02 — JOURNEY
Every Settlement
Begins With A
Journey
03 — CHALLENGE
The Surface Was Never
Meant For Us
RADIATION
THERMAL EXTREMES
MICROMETEORITES
04 — DISCOVERY
A Place To Begin
Scientists have discovered skylights that reveal massive underground voids beneath the lunar surface.
These formations are believed to be remnants of ancient lava tubes, offering a natural refuge from the harsh lunar environment.
04 — ANALYSIS
Mapped In Three
Dimensions
LiDAR scans reveal the hidden geometry of lunar lava tubes.
04 — ANALYSIS
Natural Protection
Radiation exposure is one of the primary constraints on long-term lunar habitation.
Surface exposure can exceed 1 mSv per day. Within the cave, natural shielding reduces exposure to near-zero
05 — FRAMEWORK
One System.
Multiple Caves.
No two lava tubes are alike. Instead of designing for a single cave, Mon Bae uses a framework that adapts to each environment.
The cave defines the layout. The framework defines the architecture.
05 — SCALE
Built To Expand
Autonomous construction enables continuous expansion using locally sourced lunar basalt.
New infrastructure can be fabricated as the settlement grows, reducing reliance on Earth-launched materials.
06 — HABITAT
The cave determines the architecture.
Every lava tube possesses a unique geometry, requiring architecture that can adapt to its surroundings.
Rather than imposing a fixed design, the framework responds to the available volume, creating a habitat unique to each cave.
07 — CONSTRUCTION
Building The First Settlement
Construction begins before the first crew arrives. Autonomous systems prepare the site, deploy infrastructure, and fabricate new structures using local materials.
01 — PREPARE
Autonomous systems survey the cave and prepare key construction zones before human arrival.
02 — DEPLOY
Initial habitat systems and construction equipment are delivered to the lunar surface.
03 — BUILD
Lunar basalt is transformed into structural components, enabling the settlement to expand using local resources.
08 — HUMAN EXPERIENCE
Descend Into The Settlement
Leaving the lunar surface behind, residents enter a protected underground environment designed for long-term habitation.
08 — HUMAN EXPERIENCE
Life Beneath The Surface
Protected within the lava tube, residents gain access to a stable environment designed for long-term habitation rather than short-duration survival.
Private quarters and operational facilities transform the settlement from infrastructure into a place people can call home.
09 — CLOSING
Architecture should not impose itself on the cave.
It should emerge from it.
09 — TECHNICAL DOCUMENTATION
Designed From Constraint
Every component of the settlement responds to cave geometry, construction logistics, and long-term habitation requirements.
Elevator
Connects surface operations to the protected underground settlement while minimizing excavation and disturbance to the cave.
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Elevator
Master plan
Organizes habitation, research, and infrastructure within the natural geometry of the lava tube seperating work (blue) from living (red)
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Master plan
Floor plans
Shows how daily life and programmatic functions are distributed throughout the settlement.
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Floor plans
Circulation
Maps movement through the settlement, linking private quarters, shared spaces, and operational facilities.
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Circulation
Habitat sections
Reveals how the architecture stacks vertically in a tight space.
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Habitat sections
Sleeping tower
Illustrates the vertical organization and how the tilt up walls come together to create a habitat.
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Sleeping tower
Living room
Explores communal living space designed to support crew wellbeing and long-term habitation.
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Living room
Lab inflatable
Details the expandable research facility that grows alongside the settlement's scientific operations.
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Lab inflatable
10 — RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT
Research Through Making
The settlement emerged through an iterative process of research, sketching, model making, and prototyping. These studies explored how architecture could adapt to unknown cave geometries while supporting long-duration human habitation.
Concept Development
Early investigations explored lunar soil strengths, construction strategies, and site exploration
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Concept Development
Structural Exploration
Folded paper studies tested how lightweight surfaces could generate complex habitable volumes while responding to irregular cave conditions.
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Structural Exploration
Physical Prototype
Physical models were used to evaluate scale, spatial hierarchy, and the relationship between architecture and the surrounding lava tube.
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Physical Prototype
Constraint-Based Architecture
for Human Exploration
Designed for the unknown.
Mon Bae
Arizona State University
2026