AI and the Future of Architecture

The introduction and advances in artificial intelligence (AI) is believed to threaten the architectural design process. Players in the architectural industry feared that artificial intelligence would replicate and replace them. On the contrary, advances in machine learning have optimized and pushed the boundaries for architects, freed them from routine tasks, enhanced their sensitivities and instincts, and expounded their knowledge. Today, the realm of architecture is a multidimensional profession that incorporates disciplines ranging from social and material sciences, environmental engineering, to structural engineering. To expand and improve their design capabilities, architects will need to be accustomed to exploring, adapting, and harnessing artificial intelligence, as the world evolves to a more technological age. Since its invention, AI has already had material impact on the architectural culture. In academics, progressive architectural schools have embraced artificial intelligence in their design studio. Since then, interest in AI is spreading rapidly, especially after the recent discovery of the most popular AI techniques in architecture. One of the most popular AI techniques is hallucination, whereby architects use computer systems to generate urban design proposals and inspirational images of buildings automatically. As AI is gaining in popularity, it attracts significant interests in the architectural spheres. There is also growing popularity among tutorials and workshops for generating AI based designs. Influencing architecture in design and modeling, artificial intelligence increases efficiency and is expected to define the future of architecture, both in academia and in practice, despite facing opposition in its implementation.

The Connection of AI And Architecture

Architecture is a combination of style and organization. In architecture, buildings are perceived as vectors of cultural importance that are expressed through different architectural styles, such as contemporary, gothic, and modern among others (Naser 57). Moreover, buildings and structures are products of engineering and science. They follow building codes and ergonomics rules, hence the need for architecture to work hand in hand with artificial intelligence. AI performs multiple tasks with minimal human presence as a solid investigative tool. AI presents an immense avenue for change, as it provides and analyzes tons of data. An architect can simultaneously conduct testing and research more efficiently with AI, reshaping modern architecture.

The term ‘digital design’ is almost becoming extinct in architectural circles. As predicted a decade ago, architects would stop using the term ‘digital design’ by 2020 (Leach 7). The extinction of the word ‘digital design’ and its transformation to simply ‘design’ would be due to total embrace of AI in architecture (Kołata and Zierke 9). Bill Gates predicted that digital tools would be popular in almost all professions by 2020, including architecture. Since everyone else will be using AI and other digital tools for architectural models and designs, the term digital would automatically disappear. As of 2021, the prediction is largely accurate, as architects rarely refer to their works as digital designs. All drawings and architectural works are today referred to as simply designs. Initially, computer-aided design (CAD) drawings were referred to as digital drawings, while hand drawings were known as simply drawings. The moment CAD drawings became popular, the term digital drawings disappeared and was replaced by drawings. The implication is that most architects will embrace AI and see it as a norm, hence the disappearance of the word ‘digital’ from their works.

Throughout architecture, data driven informational systems and AI applications have become widespread, collectively contributing to the emergence of ‘architectural intelligence’. Architectural intelligence is fast becoming a dominant approach in structural and architectural designs encompassing all forms of intelligence in architecture, such as programmatic intelligence, constructional intelligence, environmental intelligence, and structural intelligence, given the wide application of AI tools (Leach 96). AI in architecture is an emerging movement that operates at the interface between buildings and advanced digital technologies (immaterial computation vs material construction). Architects will now make more materially intelligent designs and use AI to inform the intelligent design of a material building due to the innovative intelligent computational techniques. Architectural intelligence, as such, includes the application of intelligent computational techniques to design the material form of a structure, in addition to the intelligent use of materials in the design and construction of structures and buildings.

The Role of AI in Architecture

The impact AI has been producing on progressive architectural practice is immeasurable. First, high profile architects now appreciate the AI’s efficiency and effectiveness in design, incorporating new AI techniques into their modeling and design strategies (Leach 93). Other architectures are exploring the ability of AI to optimize the range of design options. Those using AI techniques in architectural designs have attested to its capacity to improve the design process. Despite the slow uptake by architects, most standard architectural software have AI already imbedded in them. A number of startups are developing new AI based software tools for architects, while established commercial companies, such as Autodesk, are innovating more advanced AI into their software. So far, AI is exhibiting capabilities of maximizing the potential of any given site, by processing complex site data and offering a vast array of design options. It is projected that by the end of this decade, AI will simulate occupational behaviors in buildings. Furthermore, experts contend that in the near future AI will enhance the performance of structures once constructed and will be able to control robotic fabrication technologies.

Second, it will soon be possible to solve urbanization challenges and housing issues as architecture and artificial intelligence come together. As estimated, a larger proportion of the planet’s population stays in developed areas, namely cities. Projections indicate that urban population will grow to 68% by 2050 (As and Basu 19). Thus, countless megacities will form across the globe, as experts expect migrations from rural regions towards cities and urban areas. To handle this upsurge, architects need pragmatic approaches in innovation, inclusion, and large-scale innovation. AI will provide new methods and means to solve housing challenges brought about by population increase in urban areas and cities, if imbued in architecture and construction. AI will become a valuable addition in architecture by 2030, since it offers countless inventive and innovative opportunities, especially in the design process.

