Everyone is a storyteller. Telling a story quips one’s imagination and transports them to their ideal world where real-world problems are easily solved. Stories, history, and folklore written by our ancestors have shaped the world’s imageability for centuries. Architecture of the past is considered a vessel of the history of humankind. The 21st century has seen a rise in the use of technology given the constant state of evolution in our physical world. Political situations, climatic shifts, and their resultant environmental impacts, and new viruses push architecture in a multitude of directions to a point that it can become nearly impossible to address without the help of technology.
More so than ever, we have accelerated the process of designing and constructing architecture with the help of different technological solutions such as big-data analytics of large-scale sites, 3D-printing building components and entire structures, and virtual building monitoring and construction. In recent times, artificial intelligence has skyrocketed in popularity in the fields of architecture and design. AI tools such as Midjourney, Dall-E, and Stable Diffusion etc are being used by architecture students and architecture professionals across all age groups, and this rampant use has raised anxieties about what this could mean when it comes to designing the architectural experience for the generations to come.
It is important to understand that the mere rejection of these new technologies will not eliminate them from existence. The world will continue to develop new ways of designing and building despite the negative connotations associated with change. This was the case when CAD software was introduced when the standard practice was manual drafting. We are witnessing history repeating itself. Architects steer the perception of the built environment and must adopt, or at the very least explore, technology-reliant ways of building.
The question arises of what the image of the built environment would look like if it were written with the help of artificial intelligence.
Studios Leading the Conversations Around AI in Architecture
Architecture Studios such as BIG and ZHA have been at the forefront of adoption of new tools in architecture and the shift towards AI-assisted design process is no different. Olly Thomas, the Design Specialist Manager at BIG London, speaks in an interview with Upstairs, a popular architecture resource platform, about how these tools have slowly been integrated into their design process but expresses that the value that architects bring goes beyond just creating a series of images using a 3D software.
The core of what architectural professionals do is in how they “think”. Problem-solving and evaluating the site constraints is an essential step to the design of any building type. Based on this inventory of data, the architect can synthesise the possible opportunities and limitations that will inform the design exploration. Throughout this process, the architect is carefully crafting how the built environment is perceived based on the unique site, social and cultural conditions. Not only this, but the lived experience is also kept at the forefront of the design process, and every decision is made in reference to how the space will be perceived at a human scale.
When generating “images” using AI, this in-depth analysis and design “thinking” can be difficult to translate. Prompt-engineering and prompt-whispering can eventually become a more relevant skill to learn. The dependence of architecture on artificial intelligence, now, is more towards ideation than actual concrete, end results. ChatGPT and other text-based language models (LLM) will be used for streamlining menial tasks such as formatting documents and reports or perhaps, extracting building regulation codes for a specific building type. It is difficult to ascertain whether LLMs will be able to craft meaningful and accurate narratives that can help inform architectural discourse and the design process.
Despite the disruptive nature of artificial intelligence, it is important to understand how architectural students and design professionals can see the potential of how this new emerging technology can be relevant to their line of work.
Integrating AI into the Architecture Design Process
The design outcome is determined by the quality of the design process. This is true whether you use traditional tools such as sketching and physical modelling to inform your design decisions or use AI to facilitate the workflow.
AI integration can be done in varying capacities. It is important to understand that the quality of the “image” will be directly proportional to the quality of the text prompt. Prompt-engineering can be difficult to master but after every new passing month, these features are becoming more intelligent. Additionally, developing a narrative that is in line with the human experience will largely depend on what inputs are added to explain the social and cultural context of where the project is located. Writing these prompts with these essential parameters will help create an output that is more relevant than a generic image.
Some rendering software, such as D5 Render 2.8 have integrated AI as an integral assistant throughout the process. With features such as AI enhancement for improving detail and precision has created more opportunity for architecture students and architects to better utilise time. These features help free up time that would normally be spent creating hyper realistic renders.
It is imperative to assimilate the effects of artificial intelligence with respect to how it can be used to (a) reduce time spent on repetitive or time-consuming tasks and/or (b) help assist and guide the design process. Deciding which path forward comes down to the individual architect and what suits their approach towards design.
Word of Caution
It is imperative to touch upon the obvious truth that artificial intelligence is subject to bias and is largely developed with reference to one overarching narrative at its core. The narratives developed in architecture with the help of AI-tools will remain a subject of speculation given the sensitive nature of their output. As architects and designers, there is a civic responsibility to uphold and address these biases in a manner that stresses their correction.
In conclusion, the probability of the future architectural history being written entirely by artificial intelligence remains uncertain. Much rather, it is the architects that use these tools who must validate the use in their design process without compromising the integrity of our profession.
References:
Upstairs (2023). The Future of Architecture: A look beyond AI Hype. Available at: URL. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQrnROCUjBQ[Accessed: 30/08/2024].
https://www.d5render.com/posts/d5-render-2-8
Archova. (2024) What is the Future of Architecture? » Archova Visuals. Archova Visuals. URL. https://archovavisuals.com/what-is-the-future-of-architecture/
