Architecture and design remain significant modes of practice that enable us to image and materialize for future habitable worlds. Divorced from traditional constraints, visionary concepts of new dwellings, cities, and “worlds” spark innovative approaches that realize the forms of living and inhabitation which ultimately drive creativity for generations to come. However, unlike movies and novels, specula- tive architecture models that project future scenarios often cannot efficiently communicate with audiences without the assistance of complete or deep narratives. Design fictions, on the other hand, often defamiliarize either the object or the setting in a productive way that allow for the audiences to become immersed in new potentials of living. Sol 125 MY 168 is an architecture design fiction. Sol 125 MY 168 is a premonition about the ritual, social and cultural elements that occurs on Mars colonies on day 125 of Martian Year 168.
If we are trying to imagine new inhabitable future worlds, we need stories that help anchor those worlds in a shared imagery. On day 125 of Martian Year 168, all nine planets in our solar system will be in a singular 180-degree-wide patch of the Martian sky. Since mankind has established colonies on Mars for 168 Martian years (336 earthly years), the day is one of celebration of the success in Mars colonization. It also marks the moment for mankind to look forward to future exploration of other planets within the solar system. The project envisions China as the leading power to establish colonies on Mars. The Martian culture is heavily Chinese-influenced; traditional firework celebra- tions reveal the continuation of human ritual from earth into the galaxy. The short fictions provide a narrative and move the story of space colonization from the future to present.
by Kevin Miao
by Kevin Miao
by Kevin Miao
by Kevin Miao
by Kevin Miao
