Teulo Talks: Space Architecture / Designing for Life Beyond Earth

Space Architecture / Designing for Life Beyond Earth with Monika Brandić Lipińska

Speaker BIO: Monika Brandić Lipińska is a space architect and researcher. Her work brings together architectural design, in-situ resource utilisation, biotechnologies, and living materials to imagine how humans can live and thrive in extreme environments—on Earth and beyond. Her projects explore resilient habitat design through in-situ resource utilisation, living materials, and biological construction strategies.

Monika completed her PhD at the Hub for Biotechnology in the Built Environment at Newcastle University, in collaboration with NASA Ames Research Center, where she developed biological approaches to building habitats on Mars. She also holds a Master of Architecture from Lund University and a Master’s in Space Studies from the International Space University. With professional experience across Europe, Japan, and the US, Monika brings a global perspective to design, teaching, and research. She is the co-founder of Bio-Futures for Transplanetary Habitats, a platform exploring biosocial and biotechnological futures for living in space and extreme settings. Since 2020, she has also been a consultant at LIQUIFER, an interdisciplinary platform at the intersection of architecture, space technology, and science.

Synopsis: This talk explores the challenges and opportunities of designing space habitats. From orbital stations to lunar and Martian habitats, we will examine how extreme environments shape architectural solutions that address both the physical and psychological needs of humans. The presentation will highlight current and emerging concepts, construction approaches under development, and innovative uses of biological materials in space architecture. Finally, we will reflect on how these design strategies can inspire and transform architecture and the built environment on Earth, fostering resilience, adaptability, and sustainability.

Key Learning Outcomes:

By the end of this presentation, participants will be able to:

• Understand the unique environmental challenges of space and their implications for architectural and design strategies.
• Evaluate approaches to creating habitable environments in space, including orbital, lunar, and Martian habitat concepts.
• Apply lessons from space architecture to sustainable architectural practices on Earth.