Competition brief
Design Competition
Artificial Nature
Key Dates
*All times are in UTC
Prizes
Theme: Artificial Nature
First Place Winner Of AI Architecture Competition 2022 Organized By Arch HIve And Archi Hacks. Associate Member At Institute Of Architects Bangladesh. I'm a graduate architect. I love to work on parametric architectural ideas. It has been always my dream to have some great skills in computational architecture and get higher studies in this field and build my career in parametric-style architecture
Oliver Thomas is a British architect, leading expert in design technology, and archi-preneur, with extensive experience working on projects at the intersection of design, technology, and fabrication around the world. Oliver has worked in London, Hong Kong, and New York for renowned firms such as Aedas, Front Inc, and BIG. He is currently the Design Technology Manager at BIG and Co-founder of Archi-Tech Network. He has been involved in a range of projects that utilizes technology such as BIM, Computation and Immersive methodologies from early concept design through to fabrication.
Guillaume is an architect and engineer working at 180 Degrees, a design-build firm based in Phoenix, Arizona. He is originally from France where he obtained his Master's degree in Architecture and his Engineering degree. He started his career at Knippers Helbig, a structural and facade engineering firm where he helped design complex free-form structures and learned how to use computation to generate geometries and simulate structural behaviors. He merged his love for science and design at Bjarke Ingels Group where he worked as a project lead and a computational designer. He helped identify and incorporate computational tools into the design process, from the early exploration to solving complex constrained design challenges. He is currently incorporating his knowledge in workflows that spans from sketches to construction and fabrication.
Will Garner worked as a BIM Consultant and Architectural Assistant at Frank Reynolds Architects Ltd for over two years. He has also worked as an Architectural Technologist at the same firm for over a year. Before joining Frank Reynolds Architects, Will served as a Civil Engineer Apprentice at BAM Nuttall Ltd for two years. Will received his education from Loughborough University, where he earned a Master of Architecture degree, a Bachelor of Architecture degree with First-Class Honours, and a BSc (Hons) in Architectural Engineering and Design Management.
He is a technology-driven designer and researcher focused on simulation-based design and generative tectonics. He hold a Master of Architectural from the University of Calgary and Master of Architecture & Urbanism from Architectural Association, Design Research Lab. As a designer, his approach is interdisciplinary to interconnect architecture to science, art and industrial design. He have worked internationally as a designer collaborated with pioneer design firms in Canada and the UK on broad range of projects contributing to mid-rise and high-rise mixed-use residential, office, hotels and institutional projects at various scales and design and management of interior projects. He also collaborates with firms as a design consultant, providing solutions for complex morphology and optimized geometrical topology and tectonics using advanced platforms and computational technology in design to provide the user-oriented design.
Yushang Zhang is an accomplished architect with over 11 years of experience in the field. He is currently working at OMA, where he has been since March 2012. Prior to that, Yushang completed an internship at MAD Architects in 2007, where he gained valuable insights into the industry. Yushang obtained his Master of Science in Architecture from Delft University of Technology, and has been a registered architect in the Netherlands since then.
Riccardo Piazzai is an architect and BIM expert, Co-founder of NORDFY, a Process-driven interdisciplinary Creative Agency specializing in AI, BIM, and Design. NORDFY provides educational training and advisory services for SMEs and creative individuals, at the intersection of disruptive technologies and Scandinavian design principles. With a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving and design development, he has experience in design, coordination and management. He is adept at utilizing the latest digital technologies to optimize sustainability impact. He has been working in the computational design and BIM fields since 2017, with a particular focus on data-driven design workflows within a strategic framework. Throughout his career, Riccardo has worked in leading firms in Italy, Japan, and Denmark, leveraging his expertise through the use of cutting-edge tools. He has a strong understanding of Artificial Intelligence and Neural Networks in applied creative/design processes and has developed innovative solutions incorporating AI to optimize and streamline design workflows. He is currently enrolled in a second-level Master’s program in Digital Twin and Artificial Intelligence, focusing on digital technologies and processes in the built environment, at the University of Rome, La Sapienza. With a multidisciplinary approach to problem-solving and design development, he has experience in design, coordination and management. He is adept at utilizing the latest digital technologies to optimize sustainability impact. He has been working in the computational design and BIM fields since 2017, with a particular focus on data-driven design workflows within a strategic framework. Riccardo is currently developing the BIM digital strategy of Schmidt Hammer Lassen Architects, bridging the gap between digital technologies and design practice. Throughout his career, Riccardo has worked in leading firms in Italy, Japan, and Denmark, leveraging his expertise through the use of cutting-edge tools. He has a strong understanding of Artificial Intelligence and Neural Networks in applied creative/design processes and has developed innovative solutions incorporating AI to optimize and streamline design workflows. He is currently enrolled in a second-level Master’s program in Digital Twin and Artificial Intelligence, focusing on digital technologies and processes in the built environment, at the University of Rome, La Sapienza.
