Hong Kong, 15 March 2022 ————– Founder and Creative Director of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, Thomas Schmidt was nominated by AIA Hong Kong for induction into the College of Fellows of the American Institute of Architects (AIA).
AIA Fellows are recognized with AIA’s highest membership honor for their exceptional work and contributions to architecture and society. Architects who have made significant contributions to the profession and society and who exemplify architectural excellence can become a member of the College of Fellows. Only 3% of AIA members have this distinction.
Candidates are required to have completed 10 cumulative years as an AIA architect member in good standing. Fellowship can generally be achieved through one of six “objects” which are differentiated between contributions to design, practice management, leadership in the Institute, public service, volunteer work, and education / research.
Schmidt noted, “After becoming a founding member of AIA Hong Kong in the mid 1990s and contributing to a better quality of built environment in my adopted home of Hong Kong, I am deeply humbled by my local chapter’s nomination for Fellowship.”
Applications by candidates must include a nomination sheet, sponsor letter, a comprehensive multi-page document of exhibits, and confidential reference letters from professional colleagues. Submissions for Fellowship are due in October 2022; results for the selection of Fellows will be announced in March 2023.
Hong Kong, 8 June 2021 ————– Founder and Managing Director of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, architect Thomas Schmidt presented his award-winning Lunar Hotel and Research Base concept at the “Sci-Fi to Reality Hybrid Forum” held at The Chinese University of Hong Kong.
Schmidt’s presentation revolved around his concept for a lunar habitat located at the lunar south pole. His concept was preceded by an overview of current space tourism trends, and an overview of the lunar environment. This was followed by identifying fundamental design and development considerations relative to lunar construction.
Lunar Hotel & Research Base | Copyright 2020 Thomas A Schmidt All Rights Reserved
A Reality Check
Schmidt shared his thoughts about the reality of constructing such a facility on the moon. Topics included design for resiliency, disaster planning, and the provision of essential services — including air, water, power, food, and thermal comfort. He also identified many of the challenges associated with the transport and fabrication of construction materials using in-situ resources. An overview of key legal issues was provided, including the need for forming an international regulatory framework. Schmidt remarked, “we might even see a new ‘Extraplanetary Law’ legal sector emerging in the coming years.”
The Guest Experience
A sample itinerary and potential activities for would-be lunar tourists was also outlined. Schmidt remarked, “in addition to an extensive pre-departure training period, visitors would probably need to allocate at least a month for quarantine, transport, their ‘moonstay,’ the return trip to Earth, and follow-up evaluations.” The presentation concluded with the role today’s hospitality industry might play in the advent of space tourism. Schmidt likened the human resource requirements to the cruise ship industry, where support is needed on both land and at sea. “There would need to be a robust system of human capital both on Earth, and to a lesser extent on the moon,” Schmidt surmised.
The forum concluded with a question and answer session involving both live attendees and online webinar participants.
Editor’s Note: Thomas Schmidt, AIA, NCARB, ANZIA, LEED AP, WELL AP is the founder of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, an award-winning design multi-disciplinary consultancy specializing in creative and sustainable design solutions for the hospitality industry. Schmidt won a NASA award in 2020 for his innovative design of a Venus Rover obstacle avoidance system. He is also author and illustrator of the award-winning Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series which seeks to promote environmental and cultural awareness through entertaining mysteries and adventures, which was recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) through a 2010 Chapter Citation.
Hong Kong, 19 December 2020 ————– Founder and Managing Director of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, architect Thomas Schmidt presented his award-winning Lunar Research Base concept in an International Space Architects Conference webinar, hosted by the American Institute of Aeronautics & Astronautics (AIAA).
A rotating “sun tracker” at the center of the surface facilities converts incoming horizontal rays of sunlight from the site’s lunar southern pole location into power, and bounces natural light down to underground Agropods below. A lunar hotel is proposed with Earth views to cater to the burgeoning space tourism industry.Underground core habitat areas revolve around multi-story Agropods that receive reflected and filtered sunlight from above; habitation units are located with Earth views along an opening in the crater rim to maximize human comfort and well-being.
A Hotel on the Moon?
Schmidt’s second-generation lunar research base concept proposes a modular facility nestled into the rim of a crater located at the lunar south pole. He maintains such a site can take advantage of consistent temperatures, sunlight exposure, and water deposits — while maintaining constant Earth views due to the Moon’s synchronous rotation with that of Earth.
Schmidt’s lunar habitat concept received a Technical Feasibility and Elegance Award from the AIAA in 2011, and has been subsequently refined over the past decade. While responding to a detailed facilities program, the facility is based on an interlocking hexagonal modular construction system. This could be constructed from a “kit of parts” fabricated at a first-generation lunar automated manufacturing facility. He reasoned this would minimize transportation requirements from Earth and simplify the assembly process.
