If there is one thing architects love almost as much as designing buildings, it’s the technology they use to do it! Throughout the past decade, of all the thousands of articles Architizer has published, those related to tech have garnered many millions of views, and the number shoots up daily. Whether it’s SketchUp plugins, AI tools, design-foward laptops, or any number of rendering tutorials, architects and designers have shown an insatiable appetite to learn about technology that can augment their workflow and help realize their client’s perfect project.
It makes perfect sense then, for Architizer to provide a permanent home for these tools — a place where architects and designers can research and learn about the ever-evolving landscape of AEC technology and keep ahead of the curve.
To this end, we are thrilled to announce the launch of Architizer’s Tech Directory, a database of tech tools that benefit all those involved in architecture, from concept to construction.
The directory features the latest generative design and AI (artificial intelligence) software, as well as listings for rendering and visualization, 3D modeling, project management and many more. Explore the complete library of categories here.
Without further ado, check out the first 100+ tools to make the platform:
Explore Top Tech Tools for Architects
Review Your Favorite Architectural Tools — and Get Featured!
A key element of the Tech Directory is the ability for users to write reviews. Architizer is a community-based site, and there is incredible potential for architects and designers to share knowledge and gain insights on the latest AEC technology through this platform.
If you have a tech tool that you love and rely on to do your best work, we encourage you to search for it in the Tech Directory and leave a review for others to read! We’ll include select quotes from the most insightful reviews in upcoming editorial features, offering you the chance to become a thought leader in AEC technology.
Write a Tech Review
Writing a review is quick and easy: Simply go to the Tech Directory, click ‘Sign In‘ in the top right corner, and create your Tech Directory user profile (this is distinct from your Architizer profile, if you have one). Then, search for and select the tool you’d like to leave a review for and click ‘Write a Review‘. You can give the tool a star rating (from 1 to 5) and write your thoughts about the tool.
Try to include as much detail as possible: What are the best features of the tool and why? What differentiates the tool from its competitors? Does the tool have any missing features or drawbacks?
Comprehensive, authentic reviews will help grow the utility of the Tech Directory, and provide the brands that make these tools with valuable insights they can use to improve their products in future. We’ll share more on how to create a good review in an upcoming editorial feature, so stay tuned!
Make Architectural Software or Hardware? Add Your Listing for Free
The Tech Directory launches with just over 100 tools, but this is just the beginning: We invite all makers of architectural software and hardware to create their own listings, and help us grow this database into a comprehensive home for architectural technology.
A basic listing is free to create, and you can get started here (all listings are subject to approval from Architizer’s editorial team before they go live). Architizer’s editorial team can help you perfect your profile and guide you on how to best promote your listing. (Hint: Start by inviting your super fans and power users to leave an insightful review about your tool!)
Create a Listing
Beyond the free listings, there are Professional and Enterprise Plans for those looking to enhance the visibility of their brand and provide prospective clients with more insights into their tools. Those on the Professional Plan can upload more images, enabling them to add additional screenshots, case studies and product shots. They can also add an email contact to their profile, and will see their listing prioritized in the featured section of the Architizer Tech homepage.
In addition to these features, Enterprise members can add videos to their listing, enabling them to include showreels, demos, and tutorials as desired. They can also add a contact phone number and additional details to their listing — click here to see a full list of subscription benefits.
We hope you enjoy exploring the Tech Directory and find it useful when doing your research into the latest architectural technology. As noted, this is just the beginning: We plan to develop this platform into a comprehensive directory that will benefit everyone in the construction industry.
Ultimately though, the success of the directory will come down to you: The people that use these tools every day. Reviewing your favorite applications will give your go-to brands priceless insights and feedback that they can then use to improve their products, creating a virtuous cycle of technological innovation. As mentioned, your review might just get you featured in our next editorial!
With this in mind, we look forward to seeing your thoughts on the top tech tools for architects — head this way to get started!
Russell Whitehead and Jordan Cluroe of 2LG Studio have curated You Can Sit With Us, a London Design Festival show that offered “a seat at the table” to a diverse mix of emerging designers.
The 2LG Studio founders invited 13 designers from a mix of nationalities, races, genders and backgrounds to be a part of the exhibition, which was on show at London Design Fair.
Cluroe (top left), Whitehead (top right) and Adam Fairweather of Smile Plastics pictured with 9 of the 13 chair designers
The exhibition took the form of a dining room, featuring a long table surrounded by chairs that were each designed by a different participant.
Whitehead and Cluroe came up with the concept based on their own experiences of trying to break into the design industry and being made to feel like outsiders.
The chair by Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng features a black lacquer finish
“When we launched our practice nearly 10 years ago, there was an inner circle that felt very out of reach to us,” Whitehead told Dezeen.
“We were so bruised by the industry and felt blocked by certain doors that were firmly closed to us,” he continued.
“Instead of chasing acceptance where it wasn’t forthcoming, we decided to accept the love that was coming our way and put our energy there.”
Sam Klemick’s chair incorporates a sweater into its carved wood form
The aim of You Can Sit With Us, he said, was to give a platform to a new generation of designers who may be having similar experiences.
The exhibition’s name is a reference to the 2004 movie Mean Girls.
“We wanted this to be a safe space that actively welcomed new perspectives,” Whitehead explained.
Helen Kirkum produced a lounge seat with upholstery made from trainer insoles
Among the most eye-catching designs in the show is a lounge seat with upholstery made from trainer insoles by Helen Kirkum, a footwear designer who typically crafts her designs from recycled sneakers.
Norwegian designer Anna Maria Øfstedal Eng has contributed a CNC-cut version of a hand-crafted ash chair she first made during the pandemic in a new black lacquer finish.
Benjamin Motoc’s piece playfully combines a sketch with a basic 3D form
A backrest with a sweater slung over it is part of the carved wood form of a design by California-based Sam Klemick, who had a career in fashion before she moved into furniture.
Rotterdam-based Benjamin Motoc created a piece that playfully combines a sketch with a basic 3D design, while Paris-based sculptor Bence Magyarlaki has produced a characteristically squidgy form.
Bence Magyarlaki produced a characteristically squidgy form
Other chairs were designed by Amechi Mandi, Divine Southgate Smith, Wilkinson & Rivera, Net Warner, Hot Wire Extensions, Byard Works, Pulp Sculptuur and Blake C Joshua.