1st Place
Whispering Curves : Igloo Pods in White Village
Imagining the future after a cold dystopia, In collaboration with AI, we have designed igloo-shaped buildings with geometrically elegant and flexible curves situated on the white island and village of Antarctica. This architectural design has been made with the optimal material for us to survive in the low-temperature climate change. The igloo-like structure draws inspiration from the traditional Inuit homes, made with ice blocks that provide insulation and warmth, and adapts it to the future world with advanced technology and design. The use of geometry not only creates a visually appealing aesthetic but also allows for efficient use of space and resources. The result is a harmonious blend of tradition, technology, and nature, presenting a hopeful vision of humanity's future in the face of climate change.
Hyejin Shin
March 6, 2023
2nd Place
Hotel REEF
Hotel REEF is a bio-structured building embedded in our oceanic ecosystem. The hotel is built as part of a reef that needed restoration and includes both over and underwater levels. The reef is the hotel and the hotel is the reef. The interior design is inspired by the complex and rich coral structures, and the outer part is an integral and continuous part of the coral reef formation. The hotel is built using 3D printing where the skeleton is used as a platform for coral growth in order to increase biodiversity. A guest in the hotel will feel as if he is surrounded by marine life and is part of a living and growing system. The interior design of marine environments together with the ocean’s natural views will allow a meditative and relaxing atmosphere that only underwater presence can give. I see a growing need for our society to strengthen its connection with nature and how we as humans use architecture to integrate with our surroundings. Bioarchitecture is an approach to designing buildings that are in harmony with nature. This growing field in architecture uses natural elements as part of the design and the main goal is to promote both functional and esthetic design that takes into consideration the urgent need to reduce the carbon footprint of human life. Hotel Reef will allow new marine life to thrive as well as help reestablish the bond between humans and nature.
Opal Naomi Markus Ilan
March 11, 2023
3rd Place
Journeying through the Nexus of Aquatic Futurism, Paleobiology, Marine Life, and Ecological Consciousness
This odyssey offers a profound opportunity to reflect on our relationship with the natural world, as we embark on a quest to merge the worlds of aquatic futurism, paleontology, and environmental stewardship. By harnessing cutting-edge technology, we have the power to protect and save endangered marine life. As we journey together, let us cultivate a deeper understanding of our interconnectedness with all life and the responsibility we bear to protect it.
Samuvel Benhursha Bernadsha ThanaEdison
March 8, 2023
4th Place
Iridescence Hotel: A Futuristic Oasis of Bubbles and Light
The Iridescence Hotel is a futuristic hotel that takes inspiration from the organic and playful forms of soap bubbles. Designed with an emphasis on natural light, the hotel features translucent structures that allow light to flow throughout the space, creating an ethereal and dreamlike atmosphere. Upon entering the hotel, guests will be transported to a world of bubbles. The lobby features a soaring atrium with a series of bubbly forms that seem to float in mid-air. The hotel's rooms and suites are equally unique, with curvaceous walls and floor-to-ceiling windows that offer stunning views of the surrounding cityscape. The hotel also has various amenities and services, including a rooftop bar with panoramic views, a fitness center, a quite chillout zone, and a variety of dining options featuring fresh, locally-sourced ingredients.
Milan Mitrović
March 13, 2023
5th Place
"Junkspace": Designing for a Layered World
September 2022 to December 2022 The Living Systems Studio asked “what is design in the near-ish future?” For me, design — and ultimately “Junkspace” — is the product of cross-disciplinary collaboration that explores spatial design through architecture and computational methods. This project was an experiment integrating AI methods in a traditional design process. This included generating heat maps and transience maps of DTLA, parameterized floor plans, and a digital material bank. This approach used the following AI methods: object oriented programming through multiple languages, scripted design applications, and data manipulation and visualization. “Junkspace” is inspired by time as it relates to the seasons, and Rem Koolhaas’s Junkspace, by the same name. Much like the natural world, humans live in constant overlapping systems that directly affect our way of life. Through studying people’s natural rhythms, as an individual, a group, and at the urban scale, this speculative design speaks to 1) increasing urban density in Downtown Los Angeles, and 2) creating small and overlapping interiors generated through computational design, especially in space that isn’t necessarily desirable to take over.
