Rendering the Future City: Designing for Extended Reality (XR)
CategoriesArchitecture

Rendering the Future City: Designing for Extended Reality (XR)

The winners of Architizer’s Fourth Annual One Drawing Challenge have been revealed! Interested in next year’s program? Subscribe to our newsletter for updates. 

Architecture has always been a process of visualizing what could be. Over the last twenty years, as we experienced the growth of immersive technologies, new forms of visualization have followed suit. The result is a diverse array of ways to imagine architecture, as well as how we can rethink design. These technologies have created a way to extend the reality that we experience, either through a complete immersion or a blend of virtual and “real” worlds. As we look to the future, design teams are embracing these ideas to establish new ways to live, work and come together.

Today, many types of immersive reality technologies and formats inform what we share, how we visualize, and what we understand. From virtual and augmented reality to mixed and extended, the possibilities have grown exponentially. In the last decade alone, companies have been finding ways to iterate on immersive design to make rapid advances. The following is a guide and explanation of these changes, as well as some ideas on how they may impact how we design and visualize our future.


Virtual Reality (VR)

 

Virtual reality (VR) has had a real impact on architecture because it allows designers to parallel the movement of people in the real world. VR is a 3D, virtual environment where users are fully immersed in a simulated reality. Usually this involves haptic touch technology, as well as a dedicated headset. Depending on the specific format, it can involve more than images, but could also include sounds or respond to user movement. Individuals can usually experience a 360-degree view of an artificial world, and at times, tune in to other senses they would experience in real life.

While the gaming and entertainment industry were early adopters of VR, it has been used across project types in architecture. The Suspension House was created by Kilograph to work with the natural environment around it, rather than fighting against it. To illustrate this relationship, their Virtual Reality experience portrays the house in nature’s many states. The user is taken on a trip through different key locations as the weather time of day changes. They created hand-sketched storyboards and a cinematic trailer rendered in real-time in Unreal Engine.


Augmented Reality (AR)

 

Unlike VR, Augmented Reality (AR) is closer to something realistic. It simulates fabricated or virtual objects in a real environment. Instead of creating a wholly immersive, new reality, it overlays images, animations, or designs onto what you’re seeing. In turn, individuals typically utilize a device like their phone or tablet to overlay these projections in real life. AR has become widely popular, especially by integrating senses like sound. Think Pokémon Go or Instagram filters, these each add a “layer” to what we are experiencing and seeing right before us. And this can be designed.

Both VR and AR can help accelerate the process of architectural visualization. Instead of taking weeks or months to create physical prototypes and models, people can more quickly create an environment or design that they want others to understand and experience. Today, firms are exploring ways they can use AR to solve design problems and make an impact on construction sites.


Mixed Reality (MR)

Mixed Reality (MR) integrates both VR and AR. It blends real and virtual worlds to create complex environments where physical and digital elements interact in real time. Here, both kinds of elements and objects are interacting with one another, and it usually requires more processing power than VR or AR. Mixed reality is gaining traction alongside wearable technology to create immersive environments in a whole new way.

A great example of MR technology is SketchUp Viewer, an app for Microsoft HoloLens, developed by SketchUp developer Trimble. With this app, architects have the means to fully immerse themselves and experience their ideas in 1:1 holographic scale models, jump-starting decision-making from inception all the way through to implementation. ‘Immersion Mode’ is the feature that gives users the abilities to inhabit their holographic models and move freely through them at any development stage.


Extended Reality (XR)

Extended reality, or XR, is widely understood to be an umbrella term for immersive technologies and design. It includes not only augmented, virtual and mixed realities, but also the integration of advancements like Artificial Intelligence (AI) and the Internet of Things (IoT). The result becomes environments that can realistically match what we are able to access in the real world. While a relatively new term, extended reality will transform the development of our cities.

Rendering of Liberland by Zaha Hadid Architects

One example that relies heavily on extended reality is the metaverse. Aiming to be multisensory, the conceptual idea of the metaverse is that it integrates sensory cues of extended reality like auditory, olfactory, haptic, and environmental. Extended reality and the metaverse utilizes OpenXR and WebXR standards. It includes motor control, perception, vision systems, head-eye systems and auditory processing.

All of these technologies are rapidly growing and being applied across entertainment, marketing, real estate, remote working, gaming and leisure, as well as architecture and design. XR can be a valuable tool in education, engaging students who face cognitive challenges or those who respond better to different learning platforms. With XR, brands can also reach new customers as they engage with products and services. As we imagine what the future holds, extended reality will not only shape how we live, but how we design and come together.

The winners of Architizer’s Fourth Annual One Drawing Challenge have been revealed! Interested in next year’s program? Subscribe to our newsletter for updates. 