A Human Touch
While responding to the technical and logistical requirements, there was a human element that took precedence. Schmidt commented, “I was specifically concerned with human comfort and the well-being of residents who might be stationed there for one to two years.” This resulted in a facility planned with occupied spaces revolving around transparent plant-filled Agropods and views of the Earth from the underground habitat areas. Schmidt added, “not unlike a posting to Antarctica, I would imagine there would be tremendous psychological benefits from offering residents views of nature and the Earth.” He speculated,“people there need the ability to prepare home-cooked meals from locally-grown produce, and even a chance to water and tend for plants in one’s own quarters.”
Global Participation
This international virtual gathering of space architects, researchers, and space enthusiasts was moderated by Professor Madhu Thangavelu of the University of Southern California, and included compelling presentations from:
Samer El Sayary (Alexandra University Egypt)
Anthony Longman (SkyFrame Research)
Valentina Sumini (MIT MediaLab , Milan Polytechnic PoliMi)
Vera Mulyani (Mars City Design)
Tom Spilker & John Blincow (Gateway Foundation)
Tomas Rousek (XTEND DESIGN Architects, London)
Thomas Schmidt (Sepia Design Consultants Ltd., Hong Kong)
Meeradevi Kathaliyil (HOK, Dubai)
Tamara Stefanovic & Sara Kocevska (Polytechnic University of Milan)
Ziyu (Ivy) Jiang (PG20 Bartlett, University College London)
Theodoros Tamvakis (PG20 Bartlett, University College London)
Will Hosikian (Woods Bagot Architecture, RMIT)
Sam Ximenes (XArc Exploration Architecture Corporation and Astroport Space Technologies, Inc.)
Editor’s Note: Thomas Schmidt, AIA, NCARB, ANZIA, LEED AP, WELL AP is the founder of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, an award-winning design multi-disciplinary consultancy specializing in creative and sustainable design solutions for the hospitality industry. Schmidt is also author and illustrator of the award-winning Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series which seeks to promote environmental and cultural awareness through entertaining mysteries and adventures, which was recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) through a 2010 Chapter Citation.
Hong Kong, 19 August 2020 ————– Founder and Managing Director of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, Thomas Schmidt, AIA received certification from US Green Building Certification Inc. for attaining the designation of WELL AP (Accredited Professional).
The WELL Building Standard is currently regarded as the leading tool for advancing health and well-being in buildings globally. Complementing his previous LEED AP designation, Schmidt remarked, “I am thrilled to have been certified as an Accredited Professional relative to the WELL Certification process.” He added, “the implementation of WELL’s holistic and best practices will positively impact our designs of staff-related spaces in many of our ongoing hospitality projects.” Schmidt advised, “so many times, the focus in a hotel project is on the guest experience, but the quality of staff work spaces are often neglected and result in problems with staff morale and their long-term retention.”
A Healthier Environment
Launched in October 2014 after six years of research and development, the WELL Building Standard is regarded as the premier standard for buildings, interior spaces and communities seeking to implement, validate and measure features that support and advance human health and wellness. WELL was developed by integrating scientific and medical research and literature on environmental health, behavioral factors, health outcomes and demographic risk factors that affect health with leading practices in building design, construction and management.
WELL Certification and the WELL AP credentialing program are third-party administered through the WELL Building Institute™ (IWBI™) collaboration with Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI).
Editor’s Note: Thomas Schmidt, AIA, NCARB, ANZIA, LEED AP, WELL AP is the founder of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, an award-winning design multi-disciplinary consultancy specializing in creative and sustainable design solutions for the hospitality industry. Schmidt is also author and illustrator of the award-winning Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series which seeks to promote environmental and cultural awareness through entertaining mysteries and adventures, which was recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) through a 2010 Chapter Citation.
Hong Kong, 7 July 2020 ————– Founder and Managing Director of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, Thomas Schmidt, was awarded an Honorable Mention in the NASA Tournament’s “Exploring Hell: Avoiding Obstacles on a Clockwork Rover” design competition. Organized by HeroX, the design challenge called for a mechanically-based obstacle sensor system for a future rover that would be able to withstand the extreme temperatures and pressures at the surface of Venus. The international design competition attracted 572 entries from over 80 countries; Schmidt’s solution was among the top 15 entries that received awards from the US National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA).
The Double Octopus
Schmidt’s winning “Double Octopus” design consisted of an intricately nested system of gears and spring-powered mechanical “tentacles” that have the ability to detect holes and obstacles in front of the rover to actuate a reverse drive avoidance mechanism. Additional on-board pitch and roll sensors are triggered when the rover encounters slopes greater than 30 degrees, resulting in a danger of overturning. As the extreme temperatures of the planet surface disallowed any electronic or computer-based systems, a mechanical system was the recommended solution for this design challenge.
