Artificial Intelligence and Architecture.

Artificial Intelligence and architecture will come together to solve challenges with housing, the way we live, and cites. About 55% of the world’s population is living in urban areas or cities. By 2050, that figure is estimated to rise to 68%. Experts are expecting a dramatic upswing towards cities, which will cause countless megacities to form around the globe.

This change calls for large-scale infrastructure, innovation, and inclusion. Recently, all the attention is focused on artificial intelligence and architecture. AI, as a discipline, is imbued in multiple fields, providing people with new methods and means to solve difficult challenges.

Numerous industries benefit from AI. Take automation, medicine, manufacturing, and IT, for example. Since it provides them with countless inventive opportunities, AI has become a valuable addition to their design-making process.

The question is, what is the role of artificial intelligence and architecture? How can this new discipline reshape the architectural industry? Here is my take on this particular topic.

Architecture is a mix between organization and style. First, we think of buildings as vectors with cultural importance. We express that through the different styles (e.g., modern, gothic, contemporary, etc.).

Secondly, buildings are the result of science and engineering. They follow the rules, ergonomics, and building codes. That’s where artificial intelligence and architecture work hand in hand. 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 analyze tons of data. It represents a tremendous opportunity for change.

With AI, an architect can simultaneously do testing and research that is more efficient. But, it can be useful in more ways than one. When used to its full potential, AI can reshape the architecture of today.

Here’s how:

Humans criticize 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.

New data becomes a key component in the decision-making process. AI can bypass these barriers. It can make decisions, extract data, and analyze that data based on the collected information.

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When working on a project, analyzing the suitability, quality, and variations are essential. For now, architects are doing it the subjective way. They physically determine and process spaces, optimize the layout and deliver a worthy product.

But this process takes time. A huge amount of effort and research goes into completing the whole practice. With the automated architectural design, architects can bring in a more quantitative and objective approach. The idea is not for AI to replace an architect, but to improve their work.

The role of artificial intelligence and architecture is pretty straightforward. AI speeds up planning and construction. These two tasks are not something you can finish in a day. AI will create models and practical data. That’s what people call an estimation tool.

You can also use the data when laying the foundation. It takes a millisecond for the AI to aggregate complex data and help you come up with the ideal conceptual design. It’s perfect for generating variations quickly. Basically, it simplifies the whole construction component and saves time.

Algorithms are creating better buildings. Thanks to CAD (computer-aided design), algorithms can help refine, inform, and generate novel designs. With AI, architects can work with odder shapes.

Simply put, algorithms are providing architects with a completely new toolbox that helps them obtain their goals and enhance their ideas. The algorithm reveals hidden patterns, proposes new or existing constructions.

They are extending the capability of architects to think outside the box and come up with remarkable arrangements. These arrangements, however, would otherwise be impossible to achieve. At the same time, it still takes the known flow of people and air into account.

Therefore, algorithm patterns are both practical and efficient.

Data always has a better idea. I can’t say I disagree with that. Remember, change is bound to happen. Sometimes it can be drastic and difficult to get used to. At other times, it will be a welcomed opportunity for growth.

As I mentioned before, AI is used in countless industries. It can collect massive sets of data and make predictions based on that data. For instance, companies are already using it to improve language processing, streamlining operations, doing repetitive tasks, and so on.

Read More: AI based illustrator draws pictures to go with text captions.

When you take that into account, it’s not that hard to imagine firms using AI to design smart cities. Besides, we are already interacting with our surroundings through the currently available technology.

So, using the same tactic in public spaces doesn’t seem such a far-fetched idea. Architecture is all about maximizing space using innovation. And all those technological advances make it a lot more feasible.

In other words, it can take this industry to a completely different level. It can help architects understand traffic levels and patterns to revamp the cities. Although it might look like a complicated task, AI can simplify the efforts and provide all those possible data points.

AI is creating modular and robust design systems. It can generate models, interpret the building environment and list the cost estimates. Most importantly, all that information can be carried out in a design plan. It will shorten the building time and help architects come up with a unique design for every client.

Every way artificial intelligence and architecture connect reveals a steppingstone to a better future. At least from my perspective, it draws inspiration, innovation and leads the way to completely different prospects. With AI, architects get to spend less time and effort on analyzing data and more on taking the buildings to a whole new level. That’s exactly why I think architects should use AI as a form of empowerment in their daily practice.