| As the International Space Station (ISS) takes shape, the prospect of living in space for prolonged periods will become a reality for a greater number of individuals. Crewmembers aboard the ISS will live alongside each other for months in confined spaces and under difficult conditions. Living in a hermetic environment, with other individuals from different cultural backgrounds, will inevitably cause stresses. Therefore, it is important to provide a living environment that meets a variety of needs and is conducive to the well being of the individual and the crew community.; This Master's design project addresses the design of a private, individual, crew quarter for the proposed ISS Habitation Module. The goal is to meet a crewmember's functional requirements, as well as providing the means to achieve privacy and comfort, while considering the qualitative aspects of the personal space. To this end, the design process involved background research, analysis and synthesis, complemented by self-directed background studies and design activity.; The proposed design concept offers an interactive environment consisting of multifunctional furnishing elements, whereby a crewmember can reach out, grab, and arrange what is around them. The crew quarter design allows for control of body position and control over the orientation and layout out of the interior features, thereby offering flexibility of use and personalization. The design endeavors to be functionally and aesthetically supportive of a crewmember's well being and productivity in space. "It's not knowing what matters---it's achieving what matters in extreme situations ." (G. Finney, Personal Communication January 7, 2001)... |
