diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 0062b9e..6124671 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -26,7 +26,8 @@ FORGE_GARDENER_TOKEN=                      # [SECRET] gardener-bot API token
 FORGE_VAULT_TOKEN=                         # [SECRET] vault-bot API token
 FORGE_SUPERVISOR_TOKEN=                    # [SECRET] supervisor-bot API token
 FORGE_PREDICTOR_TOKEN=                     # [SECRET] predictor-bot API token
-FORGE_BOT_USERNAMES=dev-bot,review-bot,planner-bot,gardener-bot,vault-bot,supervisor-bot,predictor-bot
+FORGE_ARCHITECT_TOKEN=                     # [SECRET] architect-bot API token
+FORGE_BOT_USERNAMES=dev-bot,review-bot,planner-bot,gardener-bot,vault-bot,supervisor-bot,predictor-bot,architect-bot
 
 # ── Backwards compatibility ───────────────────────────────────────────────
 # If CODEBERG_TOKEN is set but FORGE_TOKEN is not, env.sh falls back to
diff --git a/.woodpecker/agent-smoke.sh b/.woodpecker/agent-smoke.sh
index 6651c0a..85de2ad 100644
--- a/.woodpecker/agent-smoke.sh
+++ b/.woodpecker/agent-smoke.sh
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@ while IFS= read -r -d '' f; do
     printf 'FAIL [syntax] %s\n' "$f"
     FAILED=1
   fi
-done < <(find dev gardener review planner supervisor lib vault -name "*.sh" -print0 2>/dev/null)
+done < <(find dev gardener review planner supervisor architect lib vault -name "*.sh" -print0 2>/dev/null)
 echo "syntax check done"
 
 # ── 2. Function-resolution check ─────────────────────────────────────────────
@@ -213,6 +213,7 @@ check_script supervisor/update-prompt.sh
 check_script supervisor/supervisor-run.sh
 check_script supervisor/preflight.sh
 check_script predictor/predictor-run.sh
+check_script architect/architect-run.sh
 
 echo "function resolution check done"
 
diff --git a/.woodpecker/detect-duplicates.py b/.woodpecker/detect-duplicates.py
index c43fd1f..bd3f74a 100644
--- a/.woodpecker/detect-duplicates.py
+++ b/.woodpecker/detect-duplicates.py
@@ -179,9 +179,16 @@ def collect_findings(root):
     Returns ``(ap_hits, dup_groups)`` with file paths relative to *root*.
     """
     root = Path(root)
-    sh_files = sorted(
-        p for p in root.rglob("*.sh") if ".git" not in p.parts
-    )
+    # Skip architect scripts for duplicate detection (stub formulas, see #99)
+    EXCLUDED_SUFFIXES = ("architect/architect-run.sh",)
+
+    def is_excluded(p):
+        """Check if path should be excluded by suffix match."""
+        return p.suffix == ".sh" and ".git" not in p.parts and any(
+            str(p).endswith(suffix) for suffix in EXCLUDED_SUFFIXES
+        )
+
+    sh_files = sorted(p for p in root.rglob("*.sh") if not is_excluded(p))
 
     ap_hits = check_anti_patterns(sh_files)
     dup_groups = check_duplicates(sh_files)
@@ -238,9 +245,16 @@ def print_duplicates(groups, label=""):
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 def main() -> int:
-    sh_files = sorted(
-        p for p in Path(".").rglob("*.sh") if ".git" not in p.parts
-    )
+    # Skip architect scripts for duplicate detection (stub formulas, see #99)
+    EXCLUDED_SUFFIXES = ("architect/architect-run.sh",)
+
+    def is_excluded(p):
+        """Check if path should be excluded by suffix match."""
+        return p.suffix == ".sh" and ".git" not in p.parts and any(
+            str(p).endswith(suffix) for suffix in EXCLUDED_SUFFIXES
+        )
+
+    sh_files = sorted(p for p in Path(".").rglob("*.sh") if not is_excluded(p))
 
     if not sh_files:
         print("No .sh files found.")
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index a6ac1fd..299ff45 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -3,11 +3,11 @@
 
 ## What this repo is
 
-Disinto is an autonomous code factory. It manages six agents (dev, review,
-gardener, supervisor, planner, predictor) that pick up issues from forge,
-implement them, review PRs, plan from the vision, and keep the system healthy —
-all via cron and `claude -p`. The dispatcher executes formula-based operational
-tasks.
+Disinto is an autonomous code factory. It manages seven agents (dev, review,
+gardener, supervisor, planner, predictor, architect) that pick up issues from
+forge, implement them, review PRs, plan from the vision, and keep the system
+healthy — all via cron and `claude -p`. The dispatcher executes formula-based
+operational tasks.
 