Kait Reynolds
March 11, 2023
6th Place
Spizzerinctum 0.1
Spizzerinctum - the will to succeed: vim, energy, ambition a project about unnatural nature The year is 2150. Humans live in dual Metaverse-like online space and digitally augmented built environment. Governments have split into two groups in their global missions. Our efforts to optimize nature are focused on dealing with consumerism-induced environmental crisis on planet Earth, on one hand, and populating Mars, on the other hand. Here I have decided to take an exclusively futuristic look at the possible advanced ways we would be dealing with our environment 127 years from now. First, we have a vast digital platform which encompases all the built environment on earth that we continue to inhabit. We control and navigate everything online with minimum LOD 400. As we walk outdoors we would wear special AR glasses that would help us see the environment - not in the way we have 'abandoned' it but the way we have augmented it and visually-optimized it in our online BIM platform. Second, we now can use artificially created bacteria and whole living ecosystems that would digest plastic and other unnatural materials/fabrics to help us improve the metabolism of our planet. Multidisciplinary teams of architects, BIM and AI specialists, engineers and biologists have designed countless closed spaces in crowded urban areas - from corner booths to big edifices. These controlled places are populated with artificial ecosystems that recycle plastic and other previously non-recyclable materials. Part of these ecosystems are designed in a way that they would thrive well only with temperatures below 0 degrees Celsium, which would give them frosty winter look. These are so-called mini-museums of the lost season (winter). Of course, each and every Spizzerinctum booth/ museum/ building is augmented and accessible as online gallery/ public space. Their appearance is generated in unique way with the help of AI algorhythms, so that in real life they can be seen as massive sculptures and art masterpieces through the lens of Metaverse glasses. Inspiration: Foucaults concept of heterotopia; VESPER BIRD BOX CUBE2: A HUPERCUBE A QUIET PLACE 2
Aysen Sapundzhi
March 13, 2023
Honorable Mention
Artificial Nature - When nature meets design
The idea of nature is an abstraction, varying in cultures, places, periods and context. It has the multiplicity of processes and things which is held under a bigger umbrella known as NATURE. According to Frank Lyold Wright, nature is the manifestation of God, where everyone can learn from this body of God known as Nature rather than just imitating the form of the building as a flower or a tree which is natural and its properties can't be controlled by humans. So nature in architecture is seen as a process or quality which is different to all the practitioners giving a demonstration of their understanding of this term of “Nature”. So my idea was that the building could be a fusion of nature and architecture where the power of Mother Earth is not just limited to the four walls. I took inspiration from various forms of nature like water, forest, coral reef as well as the concept of biophillic design and used those in my prompts to generate these ideas. I tried fusing nature with architecture which is not only practically buildable but also magnificent to experience. This fusion depicts the beauty of artificial nature in its true form.
SAYANDIPA PANDA
March 5, 2023
Honorable Mention
Organic Factories
Authors: Daniel Abraham Gandica Hana Čičević This architectural project explores a future in which plants are manufactured in factories controlled by Artificial Intelligence, as opposed to being grown from seeds. The project focuses on the concept of an almost post-human world, in which plants have taken over three abandoned factories located in different climate zones, and repurposed them for their own use. The design of the factories is an exploration of how plants could inhabit such spaces and how they could be adapted for their needs. The project also looks at how the AI could be programmed to control the environment of the factory, including temperature, light and water levels. The factories and the plants create a symbiotic relationship where nature and architecture not only co-exist, but rather co-depend.
Hana Cicevic
February 23, 2023
Honorable Mention
Green biomorphosis
"Nature" and "artificial" are often seen as two opposing concepts. "Nature" generally refers to the physical world and its phenomena, including living organisms and non-living materials, which are not created by humans. "Artificial," on the other hand, refers to anything that is made or produced by human beings, including machines, structures, and systems. However, in recent times, the border between the natural and the artificial has become increasingly blurred. Many of the things we create are inspired by the natural world, and we often try to imitate or replicate natural systems in our technological innovations. For example, biomimicry is a design approach that takes inspiration from nature to create sustainable and efficient solutions. Furthermore, as humans transform and impact the natural world through our activities, it can be argued that many landscapes and ecosystems have become "artificialized." For example, cities, highways, and industrial areas have eliminated natural habitats and altered the composition of the environment.
Facundo Serrano
February 20, 2023
Honorable Mention
Desert Botanical Sanctuary
The scorching sun beats down mercilessly upon the dry, barren desert, casting its fiery rays upon the parched and lifeless landscape. In this harsh and unforgiving place, the few remaining plants struggle to survive, clinging tenaciously to their existence amidst the arid terrain. Yet, despite the unrelenting brutality of the desert, a glimmer of hope illuminates the horizon. Inspired by the resilience of the enduring desert roses and hardy desert stones, various structures are proposed to nurture and foster the growth of the desert's struggling flora. Imitating the natural landscape, the resistant structures offer a sanctuary for the local flora. A vibrant and thriving space, surrounded by the dry, lifeless terrain. A lush oasis in the midst of the arid desert. In this magical place, the architecture and vegetation are intertwined in a beautiful dance of growth and harmony. The plants proliferate and flourish under the gentle embrace of the architecture, creating a unique scenery that transforms in a truly enchanting way with the passing seasons. Here, the resilience and beauty of nature are celebrated. A sanctuary where a once consigned-to-oblivion landscape becomes a place of wonder and awe.