The Verdict
“Your submission was engaging and well-crafted, and your ideas were unanimously applauded by the evaluation panel. It was selected as an Honorable Mention from 572 total entries through a rigorous evaluation process. In recognition of the high caliber submission you submitted, we will be sending a certificate from NASA recognizing your achievement in the coming days.”
Representative of competition organizer HeroX
Schmidt responded, “I’m happy that as a problem-solving architect, I am able to collaboratively advance efforts in space exploration and space tourism.”
Schmidt was also Winner of the 2011 American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Technical Feasibility and Elegance Award for his design of a lunar habitat / hotel located at the moon’s south pole.
Thomas Schmidt’s award-winning “Double Octopus” entry:
Editor’s Note: Thomas Schmidt, AIA, NCARB, ANZIA, LEED AP is the founder of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, an award-winning design multi-disciplinary consultancy specializing in creative and sustainable design solutions for the hospitality industry. Schmidt is also author and illustrator of the award-winning Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series which seeks to promote environmental and cultural awareness through entertaining mysteries and adventures, which was recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) through a 2010 Chapter Citation.
Hollywood, CA, USA, 5 October 2019 ————– Founder and Managing Director of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, Thomas Schmidt, was awarded a Rendering Award of Excellence in the American Society of Architectural Illustrator’s 34th Architecture in Perspective Exhibition. Schmidt’s winning travel sketch captured an idea for a hilltop resort villa in Palawan, Philippines. The sketch was executed while the architect sweltered in an open-air provincial airport during a flight delay. Schmidt demonstrated his resourcefulness by using a Pilot 08 Drawing Pen and a free pad of paper from a recent trade show. The architect remarked, “drawing really helps pass the time and gets ideas out of my head and on to paper before I forget about them.”
The awards presentation for the 34th Architecture in Perspective Exhibition was held on 5 October 2019 at The Kimpton Everly Hotel, Hollywood, CA, USA.
Editor’s Note: Thomas Schmidt, AIA, LEED AP is the founder of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, an award-winning design multi-disciplinary consultancy specializing in creative and sustainable design solutions for the hospitality industry. Schmidt is also author and illustrator of the award-winning Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series which seeks to promote environmental and cultural awareness through entertaining mysteries and adventures, which was recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) through a 2010 Chapter Citation
Bali, Indonesia, 21 August 2018 ————– Amidst threatening earthquakes in nearby Lombok, Founder and Managing Director of Sepia Design Consultants LimitedThomas Schmidt graduated from Bamboo U: An 11-Day Intensive Bamboo Build & Design Course. Held near Ubud in Bali, Indonesia, this unique international course offered a diverse combination of lectures, building and factory tours, product demonstrations, and hands-on construction workshops relative to using bamboo as an architectural and construction material.
Back to Basics
The first half of Bamboo U’s 11-day intensive course concentrated on the theory and material properties of bamboo. This included the botanical properties of bamboo, methods of bamboo cultivation and harvesting, bamboo treatment and preparation for use as a construction material. The course continued with bamboo’s use as structural and architectural components. The “nature of bamboo” was complimented with an overview of architectural design strategies, model making, and bamboo carpentry basics.
Hands On Experience
The second half of the course was dedicated to hands-on construction activities. Participants engaged in both independent and group on-site bamboo construction projects to put theory into practice. As participants tried their hand at carving and assembling bamboo, various structural design lectures were delivered. These local construction experiences were led by local Balinese craftsman I Ketut Moko Sumetra, who taught basic bamboo carpentry workshops, construction of load-bearing reciprocating bamboo columns and model-making.
Group construction activities included the creation of an experimental anticlastic domed bamboo structure and a collapsible bamboo yurt. Schmidt remarked, “This course was a fantastic way to learn about every aspect of bamboo, and how to harness this sustainable resource into a viable building material — which could very well save the world.” He added, “most importantly, I was able to connect with like-minded creative people from around the world who are constantly pushing the boundaries of design and construction, which was truly inspirational.”
International Gathering
The multi-disciplinary course attracted over 35 participants and 10 educators, instructors and facilitators — collectively representing 20 different countries from around the world. The wide range of bamboo-related lectures and discussions included permaculture farming techniques, biophilic design, architectural and design applications of bamboo, and architectural guidelines relative to tropical design and bamboo construction. Lecturers included Ibuku Architects, members of the Hardy family, Arief Rabik of the Environmental Bamboo Foundation, Malaysian architect Ewe Jin Low, and American industrial designer Scott Vander Voort. A series of technical lectures by renowned structural engineer Neil Thomas, included topics of bamboo structural engineering, design of membrane structures, and structural design in nature.