The participants were selected across design, art and fashion because Whitehead and Cluroe “didn’t want to enforce boundaries in that way”.
Rob Parker of Byard Works contributed a chair made from plywood and cork
Their chairs were arranged around a table produced by Smile Plastics using recycled plastic bottles and old tinsel, which created a glittering effect.
The exhibition was an important project for 2LG, and for Whitehead in particular, who battled mental health struggles following the pandemic.
The designer said the project allowed him to explore how “heart and emotion” can be a part of design.
“A lot of healing has taken place in the lead-up to this show,” he said.
Granite + Smoke produced blankets featuring the title, You Can Sit With Us
The project included a collaboration with textile brand Granite + Smoke, who produced colourful blankets emblazoned with the exhibition’s title message.
Whitehead and Cluroe also worked with homeware brand Sheyn on a series of suggestive 3D-printed vases.
“The collection we designed together is a celebration of our queerness, something we have not embraced fully in our product design output, but it felt more important than ever to put that out there right now,” added Whitehead.
You Can Sit With Us was on show at London Design Fair from 21 to 24 September as part of London Design Festival. See Dezeen Events Guide for more architecture and design events around the world.
For more ways to supercharge your workflow, check out more articles in our Tech for Architects series, which includes our recommendations of Top Laptops for Architects and Designers.
We recently published our first Chat GPT Cheat Sheet for Architects, a handy guide for exploring the potential of using the tool to enhance your daily workflow. While the sheet is a helpful reference point, nothing beats seeing a real example of how Chat GPT can be used in action.
To this end, the following example demonstrates how one prompt can produce a variety of starting points for further exploration at the beginning of a project, either as part of a feasibility study or the conceptual design phase. But before we dive in, here’s a quick introduction to Chat GPT itself.
Midjourney image prompt: A mystical image of a female architectural designer sitting at a drawing board using Chat GPT, architectural ideas and models floating above –ar 16:9 –v 5.2
What is Chat GPT?
Chat GPT (Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer) is the remarkable creation of OpenAI. A large language model-based chatbot, this AI-powered tool was launched in November 2022 and became the fastest-growing consumer software application in history earlier in 2023. Why? Because this easy-to-use tool brings unprecedented capabilities to the world of conversation.
With ChatGPT, users hold the reins, steering discussions precisely where they desire. It is possible to tailor every aspect of the conversation to your liking — from length and format to style, level of detail, and even the language used. It’s like having a conversation partner who adapts perfectly to your preferences.
The secret to ChatGPT’s brilliance lies in prompt engineering. At every step of the interaction, it deftly analyzes successive prompts and replies, leveraging this contextual understanding to craft responses that align with the ongoing dialogue.
For architects and designers, Chat GPT can unlock a whole new avenue of research, exploration and ideation. For more information on the application and to start experimenting with your own prompts, click here.
Chat GPT Prompt for Architects
Here’s a simple Chat GPT prompt formula, a slight variation on the one shown in our cheat sheet, which can be specifically tailored for architects and designers:
“[Introduction or context] + [Specific question or instruction] + [Optional additional details or constraints]”
Let’s break it down:
1. Introduction or Context
Start by providing some context or background information to set the stage for your question or instruction. It helps guide the AI’s understanding of the topic and focus its response on the relevant aspects.
Example: “As an architect working on a residential project, I need assistance with…”
2. Specific Question or Instruction
State your question or instruction clearly and concisely, focusing on the specific aspect or topic you want to explore. Be as specific as possible to receive targeted and relevant responses.
Example: “…optimizing natural lighting and ventilation. What are some effective design strategies to achieve this?”
3. Optional Additional Details or Constraints
If necessary, you can include additional details or constraints to guide the AI’s response. This helps provide more context and narrow down the focus of the answer.
Example: “…for a compact urban site with limited access to direct sunlight.”
Putting that all together, here’s an example of a complete Chat GPT prompt for architects, using our formula:
“As an architect working on a residential project, I need assistance with optimizing natural lighting and ventilation. What are some effective design strategies to achieve this? The site I’m working with is a compact urban area with limited access to direct sunlight.”
By following this prompt formula, you can effectively guide Chat GPT to provide targeted and insightful responses. You can adapt or add to the formula to produce more in-depth or nuanced information.
Midjourney image prompt: A mystical image of an architectural designer using Chat GPT, ideas floating above –ar 16:9 –v 5.2
Chat GPT Prompt for Architects: The Output
We plugged the above prompt into the basic, free version of Chat GPT (version 3.5); here is the response it produced:
“When working on a residential project in a compact urban area with limited access to direct sunlight, optimizing natural lighting and ventilation becomes crucial. Here are some effective design strategies to achieve this:
Incorporate Light Wells and Skylights: Introduce light wells or courtyards within the building to bring in natural light from above. Install skylights strategically to maximize daylight penetration into interior spaces.
Use Reflective Surfaces: Incorporate light-colored or reflective surfaces, such as white walls or glossy finishes, to bounce natural light deeper into the space and create a brighter ambiance.
Implement Clerestory Windows: Install high-level windows, known as clerestory windows, near the top of the walls to allow natural light to enter while maintaining privacy. This helps bring light deeper into the space and improves overall illumination.
Design Open Floor Plans: Create an open layout to enable better light distribution throughout the living areas. Minimize the use of interior partitions or walls that could block natural light flow.
Utilize Light Tubes: Light tubes, also known as solar tubes or sun tunnels, are tubular devices that capture sunlight from the roof and transport it into interior spaces. They can be an effective way to bring natural light into areas with limited access to windows.
Optimize Window Placement: Strategically position windows to maximize daylight penetration. Consider the orientation of the site and place windows on the south-facing side to capture the most sunlight throughout the day.
Use Light Diffusing Materials: Employ materials, such as frosted glass or translucent screens, that diffuse natural light to reduce glare while still allowing light to pass through. This helps create a softer and more even distribution of light.
Implement Natural Ventilation Strategies: Incorporate operable windows and vents to facilitate cross-ventilation and promote natural airflow throughout the space. This helps improve indoor air quality and thermal comfort.