Delia Sancha Guijarrubia
March 12, 2023
Honorable Mention
Sequoia Treehouse
A modern treehouse on a sequoia tree in gothic style is a unique concept that combines modern architecture with the rustic charm of a treehouse and the ornate design elements of Gothic style. Sequoia trees are known for their immense size and height, making them an ideal platform for building treehouses. A modern treehouse built on a sequoia tree could incorporate contemporary design elements such as sleek lines, open spaces, and modern materials like glass and steel.
Andrew Pavlov
March 12, 2023
Honorable Mention
Treehouses in different situatios
The Huge Treehouse between waterfalls is an architectural project that was designed by me with Midjourney. The treehouse is located in a scenic location and is made out of natural materials, such as wood and steel. It was built specifically for tourists who want to visit the area and see the beautiful waterfall and flora and fauna…
Torsten Skoetz
March 5, 2023
Honorable Mention
Organic Fragmentation: Blending the Artificial and the Organic
By: Daniel Abraham Gandica and Hana Čičević Organic Fragmentation: Blending the Artificial and the Organic explores the symbiotic relationship between nature and architecture and how the two merge into abstract architectural forms. The series of explorations aim to examine different ways in which architecture and nature can co-exist and influence each other. The elements of nature were used to break up the forms of the architecture into pieces, creating unique and dynamic shapes that mimic the irregularity of nature. The results are abstract sculpture-like structures. This project demonstrated how architecture could coexist with nature and served as inspiration for future projects seeking to find a balance between the built environment and the natural world.
Hana Cicevic
February 24, 2023
Honorable Mention
Windproof terracotta
The concept of a Terracotta 3D-printed building in the desert with a windproof facade involves constructing a building using terracotta material that has been 3D-printed, and incorporating a facade that is designed to protect the building from the harsh desert winds.
Andrew Pavlov
March 12, 2023
Honorable Mention
Touch the Moon
The concept of architecture on the Moon involves designing structures that can withstand the harsh lunar environment while providing safe and sustainable habitats for humans. Due to the unique conditions on the Moon, such as low gravity and extreme temperature fluctuations, architecture on the Moon must be carefully planned and constructed.
Andrew Pavlov
March 12, 2023
Honorable Mention
Beehives in New York
Beehives in New York, is a residential concept of Hexagonal living spaces inspired by Honeycombs. These portable, prefabricated modular spaces are designed to plug into the city and are meant to create a new style of urban environment. This means that they can be customized to fit the needs of each individual and adapt to any existing dense urban fabric. The powerful principles of the now-demolished Nakagin Capsule Tower still resonate throughout the architecture community. Through the power of AI, these beehives, are conceptualized as a homage to the classic capsules in Tokyo, and are now discovering their new home and form in Manhattan, New York.
Harshdeep Arora
March 13, 2023
Honorable Mention
Sunset Symphony: A Concert Hall Inspired by Nature and Powered by AI
Step into a world where the beauty of nature and the power of technology collide to create an unforgettable concert experience. The facade of my concert hall is not just any ordinary exterior, but a magnificent spectacle of light that brings the stunning beauty of a sunset to life. The AI algorithms programmed within the facade analyze real-time data from the sky, including the sun's position, cloud cover, and intensity of light, and subsequently, change colors and patterns in sync with these natural phenomena. The vibrant hues of orange, pink, and purple blend seamlessly, emulating the mesmerizing display of colors during sunset. ------ As you step inside, the immersive experience continues. The natural acoustics of the concert hall is nothing less than extraordinary, with the strategic placement of natural materials such as wood, stone, and natural fibers enhancing the sound quality of the performances. The layout of the space ensures that the sound reflection and diffusion are optimized, providing an exceptional audio experience for all. The immersive projections of different landscapes and wildlife add another dimension to the experience, transporting attendees to various natural environments, including the rainforest or ocean floor. ------ The concert hall's aesthetic design is inspired by the captivating beauty of nature, and every detail has been meticulously thought out to evoke this theme. ------- This concert hall is not just any ordinary building. It is an extraordinary space where the natural world and the technological world intertwine, bringing about an unforgettable experience for all. The harmony of nature and music is brought to life in this space, and attendees are left with a sense of wonder and a renewed appreciation for the beauty of the natural world.
Bryce Merrill
March 14, 2023
Honorable Mention
Fungal Growth Architecture
A skyscraper designed to look like fungal growth would be a bold and innovative statement that challenges traditional ideas about what a building should look like and how it should function. It would showcase the potential of biomimicry in architecture and inspire new ideas about how we can create sustainable and eco-friendly structures that are both beautiful and functional. This design incorporates elements of a mushroom, such as a cap, and features asymmetrical shapes that mimic the organic form of fungi. The exterior of the building is covered in a material that resembles the texture of the intricate network of fungal mycelium. Meanwhile, the design's interior maximizes natural light and ventilation with spaces arranged to promote air flow and minimize the need for artificial lighting. Lastly, The building could incorporate sustainable features like rainwater harvesting and on-site composting to further emphasize its connection to nature.
