Galliford Try and other contractor members of the Southern Construction Framework (SCF) have revealed the new Building a Martian House public art project in Bristol.

The nine construction firms worked alongside the SCF, with funding from the Edward Marshall Trust, to help produce the vision of artists Ella Good and Nicki Kent, intended to bring life to a full-scale Martian House on Bristol’s harbourside.

Designed in collaboration with Hugh Broughton Architects, Pearce Plus and the University of Bristol, the futuristic 53 sqm house comprises of two storeys with an external staircase and a platform lift to the upper level.


The upper level is powered by solar panels and is formed using a pressurised inflatable gold-coated foil, making it lightweight enough to be transported to Mars and able to successfully withstand the significant environmental challenges that would be faced on that planet.

The building considers what life would really be like on Mars, with the lower level of the house designed to be built below the ground in the Martian lava tubes. Inside this level there is a flexible, private living space that can be used as a bedroom, virtual reality (VR) area and a built-in ecosystem.

Gavin Bridge, Managing Director for Galliford Try’s Building Southern business, said: "We are delighted have been part of the process for the first-ever Martian House. This innovative prototype explores what a new sustainable living environment could look like on Mars, making it the perfect collaboration for a business like ours with sustainability at the heart of everything we do."

Building a Martian House is open to the public until 30 October 2022 on M Shed Square in Bristol.