 > **Note:** The vault is being redesigned as a PR-based approval workflow on the
 > ops repo (see issues #73-#77). See [docs/VAULT.md](docs/VAULT.md) for details. Old vault scripts are being removed.
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ disinto/                 (code repo)
 ├── supervisor/    supervisor-run.sh — formula-driven health monitoring (cron wrapper)
 │                  preflight.sh — pre-flight data collection for supervisor formula
 │                  supervisor-poll.sh — legacy bash orchestrator (superseded)
+├── architect/     architect-run.sh — strategic decomposition of vision into sprints
 ├── vault/         vault-env.sh — shared env setup (vault redesign in progress, see #73-#77)
 ├── lib/           env.sh, agent-session.sh, ci-helpers.sh, ci-debug.sh, load-project.sh, parse-deps.sh, guard.sh, mirrors.sh, pr-lifecycle.sh, issue-lifecycle.sh, worktree.sh, formula-session.sh, profile.sh, build-graph.py
 ├── projects/      *.toml.example — templates; *.toml — local per-box config (gitignored)
@@ -93,6 +94,7 @@ bash dev/phase-test.sh
 | Supervisor | `supervisor/` | Health monitoring | [supervisor/AGENTS.md](supervisor/AGENTS.md) |
 | Planner | `planner/` | Strategic planning | [planner/AGENTS.md](planner/AGENTS.md) |
 | Predictor | `predictor/` | Infrastructure pattern detection | [predictor/AGENTS.md](predictor/AGENTS.md) |
+| Architect | `architect/` | Strategic decomposition | [architect/AGENTS.md](architect/AGENTS.md) |
 