Christopher Ortiz
March 14, 2023
Honorable Mention
Arboreal Learning: A Classroom among the Trees
By: Hana Čičević and Daniel Abraham Gandica The architectural project titled "Arboreal Learning: A Classroom Among the Trees" is an innovative approach to teaching technology and computer science to students, in the shape of an educational campus imbedded in the canopies of a forest's trees. The classrooms are designed to be embedded on trees, and the unique geodesic dome shapes are used to create spaces that merges with nature. The architecture draws inspiration from the geometry of the trees and the surrounding environment. The project highlights the symbiosis between nature and architecture, where the classrooms are designed to coexist with the trees and enhance the natural surroundings. This unique classroom design creates a learning environment that is both innovative and inspiring, as students can learn in a space that fosters a deep connection with the natural world.
Daniel Abraham
March 6, 2023
Honorable Mention
Alive (Breathing Structures)
Instead of designers trying to mimic natural beauty, could we not develop & design around pre-existing natural beauty? I know this is a lot to ask, but it takes me back to when I was a kid. I thought, all I needed was a good tree & a few planks of wood to build a home. But what an incredible home. A living, breathing, growing home. When I read the brief, I thought back to the tree house. Instead of adding nature to a building, I asked ai to flip the script. Add a building to nature. To design & adapt to nature.A structure that is now, like back in the trees, living & breathing. A structure where elements grow & we live in harmony around them. A natural & organic element embedded into a built environment. Alive & breathing.
James Counihan
March 13, 2023
Honorable Mention
Liquid gold
The concept of a brewery called "Liquid Gold" made from golden aluminum panels involves creating a visually stunning and unique space that reflects the premium and high-quality nature of the brewery's products. The brewery would be constructed using golden aluminum panels, a material that has a warm and inviting appearance, and can be easily customized and shaped.
Andrew Pavlov
March 12, 2023
Honorable Mention
City Centre for Tourism
The design was influenced by futuristic architectures and attraction for tourism. The color, shape, and glass were the key elements to making a beautiful structure. The surrounding environment should complement the architecture with open space and natural elements of light and water.
Jon Souvannasot
February 22, 2023
Honorable Mention
Principles of an intelligent responsive architecture
By utilising the principles present within the natural environment, this can provide us with a new emerging field of bio-design, a link between the built and natural world, thus creating new methods of design intent and an evolutionary stage of responsive architecture. This gives us the opportunity to explore new ways of transforming the ecological imprint. This would mean a more biodiverse, contemporary and technologically advanced material culture. This would predominantly question the creative opportunities induced by the appropriation of a profoundly more intelligent metamorphosis of the built infrastructure. Concepts will be focused on the biomimetic and bioluminescent properties of these structures.
Michalis Krinou
March 3, 2023
Honorable Mention
Nature Deconstruction
The project explores deconstruction as a new form inspired by nature. The building is composed of modular pieces that can be assembled and disassembled, allowing for a variety of different configurations. The exterior is composed of a series of overlapping triangles, which references the shape of a tree's canopy.
Yu-Hao Chen
February 24, 2023
Honorable Mention
Sports Resorts
Introducing “Sports Resorts” An imaginary collaboration between Nike and Marriott Hotels to create a series of sport themed hotels and resorts. Guests would have the opportunity to train with some of their favourite athletes while also enjoying a relaxing vacation. Imagine a tennis match with Serena Williams, or golfing with Rory McIlroy or learning to surf with Kolohe Andino. Then relaxing at the Spa, taking a dip in the pool, or sunbathing at the beach.
Wilson Costa
March 2, 2023
Honorable Mention
Pine mall
This mall is generated with AI, this design made from grid shell structures carrying green roof should resemble future perspective of architecture, from the solid roots of pine trees we get this beautiful structure that doesn’t take from the functionality of the mall but add more to the aesthetic part which is what malls lack in our present. Malls are often the busiest buildings, they carry many important functions, from grocery shops, to play halls, to restaurants, and many other functions therefore and since the lack of credits in aesthetic aspect because of the focus on functionality, aiming to create this semi vertical semi horizontal structures can create sense of emphasis on those huge structures
Abdulrahman Hikmat
March 6, 2023
Honorable Mention
Bali | Bamboo Houses
“Bali Houses” series are inspired by the unique landscape and bamboo architecture of Bali. This project reflects how architecture and nature blends together in an intimately connected way. Terracing integrated into the design allows for a great overlook of the green rice terraces and lush landscapes. Openings allow air, natural sounds and light into this organic spaces.
Ebrar Eke
February 9, 2023
Honorable Mention
The Beauty of Pollution
My project developts from a provocative idea that wants to be an eye opener to the current environmental situation: Oceans and Seas are being attacked by pollution and waste material that destroy entire living ecosystem. Water is life and we are destroying it. The connection between marine creatures and pollution is created by the image of the jellyfish. Predatores which feed from this marine creature, often mistakenly prey on floating plastc bags because their shape and appereance resemble a jellyfish. This fatal error brings an end to their life. My project is a Marine Museum that wants to resemble the image of a Jellyfish, an extremely important animal for the ecosystem. Installation are all made from plastc waste found in the ocean and arranged in such a way that they resemble sea creatures, in order to better understand the difficulties that marine animals face daily. The museum illumination takes inspiration from a natural phenomenon: bioluminescence; which is typical of some species of jellyfish.
