---
title: "The Architect"
id: 76646
type: "computer_media"
slug: "the-architect"
url: "http://localhost/computer_media/the-architect/"
markdown_url: "http://localhost/computer_media/the-architect.md"
published_at: "2026-11-11T08:02:17+00:00"
modified_at: "2026-11-11T08:02:17+00:00"
author: "David Anderson"
featured_image:
  url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/the-architect-1.png"
excerpt: "Watch an endlessly redesigned high-rise grow on a 2K ZX81, as random graphics trail a plotted point across the screen."
post_tag:
  - name: "Downloadable"
    slug: "downloadable"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/downloadable/"
  - name: "TS 1000"
    slug: "ts1000"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/ts1000/"
  - name: "ZX81"
    slug: "zx81"
    taxonomy: "post_tag"
    url: "http://localhost/tag/zx81/"
model:
  - name: "Sinclair ZX81"
    slug: "zx81"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/zx81/"
  - name: "Timex/Sinclair 1000"
    slug: "ts-1000"
    taxonomy: "model"
    url: "http://localhost/model/ts-1000/"
indiv:
  - name: "Thomas Warner"
    slug: "thomas-warner"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/thomas-warner/"
genre:
  - name: "Graphics"
    slug: "graphics"
    taxonomy: "genre"
    url: "http://localhost/type/graphics/"
media_type: "Program"
programmers:
  - name: "Thomas Warner"
    slug: "thomas-warner"
    taxonomy: "indiv"
    url: "http://localhost/indiv/thomas-warner/"
download_url: "https://archive.org/download/timex-sinclair-software-archive/The%20Architect%20%281984%29%28Warner%2C%20Thomas%29%28TS1000%29%28US%29%28Program%29.zip"
mediadate: "1984"
images:
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/the-architect-1.png"
  - url: "http://localhost/wp-content/uploads/2026/11/the-architect-2.png"
article_media:
  - id: 19816
    title: "The Architect"
    type: "article"
    url: "http://localhost/article/the-architect/"
media_type_tags: "Graphics"
license: false
---

# The Architect

A changing display for the 8K ROM in 2K. Each round picks four random graphics characters and a random step, then PLOTs a point while printing the characters, column by column from 54 down to -54. Because PLOT and PRINT treat negative values as positive, the drawing reverses direction halfway, giving shell-like “buildings”, some with a 3D look. A frame is drawn and the architect starts again.

The author COPYed designs he liked to the printer with BREAK and COPY, then CONT to go on.

Published in Syntax May 1984 ([The Architect](https://timexsinclair.com/article/the-architect/)).

## Source Code

```
   5 RAND
  10 PRINT "QUIET, PLEASE.   THE ARCHITECT      IS DESIGNING A HIGH-RISE."
  20 LET A$=CHR$ (INT (RND*4)+2)
  30 LET B$=CHR$ (INT (RND*4)+2)
  40 LET C$=CHR$ (INT (RND*4)+2)
  50 LET D$=CHR$ (INT (RND*4)+2)
  60 LET E$=A$+B$+C$+D$
  70 LET A=INT (RND*3)+5
  80 FOR J=54 TO -54 STEP -A
  90 FOR K=1 TO 34
 100 PLOT J,K
 110 PRINT E$
 120 NEXT K
 130 NEXT J
 140 PRINT AT 3,0;"▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄▄"
 150 PRINT AT 4,0;"█"
 160 FOR J=4 TO 21
 170 PRINT AT J,31;"▐"
 180 NEXT J
 190 GOTO 20
```