Using AI as a Design Tool in My Architecture Practice
TLDRThe speaker discusses the misconception of architecture as a singular act by an architect and instead describes it as a lengthy process that begins with an idea and a sketch. They introduce 'mid-journey' as a new tool in their architectural practice, which they find addictive due to its mix of unpredictability and the excitement of seeing designs develop. The speaker shares their method for using mid-journey, emphasizing the importance of starting with a strong idea and using specific prompts to guide the AI. They explain how they blend and remix images to guide the AI towards desired traits, resulting in a set of base images that inspire further design development. The speaker illustrates this process with examples, such as using anomalies in the images to inform design elements like a stone base and a wood shroud, and considering how these elements can be manipulated for different functions and visual effects. They conclude by stating that mid-journey is another tool in their design process, allowing them to explore more options and find innovative solutions in architecture.
Takeaways
- 🏗️ Architecture is a process that begins with an idea and evolves through sketches and testing.
- 🎨 AI is used as a design tool to experiment and generate architectural concepts, likened to a mix of gambling and watching Polaroids develop.
- 🔍 The speaker uses AI to zoom out and think abstractly, drawing inspiration from famous architects and their styles.
- 📈 AI generates building types by averaging data, but the speaker seeks a strong idea to drive the design.
- 📝 The process involves starting with a prompt that includes an important modifier, influencing the final result.
- 🌐 The subject of the image is called out, with more specific and strange terms leading to more interesting results.
- 🧱 Adding material references helps steer the final image, and specific details can be included to control the output.
- 🖼️ Character modifiers such as magazine styles or references to photographers/artists can influence the image's aesthetic.
- 📐 The aspect ratio of the image can affect the result, with different ratios suitable for various types of shots.
- ⚙️ A style modifier is used to instruct the AI to be creative, and the process involves remixing and reprompting until a satisfactory set of base images is achieved.
- 🔄 Blending is a key part of the process, combining multiple images to uncover unexpected and innovative design elements.
- 🚧 The speaker uses the generated images to push the design forward, identifying anomalies and exploring their potential in the architectural context.
- 🌈 Mid-journey AI is considered another tool in the design process, allowing for exploration of more options without the pressure of finality.
Q & A
What is the common misconception about the creation of architecture?
-The common misconception is that architecture comes into being as a singular act of the architect, where a grand vision falls out of the architect onto the page, rather than being a long process that involves idea generation, sketching, and testing.
What does the speaker describe as a new tool they have been experimenting with?
-The speaker describes 'mid-journey' as a new tool they have been experimenting with, which is a mix between gambling and watching old Polaroids develop.
How does the speaker use the term 'mid-journey' in the context of architecture design?
-The speaker uses 'mid-journey' to refer to a tool that allows for the generation of numerous building designs, which can be blended and remixed to create unique architectural concepts.
What is the significance of starting the prompt with an important modifier in the 'mid-journey' tool?
-Starting the prompt with an important modifier is significant because words closer to the front of the prompt have more influence on the final result, allowing for a more directed outcome.
What is the role of blending in the design process described by the speaker?
-Blending is a key part of the process where two to four images are combined, leading to the discovery of unexpected elements that can be used to further refine and develop the architectural design.
How does the speaker use specific terms and references to guide the final output of the 'mid-journey' tool?
-The speaker uses specific terms and references such as the type of shot, elemental forms, material references, and color tones to steer the final images towards a desired outcome.
What does the speaker mean by 'zooming out' and thinking more abstractly in the architectural design process?
-Zooming out and thinking more abstractly refers to considering the design in broader terms, similar to how a sculptor might approach a landscape or an artist might use materials, before focusing on specific building types.
What is the role of character modifiers in the 'mid-journey' tool?
-Character modifiers can be anything from a specific magazine style to referencing other photographers or artists, which helps to influence the style and mood of the generated images.
How does the speaker use the 'mid-journey' tool to solve a problem they had before?
-The speaker uses the 'mid-journey' tool to generate a set of base images that address a specific problem they had. They then blend and remix these images to guide the tool towards selecting for certain traits in each iteration.