Diana Tortolato
March 11, 2023
Honorable Mention
A Forest Reverie
He was exhausted, as if he had carried the weight of the world on his shoulders for an eternity. In the middle of an ordinary morning, he impulsively grabbed his haversack and decided to venture into the forest. It was an unexplainable urge, as if he was drawn by an invisible force that he couldn't resist. He didn't know where he was going, nor why. He simply followed his intuition. As he walked, the trees grew thicker, their leaves whispering to each other like conspirators. The noises of civilization gradually faded away, replaced by the soft chirping of birds and the distant gurgle of a stream. The scent of nature overwhelmed him, a mix of damp soil and fresh greenery that filled his nostrils. The flora and fauna were alien to him, unknown and yet strangely familiar. He walked on narrow, muddy paths, admiring the vibrant flowers and the waterfall that cascaded into a crystal-clear lake. And then he saw it: a treehouse-like structure, an oasis in the middle of the woods. It was as if the structure had always been there, waiting for him. He climbed up and lay in the hammock-like structure, looking up at the sky. In the darkness, fireflies appeared, dancing in the air around him. He was at once afraid and fascinated. The next morning, as he made his way back to civilization, the memory of his journey through the forest began to blur and fade, like a dream upon waking. He questioned if it had truly happened, or if it was all a mere figment of his imagination. The line between reality and fantasy had become so thin, so indistinguishable. Was it all a fleeting trick of the mind? A momentary lapse into a world beyond his own? He couldn't say for certain, but the experience had left an indelible mark on his soul. [All of the images presented here were generated using Stable Diffusion, and post-processing was performed using Affinity Photo.]
Abul Fazal Mahmudun Nobi
March 8, 2023
Honorable Mention
Biophilic Air-Purification Towers
In a city ravaged by pollution, new technology emerges as a solution to deal with the environmental crisis. Artificial nature, cybernetics and biotechnology are three key areas being explored to create a sustainable living environment for our inhabitants. Artificial nature involves creating green spaces and natural habitats within an urban environment using techniques that replicate the natural world. In polluted cities, these spaces help purify the air, provide natural habitats for wildlife, and create a more comfortable and healthy living environment. Cybernetics integrates technology and biology to create more efficient and effective systems. This may include using sensors and data analytics to monitor and manage environmental conditions and developing more sophisticated methods for waste management and resource allocation. Biotechnology is the application of engineering principles to biological systems. In polluted cities, this includes developing genetically modified plants that can absorb pollutants from the air and creating artificial trees that generate electricity from solar panels. A skyscraper visualized as a biophilic air purification tower with glass walls that let in natural light is an example of how these technologies can be combined to create a sustainable living environment. Towers not only serve as beautiful design features, they also serve a functional purpose, purifying the air and creating a healthier living environment for its residents. Taken together, these new technologies offer hope for creating a better future in a world ravaged by pollution and the environmental crisis.
Xperimenting Architecture
March 13, 2023
Honorable Mention
House of Sierpinski
What was the starting point of your project? The starting point of this project was exploring what a house made out of Sierpinski’s Triangle would be like. This project was primarily about getting a feel for a more structured approach to using AI imaging in the workflow of a creative design project (specifically in the context of architecture). What were the concepts and inspirations for this project? In 2018-2019, for my MArch course, I spent several months studying fractal geometry. The course was designed around exploring fractals in the context of the relationship between emerging fabrication tools and parametric design. Although the subject is highly abstract in nature, I find it quite interesting to explore how it could affect architectural technologies. Tell us about your design process! Being new to AI imaging, the process was heavily driven by curiosity. With such a powerful tool, it is easy to quickly get lost in any number of rabbit holes. It is like working with someone who is the very best at what they do, but they do not speak the same language as you. There is a lot of trial and error, but I found that the ‘blend’ tool, in particular, allowed me to have a surprisingly high degree of control over the output after many generations. Tell us about your experience designing with AI tools? And how did it help create the project? I have no prior experience with AI imaging tools, but I was able to draw a lot of experience from my computational design background. Like Rhino’s Grasshopper, it feels like a tool that simply allows you to explore ideas and iterate with various parameters very quickly. What other software did you use to curate your designs? Although I am very confident with my Photoshop skills, I opted not to edit the output images manually very much. I think that forcing myself to learn how to be more precise with the tool is more interesting for now. What is the key feature of this project that you want to talk about more? It's a super hard balance trying to create geometry that is interesting and true to the original geometry, while also creating architecture that would be nice to experience. The more computationally interesting ones tend to be cooler but not welcoming. I also find it tough to not get too obsessive about it, as so many of the results can be taken in very different and interesting directions. Conclusion: AI imaging has really exploded over the last few months, and I feel like I’m a bit late to the party, but particularly recently, people have been getting a lot more controlled and quality output out of MJ. There's a strong argument to be made that Midjourney architecture is just eye-candy; it's purely form over function. On one hand, it enables anyone to discover, combine, and iterate on high beautiful imagery at unprecedented rates. But it doesn't really do anything in the way of real-world problem-solving, which I believe should always be a key aspect of architectural design. I believe it is comparable to any technology that has come before it: ultimately it is just a tool. But it is also a ridiculously powerful tool, and I struggle to describe with words just how insane these AI tools are getting; it feels like genuine magic. MJ as a piece of image software is out of this world in its own right, but I find it particularly interesting thinking about what changes it will have on the architecture industry, whether people like it or not.
