Martian Relics is a collection of five domestic objects created by London-based designer Roc H Biel to examine how everyday life might evolve if humans ever settle on Mars. According to design project details, the speculative collection features a plate, mirror, window, flower pot, and water filter, utilizing materials like rammed earth and recycled stainless steel to explore resource scarcity, culture, and human behavior in an arid environment.
Martian Relics Explores Resource Scarcity Through Speculative Design
Roc H Biel designed the five domestic objects to reflect on contemporary attitudes toward Earth and the renewed global interest in space colonization. According to project documentation, the collection questions the idea of planetary escape. It suggests that the severe environmental challenges currently associated with Earth would ultimately dictate the terms of any future settlement on another planet.
Every item in the collection addresses a distinct aspect of human existence. The project considers how memory, identity, beliefs, and access to finite resources might shift in an environment where water and building materials are strictly limited.
Rammed Earth and Recycled Steel Shape Domestic Objects
Material selection forms the core of the Martian Relics project. According to design details, each object pairs rammed earth—one of humanity’s oldest construction methods—with recycled stainless steel sourced from industrial components like valves, pressurant tanks, and sheet-metal offcuts.
This pairing establishes a direct dialogue between low-tech construction techniques and the remnants of aerospace technology. Recycling is presented as a practical necessity for survival under conditions of strict resource limits rather than merely an aesthetic choice.
Drawing on his professional background in industrial mould design, designer Roc H Biel developed multipart moulds containing up to twelve individual components in his London studio. Engineered for a single-axis continuous pressing process, the moulds compact the earth layer by layer. This technique achieves a high level of geometric precision and detail unusual for rammed-earth construction while preserving the material’s distinct texture and mass.
Did you know? The Martian Relics collection was photographed on location in Lanzarote, whose volcanic landscape is frequently utilized by the European Space Agency for astronaut training due to its striking similarity to the Martian surface.
Five Domestic Objects Reimagine Everyday Rituals
The collection uses specific forms and functions to explore distinct themes tied to environmental responsibility and material scarcity:
- Gravity Well: A plate designated for keys and personal objects, designed to consider how complex scientific knowledge might become embedded in routine domestic rituals.
- Faded Signal: A table mirror modelled on deep-space antennas, producing a softened, slightly blurred reflection of the Martian-like terrain to shift attention from human projection toward reception.
- Eroded Horizon: A window inspired by Jørn Utzon’s Can Lis, framing a distant, desaturated view of the Mediterranean as a meditation on environmental loss and memory.
- Last Offering: A flower-pot altar shaped like a headstone, imagining renewed reverence for the natural world through the figure of Gaia where nature is scarce.
- Slow Water: A multi-stage water filter adopting the formal language of satellite technology, emphasizing the finite and precious nature of water.
Each of the five unique objects measures up to 22 centimeters and weighs up to four kilograms. Fabricated entirely by hand in London and photographed in Lanzarote, the collection grounds its speculative context in physical materials and hands-on craftsmanship.
Pro Tip: When evaluating speculative design projects, examine how material choices reflect real-world supply chain constraints rather than just focusing on futuristic aesthetics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What materials are used in the Martian Relics collection?
According to the project specifications, the objects combine rammed earth with recycled stainless steel recovered from industrial components such as valves, pressurant tanks, and sheet-metal offcuts.
Where was the collection photographed?
The objects were photographed on location in Lanzarote, whose volcanic terrain closely resembles the Martian surface and is frequently used by the European Space Agency for astronaut training.
How many objects are in the collection?
The project comprises five domestic objects: a plate, a mirror, a window, a flower pot, and a water filter.
What is the purpose of the Martian Relics project?
According to the designer, the collection uses speculative design to examine how environmental conditions might influence human behavior, memory, culture, and resource use if humans settle on Mars, while reflecting on contemporary attitudes toward Earth.
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