Reference

Drawing Isn’t Dead: How Architectural Sketching Can Thrive in the Digital Era
CategoriesArchitecture

Drawing Isn’t Dead: How Architectural Sketching Can Thrive in the Digital Era

The long-held debate of hand drawing vs. computer-aided design may never come to a close, and in many ways, the conversation has only become more confounding with the plethora of computerized tools now on the market today. This debate sees a split down the line, with many continuing to champion hand drawing while others advocating for the huge benefits of working with digital graphics. James Wines, a big proponent of hand drawing, speculates that the reluctance of some to embrace digital mediums has to do with a “deep-seated psychological resistance to the cybernetic world.”

Despite the broad range of opinions and beliefs within the architectural profession, the overriding consensus is that both drawing styles have a place within the design world, and that their coexistence is totally possible. There are benefits and downsides to both: for example, the precision found in digital tools is unbeatable, whereas, the slower process of hand-drawing can encourage a deep understanding of form and ideas. Whatever your preference, designers can undoubtedly benefit from products that blend pen and paper-style sketching with advanced digital tools. Cerulean Labs has developed one such solution to this unremitting debate: The Spaces iPad app.

Whether it be drawn or digitally designed, the forefront of a successful project is the initial drawing that brings an idea to life. Accordingly, Cerulean Labs’ Spaces version 2.2 app continues the brand’s maintained effort of improving the conceptual design stage. The beauty of an app like Spaces is its merging of old-school sketching with modern-day technology. Pen and paper lovers don’t have to say goodbye to their trusted hand-held tool — they simply have to say hello to the Apple Pencil.

The Spaces app is built entirely for the iPad, meaning users can sketch directly on the iPad’s smooth interface. Users do not have to sacrifice the tactility, freedom and speed of hand drawing; in fact, they gain a dynamic set of new capabilities. While users sketch, the app works behind the scenes to create a workable building model.

“From the outset, sketching has been in our DNA, and the further we have developed Spaces, the more power we’ve been able to add to our sketching engine.” – Campbell Yule, Spaces Founder 

The Spaces app encourages the traditional method: draw, revise, keep and throw away. Many conceptual design tools on the market require a certain familiarity with modeling, which makes the drawing experience far less fluid and natural. The Spaces app mimics hand-drawing by allowing users to sketch as they please, deleting what they don’t like and saving what they do. While users sketch away, real-time building and site data is being calculated, reported and projected as a workable model. If a user changes an angle or slope, the app automatically resizes the plan and provides updated calculations and measurements. The app does all the work so that users can tap into their creative minds and draw.

Once drawn, users benefit from a series of parametric design tools. Architects can add cladding, leverage the app’s Open Street Map data or elevate their project using precise sun studies among other tools. The conceptual phase – especially when drawing by hand – is an iterative process, and this app celebrates the beauty of trial and error.

The app’s numerous settings and features can all be managed quickly and swiftly, allowing the designer to focus on their creative ideas rather than the technology. Hand-drawing advocates often complain that navigating technology poses an unwelcoming distraction from the design process. Thankfully, the Spaces app’s clear and simple interface poses little distraction from sketching.

The app’s new digital sketchbook feature allows users to document their ideas as they traditionally would on tracing paper. Whenever and wherever an idea comes to mind, designers can document a note or sketch directly on the app. Equally, creatives can embellish and rework their designs by tracing over their models using the Apple pencil. Designers can even send snapshots of their models to the sketchbook and rework their design at their own pace. The app revives the incredibly useful tool of trace paper, but makes it more efficient, precise and hassle-free.

Once sketched and modeled, designers can then leverage the app’s project management tools. Spaces comes with tools to organize design briefs, create reports and develop project concepts directly on the app. Users can even import key site data onto the app to ensure their concept design is as precise and well-planned as possible. The Spaces app delivers professional results while not compromising creativity and fluidity.

Spaces champions architecture’s oldest tools, a pen and paper, and integrates them perfectly into a straightforward app suitable for all architects and designers. If you remain to be convinced by sketching in the digital age, give the Spaces App a go and see for yourself. The Spaces app celebrates the nonlinear nature of conceptual design by encouraging exploration and creativity, and is set to become one of the industry’s go-to applications as a result.

Reference

4 New Gadgets to Elevate Your Workstation and Increase Productivity
CategoriesArchitecture

4 New Gadgets to Elevate Your Workstation and Increase Productivity

Architizer Journal is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

Leading technology brands have released a plethora of exciting new tech products and upgraded devices this fall. Navigating the swarm of recently available products can, at times, feel overwhelming. So, we’ve tried to help simplify the process by recommending four newly released tech products to consider obtaining for your architectural practice.


For the Architect in Search of a Good 2-in-1

Microsoft has just released its Surface Pro 9 tablet, which has been designed to perform like a laptop but move like a tablet. This device boasts a flexible interface and bespoke user experience. This tablet comes with a 13’’ PixelSense™ touchscreen which creates a larger interface to work on and clearer viewing options. It has also been equipped with an adjustable built-in kickstand, which offers a range of angles to work in and creates a bespoke computer experience. One of the handiest features of this tablet is the Surface Slim Pen 2, a digital writing and drawing tool that is perfect for designers who prefer sketching and note taking by hand. Architects who prefer experimenting with freehand sketches can leverage apps such as Adobe Fresco directly on this device.

