Can Robotics and AI Revive Architectural Ornament?

On October 01, 2026, Moises Carrasco explored the potential revival of architectural ornamentation, which had largely fallen out of favor during the Modernist movement, due to advancements in robotics, artificial intelligence, and digital fabrication. The decreasing costs associated with skilled labor have led to a renewed interest in the role of ornamentation. While Modernism's dismissal of decorative elements is often attributed to rising labor expenses, earlier technologies such as cast iron and mechanized milling made ornamentation economically viable, as exemplified by the Eiffel Tower and bridges in Shropshire, England. This departure from decoration was driven by ideological beliefs favoring simplicity and progress. The article includes a photograph of the White Tower by Studio Benjamin Dillenburger + Michael Hansmeyer, captured by Birdviewpicture.