Regional and Urban Design Committee

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  • 1.  Architecture, Philosophy and AI

    Posted 02-02-2026 09:17 AM

    Architecture, Philosophy and AI 

    To live is to leave traces (Walter Benjamin, German philosopher)

    "If architecture is where most of human existence takes place it cannot fail to be a topic of philosophy" (Graham Harman, American philosopher)

    Anxiety and Challenges

    I recently participated in a luncheon with the local AIA Fellows. The prevailing topic was AI: how it will change architectural practice, if it will replace architects or whether it would make architecture better. The anxiety was palpable, and the prevailing view negative.

    Principals of architecture firms worldwide have sleepless nights trying to figure out how they should position their firms for a future full of AI, climate change, global urbanization, and the prospect that new construction in the next 40 years will equal all construction in all of history before. It means, globally, a New York City-sized built area will be added every month. (Architecture 2030). Will American architects be part of this?

    Vitruvian Man

    This poses a number of challenges: the ethical challenge of how so much stuff can be built in an environmentally responsible manner and how it can be resilient in the face of a new climate reality, combined with...

    READ FULL ARTICLE HERE



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    [Klaus] Philipsen FAIA
    Archplan Inc. Philipsen Architects
    Baltimore MD
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  • 2.  RE: Architecture, Philosophy and AI

    Posted 02-04-2026 11:21 PM

    very interesting article.  food for thought.  thanks.



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    William Robertson AIA
    Design Build Labs
    Santa Monica CA
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  • 3.  RE: Architecture, Philosophy and AI

    Posted 02-05-2026 10:02 PM

    I am thoroughly in favor of the best of the best taking on our country's faith, hope, and spirit, in the design of what are and will be viewed as the representation of AND the integration of the universal dream of America.  Is this possible? Is it only an ideal, far beyond realization. POTUS saw a perceived need and called on his cronies to "do something". Was there a need, were there outmoded spaces, were there higher uses for this addition. Yes, presidents are allowed to change the decor of their living quarters, but not to blithely overturn the sound and thoughtful imagery and contributions approved by the thoughtful considerations of our forbears. Would I like to see soaring geometric glass and steel, no! Would I like to see regeneration of something not fully thought out,trying to, given short notice, without oversight, to find acceptance, on the whim of one person? No!  What might, yet, even come about, will be regressive, heavy handed, without life and spirit.  Does it have to aspire to the elegance amidst controversy of I.M. Pei's glass pyramid in the plaza of the Louvre? Let us not allow this opportunity to be lost with mundane, grandiose replication.



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    John Crittenden AIA Member Emeritus
    Minturn CO
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    Original Message


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