THE INTELLIGENT CONDUCTOR’S BATON: THE DIGITAL METAMORPHOSIS OF ARCHITECTURE
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“The lightning-fast development of AI increasingly determines how architecture will develop disruptively. This creates a particularly uncomfortable feeling for us, architects and designers, as no one can precisely predict where this evolution will take us. Even AI developers are in the dark. This time, we might not be entirely unhappy with the fact that the construction world is a sluggish beast, difficult to change course. This slowness stands in stark contrast to the speed with which we need to make the construction world more sustainable. I see even renowned architects and theorists hesitating, or even staring blankly ahead.
Image: Laurus Design
The architectural debate of the twentieth century was largely dominated by the question of how modernism could be made more human and context-bound. Today’s parametric design and production possibilities open up a completely new and sometimes intoxicating world of forms. Seemingly everything is possible: from spectacular to sometimes less relevant.
Yet I am convinced that we are on the eve of a design revolution. The true power of these design and production possibilities lies in the development of a metamorphosing design language. An interactive organic design language that can physically metamorphose depending on the needs of the moment.
It’s not about architecture that merely tries to imitate a flower or whale on the exterior, but about highly refined building structures that can be flexible where needed. They have a skin that can breathe, as it were: facade and roof become one, allowing light and air through depending on the time of day. The truly organic character of the building lies in the efficiency and economy with which it is constructed and in the process that enables it to come alive by partially metamorphosing in interaction with its users and the environment. In this thinking, the boundaries between landscape, building, and infrastructure become blurred.
AI will play a key role in the development and implementation of this metamorphosing design language. Today, AI generates complete images that show little architectural or constructive coherence. Very soon, AI will become the architect’s or designer’s indispensable pen, capable of developing sketches or models much faster. Generative construction and sustainability AI will help determine the structure, nodes, and all associated techniques, ensuring they become as organic and sustainable as possible. This will go far beyond a detailed BIM model.
A thorough conservatory education inherently includes solfège and playing a musical instrument. The younger the education is pursued, the greater the chance that talent will be fully developed. It continues to amaze me why architecture schools in Belgium produce few or no students who are virtuosos with 3D software, let alone AI.
How will we, architects and designers, remain the conductors of the architectural orchestra in the future if we barely master the digital instruments?”
