200 Words on 'Toward a Theory of Architecture Machines'

The notions of Robotic architecture put forward in Nicholas Negroponte's 'toward a theory of architecture machines' play with the idea that machines come from and intelligent creator and they “perform well when told exactly how to do something”[1]. The paper looks at machines, not just as objects that can make architecture, but rather learn about architecture[2]. As it stands now, machines are used for the monotonous tasks of design, the real design is done by the human. Negroponte puts forward the dream of having a machine with soul (a true artificial intelligence) that can adapt to task which require more effort than reading scripts and code. The argument then continues on to discuss machines with human characteristics such as sight, he mentions a robot that wanders the city and has opinions of things (a mind of its own)[3]. In my opinion, these notions belong in a sci-fi movie, a thing that is not human will be unlikely to ever be able to carry out out tasks beyond those for which it was designed. The subjectivity of human nature is something that no algorithm can replicate in a machine, leave the design to the 'real' architect and may the machines make his life easier.

[1]Nicholas Negroponte, Toward a Theory of Architecture Machines, Journal of Architectural Education, (1947-1974), Vol. 23, No. 2

[2]Nicholas Negroponte, Toward a Theory of Architecture Machines, Journal of Architectural Education, (1947-1974), Vol. 23, No. 2

[3]Nicholas Negroponte, Toward a Theory of Architecture Machines, Journal of Architectural Education, (1947-1974), Vol. 23, No. 2

Storyboards