Reading 006: Changing Building Sites - Hillary Davlin's Response

“Changing Building Sites”, written by Thomas Bock and Silke Langenberg, explores the long history and potential of robotic automation on the building site. Beginning n the 19^th century, specific machines have been necessary in aiding construction processes for new materials (concrete, steel etc.) in the industrial revolution. For example, one of the biggest architectural feats of the century, the Crystal Palace (built in 1851), required new steam powered machines that could hold the large cast iron beams, thus changing the physical building site. Progressing into the 20^th century, the destruction from WWI and WWII pushed the need for new construction machinery as housing shortage reached an all-time high.  Massed produced, prefabricated components become the main mode of construction, changing machinery and building site even further. 

            Prefabrication in buildings and building systems advanced even greater during the 60s and 70s. Standardized systems and mass production enabled time and cost savings, yet again shifting the paradigm of building elements and site. During the 70s, Japan hit a population and housing boom. Using similar mass production of building systems, Japan adopted an automation system that replicated more of an assembly line than actual automation. Robots slowly became introduced not only into system production, but also into construction firms for the purposes of demolition, surveying, excavation, paving, tunneling, welding, etc. on site. As robots have transitioned from the factory to the construction site, it has been argued that building sites are more successful if they are designed similar to factories, where robots are fully integrated into the future production of a home.