Consider Light-Controlling Elements: Integrate shading devices, such as louvers, blinds, or adjustable curtains, to manage direct sunlight and prevent overheating during peak daylight hours. This allows occupants to control the amount of light entering the space.
Incorporate Greenery and Vertical Gardens: Introduce indoor plants and vertical gardens to create a connection with nature and enhance the perception of natural light. Plants can also help improve air quality and contribute to a healthy indoor environment.
Remember to adapt these strategies to suit the specific requirements and constraints of your residential project in the compact urban area. Implementing these design strategies will help optimize natural lighting and ventilation, creating a comfortable and inviting living space.”
Midjourney image prompt: A mystical image of a black female architectural designer sitting at a drawing board using Chat GPT, architectural ideas and models floating above –ar 16:9 –v 5.2
Conclusion and Further Explorations
The above example shows how text-based AI tools can be harnessed by designers in a simple yet effective way, and demonstrates its utility in terms of information recall and automated curation. Most architects will be aware of the possible design solutions listed above, and could use ‘traditional’ internet research to surface them as well, but they could easily overlook one of these strategies while addressing the many nuances of a complex site and design brief.
In effect, Chat GPT’s response to the prompt acts as a reciprocal prompt for the designer, acting as a reminder of concepts that may be worth considering as a project develops. When viewed from this perspective, AI can be seen to augment an architect’s workflow, helping them to research and ideate more efficiently than ever before. As the technology develops, this augmentation will surely only continue to grow within the profession.
How are you using Chat GPT and other AI tools in your architectural workflow? We’d love to hear from you: Follow Paul Keskeys and Architizer on LinkedIn to join the discussion!
For more ways to supercharge your workflow, check out more articles in our Tech for Architects series, which includes our recommendations of Top Laptops for Architects and Designers.
The latest edition of “Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture” — a stunning, hardbound book celebrating the most inspiring contemporary architecture from around the globe — is now available. Order your copy today.
By now, you’re likely aware of the AI revolution sweeping the industry. One of the most popular AI apps is OpenAI’s Chat GPT — but how can this text-based tool help architects and designers?
The sheet below, created by Architizer’s own Paul Keskeys, provides some helpful starting points for exploration. It includes a standardized prompt formula for architects, examples of how the formula can be used for real-world applications, and additional tips for getting the most out of Chat GPT. There is also a list of AI tools worth testing for different stages of the architectural design process.
Without further ado, check out the sheet below…
Here are three quick tips to make the most out of this sheet:
1. The prompt examples shown here are just that — examples.
The key with Chat GPT is to keep iterating. Try assigning the tool different roles, instructions and details. The more you experiment, the better!
2. Chat GPT is great for creating templates, examples and approximations.
What Chat GPT provides will rarely be the finished product, so use it as a starting point and then refine the output with good, old-fashioned human intelligence.
3. Try combining Chat GPT with other AI tools to create even more efficiencies.
Chat GPT is amazingly good at producing architectural prompts for Midjourney, for example! Check out some examples here.
If you find sheet this useful, share it with your colleagues, and follow Architizer and Paul Keskeys on Linkedin for more.
You can learn more about the top AI tools for architects designers here.
For more ways to supercharge your workflow, check out more articles in our Tech for Architects series, which includes our recommendations of Top Laptops for Architects and Designers.
Architects and designers in China are poised to have a greater global influence as the country emerges from the coronavirus pandemic, according to Dezeen Awards China judges at a talk at Design Shanghai.
Hosted by Dezeen’s co-CEO Benedict Hobson, the panel discussion marked the launch of Dezeen’s new regional edition of Dezeen Awards to celebrate architecture and design in China, which is open for entries now.
It featured Dezeen Awards China judges Alex Mok and Frank Chou, alongside Neri&Hu managing director Jerry del Fierro, who stood in for Dezeen Awards China judge Rossana Hu, who had to pull out due to illness.
Frank Chou is a product designer and Dezeen Awards China judge
According to Chou, who is one of the most established product designers in China, the country has a huge amount of untapped design potential.
“In Europe, there are so many design firms,” he said.
“In China, we have a population of 1.4 billion, but how many designers are there? There’s really a huge potential for Chinese designers to bring something different to the world.”
Frank Chou designs furniture under his own brand
Chou believes that emerging Chinese designers are cultivating a unique, contemporary design language that draws from China’s rich history without being overly deferential to it.
“We need to shape the real modern Chinese culture,” he said.
“When we talk about culture, many people equate this to history, to something in the past. But we should also be thinking about the culture of the future. What will be China’s future culture?”
Jerry del Fierro is managing director of Neri&Hu
One firm that has successfully created a contemporary Chinese design identity is Neri&Hu, one of China’s best-known architecture and design studios.
According to managing director Del Fierro, the practice’s co-founders Hu and Lyndon Neri have been highly influenced by cultural theorist Svetlana Boym and her concept of “reflective nostalgia”.
“Reflective nostalgia is not a nostalgia that recreates the old, it respects the old but projects something new, something inspiring,” he said.
“It’s not about feeling sad about something that’s lost, but rather to taking elements from the past and making them fresh and new.”
Recent Neri&Hu projects include The Relic Shelter teahouse in Fuzhou, China
He believes that the conditions are right in China for architects and designers to push boundaries.
“If you work in America, and I worked in America for many years, some of the developers are very conservative,” he said.
“A lot of the Chinese developers are actually ready to try something more innovative. I think there’s something to be said about the culture here that allows for innovation.”
Alex Mok is co-founder of Linehouse and a Dezeen Awards China judge
Mok, who is co-founder of Shanghai- and Hong Kong-based architecture and interior design studio Linehouse, agreed.
“Transitioning from working in the UK to China was a revelation,” she said.
“At first, I was a bit shocked. But very quickly I just embraced how fluid and fast it is here. We now have the opportunity to be working globally, but our heart is still in China.”
Taking place as part of the Forum programme of talks at Design Shanghai 2023, the first edition of the annual trade show that has taken place since China relaxed international travel restrictions imposed during the coronavirus pandemic, the panel discussion explored how China’s architecture and design scene has been impacted by the pandemic.