What is the importance of the aspect ratio in the 'mid-journey' tool?
-The aspect ratio is important as it determines the format of the image. A wide format like 16x9 will yield different results compared to a vertical or detailed shot aspect ratio like 4x5.
How does the speaker perceive the use of AI in the architectural design process?
-The speaker perceives the use of AI as another tool in the design process, allowing for the exploration of more options than previously possible. It is not seen as a replacement for human creativity but as a way to enhance and expand the design possibilities.
What is the final step the speaker takes with the generated images from the 'mid-journey' tool?
-The final step is to upscale the final result and use it in the next part of the process. The speaker also uses anomalies and unique elements from the generated images to push the design forward and consider new opportunities.
Outlines
🎨 Architectural Design Process and Experimentation
The speaker dispels the myth that architecture is a singular act of vision by an architect. Instead, they describe it as a lengthy process starting with an idea and sketch, followed by testing and experimentation. They discuss their recent use of a tool called 'mid-journey,' which they find addictive due to its mix of unpredictability and the thrill of seeing ideas develop. The speaker likens the experience to the old process of watching Polaroid photos develop. They also talk about their approach to using mid-journey, which involves starting with a strong idea and then refining it through a series of iterations. This includes using specific prompts to guide the tool towards the desired outcome, blending images to uncover unexpected results, and then using these as a basis for further design development. The speaker uses the tool not just for creating buildings but also for exploring abstract concepts and forms, referencing other architects and artists to influence the style of the generated images.
🏡 Exploring Dynamic Architectural Elements
The speaker continues to delve into the design process, focusing on the use of exterior elements such as wood screens to create a dynamic and changing facade. They describe how these screens can appear as solid from one perspective but reveal the structure behind as the viewer's position changes, creating a 'parallax effect.' The speaker uses the example of old tobacco barns with slats that open up to illustrate this concept. They emphasize the simplicity of the exterior volume in contrast to the complex interplay between the interior and exterior spaces. The use of mid-journey is presented as a tool that allows for the exploration of numerous design options without attachment to any single outcome. It is a means to iterate and refine ideas without the pressure of producing final architecture, serving as an additional step in the design journey.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Architecture
💡Mid-journey
💡Sketch
💡AI as a Design Tool
💡Blending
💡Elemental Forms
💡Prompt
💡Remixing
💡Style Modifier
💡Aspect Ratio
💡Parallax Effect
Highlights
Architecture is not a singular act but a long process starting with an idea and a sketch.
Experimenting with AI as a new tool in the architectural design process.
Mid-journey AI tool can be addictive, offering a mix of gambling and watching Polaroids develop.
AI can generate multiple building designs, allowing architects to explore a wide range of options.
Using AI to create building types by averaging data, such as generating familiar sauna designs.
The importance of starting with a strong idea when using AI in architecture.
A detailed recipe for using AI in architectural design, starting with an important modifier.
Words closer to the front of the AI prompt have more influence on the final architectural design.
Using elemental forms and specific building terms in AI prompts to guide the design outcome.
Adding material references to AI prompts helps steer the final architectural images.
Incorporating highly specific details and settings in AI prompts for more control over the output.
Character modifiers in AI, such as magazine styles or artists, can influence the architectural design.
The aspect ratio in AI prompts affects the result, with different ratios yielding different outcomes.
A style modifier in AI prompts can encourage creativity, leading to unique architectural designs.
Remixing and reprompting in AI until a satisfactory set of base images is achieved.
Blending multiple AI-generated images to uncover unexpected design elements.
Guiding AI through iterations to select for certain traits, leading to a final design.
Using AI-generated images as a form of sketching to push the design forward.
Examining anomalies in AI images to inspire new design elements, such as a heavy stone base and lighter wood shroud.
Considering the use of AI to create multifunctional spaces that can change and adapt.
AI as a tool for exploring more architectural options than previously possible.
AI in architecture is not about generating finished designs but about aiding the design process.