The Surface Pro 9 comes with a powerful new 12th-Gen Intel Core processor and weighs less than 4 lbs, making it a reliable, durable and easy-to-transport device. Its Windows 11 operating system can perfectly organize active apps into a grid format which is perfect for designers multitasking multiple programs. When architects are in need of writing briefs or responding to emails, they can switch from tablet to laptop with the Surface Pro 9 Signature Keyboard. Meanwhile, designers who require larger views can easily dock the device to a monitor. The Surface Pro 9 remains one of the best 2-in-1s on the market and meets many requirements for an architect-suitable device.

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For the Architect Who Loves To Capture

Fujifilm’s recently-released X-H2 Mirrorless camera is perfect for the architect who enjoys photographing the built environment as much as they do designing it. The X-H2 camera is the fifth generation of Fujifilm’s X series and boasts a high-quality resolution and unmatched speed. This camera is equipped with a new 40.2-megapixel APS-C sensor which unlocks new creative possibilities. This device comes with a pronounced imaging sensor and optimized pixel layout which ensures exceptional detail, color accuracy and video flexibility. The camera’s new X-Processor 5 helps deliver exceptional video quality, an enhanced autofocus and blackout-free image bursts at 15 fps – which makes capturing the small details of a built structure that much clearer. Moreover, the X-H2’s range extends to 13+ stops, which helps ensure a straightforward post-production process. Moreover, wireless image transfers are made simple and hassle-free through Fujifilm’s Remote Camera App. This camera is perfect for the architect looking to shoot professional images or simply pursue their love of photography.

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For the Architect Looking To Experiment With Something New

Sometimes the most modest tools prove to be the most useful. 3D pens are relatively new to the market but have taken off thanks to their experimental and exploratory nature. Although at first the 3Doodler Create+ may seem more suitable for children, it is a great tool for designers looking to quickly visualize an idea. Without having to turn to large and tedious 3D printing machines, architects can conceptualize a form with the 3Doodler Create +. This device comes with a comprehensive guide, a pack of colorful plastic refills and is ideal for designers looking to explore the possibilities of 3D pens. Designers can create miniature models with the 3Doodler Create+ which uses PLA, ABS and Flexy Plastic to create freestanding lines and shapes. Whether it be to visualize a project, create a quick craft or work into a rendering, the 3Doodler Create+ is a great starting point for architects. This handheld 3D printing device is portable, compact and the perfect addition to any architect’s pencil case.

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For the Architect Looking To Zone Into Their Work

The Jabra Elite 9 True Wireless earbuds may just be the next investment for architects looking to focus-in on their work. These earbuds have been equipped with the latest Hybrid ANC and HearTouch technology which blocks out ambient noise and reduces wind sounds. This new technology makes for the perfect device for designers working in busy office settings and need to block out distracting noise. These upgraded earbuds are now compatible with Spotify Tap Playback and come with a customizable equalizer which produces a first-class sound quality. The device can also be paired with Alexa, Siri or Google Assistant, offering hands-free help to architects. Whether it be double checking a measurement or reading an email aloud, this new pairing feature helps optimize a designer’s workflow. The Jabra Elite 5 come with a high-performing battery life and are resistant to dust and water, making them a reliable device for on-the-go designers.

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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. 



Reference

Is VR The New Paradigm for Architectural Visualization?
CategoriesArchitecture

Is VR The New Paradigm for Architectural Visualization?

Architizer Journal is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

Is virtual reality (VR) necessary in my design practice? Many architects — not only those with established careers and years under their belts but also recent grads weary of technological trends — question if there is any need to pivot and incorporate VR into their practices. Some see it as futile, others resist the digital era, but most designers reluctant to VR implementation are simply unfamiliar with this virtual world. Yet, there is a new paradigm for architectural visualization that is being shaped by virtual reality, along with its cousins, augmented reality (AR) and mixed reality (MR). Utilizing virtual reality as a visualization tool has become increasingly popular amongst designers as it offers a space for endless exploration and development. As the potentialities of VR continue evolving, here are a few reasons architects should consider investing in quality VR sets like the Meta Quest Pro to enhance their practice.

Whether it be to develop a design, contextualize a project or win over a client, the metaverse is making its mark in the architecture community. One of VR’s biggest advantages is providing a comprehensive understanding of space. When it comes to appreciating the detailed particularities of a site, 2D drawings and built models can only go so far. The beauty of VR is that it takes architectural visualization one step further and allows architects to deeply conceptualize and experience an environment. Through 360-degree views, VR can be incorporated at any stage of the design process. Whether it be to simply make sense of a space and its massing or to create a hyperreal experience with detailed elements, the possibilities are endless.