Recent Linehouse projects in China include the Coast restaurant in Shanghai
According to Mok, Covid-19 forced many architecture and design firms in China who previously relied on foreign workers to nurture and cultivate local talent instead.
“Everything had to be more local, which I think was a positive thing,” she said.
“It became a bit more about Chinese creativity. When we were hiring, we kept getting all these CVs from foreign architects, but it was impossible [to hire them]. This meant we ended up fostering more local Chinese talent.”
Del Fierro said that Neri&Hu experienced something similar, with many of the firm’s foreign workers returning to Europe or the US and working remotely. According to Fierro, this had the unexpected but welcome consequence of increasing the practice’s international projects.
Covid-19 pandemic created “new opportunities” for architects and designers
“Our practice is very different from three years ago,” he said.
“When the pandemic happened, there were a number of our staff who wanted to return to Europe. We now have about 50 per cent of our projects diversified. Fifty per cent of them are still in China, but 50 per cent are now outside of China.”
According to Del Fierro, the global acceptance of remote working will provide more opportunities for firms based in China to work on projects abroad.
“The concept of remote working is now very commonplace and we are not limited by physical travel anymore,” he said.
“So suddenly, we have all these new opportunities. We are based in Shanghai, can we work in Cape Town? Absolutely! And we don’t have to go there every month. So I think the pandemic caused an interesting situation to create new opportunities.”
Dezeen Awards China open for entries until 24 August
Chou, Mok and Neri&Hu co-founder Hu are among the first judges to be announced for Dezeen Awards China, which launched in Shanghai on 8 June in partnership with Bentley. Further judges will be announced in the coming weeks.
Dezeen Awards China is open for entries now until 24 August 2023, but studios can save money on their entry if they enter before 13 July 2023.
There are 17 project categories to enter across architecture, interiors and design. The winners of these project categories will go head to head for the chance to be crowned one of three project of the year winners across architecture, interiors and design.
Across the industry, architects are embracing a new partner in their creative pursuits: artificial intelligence. Once plagued by repetition and monotony, the architectural workforce finds itself on the cusp of a digital revolution where bits and bytes hold the key to automation and once unimaginable possibilities.
The AI revolution is not knocking at our door; it has already stepped in, taken off its hat, and is ready to get to work. The dynamics of design are evolving, and we are at the forefront, blending human creativity and machine precision. The future of architecture is not just being written — it’s being coded, and these are fourteen of the most valuable AI tools you could be using right now.
It’s safe to say that the list of AI tools for architects is progressing rapidly, with new programs being announced each and every day and as the architectural and technological landscapes continue to evolve, architects can expect the emergence of even more innovative AI tools, each promising to further revolutionize the field. These advancements will shape the future of architectural design, empowering professionals to deliver exceptional projects while pushing the boundaries of creativity and efficiency and, with hope, saving our planet at the same time.
Midjourney is everywhere right now. The AI-powered image generation tool presents architects with a canvas as boundless as their imagination. Working from written prompts, Midjourney deftly weaves photorealistic images that can be used to illustrate conceptual thinking.
While Midjourney is yet to fill the shoes of your favorite visualizer, the intelligent program can help designers convey complex designs by producing stunning visual narratives to help demonstrate to clients and stakeholders our vision. Even the most intrepid architectural ideas can spring from the mind’s eye onto the screen with Midjourney, making it a treasure trove for experimental design.
Adobe Firefly, still fluttering in the chrysalis of development, is already showcasing the strength of its potential. This emergent member of the generative AI family promises to ignite the creative flame in architects and designers alike while streamlining workflow and providing a versatile and trusted platform for generating images, text effects, and other creative content.
Currently, Firefly, like Midjourney, is a dynamic companion that can illustrate innovative design ideas using text-to-image prompts. The program is included as part of the Adobe suite. Firefly is a trusty liaison, promoting collaborative relationships with colleagues and clients through a recognized and dependable platform.
As a relatively new program, many of the promised features of Firefly are not available yet. It wouldn’t be too far-fetched to conceive that the brains behind the interface didn’t want to fall too far behind the incredibly popular Midjourney and so decided to drip-feed users functions before the program was complete. However, as Adobe Firefly continues to mature, we will likely see heavy development in Adobe’s ambition to create seamless transitioning between their popular design programs, which promises to make image creation and editing a breeze in the not-too-distant future.
Where architects once navigated the labyrinth of multiple design options alone, Maket.ai stands ready as a steadfast companion. With Maket.ai, the challenge of client-specific requirements and spatial restrictions becomes an opportunity for diverse design exploration. Rather than presenting a singular vision — or whatever number timescale allows — architects can now offer a visual banquet of design alternatives, each as meticulously tailored as a Savile Row suit.
Yet the true magic of Maket.ai lies in its promise of liberated time and resources. By taking on the laborious task of generating design options, Maket.ai gives architects a bounty of time, freeing them to engage more deeply with creativity and clients.
The pièce de résistance of Maket.ai is the potential to stir the stagnant waters of architectural convention. By generating unexpected design options, Maket.ai propels architects into the thrilling unknown of innovative design. The tool serves as a launchpad for creativity, inspiring architects to reach beyond their tried-and-true and embrace the unknown.
ARCHITEChTURES is a transformative AI-powered tool revolutionizing residential planning. Meticulously designed for the discerning architect, it streamlines decision-making and maximizes efficiency.
Harnessing the cutting-edge power of artificial intelligence, ARCHITEChTURES analyzes site conditions, climate dynamics, budget constraints, and client aspirations. With this wealth of knowledge, it unveils an array of design options, flawlessly harmonizing form and function while bringing architectural visions to life.
ARCHITEChTURES is already the trusted ally of many architects, empowering them to surpass limitations and unlock unparalleled efficiency. Through automation, liberation from mundane tasks is a reality. With an extensive palette of design parameters to work with, it is possible to set boundaries and set the program to work on all the available options.
From site planning, where ARCHITEChTURES navigates constraints and explores opportunities, to meticulous building design encompassing room sizes, window placements, and sustainable material selections, ARCHITEChTURES enables accuracy and adjustment with ease.
ArkDesign.ai is the answer to schematic design packs, a boon for architects and developers alike. The intelligent platform optimizes building designs in a flash, leaving you to make informed, expedited decisions.