Supporting Activities
The 11-day course was interspersed with a variety of supporting activities. Sean Steed, founder of Change Climate presented and demonstrated a new non-toxic bio-epoxy for use as an environmentally-friendly alternative to concrete for bamboo construction in sensitive areas. Various building tours were provided to the offices of Ibuku Architects, and the Bali Green School and Green Village — home to some of the most stunning multi-story bamboo structures in the region, if not the world. Visits were also provided to the Pure Bamboo factory and the popular bamboo-rich Bambu Indah Resort.
Contact Information
For those who are interested in attending future Bamboo U courses, please visit https://bamboou.com/ and include the following promo code to get US$100 off the total price: BBDC1808ST (Full Disclosure: the referring program graduate also receives a US$100. referral fee).
Editor’s Note: Thomas Schmidt, AIA, LEED AP is the founder of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, an award-winning design multi-disciplinary consultancy specializing in creative and sustainable design solutions for the hospitality industry. Schmidt is also author and illustrator of the award-winning Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series which seeks to promote environmental and cultural awareness through entertaining mysteries and adventures, which was recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) through a 2010 Chapter Citation.
Hong Kong, 18 July 2018 ————– Founder and Managing Director of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, Thomas Schmidt, AIA, LEED AP was awarded a Placemaking Award. He was awarded the “Best-crafted Art Piece in the ‘Eat & Drink’ Category” in Swire Properties “Hometown Heroes: I am a Placemaker” community outreach program.
Over 400 Quarry Bay residents volunteered to participate in a community art project to voice the types of food, art, entertainment and shopping experiences they want to see in their neighborhood. Curated by the Hong Kong Youth Arts Foundation, the project attracted a wide range of participants who were each given a 150 x 150 mm art box to design and decorate within a two-hour time frame to convey their visions.
Schmidt remarked, “The initiative to seek community involvement in design decisions which directly affects their lives is very inspiring in a city that is often driven by a top-down development approach.” Schmidt explained his winning entry, entitled “Picnic Time”, as “a wide open grassy park in this claustrophobic concrete city where a resident can simply walk out of their door on a nice day and have a picnic, without being shooed away by overzealous security guards.”
An awards ceremony was held on 18 July 2018 at Citiplaza South, located in Hong Kong’s Taikoo Shing district.
Editor’s Note: Thomas Schmidt, AIA, LEED AP is the founder of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, an award-winning design multi-disciplinary consultancy specializing in creative and sustainable design solutions for the hospitality industry. Schmidt is also author and illustrator of the award-winning Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series which seeks to promote environmental and cultural awareness through entertaining mysteries and adventures, which was recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) through a 2010 Chapter Citation.
Hong Kong, 14 May 2018 ———— Founder and Managing Director of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, Thomas Schmidt, has been confirmed as a registered architect with the New Zealand Registered Architects Board (NZRAB). The architect achieved reciprocity under the Australia, United States of America and New Zealand Mutual Recognition Agreement as promulgated by The National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB) in the United States.
As a New Zealand architect, Schmidt remarked, “gaining an architectural license in different international jurisdictions increases our firm’s capabilities to service various clients throughout the world.” Schmidt’s hospitality consultancy, Sepia Design Consultants Limited, has a number of projects in the Australia and New Zealand region.
Editor’s Note: Thomas Schmidt, AIA, LEED AP is the founder of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, an award-winning design multi-disciplinary consultancy specializing in creative and sustainable design solutions for the hospitality industry. Schmidt is also author and illustrator of the award-winning Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series which seeks to promote environmental and cultural awareness through entertaining mysteries and adventures, which was recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) through a 2010 Chapter Citation.
Hong Kong, 23 March 2018 ————– Founder and Managing Director of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, Thomas Schmidt, AIA, LEED AP received certification from the US National Council of Architectural Registration Boards (NCARB). As a US-licensed architect, NCARB certification facilitates further licensure throughout the US and various international jurisdictions. In addition, NCARB certificate holders are provided with access to high quality continuing education and professional development programs. As Managing Director of a hospitality design and consultancy firm, Schmidt remarked, “Gaining NCARB certification was a natural step in the strategic expansion of our business activities internationally, and gaining access to different markets.”
Editor’s Note: Thomas Schmidt, AIA, LEED AP is the founder of Sepia Design Consultants Limited, an award-winning design multi-disciplinary consultancy specializing in creative and sustainable design solutions for the hospitality industry. Schmidt is also author and illustrator of the award-winning Bumbling Traveller Adventure Series which seeks to promote environmental and cultural awareness through entertaining mysteries and adventures, which was recognized by the American Institute of Architects (AIA) through a 2010 Chapter Citation.
