The Stratospheric Rise of Architectural AI

Architecture’s Revolution or Evolution?

From Elon Musk to Chinese President Xi Jinping, everyone’s talking about it, and the world of architecture is no different. The stratospheric rise of Architectural AI is a fine story to tell… so where do we begin?

AI’s Impact on Architectural Design

Back in April, Patrik Schumacher, studio principal with Zaha Hadid Architects (ZHA), spilled the beans to dezeen that his firm is using AI-generated images for “most” projects. 

Following on from that, dezeen itself has just launched a brand-new editorial series on AI, AItopia, which will specifically explore AI’s impact on design, architecture and humanity.  

dezeen kept AItopia’s launch bang on message by including an announcement by the world’s first AI designer Tilly Talbot – no, not a designer of AI, but a designer who is AI. Tilly’s video message broke the news that British architect and designer Selina Yau had won dezeen’s competition to produce the artwork for the AItopia series using text-to-image software. 

Yau’s “haunting” illustration was created using Midjourney, which coincidentally is one of the cutting-edge design platforms that ZHA are using (the other one being DALL-E 2). Yau produced a futuristic image of two hooded figures in a field of flowers, which also included some cloud/cauliflower-like objects sitting in front of a cluster of Soviet-style buildings – in some ways matching the eeriness of Tilly Talbot’s not quite human demeanour. 

With the rumour mill nearly spiralling out of control with predictions of an AI Terminator-like future, we’re looking forward to the dezeen project which promises to enlist the help of leading experts “to explore practically how AI will be, and is already being, deployed in architecture and design and what that means for designers and human civilisation, frightening and exhilarating alike”. 

The pros & cons of AI in the Architect’s Studio

But in the meantime, we caught up with Sanksshep Mahendra’s latest ideas in which the expert in robotics, AI and automation dissects the pros and cons of AI in the architect’s studio.  

Sanksshep kick-starts his pragmatic approach with wise words. 

“Humans criticise and fear what they don’t understand. There are multiple barriers we have to face, whether it is lack of data, management, support, coordination, and other factors. But just like any other industry, architecture needs to adapt and evolve. The question is, what is the role of artificial intelligence and architecture? How can this new discipline reshape the architectural industry?” 

One of the pros that Sanksshep discusses is how AI can support both the mathematical and physical demands of engineering when they intersect with the results of pure, creative imagination. For example, when deciding on the type of material to use for a specific part of a building, an architect must consider the pros and cons of suitable options. Sanksshep points out that today “many architects still rely on their experience and manual analysis of data sheets to make those decisions”.  

When AI is brought in to help, it can quickly make sense of vast amounts of data, and compare numerous materials, which in turn allows the architect to come to faster conclusions, saving valuable time. 

In the interest of fairness, Sanksshep then directs us towards a February ‘23 opinion piece in dezeen by Neil Leach, which delivers a much more sceptical message. In it, Leach quotes ChatGPT as saying that “in the near future, architects may become a thing of the past.” The AI also stated that “AI has the potential to revolutionise the architecture industry, leaving traditional architects out of the equation.” 

Leach then goes on to say that “using AI, a single-person office can now compete with bigger offices and enter large-scale competitions. However, the corollary is that practices will no longer need so many architects”. 

Whichever way you look at it, working with AI makes sound business sense, and so will inevitably become a requirement. And that means that it’s something that needs to be embraced at the same time as the architectural industry evolves to work alongside it. 

With so much at stake, we’ll be devouring dezeen’s AItopia series, and sign off with another thought for the day from Sanksshep.  

“Artificial intelligence is a solid investigative tool. It is an advanced mechanical system capable of performing any task with minimal human intervention. It is meant to provide and analyse tons of data. It represents a tremendous opportunity for change.” 

Are you an innovative architect with the kind of human imagination that puts AI to shame? 

If so, then we’d love to talk to you about some of the ground-breaking projects which we are regularly asked to recruit for. Call our mustard BE team, who are extremely eager to get to know you. Our mustard hotline is 0117 929 6060.