Architecture has traditionally been a field in which creativity and technique are uniquely intertwined.
This is why the development of computer technology has caused the profession of architect (and interior designer) to change profoundly for decades.
With the arrival of computer-aided design software, manual drawing has been replaced by digital drawing.
This has made things easier from a technical point of view, but it has also greatly improved the client’s sensory experience.
Today, in fact, a render allows us to show an image that is sometimes indistinguishable from reality. While this aspect is nothing new, the topic of artificial intelligence is very current.
A quick look at social media is enough to realize that the creations resulting from this rapidly developing technology have also invaded the field of architecture and interior design. Although there is no shortage of criticism, artificial intelligence is also the protagonist of the creations of internationally recognized professionals.
With the arrival of computer-aided design software, manual drawing has been replaced by digital drawing.
This has made things easier from a technical point of view, but it has also greatly improved the client’s sensory experience.
Today, in fact, a render allows us to show an image that is sometimes indistinguishable from reality. While this aspect is nothing new, the topic of artificial intelligence is very current.
A quick look at social media is enough to realize that the creations resulting from this rapidly developing technology have also invaded the field of architecture and interior design. Although there is no shortage of criticism, artificial intelligence is also the protagonist of the creations of internationally recognized professionals.
The criticism is partly understandable: generating images today is relatively easy and accessible to everyone.
But beyond the visual aspect, it is clear that the amateur user cannot replace the professional in the design of spaces simply by generating images.
The distinction between a professional creator and an amateur is not really based on the use of artificial intelligence.
But beyond the visual aspect, it is clear that the amateur user cannot replace the professional in the design of spaces simply by generating images.
The distinction between a professional creator and an amateur is not really based on the use of artificial intelligence.
On the contrary, the question is whether this tool is used professionally or not (as demonstrated by an article in Revista Interiores in which artificial intelligence is used without any connection to the reality of a project: click here > here to read it).
For this reason, a high-level professional will hardly be afraid or start criticizing AI.
For this reason, a high-level professional will hardly be afraid or start criticizing AI.
In fact, the idea of giving instructions to a computer and receiving drawing options in return is not new and did not originate with artificial intelligence.
Rather, it was born with computational design, which has been present in the field of the most advanced architecture for more than twenty years.
The arrival of computational design changed the paradigms of design, opening new frontiers.
And in Alicante, we have one of the international experts in this field. This is Carlos Bañon Blázquez > Carlos Bañón Blázquez, “co-founder of the studio Subarquitectura > Subarquitectura established in 2004 in Alicante, Professor of Architecture and Sustainable Design at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Co-Founder and Director of the Architectural Intelligence Research Lab (AirLab) in Singapore“. We find one of his creations in another article in Revista Interiores > Revista Interiores, which highlights his merits in the “intersection of Computational Design, Advanced Manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence in architecture”.
And in Alicante, we have one of the international experts in this field. This is Carlos Bañon Blázquez > Carlos Bañón Blázquez, “co-founder of the studio Subarquitectura > Subarquitectura established in 2004 in Alicante, Professor of Architecture and Sustainable Design at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD) and Co-Founder and Director of the Architectural Intelligence Research Lab (AirLab) in Singapore“. We find one of his creations in another article in Revista Interiores > Revista Interiores, which highlights his merits in the “intersection of Computational Design, Advanced Manufacturing and Artificial Intelligence in architecture”.
His work demonstrates how technology does not limit creativity, but quite the opposite.
It also highlights the huge difference between the professional use of this technology and its use by amateurs for purely recreational purposes.
But it also reminds us that computer-aided design has long since ceased to be a passive tool.
Computational design laid the groundwork for this shift, allowing designers to use algorithms and parametric models to generate complex, optimized forms. As ArchDaily > ArchDaily explains in its article on the impact of computational design on architecture, this methodology has radically changed the way architects work. To be clear, all it takes is changing one parameter for software like Grasshopper to automatically rework a project, proposing new and different solutions than those available based on the given input. It doesn’t change the inspiration, it changes the phase of calculating and processing the input, which saves a lot of time on the most repetitive tasks.
Artificial Intelligence, therefore, is simply following the path already laid out by computational design. It will function as a tool to further improve existing technologies through ever greater integration with them. This is why it is a mistake for amateurs to think that its influence is limited to the simple generation of images based on indications.
Only the logic is similar because in any case we still have to provide an indication, i.e. some parameters to receive a result. Exactly as in the basic case related to image generation with free software. For this reason, if the message is not detailed and up to date, the result will not be optimal either.
However, the real impact of artificial intelligence is on another level. We will certainly see a greater simplification of work, but not the deprofessionalization of design, architecture, or interior design. In short, AI joins the tools of computational design as a complementary instrument. It will enhance project development and expand the creative and functional possibilities in architectural design.