Top-of-the-line VR sets, like the newly-released Meta Quest Pro, are great gateways into the digital world. The Meta Quest Pro is packed with new and improved features which expand the possibilities of VR for architecture and ensure a comfortable and uncomplicated user experience. VR sets like the Meta Quest Pro are designed for collaboration. The device comes with a resizable screen that allows designers to organize their work however they please while simultaneously communicating with other users. Moreover, the Meta Quest Pro is especially handy for architects as they can collaborate in real-time while working with modeling software such as Akrio and Gravity Sketch.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YaRastZmucQ

Compared to older models, this device boasts a wide color gamut, an expanded dimming range and an increased contrast ratio. Whether the designer is adding light features or sun studies into their design, the viewing experience will feel ultra-realistic and help accurately conceptualize a space. Equally, the controllers on this device have been upgraded to capture a greater range of motion and more precise operations. Designers can therefore replicate writing and hand-sketching directly in the virtual world! For designers who plan to stay immersed for longer periods of time, The Meta Quest Pro has been engineered to be more ergonomic and ensure long-lasting comfort.

VR lets architects visualize and experience a design long before it’s been built. However, it can also be used to strengthen client relations. Architects can share their ultra-realistic and immersive designs with clients to help strengthen relationships and solidify deals. Therefore, investing in VR is not only an investment in better design but an investment in a flourishing practice. Architectural approaches, practices and standards are constantly evolving and it is up to the architect to pivot when they feel fit. Nevertheless, VR sets like the Meta Quest Pro are tools not to overlook.

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. 

Reference

The ZenBook Pro Duo Laptop’s Dual Screen Is “A Professional Creative’s Dream”
CategoriesArchitecture

The ZenBook Pro Duo Laptop’s Dual Screen Is “A Professional Creative’s Dream”

Architizer Journal is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

ASUS’s ZenBook Pro Duo laptop is an incredibly powerful device designed for ultimate productivity and pronounced creativity. Among the computer’s many features is the ScreenPad Plus, which is an additional touch screen embedded below the main interface. This seamlessly integrated additional interface — running parallel to the keyboard and perpendicular to the upright screen — allows architects and designers to harness their full potential while working. The ZenBook Pro Duo laptop is dubbed the Creator Notebook and has been described by customers as a “professional creative’s dream.”

The ZenBook Pro Duo is powered by a 10th Generation Intel Core i9 eight-core processor and has professional-grade NVIDIA GeForce RTX graphics and advanced storage capabilities. The result is a quality device that can handle any professional task, such as editing large videos and rendering 3D graphics. 

The device’s ScreenPad Plus works seamlessly with the main display and provides an additional interface to work and create. This dual-screen capability enhances productivity by increasing the visual workspace, allowing users to spread out their work and view images unobstructed. Architects can have two apps or toolbars open simultaneously, making it easier to intuitively shift from one screen to the next and productively multitask. Users can simply drag and drop their desired app on the ScreenPad Plus and leverage the stylus feature, which mimics pen and paper work. Designers can draw, sketch or carefully trace on the device’s ergonomic and highly stable screen. 

The computer’s dual screen is especially handy for designers who spend a great deal of time working with tedious software such as AutoCAD, Photoshop and Rhino. The enlarged visual workspace means there is more screen space to lay out images, editing tools and therefore see clearly. The ScreenPad Plus is equally ideal for designers who work remotely and spend a great deal of time on conference calls. By utilizing the dual-screen capability, architects can enter meetings without interrupting their main workstation.

The device’s superb display is thanks to the OLED HDR1 NanoEdge technology, which produces ultra-vivid colors. The color accuracy on this device is equally made possible through its 100% DCI-P3 color gamut and Delta-E < 2 color accuracy. Moreover, the device has been PANTONE Validated and TÜV Rheinland-certified to ensure a professional-grade device that is safe for the eye. The enhanced color display is ideal for designers whose work relies heavily on color and visual accuracy. 

Since its first release, the ZenBook Pro Duo has been upgraded to include WiFi 6, which allows designers to create and work while on the go. This robust WiFi 6 capability equally ensures that large-file transfers will be speedily and safely delivered. Designers can feel confident that their most prized renderings, designs and briefs are well stored and delivered securely. Additional upgrades include meeting the MIL-STD 810H military standard. The device has gone under rigorous tests to ensure it can safely and efficiently operate in harsh environments, thus producing a device that architects and designers can confidently rely on no matter where they work. 

You can learn more about the ZenBook Pro Duo with ScreenPad Plus here

For more laptops and workstation recommendations for architects, checkout 15 Top Laptops for Architects and Designers. For more ways to supercharge your workflow, check out more articles in our Tech for Architects series.

Reference

LG’s UltraFine Display Ergo Boasts Color Precision and Ergonomic Comfort
CategoriesArchitecture

LG’s UltraFine Display Ergo Boasts Color Precision and Ergonomic Comfort

Architizer Journal is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

The LG 32UN880-B UltraFine Display Ergo monitor is designed to move with and adjust to architects’ needs. Taking ergonomic functions and visual display into deep consideration, this device has exceptional image quality, convenient flexibility and surprising portability.

