Architecture in the AI Era for Research, Practice, and Pedagogy

This book highlights the possibilities arising in architectural design through the integration of Generative AI technologies in the design process. Generative Artificial Intelligence (GAI) tools, methods and techniques are gaining popularity in architectural design, producing illustrations of fictional or future buildings, providing floor plan solutions, simulating human behavior, or providing 3D massing solutions for buildings, among others. Some architects find them useful and inspiring, while others criticize them as superficial or feel threatened by them. Consequently, the question of how to integrate AI into the architectural design process in a synergetic and meaningful way becomes crucial. This book casts light on how such an integration may be possible in architectural research, practice and pedagogy. It explores the latest methods and techniques through fourteen articles by renowned researchers, practitioners and educators focusing on the design process and the arising possibilities and challenges in 2D and 3D generation of spatial design solutions. Our findings provide an overview of original, cutting-edge AI technology articles in the realm of architectural design, as well as insights into how AI might change architectural design processes in the future.

Asterios studied architecture at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki and the RWTH Aachen, completing his postgraduate MA studies in Advanced Architectural Design at the Staedelschule Architecture Class (Frankfurt). Being a registered architect in Greece since 2000, he became a partner at b&k+ (Cologne) and then worked for VMX Architects (Amsterdam). After working for OMA that same year, he founded the architecture and research laboratory a3lab Frankfurt-Thessaloniki and has been planning and realising projects worldwide for over two decades. His work has been published, awarded and exhibited widely. His research, teaching and lecturing experiences include the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, International Islamic University Malaysia, the Izmir University of Economics, the University of Westminster, the University of Edinburgh, Galala University, Columbia University and MIT, among others. He served as a Research Associate at the Darmstadt University of Technology, a Visiting Professor at the Lebanese American University and a Senior Lecturer at Raffles Design Institute Shanghai. Today, he is an Associate Professor for Computational Design at the University of Liverpool, where he also serves as Programme Director for the MA in Advanced Architecture and PGT Lead in the Liverpool School of Architecture. He is a HEA Fellow and a registered Architect in the UK (ARB) and Greece (TEE). He is the author/editor of ten books. His current research activities are centred on AI-assisted design, robotics, digital fabrication, 3D/4D printing, parametric design, generative design, material computation, VR/AR and digital heritage.

Dr. Markus Hudert is a researcher, designer, and educator working at the intersection of generative design, building structures, digital fabrication and material systems. He joined Aarhus University in 2019 and is currently a Tenure Track Assistant Professor at the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering’s Section of Design and Construction. He obtained a Diploma in Architecture in Coburg and finalised his postgraduate studies in Conceptual Design at the Städelschule – Staatliche Hochschule für Bildende Künste in Frankfurt am Main. As a postdoctoral researcher and research fellow, he worked in collaboration with renowned institutions such as the Fraunhofer Institute for Wood Research in Braunschweig, Technische Universität Braunschweig, Aalto University, and the SUTD-MIT International Design Centre at the Singapore University of Technology and Design. His work aims to bridge the gap between architectural and structural design and seeks synergies in combining digital and analogue design environments. Hudert’s current research employs material and assembly-driven design strategies, as well as algorithmic design and fabrication, for the development of modular and circular timber construction systems. Other research topics include additive manufacturing, XR, human-robot and robot-robot collaboration, as well as Artificial Intelligence, and their potential of promoting reuse and circularity in building construction.

Carlos has a background in civil and structural engineering, with several years of industry experience in his native Chile. He holds a PhD in Civil Engineering from the University of Manchester and is a Chartered Civil Engineer (CEng MICE) in the UK. His research spans a broad spectrum of the built environment, with contributions to journals related to architecture, engineering, and construction. He is particularly interested in the transformative potential of data science and artificial intelligence and is currently focused on how these technologies can enhance human creativity within the architectural domain. Alongside his research, he is actively involved in pedagogical initiatives that explore the integration of AI into architectural education, aiming to embed these technologies into design thinking and studio-based learning. He is currently a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy in the UK and a Lecturer in Architectural Engineering and Technology at the University of Liverpool’s School of Architecture, where he teaches across both undergraduate and postgraduate programmes.