Surf Hotel in Sylt - Enhanced with AI
Since the publicity of ChatGPT in December 2022, AI technologies have been positioned on a big spotlight around the globe.
This has not only brought more attention to language models, but has also shed light on other less-known platforms such as MidJourney and Dall-e. These platforms generate unique images based on a prompt from the user.
At Dominowa as an architecture studio, we believe in staying up-to-date with the latest technologies and progress. With the rise of AI, we took the opportunity to explore and experiment with these platforms and see how they can help us push the boundaries of architectural design and creativity.
In this article, we will share our experience of using AI in our architecture projects and the benefits that we have gained from it.
Introduction
Architecture has always been an art form that has been influenced by a wide range of factors, from cultural and societal influences to technological advancements. And with the rise of AI and machine learning in recent years, we are beginning to see how technology can help us push the boundaries of architectural design and creativity.
For our first experiment we chose MidJourney, as AI generative model, to improve one of our conceptual projects an Surf Hotel Resort in Sylt. Then we blend it with one of the most known architects of all time, Norman Foster as our source of inspiration.
Starting point
When we talk about architecture, one of the most important aspects to consider is functionality. An architect’s main goal is to create a space that not only looks beautiful, but is also practical and functional for its intended purpose.
On one hand, we strive for functionality and beauty in our project designs, but on the other hand, we must also consider budget constraints from investors.
This creates a complex triangle of competing priorities. However, finding the right balance between functionality, beauty, and budget is key to achieving the perfect design for our project.
At Dominowa, we take it a step further by adding sustainability as the fourth axis, transforming the triangle into a perfect square. By considering sustainability in our designs, we can create projects that not only meet the needs of the present, but also protect the needs of future generations.
AI Inspiration
When we started this new iteration, we sat down with the whole team to discuss which architects we would like to draw inspiration from using MidJourney.
After some debate, we decided to focus on the works of Kenjo Kuma, Bjarke Ingels, Norman Foster and Cobe, as these architects have all made significant contributions to the field of architecture through their unique and innovative designs.
Our team fed our original design from Sylt into MidJourney and requested alternative design ideas based on the work of the great architects we mentioned earlier, such as Kenjo Kuma, Bjarke Ingels, and Cobe.
First Results
While these results were very good, they were also quite complex to build and sometimes lacked consistency.
Here you can observe the first sample of results we got that confirm we were going into the right direction but not reached the goal.
Norman Foster-like
To address the complexity and impact on the environment, we decided to explore the work of Norman Foster, a renowned architect known for his innovative and practical designs.
With the results generated by MidJourney, we quickly identified a personal connection with the first and fourth proposals.
We were particularly drawn to the elegant design of these proposals, which were both well-integrated into the context of Sylt.
The fourth proposal, has an important resemblance to the Reichstag's Dom in Berlin and demonstrated the careful thought and consideration that Norman Foster puts into his designs. Similarly, the first proposal featuring the 30 St Mary Axe/Swiss Re Building showed a keen sense of aesthetic and functional design that we were immediately drawn to.