ArkDesign.ai is armed with an AI brain that scrutinizes and learns the metadata of architectural designs, spawning variations while accounting for US local regulations and ordinances, ensuring that each project is innovative as well as compliant, championing efficiency, quality, and cost-effectiveness.
Sidewalk Labs is the brainchild of Alphabet Inc. and is now part of Google. With urban inefficiencies on an upward trajectory, this revolutionary AI maverick aims to change the landscape of urban planning.
It’s all about digital dexterity. Sidewalk Labs marries AI, machine learning, and sensor technologies, enabling your designs to work harder while you work smarter. Having already been adopted globally, Sidewalk Labs is shaping reality in Toronto, New York, and Singapore, managing city congestion one street at a time.
Picture this: AI splashes an array of design options onto your canvas, and machine learning flexes its muscles to optimize building performance — we’re talking energy efficiency, comfort, and safety wrapped up in a cost-effective package. Next, sensor technology steps to provide invaluable data on traffic patterns, air quality, and noise levels.
Sidewalk Labs is absolutely the new kid on the block, but the program has great potential in the race to rethink our urban landscapes.
Kaedim is a standout performer in the realm of AI-powered 3D modeling that is backed by many in the gaming industry. It harnesses the transformative potential of machine learning, generative adversarial networks, and natural language processing to morph simple 2D design ideas into stunningly accurate 3D models.
Kaedim serves as an architect’s dynamic ally, taking the weight of manual 3D model creation off their shoulders. With Kaedim, architects and designers can freely explore various design concepts, iterate them, and refine their vision in a virtual space before they take tangible form.
In the client-facing phase, Kaedim plays a critical role in visual communication, enabling architects to present 3D models that resonate with clients’ imaginations. It also carries its weight during the construction planning phase, ensuring accurate documentation via detailed 3D models. In an industry where precision and realism are paramount, Kaedim emerges as a crucial asset.
3D modeling is time-consuming. Welcome, Sloyd.AI, a trailblazer in cloud-based 3D modeling. It’s not just a tool but an innovative platform that leverages machine learning, generative adversarial networks, and natural language processing. It renders high-quality 3D models, capturing intricate details from architectural designs to produce exceptional representations.
Sloyd.AI doesn’t merely mimic the architect’s concept but extends its precision to breathe life into designs with a high degree of realism. It liberates architects from time-consuming physical model creation, opening up a playground of virtual exploration and design refinement.
Sloyd.AI proves invaluable from project conception to completion. It allows architects to present dynamic 3D models to clients, creating an immersive experience that static images simply cannot match. For construction planning and documentation, Sloyd.AI’s exactness ensures each specification is captured in the 3D models it generates. In the fast-paced world of architectural design, Sloyd.AI is the companion architects need to maintain their creative edge.
Like Kaedim, Luma.AI is a distinguished pathfinder in AI-driven 3D scanning and modeling. This platform takes the laborious task of creating detailed 3D models and reimagines it, deploying advanced AI techniques such as computer vision, deep learning, and generative adversarial networks. It crafts accurate, realistic 3D models from photographs that can provide architects a comprehensive perspective of objects, be it buildings, furniture, or intricate architectural elements.
Luma.AI is not just a 3D modeler; it is a digital reincarnation expert. The true genius of Luma.AI occurs in renovation and restoration projects, where it can capture existing structures with striking accuracy and creates virtual twins. It bridges the gap between the tangible and the virtual, allowing architects to visualize the renovated structure even before the first brick is laid.
Its prowess doesn’t stop there. Regarding design visualization, Luma.AI ensures that the newly proposed modifications are compatible with the existing structure and enhance its aesthetic and functional appeal. The created 3D models can also be utilized in interactive virtual reality or augmented reality presentations, taking client and stakeholder engagement to new heights.
Best AI Tool for Building Information Modeling (BIM)
BricsCAD BIM is the tool where AI and BIM converge for a seamless, efficient architectural design process. While BIM encapsulates the architecture, engineering, and construction of a building in a 3D model, enabling a holistic view of the project. BricsCAD BIM amplifies the capabilities of BIM by introducing AI, creating a nexus of innovation and practicality.
BricsCAD BIM isn’t just a tool but an efficient assistant that works tirelessly, automating repetitive tasks such as drafting dimensions and annotations. It employs AI to translate 2D sketches into detailed 3D models while offering real-time visualization, enabling architects to interact with their design, tweaking it to perfection.
BricsCAD BIMs’ capabilities extend beyond aesthetics. The program enables architects to identify and rectify errors, enhancing the quality of the final output and minimizing post-construction issues. The provision for real-time visualization empowers architects to make informed design decisions, visualizing the impact of each modification.
Yet, the charm of BricsCAD BIM lies in its ability for effective collaboration. It ensures that architects, engineers, and builders are in sync, providing a shared platform that brings everyone on the same page. This collaboration streamlines the design process, reduces redundancy, and ensures a consistent understanding of the project among all parties involved.
The generative design capability of BricsCAD BIM is another aspect of its brilliance. It can conceptualize 3D building models based on user-defined parameters such as number of floors, building size, and the materials to be used. This encourages exploration, providing architects with a multitude of design options that adhere to the set constraints.
BricsCAD BIM is a true paragon in the world of AI-assisted BIM tools. It integrates the detail-oriented approach of BIM and the automation capabilities of AI, improving the design process, promoting collaboration, and ensuring the delivery of high-quality buildings.
Arko.ai enters the architectural scene as a promising AI-powered rendering service by providing high-quality, photorealistic renders in minutes. Through the power of AI and the convenience of a cloud-based platform, Arko.ai transforms 3D models into stunning visual masterpieces that mirror reality.
The key to Arko.ai’s appeal lies in the ways it can enhance the design process for architects. Primarily, it offers a powerful medium for architects to visualize their designs, as it breathes life into 2D sketches and models, translating them into realistic renders that provide architects with a glimpse of their creations in the real world.
Moreover, Arko.ai is a time-saver, taking over the labor-intensive task of rendering and freeing architects to focus on the creative aspects of their designs.
Compatible with SketchUp®, Revit®, and Rhinoceros® Arko.ai is a promising addition to an architect’s toolbox, offering realistic visualizations of designs and saving time.
