3 minute read
Pioneering the role of the Architect
“They often say that Architects should mainly focus on design activities, but with that kind of attitude we are, in my opinion, going to lose our market position completely” (Bos-de Vos, M. et al, 2018).
The pioneering professional in Architectural practice are those that understand the need for the evolution of the Architect and aim high in their approach to tackling current issues surrounding their position in the construction industry. A study carried out by Bos-de Vos, M., et al (2018) showed Architects that engage in external practices outside of the traditional profession were successful in finding opportunities in different fields of practice. “They argued that they could regain control and have more impact by moving beyond their established professional work and adopting a different mindset” (Bos-de Vos, M. et al, 2018).
Artificial Intelligence
Live Data Management System
Park Maintenance
Electricity Management
Information
Building Systems Management
Artificial Intelligence (AI), is unfamiliar territory for the present-day Architect and would appear more appropriate within close reach of computer scientists or software engineers. However, this emerging technology can, and should, be harnessed by the pioneering Architect. “AI’s capabilities of pattern finding, design optimisation and risk identification offers ways to identify and mitigate unforeseen risks and amplify opportunities” (Ryan et al, 2019). Such opportunities that this technology could bring is of a very high value to not only the Architect, but the industry in its entirety.
“The next wave in the era of computing will be outside the realm of the traditional desktop” (Gubbi, et al, 2013). This statement is referring to the vision of future technologies surround data manifestation, where communication systems are embedded in our urban environments, taking live data readings and managing them within a single network, the Internet of Things (IoT). Further to the manifestation of data, an Artificial Intelligence system can utilize the IoT’s “ability to measure, infer and understand environmental indicators, from delicate ecologies and natural resources to urban environments” (Gubbi, et al, 2013) [Fig.19]. This data driven design can have an incredible impact on the holistic design of our urban environment, yet, this can also be harnessed by the Architect as an extension of their expertise, to improve efficiencies within their workflow.
Air Quality/ Pollution
Automation Risk evaluation
BIG Data
Mobility Patterns
Connectivity
Limit values
Traffic Management
Waste Management
Reactive Solutions
Internet of Things
Looking beyond the immediate needs of clients and towards a future, long term relationship between the Architect and the client, engaging with AI technology is a means of improving the Architect-client relationship and delivering better architecture by providing efficiencies in workflow, concept design and design optimisation. Exploiting access to urban data from IoT sensors, an Architect employed AI system can “complete increasingly complex tasks: quicker, cheaper and better than traditional means” (Ryan, et al, 2019). In turn, a reduction in time for the Architect, a reduction in cost for the client and a macro-level impact on the role of the Architect in the construction industry will take place. This will have a positive effect on project management, planning decisions and will enhance client-user relationships (Ryan et al, 2019). Value will in turn be added to the role of the Architect, should the pioneer Architect breakaway from a traditional role and expand their scope of work into the world of data manipulation in urban design (Bos-de Vos, M. et al, 2018). Bernstein (2019), declares this “a second machine age” and that we can also expect algorithms to soon learn a lot about the Architectural profession and its tasks. This, however, poses the question, “What does this mean for the future of our work?” (Bernstein, 2019). In a fully automated era of professionalism, will the once regained value of the Architect cross over into the value of the machine?
“Two possibilities immediately present themselves: Augmentation, or elimination” (Bernstein, 2019).
Which is the best for the future empowerment of the Architect?
Augmentation
[Fig.20] Augmentation vs Elimination
