Abstract Computer-aided architectural design is reviewed with particular reference to new software techniques that are becoming available. The needs of the designer are examined leading to a specification for the computing tools that may serve architects in the future. The paper concludes by reporting on the results of early studies into one radically new technique: logic programming. The research work referred to in this paper is sponsored by the Science and Engineering Research Council under grant numbers GR/A80341 and GR/A88774.