Veras
Recently announced as being available within SketchUp® Veras is an AI-powered visualization tool that leverages 3D model geometry to inspire and promote creativity. Architects can turn to Veras to create photorealistic renders of their designs using text prompts, bringing to the fore the power of AI in architectural visualization.
Ultimately, the strength of Veras lies in its versatility and speed. It generates stunning renders way faster than traditional methods, affording architects and designers more time to dedicate to the more complex aspects of design. It allows designers to explore variations quickly so that informed design decisions can be made without the shackles of cost or time implications.
Autodesk Forma carves a niche for itself as an all-encompassing AI-powered planning tool that offers architects and urban planners the ability to design sustainable, livable cities with heightened precision.
Operating on a cloud-based platform, Autodesk Forma is easily accessible from any location and works in tandem with AutoCAD and Revit.
The new addition from Autodesk harnesses the power of AI to simulate the implications of diverse design decisions on critical factors, such as energy consumption, traffic flow, and air quality, with an aim to help designers make more informed and sustainable design choices while enhancing the sustainability and livability of projects. Autodesk Forma is also equipt to help identify potential design flaws before implementation, circumventing costly future rectifications.
In essence, even in its earliest stages, Autodesk Forma is a comprehensive architecture AI tool that supports architects in designing more thoughtful and sustainable cities. It facilitates informed design choices, promotes time and cost efficiency, and encourages the creation of sustainable designs, thereby redefining the landscape of urban planning and architecture.
ClickUp is a project management tool that has been adopted across many different industries. It has become a secret weapon, revolutionizing project management with features tailored for enhanced workflow efficiency. This cloud-based application seamlessly organizes and tracks projects.
ClickUp harmonizes tasks, deadlines, and team assignments in a simple platform, ensuring project progression from design to construction, avoiding missed deadlines and maintaining momentum.
Effective communication is key, and ClickUp delivers. Chat, video conferencing, and file-sharing tools synchronize efforts with team members and clients.
In ClickUp’s virtual realm, real-time collaboration can be used to refine designs collectively, while ClickUp’s reporting tools provide invaluable insights to identify improvement areas and fine-tune workflows. Analytics and visualizations offer panoramic project views.
The Best AI Tool for 3D Sketching
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SketchUp will be announcing the beta versions of two new AI features in June 2023, both which help accelerate and streamline design workflows so architects can spend more time designing and less time on tedious tasks. We’re keeping our eyes out for their announcement.
For more ways to supercharge your workflow, check out more articles in our Tech for Architects series, which includes our recommendations of Top Laptops for Architects and Designers.
More work is needed to improve the sustainability of trade fairs like Salone del Mobile, designers told Dezeen at Milan design week.
British designer Tom Dixon warned it could take a decade for brands to transform their operations at events like Salone in order to reduce emissions and resource consumption.
“It’s a lot of people coming from all over the world – it’s a lot of carbon footprint just embedded in the flights,” he said. “I think we’ve got to rethink completely how we show [products], where we make them, where we transport them to, and the rest of it, but that’s a project which is a 10-year project.”
Need “to rethink completely” how products are showcased
Norm Architects’ Frederik Werner, in Milan to exhibit a collaboration with Japanese furniture maker Karimoku, suggested that fewer trade fairs should take place during the year to cut the carbon cost.
“I think for the setup of the fair itself there’s no hiding from it, it’s kind of crazy how much is being produced and built, and that’s just the reality right now,” he said.
“I think probably the main issue is that there’s so many venues around the world doing the same, with things being shipped around. It somehow makes sense to create one hub for it to happen.”
Around 2,000 brands showcase their products at Salone, shown here during setup. Photo by Andrea Mariani (also top)
Salone del Mobile was held in Milan last week, back in its conventional April slot for the first time in four years following covid disruptions.
It is the world’s biggest design fair and forms the trade centrepiece of Milan design week.
The organisers have sought to improve the sustainability of the event in recent years, signing up to the UN Global Compact corporate sustainability pledge for 2023 and updating voluntary guidelines for exhibitors.
In an interview prior to the event, Salone president Maria Porro told Dezeen that the fair has tried to use recycled and recyclable materials and work with organisations committed to caring for the planet.
But with 2,000 brands showing their products at the week-long show and around 400,000 visitors expected, mostly from overseas, some remain concerned about Salone’s environmental impact, including Dezeen columnist Katie Treggiden.
“We’re all part of it, as we flew to Milan”
“We can’t walk around the city, gelato in hand, and pretend that almost 2,000 international brands haven’t shipped or air-freighted their wares into the Rho Fiera Milano fairgrounds,” Treggiden wrote in a recent piece.
Dutch designer Maarten Baas deliberately referenced the contradiction of promoting more sustainable designs by flying them to Milan in a collaboration with fashion label G-Star RAW.
His More or Less exhibition for the brand features a private jet wrapped in denim.
“Each year in Milan, I enjoy the tragicomic dialogue between green design and mass consumption,” he told Dezeen.
“We’re all part of it, as we flew to Milan to enjoy our prosecco next to some works of recycled materials.”
Around 400,000 people visit the fair, which is the world’s largest. Photo courtesy of Salone del Mobile
Nevertheless, designers argued there is still a value to large-scale physical events like Salone.
“Airplanes aren’t sustainable but I think people coming to see art and people coming to see new ideas is always a benefit to society,” said Santiago Brown of New York-based Forma Rosa Studio.
“The issue is transportation, but it’s super important for people to see art and not just on Instagram.”
“In this digital era you can see everything online but, especially with materials when it’s about the haptic, the touch, the interaction, you come to a better understanding of the research project when you see it with your eyes, when someone talks to you about it,” added Crafting Plastics’ Vlasta Kubušová.
“So for me, it still makes sense to do this once a year I think, even if we have to travel – and we always will travel.”
Studios and brands try to use less materials
Jussi Laine of Nemo Architects, who designed the Habitarematerials installation at Milan design exhibition Alcova, said he is “absolutely” concerned about the environmental impact of Salone.
He said it was important for designers travelling to Milan to use it as an opportunity to learn about how to make their work more sustainable.
“Design shows are a way to pass information and knowledge,” he told Dezeen. “It is really up to us how relevant the message is, and also up to us how we receive that information and act upon it.”