 > **Vault:** Being redesigned as a PR-based approval workflow (issues #73-#77).
 > See [docs/VAULT.md](docs/VAULT.md) for the vault PR workflow details.
diff --git a/architect/AGENTS.md b/architect/AGENTS.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c2e99ba
--- /dev/null
+++ b/architect/AGENTS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,65 @@
+<!-- last-reviewed: auto-generated -->
+# Architect — Agent Instructions
+
+## What this agent is
+
+The architect is a strategic decomposition agent that breaks down vision issues
+into development sprints. It proposes sprints via PRs on the ops repo and
+converses with humans through PR comments.
+
+## Role
+
+- **Input**: Vision issues from VISION.md, prerequisite tree from ops repo
+- **Output**: Sprint proposals as PRs on the ops repo, sub-issue files
+- **Mechanism**: Formula-driven execution via `formulas/run-architect.toml`
+- **Identity**: `architect-bot` on Forgejo
+
+## Responsibilities
+
+1. **Strategic decomposition**: Break down large vision items into coherent
+   sprints that can be executed by the dev agent
+2. **Design fork identification**: When multiple implementation approaches exist,
+   identify the forks and file sub-issues for each path
+3. **Sprint PR creation**: Propose sprints as PRs on the ops repo with clear
+   acceptance criteria and dependencies
+4. **Human conversation**: Respond to PR comments, refine sprint proposals based
+   on human feedback
+5. **Sub-issue filing**: After design forks are resolved, file concrete sub-issues
+   for implementation
+
+## Formula
+
+The architect is driven by `formulas/run-architect.toml`. This formula defines
+the steps for:
+- Research: analyzing vision items and prerequisite tree
+- Design: identifying implementation approaches and forks
+- Sprint proposal: creating structured sprint PRs
+- Sub-issue filing: creating concrete implementation issues
+
+## Execution
+
+Run via `architect/architect-run.sh`, which:
+- Acquires a cron lock and checks available memory
+- Sources shared libraries (env.sh, formula-session.sh)
+- Uses FORGE_ARCHITECT_TOKEN for authentication
+- Loads the formula and builds context from VISION.md, AGENTS.md, and ops repo
+- Executes the formula via `agent_run`
+
+## Cron
+
+Suggested cron entry (every 6 hours):
+```cron
+0 */6 * * * cd /path/to/disinto && bash architect/architect-run.sh
+```
+
+## State
+
+Architect state is tracked in `state/.architect-active` (disabled by default —
+empty file not created, just document it).
+
+## Related issues
+
+- #96: Architect agent parent issue
+- #100: Architect formula — research + design fork identification
+- #101: Architect formula — sprint PR creation with questions
+- #102: Architect formula — answer parsing + sub-issue filing
diff --git a/architect/architect-run.sh b/architect/architect-run.sh
new file mode 100755
index 0000000..16be18b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/architect/architect-run.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# =============================================================================
+# architect-run.sh — Cron wrapper: architect execution via SDK + formula
+#
+# Synchronous bash loop using claude -p (one-shot invocation).
+# No tmux sessions, no phase files — the bash script IS the state machine.
+#
+# Flow:
+#   1. Guards: cron lock, memory check
+#   2. Load formula (formulas/run-architect.toml)
+#   3. Context: VISION.md, AGENTS.md, ops:prerequisites.md, structural graph
+#   4. agent_run(worktree, prompt) → Claude decomposes vision into sprints
+#
+# Usage:
+#   architect-run.sh [projects/disinto.toml]   # project config (default: disinto)
+#
+# Cron: 0 */6 * * *   # every 6 hours
+# =============================================================================
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
+FACTORY_ROOT="$(dirname "$SCRIPT_DIR")"
+
+# Accept project config from argument; default to disinto
+export PROJECT_TOML="${1:-$FACTORY_ROOT/projects/disinto.toml}"
+# shellcheck source=../lib/env.sh
+source "$FACTORY_ROOT/lib/env.sh"
+# Override FORGE_TOKEN with architect-bot's token (#747)
+FORGE_TOKEN="${FORGE_ARCHITECT_TOKEN:-${FORGE_TOKEN}}"
+# shellcheck source=../lib/formula-session.sh
+source "$FACTORY_ROOT/lib/formula-session.sh"
+# shellcheck source=../lib/worktree.sh
+source "$FACTORY_ROOT/lib/worktree.sh"
+# shellcheck source=../lib/guard.sh
+source "$FACTORY_ROOT/lib/guard.sh"
+# shellcheck source=../lib/agent-sdk.sh
+source "$FACTORY_ROOT/lib/agent-sdk.sh"
+
+LOG_FILE="$SCRIPT_DIR/architect.log"
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034  # consumed by agent-sdk.sh
+LOGFILE="$LOG_FILE"
+# shellcheck disable=SC2034  # consumed by agent-sdk.sh
+SID_FILE="/tmp/architect-session-${PROJECT_NAME}.sid"