This monitor was engineered to best serve architects and designs and has received countless awards, including the iF Design Talent Award a few years back. The UHD 4K IPS Display makes for an incredibly lifelike and realistic resolution, which creates a crisp and clear image display that designers can trust. The UHD IPS display enhances contrast, clarity and wide-angle details, all while exhibiting true color representation. Such visual accuracy puts trust in architects that their work is displayed accurately and will closely reflect their real-life design.

The UltraFine Display Ergo monitor has an extremely flexible and ergonomic desktop setup. This monitor can be secured on any surface and in seconds thanks to its One Click Mount and C-Clamp. It can then be adjusted to fit the user’s preferred height and tilt angle, making it a great device for designers meticulously working on renderings and edits. The monitor is equally ideal for collaborative environments; designers can pivot the screen during meetings and easily share images with clients and coworkers.

Designers who have leveraged standing desks can equally take advantage of this device by adjusting the height of their monitor depending on their current work setup — whether it be seated or standing. The monitor can swivel up to 280°, pivot 90° and tilt up to 25°. This truly allows for bespoke and personalized working environments that speak to the individual’s posture preferences and work needs. 

This device is a great fit for designers working in small studio settings as its clutter-free design takes up little desk space. The monitor comes with a USB-C cable, which ensures fast data transfer and fast charging. The USB-C cable improves the device’s efficiency, capability and declutters the desk space.

The LG 32UN880-B UltraFine Display Ergo is ideal for individuals looking to maximize comfort, productiveness and increase visual accuracy in their designs. The monitor is equally suitable for designers working in collaborative environments as the screen can mount on any surface and can be adjusted to fit the ergonomic needs of the user. For that reason, this monitor is a great tool for designers working individually and collaboratively.

For more laptops and workstation recommendations for architects, checkout 15 Top Laptops for Architects and Designers. For more ways to supercharge your workflow, check out more articles in our Tech for Architects series.

Reference

3 Top Cameras for Architects and Designers on the Go
CategoriesArchitecture

3 Top Cameras for Architects and Designers on the Go

Architizer Journal is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

Visual storytelling is no easy endeavor, especially when it comes to capturing the built environment. Yet, with the ever-ubiquitous range of 21st-century technologies connecting people with buildings worldwide, architectural photography and filmography have never been more fruitful or thrilling. With diverse backgrounds and expertise, more photographers and filmmakers are gravitating to the architectural profession than ever, taking buildings as their subjects. 

At the same time, more and more architects and their firms are taking advantage of their privileged access to construction sites and the accessibility of high-quality photography equipment available to the general public. Indeed, some of the most successful architectural films and photographs harness photography to tell compelling stories about the building process and their built products. With the help of advanced technology and equipment, architects and photographers are bringing the built environment to life in entirely new ways. Listed below are three new products released this year, all particularly well-suited for architectural photographers, filmmakers and designers alike.


Fujifilm X-H2S Mirrorless Camera Body

Best Camera for Architects and Designers

Fujifilm’s X-H2S Mirrorless Camera Body is designed to smoothen the photo-taking and filmmaking process. Considered to be the company’s most capable video and still hybrid, this device comes with incredible sensors and improved image support thanks to its X-Processor 5 and X-Trans CMOS 5S sensor. 

The device boasts an increased memory capacity with a high-speed burst shooting capability ranging up to 30fps for over 1000 frames. Its refined autofocus now produces a cleaner and more focused shot through its prediction algorithm that can easily capture moving objects, especially in low-contrast and difficult conditions. This feature is especially useful for filmmakers who from time to time face unpredictable weather and environmental situations that make it challenging to capture the true essence of a site. 

When it comes to architectural photography, each image maker has their own set of preferences. Some like to contextualize the image using the human form, and others prefer letting the design speak for itself. The X-H2S’s new subject-detection autofocus is capable of automatically detecting a broad range of subjects in an image. Whether it be passing by vehicles or pedestrians, this camera is capable of accurately focusing-in on smaller subjects who may be using the space, thus allowing the photographer to focus on the framing the building and the overall composition without having to preoccupy themselves with such variables. 

The Fujifilm X-H2S moves with the architectural photographer at all times of the day. The device supports HEIF image format and delivers 10-bit image quality in files 30% smaller than standard JPEGs. This is especially useful for those who would like to have high-quality images directly after shooting. The device’s X-Trans sensor tightly controls shutter effects and helps produce a natural-looking recording which allows the architectural design to speak for itself. Designed to keep up with the brilliant imaginations of architectural image makers, the device can internally record up to 90 minutes of footage using a single battery.