One of the major roles of AI in architecture is the automation of designs. For a while, architects have faced various challenges of poor coordination, lack of support, management issues, lack of data, among other issues (Castro Pena et al. 2). However, the architectural field needs to evolve and adapt, just as any other field. AI can bypass all the above-named challenges as data informs the decision-making process. Based on the available data, AI can organize, process, analyze, and yield valuable information for making decisions. When executing a project, it is important to evaluate the variations, quality, and suitability. In future, architecture will leave its subjective ways of executing projects towards a much more databased approach. Architects could acquire more levelheaded and quantitative methodologies with automated computational plans. Hence, AI improves and automates design and in general enhances the profession rather than replacing architects.

Furthermore, AI will increase building efficiency in architecture. Environmental analysis and building computations will become simple tasks with AI tools and programs (Leach 107). AI can handle serious compilations including material appraisals, climate information, and data on temperature more easily, which is critical in architectural operations. With AI, architects will be able to incorporate sustainability approaches directly into their designs and plans. They can guarantee better sustainability as it so happens with solutions, such as smart water management or smart lighting systems that can be worked into outlines, actions that were not conceivable ten years ago. With AI, architects will use smaller practices to handle bigger projects, since one can make use of various design software, the internet, and all other technologically available resources to create propositions.

In future, AI will change the culture of planning and construction. The process and planning for a structure or building needs scrupulous pre-preparation and pre-arranging, certifiably, which are not a one-day task (Naser 59). Once in a while, the engineer or contractor will need the architect’s input, since pre-arranging may not be sufficient. AI can analyze the entire information, making the architect’s work easier, by constructing models that can spare energy and time. During the construction and building process, AI can be regarded as an assessment tool for different perspectives. AI has the ability to generate cost estimates, construct models, and give architects access to large volumes of data, shortening the planning and process. It takes a shorter time to start and complete a project with proper planning, meaning that architects will be able to take up more projects in future with full operationalization of AI. Projects will even take faster to complete with robots and other AI tools, minimizing costs and worker injury risks on site. Going into the future, technology will create AI powered drones capable of communication, designing, and modeling. In this regard, AI will advance the planning and construction culture.

Additionally, AI will influence parametric architecture. Currently, parametric architecture is in its take-off stage, an expression that allows architects to select a design from the client’s preferences (Castro Pena et al. 4). Parametric architecture will be a game changer, as it contains numerous parameters for architectural modeling and design, depending on the prevailing circumstances. Also known as parametric design, parametric architecture allows architects to explore a wide array of designs with specific parameters, to come up with different structures and yields that would otherwise not have been possible. Parametric design enables an architect to selects a client’s design yield, functioning as an architect’s programming language. Also, it could make innumerable cycles of a building or structure within minutes by plugging information and setting the imperatives.

Considering the modern developments in AI, architectural designs will significantly improve in the foreseeable future. AI uses algorithms that combine different factors and constraints to produce the most suitable designs (As and Basu 22). Algorithms can generate, inform, and refine novel designs, for instance, in computer-aided design. AI compliant architects will have the possibility to work with odder figures and shapes, and enhance their ideas and realize their goals through a completely new toolbox that comes with AI algorithms. Algorithms will completely transform architecture due to the revelation of hidden patterns and proposition of new designs. Architects will be able to device remarkable arrangements as thinking outside the box with extended capability will become easier. AI algorithm patterns will influence architecture of future due to their efficiency and practicability.

Most importantly, AI will solve the current crisis in architecture. Currently, architecture is on a shaky ground because of time consuming inefficiencies in the designing process. With AI, however, architects will have sufficient time to explore new languages and increase efficiency in designs (As and Basu 25). AI comes at a time when there is almost no gravity, and the industry is rather insecure. New structures are coming up rapidly, taking place of the old and obsolete structures. There is a high likelihood that AI will play a key role in accelerating these new structures and influencing their development, since architects seem to be not ready to embrace AI. Therefore, it is important for architects and architectural students to explore AI and the upcoming structures, as it will enhance their thinking.

Possible Opposition to AI in Architecture

Despite the massive improvements that AI will introduce in architecture, it is likely to face opposition. Similarly to the introduction of computation that faced resistance, the introduction of architectural AI will probably undergo the same fate (Castro Pena et al. 6). It is projected that AI will be banned similarly to computers when they were first introduced. The opposition will be due to the fear that AI will take away architectural jobs and eradicate the need for human involvement. Furthermore, it is expected that AI will compete with the creativity of architectural students and professionals in the same breadth. Despite proving convenient, some will drag the inaccuracy, inefficiency, and lengthy time crises currently witnessed in architecture due to their opposition of AI.

