THE ORDER OF ARCHITECTS - FLEMISH COUNCIL IN THE THEME OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN ARCHITECTURE


New Year's reception of the Order of Architects - Flemish Council in the theme of Artificial Intelligence in Architecture. 

Some 230 guests were present on Friday 24 January in the Lamot congress centre in Mechelen (Belgium) for the New Year's reception of the Flemish Council of the Order of Architects and was dedicated to artificial intelligence in architecture.


Panellist                                                                    Audience                      Mr. S. Knaepen - Mrs. E. De Bleeker - Mr. J. Leyssens       Chairman Jos Leyssens


Introduction : The evening was opened by a keynote by trend analyst Herman Konings. As a psychologist, he looks at the changing behavior of people. In his presentation, he gave a fascinating insight into how different generations deal with new technologies, including artificial intelligence, and how they influence our daily lives.

After the keynote, moderator Hanne Decoutere introduced the three panelists for a discussion on artificial intelligence in architecture: Vincent Macris , architect and founder of Atelier Claar , professor Andrew Vande Moere from KU Leuven, and Johan Hanssens, secretary general of the department of Work, Economy, Science, Innovation and Social Economy.

The Rise of AI in Architecture

The panel discussion began with the question of whether the rise of AI in architecture was sudden. Vincent Macris noted: "AI has come onto the scene very quickly and the evolution is accelerating. Many architectural firms and universities are now experimenting with how AI can be applied."

Professor Andrew Vande Moere added: "AI has been around for a long time, but what is being developed now is generative AI that gives answers that have not necessarily been trained. This mimics creativity and cognitive thinking."

Johan Hanssens emphasized the rapid adoption of AI in Flemish business, but also pointed out the challenges: "There are major differences between large companies and SMEs . It will be a challenge to get all Flemish economic sectors on board."

AI in the construction sector

According to Vincent Macris, the construction sector is lagging behind other industries in terms of AI adoption: "The construction sector is quite fragmented and a lot of data is not used. But with digitalization and the BIM story, a change is coming." Johan Hanssens confirmed this and spoke about the efforts of the sector federation and the Flemish government to support digitalization.

Research into new technologies

Andrew Vande Moere gave an overview of his research into new technologies in architecture, including virtual reality , augmented reality , media architecture and robotics. He showed examples of how AI can be used to create and modify designs: "We're looking at how robots can create material expressions that look very artisanal. A recent project uses robots to dynamically change layouts ." He also showed how AI can be used to create and modify floor plans based on textual or verbal prompts.

AI in simulations and site visits

Professor Andrew Vande Moere discussed the application of AI in energy simulations and site visits. He explained that energy simulations often take place at the end of the design process because of the amount of time and information required. However, AI can make estimates early in the process based on existing data: "AI can start estimating very early on what the energy performance might be, which is what architects are interested in, to get a rough number back." He also gave an example of a robot from Boston Dynamics that can perform site visits at night, making 3D scans and comparing them to the planned geometry: "AI can interpret photos, it knows exactly what is in a photo and can tell you how sloppy your site looks or whether it is built as it should be."

Examples of successful AI implementations

Vincent Macris gave examples of smart buildings that can adapt their sustainability in real time and of evolutionary algorithms that train parameter models to create optimized variants: "Buildings can adapt their own sustainability in real time by, for example, automatically folding in and out sun blinds and adjusting the heating to electricity consumption."

Johan Hanssens emphasized the productivity gains through AI and the impact on the labor market: "About 60% of jobs in Belgium will be effectively impacted by artificial intelligence. Technology will enhance some jobs, but displace others."

What tasks AI cannot or should not take over

The conversation continued on what tasks AI should and shouldn't take over. Andrew Vande Moere emphasized the importance of human interaction and decision-making: "Dealing with the client, the contractor and technical issues on the construction site are interpersonal issues that AI can't just take over."

Vincent Macris added: "As an architect you have great responsibilities, both creatively and socially. AI should be seen as a supporting assistant, but the final decisions should be made by the architect himself."

