AEC News You Can Use Blog

We’re living in a time where the once-impossible visions of science fiction are becoming our everyday reality. It’s perplexing and somehow confusing because everyone is now scared that artificial intelligence will replace them. When you think about the potential of machine learning in architecture, it seems impossible to compete with algorithms that can calculate massive, complex structural and environmental data in a split second. But the problem lies in how we look at it, AI can not replace human thinking it can only enhance and push it further.

Welcome to the future of architecture, where machine learning isn’t just a tool but a collaborator, a designer’s trusty companion. Long before the first blueprint is ever drawn, ML algorithms integrated with BIM can predict how a building will interact with its environment. So, should we be afraid of where we are heading or rather excited and welcome this new era of unimagined reality?

Explore the latest techniques in leveraging machine learning to optimize design decisions by enrolling in the PAACADEMY course.

In this article, we’ll explore how ML’s cutting-edge technology is revolutionizing design processes, enhancing decision-making, and ultimately redefining the very fabric of our built environment.

John McCarthy, credited as the father of AI, defined artificial intelligence in the 1950s as “the science and engineering of making intelligent machines, especially intelligent computer programs.” Machine learning falls under the broad umbrella of artificial intelligence and focuses on developing algorithms capable of learning from and making decisions based on data. In 1959, a pioneer in the ML field, Arthur Samuel, defined it as the “field of study that gives computers the ability to learn without being explicitly programmed.”

To better illustrate how ML works, consider the simple example of Instagram algorithms. Obviously, you don’t tell the platform which reels you are interested in (no instructions were given), but the ML algorithm carefully watches your..Read More

Lebond is an unusual brand for a number of reasons, but possibly chief among them for the reason that famous architects design each of their watches. Although it is not new to have an architect design a watch, making this element the core of a brand’s DNA certainly is.

Founded by Asier Mateo— an architect himself— Lebond’s first watch, launched in 2023, was designed by the Portuguese grand master of architecture, Alvaro Siza. He took inspiration from the Leça swimming pool he penned down in 1966 when he was 28. It is a very charismatic watch with an unusual diamond-shaped case and captivating hands and hour markers. The second watch, launched this month, is from renowned architect Eduardo Souto de Moura, who is just like Siza, Portuguese and also a recipient of the renowned Pritzker Architecture Prize. His design for a watch, however, couldn’t be more different.

Souto de Moura opted for the traditional round shape to keep the watch, known formally as the Lebond Souto Moura, as pure as possible, but gave it a literal twist as he turned everything 30 degrees clockwise. The result is an architectural drivers’ watch where legibility is key. However, Souto de Moura didn’t become one of the world’s leading architects without plenty of signature touches. Like with his buildings, he is a master in making a difference with just a few details. While the hour and minute markers are relatively common, he changes the perception of the design with two clever details. The first is the size of the hour hand, which is much smaller than usual. In a twist, this increases the legibility, as there is more distinction between the two hands. Souto de Moura opted for a longer hour marker for the twelve o’clock, putting the two beside it. This makes twelve o’clock a magical time with this Lebond— as then.. Read More Here

The Spring Green Restaurant at Riverview Terrace, a design by the legendary architect Frank Lloyd Wright, has been officially added to the National Register of Historic Places. This recognition not only celebrates Wright's innovative design but also marks the site as a pivotal community gathering space within the Spring Green area.

Historic Designation and Community Impact

Carrie Rodamaker, the executive director of the Taliesin Preservation, highlighted the unique architectural features of the Spring Green Restaurant, including its geometric red chairs, panoramic views of the Wisconsin River through expansive windows, and a midcentury modern arched vaulted ceiling with skylights. These design elements underscore Wright's belief in the harmony between natural light and architectural space. The designation by the Wisconsin Historical Society as a landmark enables the Taliesin Preservation to undertake necessary repairs, particularly to the roof and foundation of the iconic structure.

Wright's Vision and the Restaurant's Evolution

Frank Lloyd Wright envisioned the space as a welcoming area for the community and a gateway to his 800-acre estate, Taliesin. Although construction began in 1956, it was halted upon Wright's death in 1959. The project was revived in 1966 by the Wisconsin River Development Corp., with slight modifications to Wright's original design. The restaurant, formally dedicated as the Spring Green Restaurant in 1967, operated independently for 25 years before becoming the Frank Lloyd Wright Visitor Center, featuring a café and gift shop.

Future Prospects and Preservation Efforts

The historic designation not only honors Wright's architectural legacy but also aids in the preservation of his vision for community engagement through design. The Taliesin Preservation, with its team of 16 year-round employees, continues to offer public tours from May through October, fostering a deeper appreciation for Wright's contributions to architecture and community planning. The landmark status promises to enhance these efforts, ensuring the Spring Green Restaurant remains a vibrant part of the community for generations to come..Read More Here

Inside every avid golfer is a golf-course architect.

Or at least a little voice that says, “I could so build a cool par-3 on that empty parcel.”

But daydreaming is not the same as doing. A new program aims to bridge the gap between the two.

Enrollment is now open for Design Boot Camp, a four-day workshop that doubles as fantasy camp for anyone with designs on getting into golf-course design — and is willing to lay out some dough to do it.

Sponsored by the American Society of Golf Course Architects (ASGCA), and held at Erin Hills Golf Course, the Wisconsin host of the 2017 U.S. Open, the program will give 16 participants the chance to learn from — and collaborate with — established architects, including the trio behind Erin Hills: Mike Hurdzan, Ron Whitten and Dana Fry. Past ASGCA presidents Jeff Blume, Tom Marzolf, Steve Forrest, Damian Pascuzzo, Jason Straka, Jan Bel Jan, Bruce Charlton and Jeff Brauer also will serve as instructors.

As part of the curriculum, students will get a crash course on the theoretical and technical foundations of the field, such as design philosophy, routing, hazard placement and green design. They’ll also be asked to put those learnings into practice on a property adjacent to the championship course, where students will be split into four “foursomes.” After walking the site and taking stock of the natural features, each group will be asked to design four- to five-hole routings, under the supervision of two architect instructors, and draw up a detailed plan for them. At a “grand unveiling,” students will then stitch their routings together into a dream 18 at Erin Hills. Alas, the finished product will not come to life as an actual golf course, but each student will receive a color print of the work as a memento. Read more here

Every summer, thousands of tourists flock to Wisconsin’s Door County peninsula. Businesses shuttered throughout the winter and spring reopen to sell food and souvenirs as people explore the county’s cherry orchards and state parks. At Northport, at the tip of the peninsula, ferries run between the mainland and Washington Island, crossing a channel French sailors nicknamed Porte des Morts or “Death’s Door” for the large number of shipwrecks swept up in the currents.