The death of the architect has been predicted before, killed by engineers, by CAD, by
parametric design, and now by AI. At the same time we may achieve immortality as our
virtual twin. At architecture conferences sessions addressing AI were packed by people seemingly motivated by equal parts of fear and hope. The phrase "If You Are Not at the Table Then You're Probably on the Menu" is frequently used. The somewhat milder version of
death by AI states that
AI will not replace humans but humans with AI will replace those without it.
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| Old school architectural drafting (Life on Sundays) |
AI in the building industry needs some unpacking, and fast, since AI is progressing rapidly into our professions.
More avantgarde firms like
Coop-Himmelblau,
MVRDV and
BIG have been experimenting with AI for a few years by now, and many mainstream firms are following suit. Ask
MidJourney to design a Zaha Hadid building and it will come up with a structure that looks like the late architect would have come back from the dead.
By now AI design tools produce much more than just renderings. They are embedded in
Google Earth (
Delve) and available on many platforms that allow architects to generate site-specific early massing models, floor area calculations, and unit counts much faster than with SketchUp or similar massing software. Later on in the design process AI can check for embodied carbon, compliance with codes and ensure consistent workable details.
Folks intimidated by all the talk of AI and digital twins should take heart. Most of us have long empowered ourselves with these tools without....
Archplan Inc. Philipsen Architects