Nick Leung
March 13, 2023
Honorable Mention
Inspiration is Nature
This series focuses on Midjourney's questioning of what for him was natural and organic. The result was the generation of images whose main objective is to find the right and harmonious balance between built architecture and its surroundings. Can architecture be alive? Solving strategies are applied for the good of the community and not the individual, aimed at the well-being of the population for a better management of living spaces and areas. Architecture that is inspired by and replicates models spontaneously proposed by nature to transform them into answers and solutions for society. Conscious and sustainable bio-architecture that aims to convert local materials into articulated living structures. In this series, generated by MidJourney, we will see the reinterpretation and study of structures typical of places that have always been inhabited. Generally we focus on the new generation of models in urban and rural areas. Instead, my aim has been to formulate new visions of architecture built in areas with difficult climatic and territorial conditions for human settlement. Bioclimatic rules applied to the typical architecture of places is the main goal of sustainable design.
Alessandro Peritore
December 14, 2022
Honorable Mention
The search for serenity
The narrative of the project follows the turning steps from the 80/20% concrete/green city of today to the profound blending of nature with the built environment, shown backwards. In the search for optimality, the known shapes of nature enlighten the solutions. With absolute efficiency, the serene geometries define the convergence limit of each intelligent algorithm with the ultimate goal of finding optimality.The project leads the reader to a sequence of images, correlated to stages of evolution towards the greater cause: harmony. Take what you have and transform, both yourself and your home. Start with the roofs, plant seeds, let a forest grow on top of them and turn the underneath building into a vegetal infrastructure. The old buildings, the city we know today, are now the soil and civilization is rising above it, both physically and metaphorically. Plant a tree and then plant your home. Let it grow as a fruit, hanging from the branches. Natural means alive. Nature-oriented architecture refers to buildings that grow, learn and evolve. Let them outgrow the classic term of a building and transform into artificial nature, where artificial means guided by humanity.
Florina Pantilimonescu
March 13, 2023
Honorable Mention
THE BIG BLOOM
"The Big Bloom" is a hotel located amidst a picturesque landscape of Sakura trees. I aspire to create a unique hotel in the heart of a biophilic urban setting, where guests can experience a dreamlike ambiance during their stay. Given the popularity of flower viewing or "hanami," many visitors would likely choose to stay at our hotel for the chance to appreciate the fleeting beauty of the flowers and enjoy the warm weather. One of the reasons for the popularity of cherry blossom lies in their symbolism. They are said to be like clouds as they bloom all at once and hang above the trees as if to shroud them in mist. Then – just like clouds – they suddenly disappear. Through this, they have come to symbolize ephemerality or transient nature of life. This reflects a longstanding of Buddhist concept in Japanese culture known as “mono no aware,” or roughly, “the pathos of things,” which recognizes both the beauty and mortality inherent in life.
LIM PUI SAN
March 13, 2023
Honorable Mention
The Grid
My goal with this work was to create an experience of using AI in an architect's creative process. The concept was of architecture possible in the next 200 years, so I created the concept of The Grid. The Grid is basically a virtual universe (like metaverse) where people, voluntarily, decided to abandon their physical lives to live in a virtual universe, where everything is customized and each person lives a reality that directly corresponds to what they most want, like a perfect world, or almost. At the same time, part of society decided to oppose this, isolating itself in self-sustaining cities, where people disconnected from technology and live like we did about 10 years ago. In this way, distributing themselves in a more sustainable way of life and in a way to face the problems and not run away from them. The idea of the Grid acts as an expanded simulacrum of our current reality, where what we see and what we don't see depends on algorithms , where the main selection factor is to make the user spend as much time as possible connected and thus collect data that is later sold. In such a way, it seems natural that in view of an imminent future in this scenario, some opposition to the status quo will arise. I represented it by using Ai images and 3D models in a 3D rendering in Lumion. The text is important to me, as I think I can express myself better by writing. By the same token, I really enjoyed creating images using the AI's because I can use my best form of communication to create images. For this project, I used several AI's such as Mid Journey, Dall-E 2, Stable Diffusion, Coherent (not used in this presentation here) and AI Image Enlarger, after that I polished the images in the Photoshop. At the end of the text, I tell my conclusion about the experience of using AI as a design tool. To carry out this work I used a technique of creating images in various artificial intelligences and then refining them with the Image to Image tool of Stable Diffusion, thus achieving much more realistic and detailed images. (I'm from Brazil so, I want to apologize for my english).
