French 3D-printing company Fabulous has gathered a team of architects, designers, scientists, and engineers in response to a NASA contest to design viable habitats for life on Mars. NASA needs structures that are technically achievable, economically sustainable, and minimize reliance on support from Earth. Fabulous has conceptualized 3D-printed structures that could house up to four people within 80 square meters, including a small interior garden. In order to accomplish construction, the team plans to utilize the Red Planet’s existing resources: water, which is present in the form of ice; and iron oxide, which is found in high concentrations on Mars’ surface.

However, Fabulous’ proposal isn’t being considered by NASA. “We made it through the first selection round, but the final contest is only open to U.S. citizens,” said Arnault Coulet, founder of Fabulous. “With SFERO [Fabulous’ conceptual structure named after the French names for sphere iron and water], we are pushing the idea that a habitat should adapt itself to its surroundings, to the native and available resources, without sacrificing security. It’s a question that we should be asking at a time when 3D printing has the power to revolutionize the real estate market.”