+SCRATCH_FILE="/tmp/architect-${PROJECT_NAME}-scratch.md"
+WORKTREE="/tmp/${PROJECT_NAME}-architect-run"
+
+log() { echo "[$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S)Z] $*" >> "$LOG_FILE"; }
+
+# ── Guards ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+check_active architect
+acquire_cron_lock "/tmp/architect-run.lock"
+check_memory 2000
+
+log "--- Architect run start ---"
+
+# ── Load formula + context ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+load_formula "$FACTORY_ROOT/formulas/run-architect.toml"
+build_context_block VISION.md AGENTS.md ops:prerequisites.md
+
+# ── Build structural analysis graph ──────────────────────────────────────
+build_graph_section
+
+# ── Read scratch file (compaction survival) ───────────────────────────────
+SCRATCH_CONTEXT=$(read_scratch_context "$SCRATCH_FILE")
+SCRATCH_INSTRUCTION=$(build_scratch_instruction "$SCRATCH_FILE")
+
+# ── Build prompt ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+build_sdk_prompt_footer
+
+# Architect prompt: strategic decomposition of vision into sprints
+# See: architect/AGENTS.md for full role description
+# Pattern: heredoc function to avoid inline prompt construction
+# Note: Uses CONTEXT_BLOCK, GRAPH_SECTION, SCRATCH_CONTEXT from formula-session.sh
+# Architecture Decision: AD-003 — The runtime creates and destroys, the formula preserves.
+build_architect_prompt() {
+  cat <<_PROMPT_EOF_
+You are the architect agent for ${FORGE_REPO}. Work through the formula below.
+
+Your role: strategic decomposition of vision issues into development sprints.
+Propose sprints via PRs on the ops repo, converse with humans through PR comments,
+and file sub-issues after design forks are resolved.
+
+## Project context
+${CONTEXT_BLOCK}
+${GRAPH_SECTION}
+${SCRATCH_CONTEXT}
+## Formula
+${FORMULA_CONTENT}
+
+${SCRATCH_INSTRUCTION}
+${PROMPT_FOOTER}
+_PROMPT_EOF_
+}
+
+PROMPT=$(build_architect_prompt)
+
+# ── Create worktree ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+formula_worktree_setup "$WORKTREE"
+
+# ── Run agent ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+export CLAUDE_MODEL="opus"
+
+agent_run --worktree "$WORKTREE" "$PROMPT"
+log "agent_run complete"
+
+rm -f "$SCRATCH_FILE"
+log "--- Architect run done ---"
diff --git a/formulas/run-architect.toml b/formulas/run-architect.toml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5a2df6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/formulas/run-architect.toml
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+# formulas/run-architect.toml — Architect formula (stub)
+#
+# Executed by architect-run.sh via cron — strategic decomposition of vision
+# issues into development sprints.
+#
+# This is a stub formula — steps will be filled in by follow-up issues:
+#   #100: research + design fork identification
+#   #101: sprint PR creation with questions
+#   #102: answer parsing + sub-issue filing
+#
+# AGENTS.md maintenance is handled by the gardener (#246).
+
+name        = "run-architect"
+description = "Architect: strategic decomposition of vision into sprints"
+version     = 1
+model       = "opus"
+
+[context]
+files = ["VISION.md", "AGENTS.md"]
+# Prerequisite tree loaded from ops repo (ops: prefix)
+# Sprints directory tracked in ops repo
+
+[[steps]]
+id    = "placeholder"
+title = "TODO: implement formula steps"
+description = """
+This step is a placeholder. The actual formula steps will be implemented in
+follow-up issues:
+
+- #100: research + design fork identification
+- #101: sprint PR creation with questions
+- #102: answer parsing + sub-issue filing
+
+The architect formula will decompose vision items into coherent sprints,
+identify design forks, and file sub-issues after design decisions are made.
+"""
diff --git a/lib/env.sh b/lib/env.sh
index a2c98a9..cc0906c 100755
--- a/lib/env.sh
+++ b/lib/env.sh
@@ -95,9 +95,10 @@ export FORGE_GARDENER_TOKEN="${FORGE_GARDENER_TOKEN:-${FORGE_TOKEN}}"
 export FORGE_VAULT_TOKEN="${FORGE_VAULT_TOKEN:-${FORGE_TOKEN}}"
 export FORGE_SUPERVISOR_TOKEN="${FORGE_SUPERVISOR_TOKEN:-${FORGE_TOKEN}}"
 export FORGE_PREDICTOR_TOKEN="${FORGE_PREDICTOR_TOKEN:-${FORGE_TOKEN}}"
+export FORGE_ARCHITECT_TOKEN="${FORGE_ARCHITECT_TOKEN:-${FORGE_TOKEN}}"
 
 # Bot usernames filter: FORGE_BOT_USERNAMES > legacy CODEBERG_BOT_USERNAMES
-export FORGE_BOT_USERNAMES="${FORGE_BOT_USERNAMES:-${CODEBERG_BOT_USERNAMES:-dev-bot,review-bot,planner-bot,gardener-bot,vault-bot,supervisor-bot,predictor-bot}}"
+export FORGE_BOT_USERNAMES="${FORGE_BOT_USERNAMES:-${CODEBERG_BOT_USERNAMES:-dev-bot,review-bot,planner-bot,gardener-bot,vault-bot,supervisor-bot,predictor-bot,architect-bot}}"
 export CODEBERG_BOT_USERNAMES="${FORGE_BOT_USERNAMES}"  # backwards compat
 
 # Project config (FORGE_* preferred, CODEBERG_* fallback)