Author: Lexi Lai
Date: Spring 2026
Class: Independent art program
Medium: Pen, paper, and electronic tablet
Objective: Inspired by exploration, sustainability, and science, the project envisioned living symbiotically with two other non-human organisms from Earth on a colonized planet.
With the goals of sustainability and exploration in mind, I sought to determine how humans could co-exist with other fauna in a near-planet settlement.
Enter Project Kyosei [keeoh-say].
While we pursue sustainability on Earth, we’re also being pushed to expand our boundaries. One obvious place is the moon or other planets (ideally, exoplanets, but baby steps). I specifically chose colonization on Mars as: 1/ I wanted to solve a real problem, 2/ science is currently researching near-planet colonization1, and 3/ I like a challenge.
Requirements
The primary requirement is to design a living space where a human can coexist with other living organisms. On another planet, humans and other organisms must specifically have symbiotic relationships as re-supplies are logistically unlikely. As such, I chose honey bees and black soldier fly larvae as the co-habitants of Project Kyosei, for reasons explained on the next page. The optimal built structure for three humans is hexagonal in shape, with each room serving a specific purpose in the symbiotic food web.
Brainstorming
I iterated on design considerations within each of the pods. Simplicity of food web resource flows and systems automation were important in these designs. For example, the bee hive and harvesting pod positioned next to the hydroponic garden pod allows both fauna and flora to flourish.
Pod Design
On another planet, humans and other organisms must specifically have symbiotic relationships as re-supplies are logistically unlikely. As such, I chose honey bees and black soldier fly larvae as the co-habitants of Project Kyosei, for reasons explained on the next page. The optimal built structure for three humans is hexagonal in shape, with each room serving a specific purpose in the symbiotic food web.
Blueprint
With the design finalized, I created a blueprint to document the layout of each pod and to confirm circulation of pathways for human and other fauna.
