E-Book Release: Self-Sustained Communities: From Earth to Moon to Mars
A new academic e-book by Dr. Petros Lapithis, Professor of Architecture at the University of Nicosia, is now available online as a free, high-resolution download. The publication features visionary student projects developed in the design studios of the Department of Architecture.
This timely and thought-provoking volume explores the intersection of social sustainability and self-sustained communities, addressing the urgent need for inclusive, resilient, and culturally grounded models of habitation. From Indigenous knowledge systems and early intentional settlements to contemporary ecovillages and speculative Martian habitats, the book reframes sustainability as both a social and architectural imperative.
The volume showcases innovative student proposals that examine how architecture can support life in extreme environments, on Earth, the Moon, and Mars. Blending theoretical insights, historical case studies, and applied design strategies, the book argues that future communities, whether terrestrial or extraterrestrial, must be shaped not only by technology, but by human connection, fairness, and long-term well-being.