For activities involving perception, artificial intelligence is highly effective. However, AI is relatively limited in capacity to operate certain domains. There are many types of ability that need to be given an AI system, but it lends itself well to perception, and perception is very critical in architecture (As and Basu 96). For very complex actions or activities that take a very long time to implement, such as building a factory, perception is key. It is impossible to actualize such projects through purely artificial intelligence black-box systems. For architects, building a factory can be a daunting and challenging task. Using AI to design and build a factory will require architects to feed the system plenty of historical data on how existing factories have been built to invent an algorithm. The algorithm will require data on the parameters, imperatives, and circumstances under which such factories were built. It is impossible to gather such vast data quickly and so it makes sense, implying that AI cannot use past data to build a factory. Architects need knowledge to build factories, design plans, ponder on physical barriers, and the structural properties of factories. AI will influence architecture in providing the design for building a factory under certain parameters, but it will not be effective in building a factory.

AI is unlikely to yield the fundamental value of professional architects in problem evaluation and unique synthesis of insightful solutions. Architects normally employ past building, design, and construction data to create new designs (Leach 107). With the help of AI it is also possible to utilize tons of data in a fraction of a second, enhancing the architecture design process and making recommendation, as opposed to having architects spending hours brainstorming ideas. Sometimes, even without the need for a pen and paper, an architect could easily conduct research and test several ideas at the same time with the use of AI. Furthermore, using AI, architects could easily generate different variations by zoning specific data, construction codes, and redundant design data. However, organizations and clients may not resort to computer masterplans and construction despite these AI developments since no algorithm can challenge the need of an architect to evaluate a problem and synthesize insightful and unique solutions due to their understanding of the field.

In the foreseeable future, AI will not substitute the human’s sensibility and intuition in architecture. There is a growing fear, that AI developments are making very smart systems and tools that may render architects obsolete (Kołata, and Zierke 11). AI has immense capabilities and functionalities in architecture, but no machine in the near future will substitute a professional architect’s contribution and relevance in design and construction. AI algorithms are yet to automate architectural artistry. AI is a tool used for increased productivity, as opposed to robots replacing architects. It elevates architecture as a profession. AI optimizes the performance of various systems, such as, anticipating unknown needs and sorting through client needs. However, human input is required to develop the algorithms, troubleshoot them, and find optimal solutions to problems.

Future & Perspectives

Artificial intelligence is a new intimidating dogma in architecture. It is an ultimate disruption, a “sui generis” technology, whose time has come. AI in architecture is the culmination of an almost decade long invention and innovation, as indications have been clear for decades now (Leach 6). There is a tremendous potential for architecture to move levels ahead of the current standards, while offering a wide variety of options to the designer, owing to its ability to reconcile organicity and efficiency. AI will shed light on any blind architectural spots, will enriching the practice/profession, at the very least.

Moving into the future, architectural designs and models will be more reliant on AI. Already revolutionizing architecture, AI will contribute significantly to the realization of a profession that saves on resources while improving efficiency in construction (Castro Pena et al. 3). Architecture will be considered as an investigative discipline in its own right, as more and more architects will take an interest and embrace AI as a scientific community. Architects will be convinced that AI is a useful resource, favoring a statistical approach. It is an opportunity for architects to redefine their profession from a less deterministic to a more holistic field. AI will allow architects to partly depend on machines to mine critical and relevant architectural qualities, and reproduce them all through the design process, as opposed to using machines for variables’ optimization.

In the nearest future, AI may not automate architects’ sensibility and intuition. The major risk facing architects will be competition, more prosaically, to the sovereignty of the field, as there is little to do with any dystopic consideration regarding the relationship between humans and machines (As and Basu 115).  Architecture could miss the opportunity to drive the aggregation of professions around AI and be reduced to an ancillary field or grab the opportunity and be at par with more powerful engineering disciplines that will arise from the new ages of technology and construction. At the onset, architects should realize the benefits of AI and embrace it fully, based on the existing literature and scientific proof of its benefits.  

Conclusion

In conclusion, AI is expected to revolutionize architecture, both as an academic program and a profession, based on the existing evidence of its efficiency, despite the existence of opposing views. The is overwhelming evidence demonstrating the use of algorithms, improving the designing and planning process of building and construction. The use of data in architecture has improved designing, modeling, estimation, and the sustainability of construction projects. Artificial intelligence in architecture is ongoing and is progressively replacing conventional designs and structures. In view of the recent developments regarding in modeling and designing, AI is becoming part and parcel of architecture, both in academia and in practice. As it is being gradually implemented, AI in architecture is still in its experimental phase. The plan, façade, structure, and perspective are that AI will bring solutions to all phases of the design of the human built environment. Despite various unfounded fears that AI will replace architects, it is high time that architects accepted technological development in their practice. AI may face some opposition, just like computers when they were first introduced, but it is evident that the applications of AI in architecture are eminently tangible.