Architectural Robotic Morphology

The building industry in the 20th century has witnessed prosperity and vibrance under the umbrella of mass production. However, as architectural form, occupants and technology evolved through the 20th century, the role of mass production remained consistent and through this, a complacency over products arose. The explicit use of standardized building components paired with the efficiency of speed through the industrialised assembly line has catalyzed a reliance of fragmented roles within the building industry, weakening the architect’s authority. The emerging use of the robotic arm reveals an opportunity to investigate the change in morphology through the form and robotic milling process. The versatility of the robotic arm narrows the distance between fabrication and the process of design. Early uses of robotics have been introduced in construction through a simplified and repetitive fashion, where efficiency is the priority. With the substantial adoption of robotics on the horizon, a shift in paradigm can be realized through the ability to oppose the current procedural process of design and invite a more responsive method in making. The integration of the robotic arm through prototyping rather than producing can inform a unique material presence to halt the cyclical nature of overindulgent complacency inherited by the Industrial Age.