THE MOONHOUSE
A small red house, permanently placed on the lunar surface
Mare Frigoris, 6 June 2025
THE WORK
The Moonhouse is a singular conceptual artwork by Swedish artist Mikael Genberg.
Conceived in 1999 and realised in 2025, the work consists of a small red house permanently placed on the lunar surface, an Earth-based aluminium counterpart, an artefact carried aboard the International Space Station in 2009, and a complete archival record documenting the work’s development, transport and placement.
The work is situated in Mare Frigoris on the Moon.
COMPONENTS OF THE WORK
Lunar Placement
Permanent site-specific component located in Mare Frigoris.
Aluminium Counterpart
Earth-based exhibition sculpture identical in scale and construction to the lunar object.
ISS Artifact
An artefact transported aboard the STS-128 mission to Earth orbit in 2009
Archive
Complete archival documentation including mission integration, governmental authorisation, transport records, correspondence and photographic documentation.
ARTIST
For more than three decades, Mikael Genberg has explored the idea of home displaced into unexpected environments.
His works include the submerged hotel Utter Inn, the Treehotel collaboration in northern Sweden, and The Moonhouse.
PROVENANCE / AUTHENTICITY
Authorised by the Swedish government for lunar placement.
Integrated into ispace Mission 2.
Earth orbit component flown in 2009.
Documented through mission archive, launch records and technical documentation.