Applying Architectural Design and Construction Principles to Lunar and Martian Construction

Before and since Vitruvius Pollio’s recognition as the first “architect,” the basic principles of architectural design and construction have been debated and reworded with each influential individual defining specific principles of design pertaining to their own era of design. Despite all the debate, at their core, these principles outline the various considerations required to create a logical, inspired, and beautiful design for a space, a building, or even a city. The advancement of technology has challenged some of these primary principles and added additional complexity to their traditionally understood definitions. Similarly, construction practices have advanced due to the development of technologies such as computer assisted drafting and the more recent advent in the last two to three decades of building information modeling. No longer are people carving large blocks of stone by hand in order to form a wall. However, the progression of the advancement of construction practices has not evolved at the same rate as technological advancement. This disconnect creates exponential challenges when considering construction methodologies, architectural design, and materiality features in extraterrestrial construction. Understanding the advantages and limitations of the known techniques and principles provides a launch point for future development specifically designed for extraterrestrial construction requirements. Beyond the traditional design principles, sustainability and materiality must move to the forefront for the project's consideration due to the expense and challenge of moving materials, products, and construction teams to a lunar or Martian environment. This means traditional principles and practices for architecture and construction need to be developed and adapted to meet the unique requirements of the challenges associated with an extraterrestrial project site. Use of native, local materials takes on a new meaning when considering the types of resources available in a Martian or lunar environment. Site selection and orientation is also limited by topography, soil (regolith) conditions, and the availability of adjacent spaces for landing pads or longer distance “road” networks. Finally, simplicity in constructability becomes of paramount importance when considering the autonomous and robotic techniques likely to be required when preparing for extraterrestrial construction.