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Insta360 X3 – Waterproof 360 Action Camera

Best camera for architects to enhance their social media presence

A challenge architectural filmmakers often face is framing the perfect shot right at the get-go, and the X3 camera poses a simple solution to this problem. This device is designed to shoot first and frame after, meaning users can simply mount the camera, click record and reframe after. The X3 camera is connected with the brand’s AI-powered Insta360 app, which comes complete with numerous reframing tools and direct upload capabilities. Therefore, filmmakers can simply upload their video and edit directly on the app. Once edited, the video can be directly uploaded through the app onto social media. The X3 is a one-stop shop for architecture firms looking for simple ways to create high-quality content for their media presence. 

In addition, the Insta360 X3 camera comes with a first-person view mode that allows users to film from their perspective while not compromising resolution or quality. This is a particularly useful tool for those filming interior spaces or hoping to capture the essence of a structure from the human perspective. Equally, the new HDR mode makes filming in difficult lighting conditions that much easier through its stabilizing and shadow-enhancing features. So much of the built environment is found in non-ideal shooting environments, and so a device like X3 — one that can work in difficult conditions — is extremely useful to architectural image makers. 

The X3 is designed for creatives and comes with an array of filming options. This device is perfect for designers hoping to create original videos for their social media. For example, designers can use the 8k quality timelapse feature to capture the progression of a structure throughout time. The Insta360 X3 – Waterproof 360 Action Camera comes with powerful 360 capture, reframing capabilities and an advanced AI system.

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DJI Mini 3 Pro (DJI RC)

Best camera for architects to capture large projects and bird’s-eye views

The DJI Mini 3 Pro (DJI RC) is a small and lightweight drone designed for any environment. This foldable device can capture detail with 4K/60fps video and 48 MP photos. As architects lean on social media more and more to promote their firms, producing ready-to-post videos is key. The DJI Mini Pro offers an easy solution for designers through its True Vertical Shooting feature, which produces social media-ready shots and recordings.

The drone is capable of flying for up to 34 minutes, which is ideal when capturing large projects like condominium development or campus renovations. Moreover, its tri-directional obstacle sensing ensures the drone video is not compromised by unexpected objects in the air. Due to its small size of less than 249 g, the Mini 3 Pro does not require registration in most countries, which eliminates an additional step and lets Mini 3 Pro owners get straight to flying.

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For more laptops and workstation recommendations for architects, checkout 15 Top Laptops for Architects and Designers, and watch out for more in our Tech for Architects series, coming soon.

Reference

Architects: Here’s How to Supercharge Your Hybrid Workflow
CategoriesArchitecture

Architects: Here’s How to Supercharge Your Hybrid Workflow

Architizer Journal is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.

As remote work continues to dominate the workplace landscape, tools and devices designed to improve the virtual experience are becoming increasingly important and popular amongst designers. Indeed, most firms in the United States are offering hybrid work models to their employees, a potentially revolutionary change that certainly transforms the design profession, where office culture and collaborative processes are integral to the success of many projects.

While working from home offers numerous benefits and perspectives, the office atmosphere is hard to replicate and often missed. Thankfully Owl Labs has developed a new and improved technology to facilitate collaborative work from a distance. The recently-launched Meeting Owl 3 multitasks as a 360° camera, microphone and speaker device that elevates the video conference experience, fosters connectivity and improves overall productivity.

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Meeting Owl 3 integrates with the most used conferencing platforms today, such as Zoom, Google Meet, Microsoft Teams and GoToMeeting among others. Its compatibility is ideal for designers whose work is conducted over multiple conferencing platforms. Owl Labs has integrated their Owl Intelligence System into the device, which consists of AI-driven software that regularly upgrades to make collaboration as immersive, inclusive and reliable as possible.

The output resolution is 1080p HD, with a field view of 360°, ensuring clear and crisp video quality that helps team members feel connected while working apart; this level of detail can be vital when showing physical objects, including models and sketches, rather than doing a screenshare. Moreover, the device’s microphone comes with 8 omnidirectional beam-forming Smart Mics and an audio radius of 18 inches. The speaker quality and output quality help to ensure that both designers and project teammates can hear one another as clearly as possible.

The Meeting Owl 3 is designed to automatically focus on the voice actively speaking, which creates the best possible meeting experience without having to intervene and consistently check-in with those listening. Owl Lab’s easy-to-use connection system makes it ideal for those running multiple meetings back-to-back or those signing into last-minute calls. It can be simply plugged into the host computer via USB-C or can be connected to the Expansion Mic via micro-HDMI. Once connected, users can immediately start their video conference call.

Beyond home work, The Owl Lab is useful to architects working in the office who would like to collaborate with teammates or meet with far away clients virtually. Indeed, it is especially helpful for design firms that conduct international business with overseas clients. This device’s ability to mimic the office environment and in-person feel will aid in building client confidence and maintaining a good rapport between team members.

This ind of tool is also useful for larger conferences or for those working in big spaces. In such cases, Two Meeting Owl 3s can even be paired together to expand the video and audio coverage within a space. Meanwhile, the device is small and compact and blends seamlessly into any environment without creating an eye sore or distraction.

