Automated Architecture Ltd (AUAR) is a London-based technology company, co-founded in 2019 by Mollie Claypool and Gilles Retsin. Specializing in robotic and AI-driven construction technologies, AUAR focuses on revolutionizing the homebuilding process to address inefficiencies and sustainability challenges in traditional housing construction. The company’s innovative systems facilitate the production of modular, sustainable timber homes using robotic micro-factories.
AUAR operates on a "hardware-as-a-service" model, offering partners plug-and-play micro-factories that require no upfront capital expenditure. These facilities can produce a timber-framed home in under 12 hours, with a maximum annual capacity of 180 homes. Their AI-powered software integrates design-to-manufacturing workflows, providing tailored designs and production optimization. By automating what are traditionally labor-intensive processes, AUAR aims to cut costs, reduce environmental impact, and maintain high-quality standards.
The company has established significant partnerships, including with ABB Robotics, enabling both European and U.S. expansions. AUAR’s recent projects include micro-factories set up in Belgium and the U.S., as well as a modular timber housing prototype displayed at the UK’s 2021 Global Investment Summit. AUAR also raised £2.6 million in its first seed funding round in 2023.
AUAR’s work reflects a bold rethinking of construction that seeks to democratize housing production while addressing global housing shortages and environmental concerns. With its headquarters in Bethnal Green, the company is positioned at the intersection of architecture, technology, and sustainability.