Brands and designers have attempted to improve the sustainability of their activities in Milan, especially by planning for the re-use of materials.
“For this year’s fair we’ve tried to work with systems and patterns that we can reuse for next year, so all the louvres and lamellas can be stored and put away again,” said Werner.
“Half of the furniture collection I think might be taken to our next exhibition instead of being shipped back to Japan.”
“Our booth is made out of storage racks that we took from our own storage,” Mexico-based David Pompa told Dezeen.
“So we took them, we built them down, we build them up here and we’re going to build them up again in our storage after the exhibition. So we’re not throwing away anything.”
However, Dixon admitted it was still “difficult to claim total sustainability”.
“We’ll reuse a lot of this stuff,” he said. “I’m sure a lot of people are thinking about how they can do that.”
“But it’s difficult to claim total sustainability in the context of fairs, I’m not going to try and greenwash you on this one.”
Milan itself is frequently ranked among Europe’s most polluted cities, though it is working on an ambitious project to construct 750 kilometres of bike lanes by 2035 as part of a strategy to become net-zero by 2050.
Additional reporting by Cajsa Carlson and Jennifer Hahn. The photography is courtesy of Salone del Mobile.
Salone del Mobile 2023 took place from 18 to 23 April at the Fiera Milano exhibition centre, Italy. See Dezeen Events Guide for an up-to-date list of architecture and design events taking place around the world.
Six interior design studios, including Kingston Lafferty Design and T.ZED Architects, have overhauled a room at the 1930s L’Appartamento for commerce platform Artemest at Milan design week.
The designers each used furniture, lighting and art from the brands, designers and artists represented on the Artemest platform to showcase their own style in a room at the apartment in Milan’s 5Vie district for the L’Appartamento exhibition.
“We wanted to bring this stunning apartment back to life and show how different interior design studios, each with its own style and design approach, can work with Artemest to create inspiring and surprising interiors that celebrate authentic Italian beauty,” said Artemest founder Ippolita Rostagno.
T.ZED Architects designed the entrance space at Artemest’s L’Appartamento
In the entryway, Dubai-based studio T.ZED Architects aimed “to set the tone for what is yet to come” by preserving the character of the room and adding selected pieces.
The studio choose a mix of furniture in off-white, cream and brown, including copper and leather finishes that plays off the green tones of the richly patterned, period wallpaper.
Mirrors – including a Sybilla mirror with console by Ettore Sottsass for Glas Italia, and an Itaca floor mirror by Atlasproject – were placed to illuminate and enlarge the space, while amplifying the period details.
Kingston Lafferty Design placed a golden block in the living room
In the adjoining room, Dublin-based studio Kingston Lafferty Design aimed to “challenge visitors’ sense of what a living room should be” by placing a sculptural monolithic block seems to glow with a soft golden sheen in the centre of the space.
The block splits the room into two distinct spaces and contains a mirrored space described by the studio as “a gallery of lights”.
The golden block divides the space into two
On one side of the block is an informal living room that evokes a sense of playfulness through the use of oversized furniture in bright colours, including the Osaka Blue Sofa by Pierre Paulin for La Cividina.
The other side has a rich palette of jewel-tones to creates a more decadent atmosphere.
Moniomi aimed to create a room on the terrace
Leading from the living room a large terrace was reworked by Miami-based studio Moniomi, which aimed to create an outside room that felt like an interior space.
The studio used a combination of large-scale upholstered pieces, gridline patterns and graphic blacks and whites, softened by lush greens to reference the outdoor location.
The design language here features saturated colours and layered patterns – including the Nuovola 01 dining table by Mario Cucinella for Officine Tamborrino, which represent the studio’s Hispanic roots.
Nina Magon designed the apartment’s dining space
Another US-based designer, Nina Magon, created the L’Appartamento dining room, playing with monochromatic hues to enhance the authenticity of the original finishes here.
In the bedroom, Dubai-based studio, Styled Habitat, delved into the history of the 1930s to translate the romance of that era into the modern day and evoke a sense of timeless glamour.
To capture the experimental and avant-garde trends of European modernism, Styled Habitat juxtaposed new and old, with a Czech Chair by Hermann Czech for Gebrüder Thonet Vienna, alongside pieces like the Calle Pinzi Murano Glass Chandelier by Luci Italia.
Finally, for L’Appartamento’s hallway and the studio, Paris-based interior designer Anne-Sophie Pailleret was informed by her first reaction to seeing the apartment.
The long, narrow hall, has been covered with the textural Tra 1100 Wallpaper hand-crafted by La Scala Milano Wallcovering, contrasting with geometric Alfabeto Tiles by Margherita Rui for Ninefifty, on the floor.
Anne-Sophie Pailleret styled the corridor
The walls are further decorated with Ninfea wall lamps by Giovanni Botticelli in collaboration with Paola Paronetto, functioning as a gallery-style grouping of lights.
For the studio room, Pailleret created a mix of warm colours and graphic patterns, with comfortable and curvaceous furniture.
The photography is courtesy of Artemest.
L’Appartamento takes place from 17 to 23 April 2023 at Via Cesare Correnti 14, 20123 Milan, Italy. See our Milan design week 2023 guide on Dezeen Events Guide for information about the many other exhibitions, installations and talks taking place throughout the week.
Environmental charity A Plastic Planet has launched an online platform to help architects and designers source plastic-free materials for their projects and avoid the “minefield of misinformation” around more sustainable alternatives.
Called PlasticFree, the subscription-based service provides users with in-depth reports on more than 100 plastic alternatives, offering key insights into their properties, production and sourcing.
A Plastic Planet has launched the PlasticFree materials database
Part material library, part design tool, the platform also highlights case studies on how these materials are already being turned into products across five different continents and allows users to collate them into Pinterest-style mood boards for their projects.
The ultimate aim, according to A Plastic Planet, is to “help designers and business leaders eradicate one trillion pieces of plastic waste from the global economy by 2025”.
The platform features in-depth reports on over 100 plastic-free materials
“No designer on the planet wants to make branded trash,” the charity’s co-founder Sian Sutherland told Dezeen. “They did not go to design school and care about everything that they produce every single day for it to end up in a bin.”