New design possibilities with AI

Vincent Macris discussed a generative design tool he developed at UHasselt . This tool provides real-time feedback on energy performance in early design phases: "The idea was to create a parameter model where you can quickly design a volume and that is directly linked to the EPB calculation model. This gives you instant feedback on your design decisions." He emphasized the importance of AI in the design process and the need to keep up with technological developments: "We are inspired by what AI can do, but also a bit intimidated by how quickly it can take over jobs that were previously very creative."

In his video titled "Is AI Really Making Our Work Fun?" he showed the possibilities of AI in architecture and illustrated how AI can accelerate and simplify creative processes. "The video clip is actually 90% AI-made and completely based on the music piece that was made by AI."

Government support

Johan Hanssens discussed the role of the Flemish government in supporting AI initiatives. He explained that in 2017, a Flemish policy plan for artificial intelligence was launched to put Flanders at the forefront of AI research and adoption. This plan focuses on four groups: knowledge centers, companies, the government and citizens. "The plan has three blocks: academic research, implementation in practice and social support for new technologies." Johan also emphasized the ethical issues surrounding AI, such as the recent controversy around AI in Smartschool, and the importance of a balanced approach.

He explained how the Flemish Agency for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (VLAIO) supports companies in the adoption of AI. "Within the Flemish government, VLAIO is the agency where all support is concentrated for companies in Flanders. We encourage companies to use the available resources and support to increase their digital maturity and effectively integrate AI into their processes."

Cybersecurity and ethical issues

Johan Hanssens emphasized the need for cybersecurity in the context of digitalization and AI. He pointed out the vulnerability of digital security and the importance of awareness: "Many companies are well aware of the possibilities of digitalization and AI, but people are sometimes still very naive about the dangers that this entails in terms of cybersecurity. Every digital evolution requires new regulations and Europe is looking for a balance between innovation and social interests."

Andrew Vande Moere and Vincent Macris discussed the challenges of copyright in architecture. Andrew noted that the limited availability of well-labeled data is hampering progress: "Most plans and models are kept private and not well-labeled, which severely limits progress."

Vincent emphasized the importance of copyright and the ethical questions raised by using AI to create work in the style of others.

Future vision of AI in architecture

Andrew Vande Moere offered a provocative vision of the future in which AI measures brain activity while using virtual reality to understand how people experience environments. He argued that this data could be used to train AI and optimize designs based on human responses. "We're starting to understand more about how people take in the environment, which looks at well-being and other physiological effects."

The moderator cited a McKinsey study that suggests automation and AI will transform more jobs than they eliminate. Vincent Macris and Johan Hanssens agreed that human creativity and interaction with machines is the golden combination for the future of architecture. "Architects are by definition a very creative profession. Technology will only reinforce it."

Education and the role of government

Vincent Macris emphasized the role of education to prepare students for the digitalization of architecture and to learn to think critically about AI. Andrew Vande Moere added that design education needs to adapt to the new reality of AI. Johan Hanssens spoke about the role of government in maximizing productivity by using technology and the need to work efficiently and effectively.

Looking to the future

The panelists shared their vision on the future of AI in the construction sector. Vincent Macris expects digitalization and data to play a major role, with AI providing advice on energy, stability, sustainability and circularity. Andrew Vande Moere emphasized the importance of AI in avoiding construction errors and improving price estimates and customer information. "I hope that the difficulties and difficult tasks of architects will be the first to be tackled."

Study on the architect's income and call for VAT reduction

After the panel discussion, Jos Leyssens, chairman of the Order of Architects, gave New Year's greetings. In his speech, he mentioned three points. The first point was the research into the performance and income of the architect that is currently being carried out by the HIVA research centre of KU Leuven on behalf of the Flemish Council of the Order of Architects. As a second point, Jos Leyssens thanked the 28 employees of the Flemish Council, the provincial councils and the National Council for their efforts. The last point was aimed at policymakers. "We explicitly request that the VAT on renovation and reconstruction be kept at 6% for renovation, but also be increased to 6% for reconstruction. We also want the government to reduce the services involved, such as our performance, where it currently charges 21%, to 6%. In addition, we want our governments to pay attention to and appreciate the important added value that the architect can provide in the construction process. Furthermore, in the context of the recent proposal by Minister Depraetere, I would like to specifically indicate that the architect is the best placed specialist to also assist the clients as a renovation supervisor."