Author:

Abstract:

This lecture reflects on the impact of recent developments in generative AI and the increased accessibility of text-to-image models on the role and status of the image in architectural practice and culture. Since its emergence as a profession and discipline architecture has primarily on visual representation, in particular architectural drawing, as means on envisioning, designing and constructing built environments. In contrast to other artistic and designerly disciplines architects do generally not work on the object they design directly, but through some intervening medium, i.e. architects don’t make buildings but representations. Architectural drawings are orthographic: they represent, existing or imagined, spatial constructs into two dimensional notation through orthographic projection. The last decades with the emergence of technologies such as computer aided design, building information modelling, we have seen shift from an analogue, two dimensional, drawing based approach towards an digital mode, three dimensional modelling based approach, in in architectural design. This leads to a shift in representation to simulation, a shift from orthographic drawings to post-orthographic images. Furthermore, architecture is increasingly disseminated and consumed through digital images, shared through social media and online platforms, blogs.... The vast repository of architectural imagery is actively informing how we design, inhabit and construct built environment. Generative AI tools trained on this data rapidly accelerate the shifts outlined above, raising questions on how we include AI in architectural design practice but also on the value of images, and how we attribute authorship.