
how it works and feels. When a project is completed, how do the people who commissioned it feel when they are in it? How do those who live in the building enjoy it? What if the project was a concept for life on Mars?
International design practice HASSELL took their award-winning expertise into space as one of ten finalists competing in NASA’s 3D Printing Centennial Challenge. The NASA competition sought perspectives beyond the traditional aerospace industry to explore how a human habitat could be designed and delivered on Mars using current 3D print and design technologies.
The HASSELL team applied human-design thinking to an approach that expands the idea that astronauts are merely operators, creating a habitat where people can not only survive but really thrive on Mars
HASSELL used Bluescape to take their visionary concepts into the design and development phases.
“Our firm’s entry in the competition was entirely conceived, designed, marked- up, and finalized in Bluescape with a geographically dispersed team located
in three different HASSELL studios,” said Xavier De Kestelier, head of design technology and innovation for HASSELL.
De Kestelier added, “We ideated in London, worked with visualization experts in Paris, and collaborated with a video team in a different London office. Communicating our vision with the rest of the team was easy, we could quickly upload images while we were on a call, enabling team members to see them and understand what we wanted using visual imagery.”
The team quickly discovered that working from remote locations was no longer a challenge. Everyone could see the work in real time, access the project workspace, and follow the entire project process and development in Bluescape.
HASSELL is using Bluescape on a variety of design and construction projects, beginning in the early stages of program and project management and as aneffective collaboration and presentation solution.
De Kestelier credits Bluescape with improving communication and collaboration between the different studios. “Because it’s such a visual tool, it’s easier to communicate, and better communication can lead to better time management and, ultimately, cost savings.”
“Our firm’s entry in the competition was entirely conceived, designed, marked-up, and finalized in Bluescape with a geographically dispersed team located in three different HASSELL studios.”