Cradled

Winner of Villa on the Moon

+ WINNER

Villa on the Moon

[13075]

Cradled

Team

Name: Yuyi Shen

Instagram: yuyishen11

Nationality: Chinese

Institution / Company: Yale School of Architecture / Payette

CRADLED embodies the urban concept of a neighbourhood while granting individuals the mobility to traverse the moonscape at will. 

By situating the villa around a crater, a distinctive lunar landscape feature, CRADLED creates a gathering point akin to villagers congregating around a fireplace. Inflatable structures cover the expansive crater area by utilizing the atmospheric pressure difference. Beneath the roof, a new forest environment emerges, providing residents with opportunities for leisurely walks and the chance to forge connections that nurture a lunar community.

The villa itself is mobile with a minimal footprint, featuring two distinct geometric elements: sleek trapezoidal glass walls and a soft-shell enveloping alternating floor. Residents can enjoy panoramic vistas of the moonscape through full glass partitions, while during solar flares, they can seek refuge from radiation within the fully shielded spaces. The villa’s design also features ladders for circulation as the reduced gravity on the moon makes vertical movement effortless for inhabitants.

Jury Comments

– I found the “Cradled” project to be visually striking and conceptually robust. The idea of mobile villas around a lunar crater, creating a communal gathering space, is innovative and practical. The use of inflatable structures to develop a forest environment beneath the crater’s roof is a brilliant way to foster community and provide residents with a sense of nature on the moon. | Cas Esbach

– The project blends urban neighbourhood concepts with the lunar landscape effectively. The inflatable structures and crater setting show a thoughtful approach. However, the use of ladders for vertical movement could be improved. | Hanjun Kim