Since its release, the Meeting Owl 3 has been widely revered for its effortless set-up and ability to foster connectivity. One Amazon user explained how the “system was so simple to install, plug it in, initiate the system and you are off and running on your zoom meeting” and how it “made the meetings fun, functional and will allow our in person and remote teams greater ease and access to each other, a win for us in productivity and connectivity.”

Meeting Owl 3 is one of those devices that enables designers to maintain the best of both worlds: to continue working remotely without having to compromise on collaboration and communication. Equally, it allows studios to seamlessly present projects and make virtual connections with far-off clients around the world.

Learn more and shop >

For more laptops and workstation recommendations for architects, checkout 15 Top Laptops for Architects and Designers, and watch out for more in our Tech for Architects series, coming soon.

Reference

Will Artificial Intelligence Make Designers Redundant?
CategoriesArchitecture

Will Artificial Intelligence Make Designers Redundant?

Jet Geaghan is an Architect based in Woods Bagot’s Sydney studio. For Jet, every building should be conceived with purpose, expertise and wit. Clarity of communication is fundamental to his work, whether it be in a design gesture, construction detail, or cultural testimony.

Artificial Intelligence is the Frankenstein’s creature of the digital era. The possibility of the invention surpassing the inventor beguiles our collective imagination – conjuring emotions as far-ranging as hope, trepidation and even fear. Unnerving reports of a Google chatbot displaying sentience in June plays on our conscious, forcing us to consider the ramifications of an AI that fears us as much as we fear it.

The quickening pace of AI’s development is both alarming and exciting, fuelling speculation about our own obsolescence. It once seemed irrefutable – even amongst the pioneers of machine intelligence – that only humans could create art. Now, image generation AI like DALL E-2, Midjourney and Stable Diffusion use machine learning neural networks to create original, breathtakingly realistic images from a text description that would look as at home on a gallery wall as they would as concept images in an architectural bid (see fig.1).

These algorithms challenge humanity’s ownership of creativity as we know it, but they do not herald the designer’s last days. Instead, AI will be harnessed as a powerful tool that (1) allows for time better spent and (2) unlocks new dimensions of creative ideation. Both functions will synthesize the role of the designer towards a more productive, augmented future.

Time Better Spent

Using real data from Woods Bagot timesheets over the period of one year, this diagram postulates the gains in productivity that AI could provide by automating repetitious tasks across different project phases. The time freed up could be funneled back into meaningful design tasks – resulting in better use of resources and better outcomes for clients and end users.

The history of technological advancement is defined by massive leaps forward that have seen time-consuming, repetitive processes automated, fundamentally changing what humans can produce. AI continues this tradition by rapidly becoming more affordable and higher performing. Stanford University’s 2022 AI Index Report shows that the cost to train an image classification system has decreased by 63.6%, while training times have improved by 94.4% since 2018. The result of the swift development of AI is that designers – hired for their creative reasoning and expertise – could be freed from the bonds of mundane tasks.

These were developed with DALL-E 2 in a 20-minute timeframe, using variations around the prompt ‘feature lobby staircase with soft background lighting at night.’ Rather than generating a design, AI generated images help to quickly explore mood, materiality and character for early concepts.

In our inexorably visual world, AI like DALL E-2, Stable Diffusion and Midjourney streamline the image-making process. Today’s design concepts are expected to be communicated with photorealism and multi-dimensional dynamism for clients or buyers to assess. For designers, image production is a painstakingly meticulous and lengthy process, requiring precision and ingenuity in equal parts. Image generating AI, which produces beautiful visuals in minutes, dampens these pressures.

Even the smallest amendment to existing imagery can take many hours in human hands. With careful design supervision, an algorithm can produce sketch-like illustrations of space and mood in minutes. Here is an image of an abandoned power station placed next to an image of that space reimagined with DALL-E 2 as a contemporary hotel reception celebrating its industrial history.

These new tools give designers a speedy visual foundation on which to build an aesthetic, while still allowing them the depth of inquiry and emotional reasoning pivotal to the development of strong design concepts. The process of drawing a design unveils as many problems as it does solutions – image generating AI allows designers to arrive at the problem-solving stage quicker.

Unlocked Creative Ideation

AI presents a radical new method for exploring ideas that are liberated from the distraction and friction of architectural realities. Through these new methods of discovery, we see creativity redefined as something shared with AI.

Visions of New York City in an alternate future, created with DALL-E 2 (left) and Midjourney (right).

Unembarrassed and unencumbered by accepted strictures, image generating AI tests the bounds of convention by producing limitless possibilities. Though more whimsical than workable for now, these fresh visual takes on design briefs see AI push creative ideation – creating room for the unexpected. By providing DALL-E 2 with a number of text prompts we’re able to see a New York City in an alternate future – its iconic brownstone and leafy Central Park reimagined in entirely novel configurations.

This exploration challenges human assumptions of creative authorship, reframing it as something shared with AI. Though the ruling has since been overturned, the Australian Federal court’s 2021 decision to permit AI systems to be named as the inventor on Australian patent applications is a strong indicator of this incoming overhaul of our understanding of creativity.

