Current Challenges Facing Modern Architects
This September 2023 piece from Imagineer lists twenty challenges facing architects today, then argues that new technology can help address them.
The challenges range widely. Several concern the environment and resilience: designing carbon-neutral or carbon-negative buildings, cutting waste on site, fitting renewable energy into designs, and making structures able to withstand earthquakes, floods and hurricanes. Others reflect pressure on cities and housing, such as making the most of small spaces and vertical building as urban populations grow, providing affordable and fair housing where prices are soaring, designing for an ageing population, and creating inclusive public spaces. The list also covers balancing the preservation of historic buildings with modern amenities, keeping up with new materials and methods, using augmented reality, virtual reality and AI, and rethinking buildings after the pandemic with health and remote working in mind. Further items include the effect of design on mental health and wellbeing, biophilic design, the ethics of data-driven smart cities, the role of architecture in social change, the future of workspaces, aesthetics versus function, closer working between architects and contractors, and the burden of keeping up with licensing rules and codes.
Imagineer's answer is what it calls Imagineering, a blend of imagination and engineering. It names several tools. Virtual and augmented reality let designers and clients step inside 3D visualisations and judge designs in context. AI assistants can generate options from inputs such as plot size, orientation and climate, speeding the process and sometimes surfacing unexpected ideas. 3D printing allows quick prototyping and complex elements with less waste. New sustainable materials and technologies, for example self-healing concrete, photovoltaic glazing and kinetic energy harvesting, are also cited. Drones are said to help with site analysis, heritage work, progress monitoring and presentations.
The company concludes that 3D visualisation, AI and drones can streamline workflows and improve communication, helping architects stay ahead.
Source: Imagineer, originally published on The Landsite (27 September 2023)