“But I don’t think designers have been trained for what is expected of them today,” she added. “So we wanted to create an absolutely authoritative, unbiased, material-agnostic platform that designers can use to learn about materials and their systems.”
PlasticFree is the result of more than two years of research and development in collaboration with a 40-strong council of scientists, business leaders and industry figureheads including Stirling Prize-winner David Chipperfield, designer Tom Dixon and curator Aric Chen.
The website also highlights case studies of how they are being used across the world
In a bid to offer a reliable, trustworthy source of information, each material was carefully vetted by an “army” of scientific advisors based on an extensive data collection form and A Plastic Planet’s Plastic Free Standard, Sutherland explained.
“Designers want to be part of the solution but there is a minefield of misinformation out there,” she said. “It’s taken us two years to do all the research on these materials, to drill down and ask all the questions so that our audience doesn’t need to ask them.”
All this information is condensed into individual reports, summarising each material’s key traits, its stage of development and sustainable credentials such as water savings.
The reports highlight key facts such as the material’s price and sustainable credentials
Each profile also includes a list of key questions that designers will have to consider if they want to work with the material, such as whether it will be on the market in time or whether it needs to be integrated into a reusable product to offer emissions reductions.
“It’s about how we can empower designers by telling them what questions they should ask of a materials manufacturer,” Sutherland said.
“How can you push back against that brief that says: just use a recycled polymer or a bioplastic? How can you challenge a lifecycle analysis? Because I sit on those calls and I hear the complete bullshit that is spewed out all the time.”
PlasticFree’s database, which will be constantly updated, focuses on the sectors that currently use the most plastic – namely packaging and textiles, with buildings and construction set to be added later this year.
It features raw materials such as bamboo and cork, alongside more specific innovations such as Great Wrap’s potato-based cling film and Living Ink’s algae ink.
Some of these materials – like bioplastics and recycled plastics – are merely “transitional” and, according to Sutherland, represent “a foot on a better path” rather than a viable solution to plastic pollution.
Cork is among the raw materials featured
The real promise, she argues, lies in fossil-free “nutrient-based” materials such as Notpla’s edible seaweed packaging or Mirum plant leather, which are able to go back to the earth as nutrients.
“That is going to be the future of materials,” Sutherland said, “for everything from the houses we live in and the fabric we wear, to the products we buy and the packaging in which they’re sold.”
The Stories section houses educational editorial content
PlaticFree’s Stories section also houses more educational content on everything from clothing dyes to the “forever chemicals” in our plastics, in the hopes of pushing the wider systems-level changes that need to go along with this material transition.
“Above all, our focus is on system change, not just better materials,” Sutherland said.
“How can we have permanent packaging? How can we make things that are durable, that feel beautiful in your hand, that make you feel even fonder of them as they age? How can we get off this ever-moving conveyor belt of new?”
New materials will be added to the site regularly
Sutherland founded A Plastic Planet together with Frederikke Magnussen in 2017, with the aim of inspiring the world to “turn off the plastic tap”.
Since then, the charity has rallied both industry and policymakers behind its cause, creating the “world’s first” plastic-free supermarket aisle as well as working with the UN to realise a historic global treaty to end plastic waste.
The next report in Material ConneXion’s insightful series on material trends focuses on the ultra-contemporary phenomena of expressionism among new generations of creators. Following on from their Eunomia report — which revealed insights into designers’ renewed passion for nature as a primary source of inspiration — their next release is entitled “Creative Self-Exploration”, and covers the rising trend for fluidity and dynamism with regards to everything from identity and aesthetics to occupation and innovation.
Illustrated with vibrant examples of creative individualism, the new trends “reflect a growing aspiration, especially among GEN Z and Alpha, to explore all the components that make up ‘the self’, from physical appearance to existential depth and emotions, overlooking established norms.” They also point towards a new wave of entrepreneurship, with young people breaking free from conventional occupations. Instead, they are harnessing the maturing landscape of social media to create their own opportunities, as well as emerging realms such as the metaverse.
Tiktok Headquarters by Gensler, 9th Annual A+Awards Finalist in the Large Office Interiors category.
In terms of architecture and design, these trends are manifested in avant-garde projects that challenge traditional ideas pertaining to the function, program and typology of buildings. One example is the “Tiktok Beauty Hub”. As described in the report, “Tiktokers now have a creative hub in the heart of LA, hosted by Fenty Beauty, Rhianna’s brand. The concept behind this collaborative space is to help influencers on the platform by offering a fully stocked ‘Make-up Pantry’ in a camera-ready, creative space as well as community building amongst participants.”
One of a number of innovation concepts in the report is named “Phygital Experiences”, highlighting new investments in “marvelous, magical worlds and bewitching inspirations that boost the imagination” and “immersive and multisensorial experiences that create the sensation of lucid dreaming.” This form of design, with its emphasis on interactivity, engagement and dynamic mediums is undoubtedly permeating architecture and design — one such example is the work of Turkish digital artist, Refik Anadol, whose installation “Quantum Memories” was a recent A+Awards Finalist in the Architecture +New Technology category.
Quantum Memories by Refik Anadol, 9th Annual A+Awards Finalist in the Architecture +New Technology category.
In the report’s ‘Design Ideations’ section, a series of multichromatic mood boards visualizes how the rise of creative self-exploration can be translated into real-world spaces, textures, materials, products and beyond. The bold range of colors, forms and finishes on display encapsulates the overriding takeaway from this report — that emerging creatives are not concerned in the slightest with the social or aesthetic “rules” of prior generations. In fact, they embrace the unconventional, and revel in its unlimited creative potential.
To see the full trend report and receive new material insights each month, become a member of Material ConneXion. Learn more >
Top image: 100 colors no.35 by emmanuelle moureaux architecture + design, 9th Annual A+Awards Finalist in the Architecture +Color category.
To this end, we are thrilled to announce the launch of Architizer’s Tech Directory, a database of tech tools that benefit all those involved in architecture, from concept to construction.
We hope you enjoy exploring the Tech Directory and find it useful when doing your research into the latest architectural technology. As noted, this is just the beginning: We plan to develop this platform into a comprehensive directory that will benefit everyone in the construction industry.
Here are three quick tips to make the most out of this sheet:
