Every day our world is constantly becoming more complex, and its needs are continually changing. The architecture industry must update itself in step with the challenges and issues. This is made possible by abundant access to data. Increased access to data fundamentally opens new ways of thinking before us.
Solving an important part of the basic needs of today's societies, such as environmental and climate crises, urbanization challenges, population density, and housing shortages, falls to architects and interior designers. They shape the structure of cities and must be able to respond to these important needs, which are constantly being updated. To respond to these needs, traditional methods in architecture are not very adequate, and architects must have the courage to distance themselves from old methods. What this article addresses concerns this very expansion of access to data in an era of major digital transformations such as artificial intelligence. This article answers the question of what effect artificial intelligence has on architecture, and whether it can leave architects housebound.
Artificial intelligence, the next evolution in the architect's toolbox
The use of artificial intelligence in architecture is still in its early stages; but its capacity to shape the future is great. AI tools can process and analyze the huge volume of data generated during the design, construction, and operation of a building. With AI capabilities, numerous three-dimensional designs can be created. Different scenarios can also be tested instantly, in the moment, under different conditions. Various versions of a design can be created quickly so that design becomes easier and rework is minimized. In that case a foundation based on solid evidence will be created that will make the rest of the process more sustainable and efficient.
In any case, artificial intelligence will not replace architects and architecture, but it will augment their work. The deep transformations created in this industry by artificial intelligence do not mean that this technology will replace architects. Artificial intelligence, together with data, helps the architect achieve better results. The relationship of artificial intelligence and data is a complementary relationship.
Architecture's move toward data-driven design
The architecture industry has come a long way from AutoCAD software to BIM software, which is based on cloud storage. But digital transformation and technology are still continuing and have only just begun. Architectural design in the future will become more and more data-driven. Nicolas Mangon, an architecture-industry practitioner, explains the difference in humans' relationship with data now and in the future as follows: "Today you can have all the data at any time. But in the future, you will have the right data at the right time. In this situation the architect can define a project's output at the very beginning, when decision-making costs him less. He also, using artificial intelligence in architecture, has the ability to receive information instantly and can use artificial intelligence in interior design as an assistant for co-creating designs and plans."
Even today, the use of digital data in the day-to-day work of architecture-industry practitioners has become an inseparable part. For example, the BIM platform enabled the community of architectural design engineers to communicate with one another through a shared database. This idea can be expanded and extend access to complex architectural projects to a wider range of stakeholders, such as developers, governments, and citizens. In this way architects' communication with the groups involved becomes more inclusive.
Comparing artificial intelligence against the architect's intelligence
Computers and artificial intelligence software can only automate tedious, repetitive day-to-day tasks and free up more time for architects. In this way they can focus on the more creative and personal aspects of the art of architecture. In addition, artificial intelligence still has many limitations. Its intelligence is only as great as the data it has been trained on. But much of what architects do includes analytical and creative thinking, original viewpoints, problem-solving ability, and soft skills that rely on human decisions and do not yet exist in the technology.
In general, artificial intelligence and new technologies are not a replacement for the architectural design engineer but are merely an assistant and complement to the architect's mind. Artificial intelligence will certainly make the architectural design process more efficient. But it cannot replace the architect's creative mind and ability to present unique designs. Designs and ideas that can respond to particular and complex environmental demands and cultural and social contexts.
According to a study conducted by the University of Oxford, there is only about a 2 percent probability that artificial intelligence will replace the architecture profession. One practitioner in this industry also says: "It is true that artificial intelligence creates new opportunities for the profession of the art of architecture; but I believe that replacing the architect with artificial intelligence is more far-fetched than in many other jobs. The decisions we make to construct large buildings often depend on personal opinions, and there are no definite, specified rights and wrongs."
Final word
Advances in technology and artificial intelligence software improve the project life cycle and eliminate traditional ways of working. In this way the architect's role as orchestrator (managing and creating coordination among computer systems) is strengthened. Architects will potentially gain greater responsibility for managing processes, data, and relationships over the course of an architectural project. From planning in the early phase through to ending with dismantling at the end of the building's life cycle.
With this holistic approach to interior design and construction, it is possible to improve quality and efficiency. To enable this transformation, artificial intelligence must be integrated into the workflow of a modern architectural design firm, and architects must, by acquiring the skills needed to work with these tools, avoid falling behind. In essence, we must recognize the power of data and AI-based tools to help architects. By training them in artificial intelligence in architecture, we should help them create better solutions to the complex problems that our communities and cities face now and in the near future.
Machine-translated from Persian by Namafar; the Persian original is authoritative. Read the original in Persian