Building A Martian House, a public art project built with the help of BAM, has been unveiled to the public in Bristol.

The house is designed to be a prototype taking into account environmental conditions on Mars, and the project was led and conceived by artists Ella Good and Nicki Kent, working with Hugh Broughton Architects (designer of the Halley VI British Antarctic Research Station) and Pearce+. 

The Martian House project brought together space scientists, architects, engineers, designers, and the public – including primary school children - to explore how we live today and to stimulate visions for new ways of living here on Earth as well as on Mars.

The Martian House is now on display until October at M Shed Square in Bristol. BAM itself built the M Shed museum a few years ago among many schemes in the South West of England. 

The Martian House’s construction procurement was provided through the SCF Construct Framework, which helps public sector organisations throughout London, the South East and the South West, through its ‘Two Stage Open book’ procurement. BAM was asked to get involved alongside a wide range of companies including construction, design, engineering, lighting and quantity surveyors.


BAM’s contribution, led by project manager Tony Richards and assistant planner Natalie Aikman, was the construction planning and project management, entailing a combined 225 hours of support between them.

This has included preconstruction planning, procurement scheduling, attending meetings, and the management of the delivery and installation of two 20ft containers donated by BAM Plant to the Martian House site.

BAM oversaw contributions from its supply chain partners such as transportation by David Watson Transport, structural welding by Metal Fabrications, and the foundation pads from Wyse Base.

Tony Richards, a project manager for BAM who has worked on diverse schemes across the South West, said: “It was a privilege to be able to contribute to this interesting and certainly eye-catching piece of public art for the people of Bristol. For me and Natalie, it was hugely rewarding to be able to put our construction project management skills to use, to help this community project. And I want to thank all our supply chain partners who helped to bring this House to life.”

BAM’s recent schemes in Bristol include ongoing work at Bristol Royal Infirmary and Frenchay Primary School and the recently completed new Engineering building for the University of West England (UWE).

You can find out more on the art project’s website.