Designers develop new ways as well as new things. The future will see designers explore the potential of using AI to improve working processes – unburdening their talent for exploration of ideas, testing, decision making and evaluation. Visualisation tools are already used for testing the success of different materials or geometries before committing to their application, or to measure variables like acoustics, daylighting and airflow. As it develops, AI of this ilk can clarify these judgments – making for easier decision making and better built outcomes.

Here is a photograph of the 275 Kent Street redevelopment, Sydney. Below is a DALL-E 2 interpretation of the key parameters of the brief.

What this comparison illustrates is that, while compelling, this tool cannot digest important factors like context, functionality or human experience. AI imagery cannot replace the understanding, inquiry and decisions of a designer.

AI’s capacity for the testing of ideas is demonstrative of how it will revolutionize workflow and electrify the creativity of design practitioners. Yet it is the directing and evaluating of ideas that requires human judgement to drive the preferred outcome. Design is decision-making, and that remains inherently human.

An Augmented Future

The evolution of AI and design move in tandem. Rather than be replaced, the next generation of designers will be collaborators with AI. This necessitates a new skillset: the adaptive reasoning to evaluate and synthesize the work of machines and a fluency in the computational logic that underpins AI creativity. The designers of the future will focus on creative investigations that require appraisal, interpretation, and sophisticated empathy – such as how a building connects with its site, the cultural ramifications of manufacture or construction, the lived experiences of inhabitants, communities and visitors and the ongoing strain on climate, ecologies and finite resources.

The role of designers has always evolved as new instruments have emerged, but the vitalness of a distinctly human judgement to wield these instruments remains the throughline. To deliver empathetic, reasoned designs, AI needs the human-hand. Likewise, for unrestrained ideation and visual streamlining, delegating to AI will become a necessity in the competitive architectural marketplace. This reciprocal relationship that makes AI a tool that will develop alongside its trade, not one that will leave it behind.

 How can architecture be a force for good in our ever-changing world? During Future Fest, we’ll pose this question to some of the world’s best architects. Launching in September, our three-week-long virtual event will be 100% free to attend. Register here!

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Tech for Architects: An Edgeless Monitor to Enhance Your Workstation
CategoriesArchitecture

Tech for Architects: An Edgeless Monitor to Enhance Your Workstation

For more laptops and workstation recommendations for architects, checkout 15 Top Laptops for Architects and Designers, and watch out for more in our Tech for Architects series, coming soon.

A monitor for an architect is like a magnifying glass for a jeweler. It permits close-up and detailed views of an architect’s designs. When working with design software and intricate images, computer monitors help enhance a working environment and ultimately lead to a more successful project outcome. As the design industry heavily relies on technology, accessorizing a workstation with quality monitors, mouses and laptops are paramount.

Choosing the right monitor for professional work is equally important, and there are numerous aspects to consider, such as resolution, speed and brightness. And for many industry professionals, budget plays a significant role in the decision-making process. Luckily, there are monitors on the market today — such as the KOORUI 24-Inch Business Computer Monitor — that respond to designers looking to enhance their workstations while respecting their budget. The new KOORUI monitor offers great performance capabilities, pronounced screen visibility and advanced eye comfort.

All of these qualities can stand up to similar products by Dell and HP, making it KOORUI’s a very good price point for the product. As one reviewer succinctly explains, “I do CAD work on this monitor and find it very close in picture quality to those costing 4 times as much.” 

The KOORUI’s 23.8 inch monitor boasts a wide screen that offers clear views of one’s work. It comes with a frameless screen that displays images in their unaltered form. This edgeless design is ideal for designers connecting multiple monitors and require reliable and uninterrupted views of their work. The KOORUI’s VA screen covers 99% of the SRGB color gamut. This VA screen produces clear and precise color depictions and is ideal for architects whose work is often dependent on color accuracy.

In their product reviews, Amazon customers underlined how well the edge-less design lent itself to dual-monitor workflow setups: “It’s sleek looking and all the buttons are right there in the front so when it’s side-by-side with my other monitor, it is more seamless looking from one screen to another.”

Meanwhile, when spending all day in front of a screen, it’s important to use products that maximize comfort. The KOORUI monitor can be tilted up to five degrees forward and 20 degrees backwards. This feature permits bespoke adjustments that adhere to each designer’s personal viewing preferences — including transitions from seated to standing work set-ups. Additionally, the monitor comes equipped with Flicker-Free technology and a Blue Light Filter which helps make a full day of screen time manageable and less straining.

The monitor comes with multiple ports including HDMI and VGA and can be connected to PC, Xbox and other laptops, thus suitable for both professional and personal use. The new KOORUI 23.8 inch monitor is an economical and straightforward solution for architects looking to enhance their workstation and improve their productivity.

For more laptops and workstation recommendations for architects, checkout 15 Top Laptops for Architects and Designers, and watch out for more in our Tech for Architects series, coming soon.

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