As humanity prepares for long-term lunar habitation, the design of extraterrestrial habitats must evolve beyond functional efficiency to prioritize human well-being. The bulk of existing space architecture research focuses on optimization and safety, resulting in rigid, standardized environments that overlook consideration for psychosocial needs. This research explores how user-defined spaces based on human-centric design principles can create a heterogeneous lunar habitat that balances social interaction and private boundaries, to foster the psychosocial well-being of long-term living in an isolated environment.

The project departs from examining human behaviour living in an isolated, confined, and extreme (ICE) environment, drawing insights from analogue missions, space station precedents, lunar surface expeditions, and related experiences – through which one of the leading causes of frustration is found: lack of variation in privacy. By extrapolating the research into personas and activity-based design, this project set design parameters to support social integration while preserving personal space. A key objective is to create distinct transitions between functional spaces, allowing different social interactions to occur, thereby catering to the inhabitants’ personal preferences and social dynamics.

The research employs computational design methods to explore possible spatial configurations, integrating In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) and component-based construction for scalability and adaptability. A bottom-up design approach ensures that user needs, activities, and interactions drive spatial organization, with activity-based design shaping program distribution and form optimization. The project also speculates on future construction methods, combining robotic assembly and mass customization for efficient yet personalized environments.

By shifting the focus from purely functional to humanized lunar habitation, this research contributes a novel architectural approach that enhances astronaut well-being. The findings offer valuable insights not only for lunar bases but also for terrestrial architecture in extreme environments, redefining how spatial design can support interaction and individuality within isolated habitats.

With the start of the Artemis project, the creation of a permanent Lunar base has been set as a goal, which has made it relevant to explore and consider all aspects of this new form of architecture, which will require a whole new set of criteria adapted to this unfamiliar Lunar landscape. Due to the dangerous conditions out on the surface, any long-term settlers will be mostly confined to the Moon base, with only their fellow crew members to interact with. This will have a great impact on their mental wellness. Research has identified nearly 70 stressors created by space travel, ranging from the real possibility of dying to boredom and from crew tension to isolation. Even looking out the window will not show the varying blue and green views we are used to, but a colourless, rocky landscape similar to a black and white photograph. Solace will need to be found within the habitat itself. MoonSane will investigate how human spatial perception can be used in the design of Lunar habitats, to mitigate the negative mental health effects of living long-term on the moon.
Through various studies, it has already been established that architectural spaces can influence human emotion and mental wellbeing. On the Moon, these psychological aspects of architecture will be even more important and must be utilised. Various spatial interventions, that have been proven to positively impact the mental health of inhabitants/users, are combined into a fully functional Lunar habitat. The interventions include dynamic lighting, spatial geometry and permeability as well as internal and external views. They will be implemented into a small scale Lunar base for a crew of 6 people. A meditation space is added to the general program of requirement, that utilises a phenomenon called the Overview Effect; viewing the Earth from space can have a positive emotional impact. All the architectural interventions are integrated with the safety requirements of a Lunar base, considering radiation, a life support system and adequate construction strategies, based on a stacked component system with in-situ resource utilisation principles.