Martian architecture

Martian architecture covers the design of buildings for the Martian environment. Its constraints are similar to architecture on Earth, but it has to add the functions of atmospheric pressure and life support to architectural systems. There is also a requirement for radiation protection that is practically non existent on Earth. Gravity is significantly lower, as is wind pressure.

Architectural form will be constrained by the Martian environment

• As the Martian surface is non livable, architecture will usually be seen from the inside, so the esthetic of the exterior of buildings may not be of great importance. However, if the buildings are provided with windows, then external characteristics will be visible and attention to form would be valuable.
• Buildings on Mars need to be pressure vessels, this affects the number of forms available, favoring spheres and cylinders with hemispherical ends.
• The function of radiation protection and the function of pressure resistance may be separate, allowing for more variable shapes for the radiation protection elements of a building.
• The buildings on Mars need to include functions that create an entire habitat. It may be more appropriate to speak of habitats rather than buildings, with buildings existing inside habitats.
• Care must be taken with the foundations of buildings and habitats. If built on permafrost, the ground must be kept cold or else it may lose structural strength when the ice melts.
• If it is discovered that long term living in Martian gravity is bad for human health (likely, but unknown), then centrifuges for Low gravity must be included.

Life safety on Mars

One of the main functions of architecture is to protect humans from environmental threats and to provide a safe living environment.

Fire on Mars

• To reduce the risk of fire on Mars, as many elements as possible must be made from incombustible materials. This becomes more difficult when plants are added to the interior environment as there represent potential fire hazards.
• Large recreational areas such as parks with trees, plans and soil are at risk from fire. To reduce the risk, Martian structures are likely to include airlocks that are accessible from any place in the habitat within a certain time of travel, that is significantly lower than the time required for a fire to gain strength. This is true for buildings on Earth as well.
• Occupied space should have at least two exit points. A particularity of habitats on Mars versus the Earth is that on Earth, the exterior of a building is considered as a safe point, while on Mars safe points will have to be within other sections of the habitats, since the Martian surface is not livable.
• Sprinklers may be used to fight fire, and should work in Martian gravity. Lowering air pressure may be another possibility that is not available on Earth but could work on Mars. As air pressure is lowered, the power of the fire is reduced since there is less oxygen available.
• As there are no 'free' sources of wood, paper or plastics on Mars, these will need to be produced in Situ. The energy costs for the production of metals and ceramics (see embodied energy) are lower than the costs for wood and plastic, so these are likely to be used much more on Mars. Ceramic tiles may be more common than paint.

Pressure failure on Mars

Another environmental risk that is unique to Mars, compared to the Earth, is the risk of depressurization. This can be handled in a similar way as fire safety, with doors and airlocks that need to be pressure rated as well as fire rated. Travel distances will need to be defined, in order to determine the maximum distance between each airlock.

Radiation protection

See Radiation shielding. Radiation shielding may be build into the pressure vessel, outside the pressure vessel or inside the pressure vessel. All solutions have pros and cons, depending on the material,s and it is likely that a mix of these solutions will be used.

Life support

• Provisions must be made in Martian architecture for life support. Mechanical spaces, pressure tanks, holding tanks must be redundant and will occupy more space than similar systems on Earth.
• Power supply. Due to the requirements of life support, power supplies are more important than on Earth, as the loss of power rapidly decreases the efficiency of life support systems.

Dust

• Dust is present everywhere on Mars. Martian regolith dust contain perchlorates, active chemical elements that are harmful to life. So preventing dust ingress is a requirement for Martian habitats. this will need tob e done at the external airlocks, including process areas, vehicular connections or EVA airlocks.
• Since Martian habitats are airtight pressure vessels, other areas of the settlements have very little dust ingress possibilities. All leaks will be outwards, rather than inwards, preserving the internal atmosphere from dust.

Meteorite impact

On a large scale, the risk is similar to the risk on Earth for large catastrophic impacts, and cannot really be covered by architecture. As far as small meteorites go, the Martian atmosphere does provide some protection. 'Splash' from large impacts is a larger danger than a direct hit from a meteor.

Very large habitats will be hit from time to time with pebble sized rocks. These are likely to be stopped by the radiation protection elements of the habitats.

Architectural elements and systems classification systems

• By form : List of architectural concepts.
• By function: Settlement facilities
• By type of constraint: Foundation, Marsquakes, Dust storms, Asteroids, Atmospheric pressure, Low gravity
• By materials used:
  • Bricks, made completely or partially out of Dust and soil.
  • Plastics, good for radiation protection from light particles, but most plastics become brittle in Ultraviolet light so some protection is required.
  • Metals, particularly Iron, Iron is very common on Mars, and easy to extract from dust & soil.
  • Water, is good radiation protection. As water in membrane pressure vessels or in the form of ice. As ice, care must be taken so that it does not sublime into the air.
  • Regolith, Settlers may wish to have at least 2 meters of packed soil for radiation protection. (More for the Storm Shelter.) This also includes deep tunnels thru rock as possible habitats.
  • Molten basalt, It has been suggested that molten or sintered basalt be used to 3D print Martian habitats.
  • Glass (including Smart Windows), likely be used to let light into the habitat. Glass designed to filter out Ultraviolet light may be especially valued.

See also: List of Construction Materials.