Paradigm Shift: Hajar Ali shares the impact of AI in architecture and design

Prior to becoming an AI artist, Ali’s background includes luxury adventurous travel being one of the founders of Urbane Nomads. She then started the creation of dynamic AI NFTs that blend storytelling, gamification, coding and AI art. As she was experimenting with AI to create art, one of her works posted in @reverse.orientalism went viral. “And then three weeks later, the Jim Thompson house [I created using AI] went viral with over half a million likes,” she says. Since then, she started getting offers to design private houses, hotels and boutiques. 

According to Ali, one of the contributions of AI in architecture and interior design is how it speeds up the workflow. “The most obvious is via renderings. AI is also being used to generate floor plans, site planning and 3D models,” she adds, explaining what AI can create. Through generative design, AI also has the capacity to produce design alternatives based on specific parameters and constraints provided by its users. AI can also be helpful in parametric architecture, or an approach to design where elements and components of a structure are determined through algorithmic procedures instead of manual adjustments or direct manipulation. By leveraging machine learning and algorithms, AI can create a vast number of design options, enabling architects and interior designers to explore innovative and unconventional ideas that may not have been considered otherwise. “I use AI to render architectural imagery. [I am] Curious to explore applications to develop real-life architectural models,” Ali says. AI can also generate furniture arrangements and traffic flow simulations, which can translate into maximised space utilisation and improved user experience.

However, using AI for architecture and design is not as simple as asking Siri to tell a joke or prompting DALL·E to generate an image of Chris Hemsworth in a blue suit. Like traditional approaches in architecture, it entails a process that involves critical and creative thinking. Besides picking your brain with prompts or as defined by ChatGPT,  “the input or instruction provided that induces the AI model to generate a response or perform a specific task”, one thing that must be taken into consideration is finding the right AI programme or the perfect mix of programmes that would best work with your project. “You can basically use any of the common programmes such as Rhino, Revit, Grasshopper, Ladybug and SketchUp, and link it to AI as part of the workflow. For imagery there are the three main ones: Midjourney, Dall-E, Stable Diffusion. A whole host of programmes specific to the task-design collaboration, floor plans, 3D modelling, etc exist as well,” says Ali. There is analytical and strategic thinking involved. 

Ali also reminds us of some of the limitations of AI vis-a-vis its application to architectural and design renders. “Imagery isn’t to scale if you’re looking to sync it to 3D models,” she explains, although she feels these limitations are temporary. “It used to be that it’s difficult to be specific about the room layout, specific products and finishes but these limitations are fast becoming non-issues with advancement in technology with new releases on Stable Diffusion. NVDA is releasing a tool that allows very specific outputs for 3D objects. There are also plugins being released that allow you to change the orientation of an object,” Ali expounds, reiterating that technology is changing so rapidly that its limitations do not endure. 

For her, the only thing that could hamstring the development of AI is the availability of enough storage and computing power.  “But NVDA seems to have taken care of that,’’ she adds. ChatGPT itself admits, “AI models may have difficulty fully comprehending the complex and nuanced contextual factors that influence architectural design. They may struggle to grasp the specific cultural, social and environmental considerations that shape architectural decisions, which can limit their ability to provide comprehensive design solutions”. This is in addition to limited diverse architectural datasets and ethical considerations, which is another broad topic that merits a separate discussion.

In the meantime, Ali continues to populate @reverse.orientalism with spectacular home designs, varying from a private game reserve to something as unique as a waterfall house, which pays homage to the work of  Frank Lloyd Wright’s work and takes inspiration from Werner Herzog’s epic drama film, Fitzcarraldo, and one as disruptive as Dante Alighieri’s hell-to-paradise-inspired abode. “What I put out on Instagram aren’t designed to be built, it’s to convey my aesthetic. I was recently contacted to refurbish a palace in Rajasthan. The creative director of a luxury resort chain was also in touch. We’ll see what gets built first,” she says. 

Another mindblowing design on her Instagram is a rendition of the bale or the traditional Ifugao house, which, according to her caption, is considered by anthropologist H Otley Beyer as “the first prefabricated house in the world”. The typical bale is a two-storey home built on wooden stilts, which serves multiple purposes. The  lower level usually serves as a granary or storage while the upper level is where the owners sleep, cook and eat–practically it’s where the owners live. Ali’s creative prowess translated the bale into a modern version complete with a pool deck overlooking the majestic rice terraces, a fireplace for beer nights and a bedroom and library with sweeping views through floor-to-ceiling panoramic windows. Imagine living in that home amidst the breezy Cordillera mountains? Sublime. 

AI is very promising as it offers many benefits that can streamline the work processes not only in architecture and design, but in general. It should be seen as a supportive tool that enhances human capabilities and enables designers to explore new possibilities. “I see AI as being a great leveller in the playing field, giving rise to a breed of visionary architects [and artists],” she concludes.

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