Matheus Rudo Antoniassi Pereira de Oliveira
February 10, 2023
Honorable Mention
Growing Artificial Nature
Using mycelium to create artificial nature architecture integrates natural elements into construction. Mycelium, the root structure of fungi, can be used to create strong and durable building materials that are also sustainable and biodegradable. The project aims to develop a prototype structure that demonstrates the viability of this approach and showcases the unique properties of mycelium-based materials.
Yu-Hao Chen
March 13, 2023
Honorable Mention
Hidden in the Sand Hotel
This is a concept luxury hotel located in the middle of the Sahara desert where the guests can connect with the desert nature without any distractions close to them. The inspiration for the building is the serene and isolated environment which is special to the desert. The organic shape of the building is made to represent the sand dunes around the hotel and blend in with nature, to be hidden in the sand. This way, the hotel exists without disturbing the pure and familiar look of the desert. The design is not only aesthetic but also functional. The local flora is implemented on the roof of the building so that the shades would help the building cool down during the hot summer days. Adding to that, the bulges around the heatproof windows and doors prevent direct sunlight from entering the building without blocking the stunning views of the endless desert. The recessed silhouette of the hotel utilizes the shadow that could be created and offers the guests outdoor areas that are blocked from the sun. Society tends to think of nature just as forests and oceans, however; they miss the very important and widespread element of it, deserts. This implementation of natural elements to the sand dune-inspired hotel brings uniqueness and highlights where people actually belong. The location of the Sahara desert is really important because the continent of Africa is the place scattered across the rest of the globe, it is our origin.
Vural Kaptanoğlu
March 10, 2023
Honorable Mention
Simple A-frame in difficult Landscape
The concept for an A-frame house on a waterfall in Norway involves building a unique and stunning residential structure in a picturesque location. The house would be constructed with an A-frame design, featuring steeply sloping sides that meet at the top to form a peak. The house would be situated on a waterfall, allowing the occupants to enjoy breathtaking views of the natural surroundings.
Andrew Pavlov
March 12, 2023
Honorable Mention
Parametric Praying Room
The concept of a parametric wooden praying room in Russian Orthodox style involves designing a space that is both visually striking and spiritually uplifting. The praying room would be constructed entirely out of wood, with a parametric design that reflects the intricate details and patterns found in traditional Russian Orthodox architecture.
Andrew Pavlov
March 12, 2023
Honorable Mention
Artificial Nature of the Mundane
The Mundane registers qualities that often go unnoticed or are deliberately hidden because they are deemed unfamiliar and thus undesirable. But it is precisely in these qualities where we are attempting to locate a new departure point for design which can tolerate the “strange”, and incorporate it as an active and relevant participant in the design process. By the means of hybridizing nature with existing mundane urban elements, parts that are usually unseen to people are now exposed, and become the new norm of design. New York City is densely developed and highly artificial - The city's urban landscape is largely man-made, with towering skyscrapers, bridges, highways, and other structures dominating the skyline and tunnels, subways spreading out underground. Even Central Park is no natural landscape. Hence, New York City is chosen as the testing ground for the project. A number of “strange” categorical blends are examined together with artificial nature and then used to formulate the new norm. Artificial nature By hybridizing specific natural elements - metal, rock, flower, moss and tree together into one single form of object contributes to the artificial qualities. Traces of these natural elements will still be seen but they are not in their most natural form. Also, to further exaggerate the idea, Artist Takashi Murakami’s super flattened flowers with smiley faces are extracted by AI to contribute to the artificial quality of flowers.
Phoebe Leung
March 12, 2023
Honorable Mention
Honorable Mention
Artificial Nature Sustainable Construction
We research and study the different aspects of sustainable construction. Learned about the capture and retention of moisture, maximizing surface area for growth, and self-shading to accelerate the bio-colonization of photosynthetic consortiums on building surfaces. With this knowledge, we began to explore form-finding techniques that could incorporate these essential elements into her project. Experimented with various designs, using biomimicry to create moisture transport systems and maximize surface area while maintaining structural integrity. We also created self-shading systems that would block direct sunlight and promote the growth of photosynthetic organisms on building surfaces.
Yu-Hao Chen
March 13, 2023
Honorable Mention
Petals
My investigations revolve around my overarching fascination with effeminate architecture. This involves the artful combination of delicate and fleeting elements, such as flower petals, with the enduring building body, with the goal of eliciting a sense of contrast that evokes complex emotions in the viewer, including the feeling of the familiar but also preternatural.
sona gevorkyan
March 8, 2023
Honorable Mention
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