Oskar Falck/Inter IKEA B.V.
- An $4 designer spent several days living in the $4, a facility in the Utah desert designed to simulate life on Mars.
- $4 initially designed a line of furniture meant for small spaces based on the station.
- Now, $4 has helped to redecorate the inside of the station itself using a range of its furniture, and photos show the result.
- $4
Deep in the Utah desert, a tiny, compact facility houses scientists who want to experience a simulated version of life on Mars. The furniture might look familiar.
Ikea $4 this week that it has partnered with the $4 to decorate the two-story habitat with space-efficient furniture that could theoretically be put to use in future Mars colonies.
The $4 houses teams of six scientists at a time, who spend two weeks living off food and water rations and oxygen packs. They traverse the area surrounding the research station using all-terrain vehicles, collecting rock samples and taking atmospheric readings in a "dress rehearsal" for sending humans to Mars.
The Swedish furniture giant first began working with the Mars Society, which runs the research station, two years ago when Ikea interior designer Christina Levenborn spent several days living in the habitat. Levenborn designed a line of furniture for small spaces based on her time there, according to $4.
Now, Ikea has provided a range of its furniture to redecorate the interior of the research station to envision how future Mars denizens might live.
Take a look at the inside of the research station: