INDEX:

• 🕶️ Definition

• 📰 Introduction

• 🎥 Spotlight Video

• ✍️ Featured Article

• 🌐 Spotlight Web

• 📚Three Books to Consider

• 🖌️ Sketch Study

• ✨ Outro

🕶️ Definition:

Arkhitekton (αρχιτέκτων) is an ancient Greek word that literally translates to "master builder" or "chief of works." It was originally used to describe the leading stone mason responsible for the construction of the magnificent temples of Ancient Greece around 500 BC.

📰 Introduction:

Brace yourself cruel world for a paradigm shift! Its been slowing gathering steam down the tracks and now we can foresee a potential impasse. The blueprint of our world, our habitats are being redesigned with many of us absent in the discussion. Arkizet is a newsletter, providing insight while scouring the web looking for and dissecting the transformative revolution reshaping our built environment. Providing a short commentary on news, videos, & software that will help to identify and navigate the evolving techniques, skills, and perspectives of the new world of design and how it intersects with the great profession. We plan to uncover the hidden forces sculpting the microcosm of architecture, equipping you with relevant information for the bold frontiers of this architectural renaissance. Sharpen your tools, expand your vision, and join us in reimagining and investigating what does design entail and its unending dynamic process.

The future of architecture is here. The question is are we destined to fade away, or will the new renaissance of architecture, ignite the soul within with passion and creativity. We are here to explore and find out.

Spotlight Video

🎥 Three Videos to explore:

1. Augmented Reality (AR):

Highlights

• 🏙️ Foster + Partners, a leading architectural and design studio, utilizes AR and VR for visualization.

• 🖼️ Physical models, virtual reality, and augmented reality are used to communicate design ideas.

• 🌐 Unreal Engine is used to create a virtual model of buildings and their contexts.

• 🧠 Custom tools and hardware enable multi-user, 1 to 1 scale VR experiences for stakeholders.

• 🌍 The technology allows for remote collaboration and broader stakeholder participation in the design process

2. Virtual Reality (VR):

3. Artificial Intelligence (AI):

Highlights

• 🏗️ Architect experimenting with AI in architecture

• 🔄 Process involves generating, blending, and remixing images

• 🌌 Embracing the unexpected and exploring new design opportunities

• 🧩 AI allows for exploration of more design options

• 🗺️ AI serves as a waypoint in the design process

Don't just read about the future, become a part of it. Subscribe to our gazette and join our vibrant community exploring the cutting edge of Architecture with the help of AI, VR, and AR. Together, let's unveil the frontiers and build a brighter, more innovative tomorrow.

🎭 Time for a joke:

Q: Why did the architecture student break up with their pencil?

A: It didn't have enough drawing commitment!

✍️ Featured Article

The Rise

The rise of artificial intelligence (AI), virtual reality (VR), and augmented reality (AR) has sparked a fascinating debate within the architectural community: is this the death blow for traditional architecture as we were accustomed, or the dawn of a new, even more vibrant era for the designer and the profession?

On the one hand, some argue that these technologies threaten the very essence of architecture, which is valid statement. Cynics envision a future where AI algorithms churn out cookie-cutter buildings, devoid of the human touch and emotional resonance that define the humanist aspect of architecture. VR and AR, they argue, could further alienate us from the physical world, leading to a sterile, hyper-digitized built environment. My response, this “vision” exists today, if we choose to walk down that road. In respect to cookie cutter buildings what we see is the conventional and unimaginative suburbia and sitting adjacent are chain restaurants devoid of soul. Many of us live in big or small boxes incorporating technology that existed over 100 years ago. This is our enigma we face today.

⚖️ Challenges and Concerns:

Let's take some time to address the the other side of the coin with AI integration and these new derivative “tools” by looking into the reasons that warrant caution and contemplation. As we maneuver through the landscape of artificial intelligence, it is vital to scrutinize potential challenges, ethical dilemmas, and broader societal impacts, and develop an understanding that guides our approach with proper investigation and individual accountability.

• Standardization and Loss of Creativity: AI-powered design tools could potentially homogenize architecture, prioritizing efficiency and functionality over artistic expression.

• Ethical Considerations: Biases in AI algorithms could lead to discriminatory designs that perpetuate social inequalities.

• Human Disconnect: Over-reliance on VR and AR for design and construction could weaken our connection to the physical world and the embodied experience of space.

• Accessibility and Skill Gap: Not all architects or firms will have the resources or skills to adopt these new technologies, potentially widening the gap between the tech-savvy and the rest.

📚Three Books to Consider:

• Virtual and Augmented Reality for Architecture and Design by Elisângela Vilar (Editor), Ernesto Filgueiras (Editor), Francisco Rebelo (Editor)

• Practical Ethics in Architecture and Interior Design Practice by Sue Lani W. Madsen (Author), Dana E. Vaux (Author), David Wang (Author)

• The Creative Cure: How Finding and Freeing Your Inner Artist Can Heal Your Life by Jacob Nordby (Author), Julia Cameron (Foreword)

Full Disclosure: Clicking on these links will take you to Amazon, Arkizet may receive a small commission at no extra cost to you. We recommend products we believe in and may benefit the reader.

🗝️ Opportunities and Benefits:

The allure of the unknown often seems more enticing. Currently, we're in the early stages of discovering the capabilities of these new tools. It's crucial to discern what they are and evaluate the lasting benefits beyond the initial hype, much like the fate of trends such as the Rubik's Cube. The items on this list represent just a fraction of the potential. The world has just begun to reveal its expanded possibilities.

• Enhanced Design and Optimization: AI can assist with tasks like structural analysis, energy efficiency calculations, and material optimization, leading to more sustainable and functional buildings.

• Democratizing Design: VR and AR tools can make design more accessible to the public, allowing for greater participation in the design process.

• Improved Communication and Collaboration: These technologies can bridge the gap between architects, engineers, contractors, and clients, leading to smoother project execution and better outcomes.

• Unleashing Creativity: AI can generate unexpected design possibilities, and VR/AR can help architects explore their ideas in a more immersive and intuitive way.

Ultimately, whether AI, VR, and AR spell the death or rebirth of architecture depends on how we choose to use them. If we approach these technologies with a critical eye and a focus on human-centered design, they have the potential to revolutionize the field for the better.

The key lies in:

• Ensuring ethical development and use of AI algorithms.

• Prioritizing human values and experience in design.

• Bridging the skill gap and making these technologies accessible to all.

• Using these tools to enhance, not replace, the role of the architect.

By embracing the potential of these technologies while remaining true to the core principles of good architecture, we can ensure that the future of architecture is not one of death, but of vibrant rebirth.

It's important to remember that architecture is not just about buildings; it's about creating spaces that inspire, uplift, and connect us to each other and the world around us. AI, VR, and AR can be powerful tools in this endeavor, but they should never be allowed to overshadow the human values and creativity that lie at the heart of great architecture.

So, let's approach this new era with open minds and a spirit of innovation. Let's use these technologies to build a future where architecture is not just alive, but thriving, enriching the lives of generations to come.

🌐 Spotlight Web

Three sites to explore:

1. Artificial Intelligence (AI):

Maket.ai Unleash the creative potential of AI with Maket.ai. This platform generates multiple design options based on your brief, considering site constraints, budget, and desired aesthetics. Think of it as a tireless brainstorming partner, suggesting unexpected and innovative solutions to push your design boundaries.

2. Virtual Reality (VR):

CoSpaces Edu is a web-based platform that empowers users to create, explore, and share virtual reality (VR) experiences with ease. It's specifically designed for educational purposes, making it an engaging tool for designers, and students to visualize and interact with 3D environments in a fun way.

3. Augmented Reality (AR):

IKEA The app uses AR to overlay virtual 3D furniture models onto your real-world space through your smartphone or tablet's camera. This allows you to see how furniture would look and fit in your home before you buy it.

🖌️ Sketch Study

✨ Outro

Thanks for spending a few minutes to read and and visit with us. Most of the content and information was assisted with new AI tools. This newsletter is about exploring and incorporating new technology to help and assist.

Next issue will be looking at future tools that could have a major impact on how we design and put together BIM models. One exciting avenue that will be discussed in AI arena is Text to CAD. We are excited and working on the next issue.

Please send this issue to a friend or colleague if you think they would like to join us in exploring form, function and technology in our new world.

Don't just read about the future, become a part of it. Subscribe to our gazette and join our vibrant community exploring the cutting edge of Architecture with the help of AI, VR, and AR. Together, let's unveil the frontiers and build a brighter, more innovative tomorrow.