Polibot

A live installation of a prototype cable construction robot, developed by architects Mamou-Mani, explores the future of building construction. Building on the ‘spider cams’ of sports stadia and pick-and-place technology, the Polibot, a prototype construction robot, will be installed in Sir John Soane’s Museum, offering a glimpse of the exciting future of building construction. The Polibot will progressively construct and then deconstruct Soane’s designs for the dome from the Bank of England, using architectural drawings translated into lines of code.

Installation & Exhibition at ARUP

The project will be supported by an exhibition in the Exhibition Galleries, showcasing both the project’s development and Sir John Soane’s experimentation with innovative technology. By simultaneously looking back and forward, the project presents a compelling showcase of how cutting-edge technology is poised to transform architecture design and understanding.

Experience the Future of Construction at ARUP

Visitors will have the opportunity to experience VR and interactive demos at ARUP, offering a glimpse into the future of construction. We believe that robotic technologies will revolutionize the construction industry, not just transforming how buildings are designed, but also reshaping how we think about the entire process.

Leading the Robotic Age in Construction

Our intention is to anticipate this inevitable shift towards robotic technologies and lead the way into a positive, robotic age in partnership with ARUP. As a part of this effort, we will host a week-long series of seminars on the future of construction, followed by a digital fabrication workshop. During the workshop, we will select four designs from ARUP’s team to build using our advanced machine.

The DNA of Making: Innovation in Practice

This initiative is not about creating sculptures in atriums but about pioneering in a rapidly changing world. We aim to redefine construction through robotics in an environmentally friendly, affordable, and open-source way. Our vision is to see affordable, practical machines distributed globally, including in impoverished communities, making construction more accessible and sustainable.

Join Us in Changing the World

An age in which Robotic technology is simple, affordable, environmental and connected to our ancestral knowledge of materials. An age in which the architects, engineers and contractors will work more closely together, bringing back the golden age of master builders. Current architectural robotics are based on decade old robotic arm used for the car industry, they scale with difficulties and are very expensive. Building up on the open-source movement, we propose to create a new kind of cable construction robot, working at an unprecedented scale, merging stadium spidercams with the delta pick and place open-source technologies. It will construct and deconstruct eight towers over the course of 16 weeks, demonstrating the cyclical nature of the building process and how demolition can be anticipated in the spirit of our new circular economy.