ARCHITECTURE BEAUTY WITH AI
Author:
Celestine,-
Elvina Amelia
Qiannan Ye

Abstract

The application of Artificial Intelligence in various aspects of mankind’s production has increased exponentially in the last few years. It has also started to have effects on the optimization and looks of the architecture and design field. Therefore, AI holds a high potential to become a fundamental agency that will affect the outcome of future architecture as it is foreseen to be intuitive.

AI can work with an extremely broad scale that mankind might not be able to grasp. This idea is explored by looking into the artificial intelligence within nanobots which brings up the possibility that it will manifest in every range of scale of machines within the architecture field.

The main speculation of this research paper highlights the probability that autonomous artificial intelligence will eventually take over the design process of buildings. It also hypothesizes what the outcome will be since artificial intelligence might develop its own perception of beauty that is different from the initial human input. Thus, we are interested in exploring the prospect of how AI will innovate architectural aesthetics from its intuition and various environmental factors.

This paper explores the hybrid of aesthetic determined by AI and the imperfection caused by environmental factors through its application in the real world might create a beauty that humans are unable to comprehend.

Introduction

We are in an age where we are increasingly dependent on artificial intelligence. The smartphones which we use every day are packed full of AI-operated applications. Since 2006, the popularity of artificial intelligence is rising day by day. Even giant companies such as Google and Amazon think that artificial intelligence is the future. Thus, this amplifies the conception of artificial intelligence integration into most of the things we do in the days to come, without any human interference.

Besides its undeniable presence in our daily lives, there are also observations of an increasing popularity of artificial intelligence being integrated into design and architecture in recent years. However, it has been used mostly as a performance optimization tool, such as BIM software.

Yet, optimization is not the main focus of architectural design. Architects are responsible for more than building performance. Architecture has always been one of humanity’s cultural embodiment. This is mostly shown in the aesthetics of architecture in a certain period of time. Thus, the aesthetics in architectural design is a crucial topic to discuss during this changing time.

This paper is examining the beauty that is produced by artificial intelligence in architecture through the speculation that AI will be fully autonomous and instinctive.

1. Artificial Intelligence

The idea of teaching the computer to think and behave like a human has been conceived since its invention. The research on artificial intelligence with machine learning started in the 1950s and it is dictated by an algorithmic program as input in an artificial neuron network. (World-Information.org 2007) In the late 80s, researchers were able to successfully overcome the limitations from that first attempt by creating a more complex multi-layered neural network. (Bloomberg 2018) At the time, it was able to recognize handwriting and translate it into digital data. Between the 1950s till now, many technologies such as smartphones and computers were created and used by humans where most of them function through a script that allows them to work at its optimal. Nowadays, AI owned by Google can translate a physical magazine written in a foreign language in real time by pointing your smartphone’s camera to the words on the pages. Hence, this optimisation creates an impression to most people that machines can produce work with a really high level of accuracy.

Current breakthrough of artificial intelligence in producing usable outcomes are reached through machine learning process, where AI is fed a massive amount of data that researchers wish it will learn. Then the AI can compute the regularly repeated patterns from all the data it received and learn to recognize them. However, machine learning for AI is the easy part.

For it to be able to produce a satisfactory result, AI needs to go through a deep learning process, in which it practices what has been learned to create its own version. To learn as humans do, trial and error is the heart of this process for AI. The positive outcome of these steps is vital to the new stage of automation.

1.1 Speculation on Artificial Intelligence

When a machine can independently make decisions, most of the human involvements can be removed from the equation. (Kak 2018) Autonomous AI will revolutionize architecture design once it possesses its own instinct.

This relates back to our research on nanobots in the early stages of research for this paper.

Nanobots are robots that are measured in nanometers. Currently, they are in the research and development phase where the research is mostly in the medical field. Current nanobots are still working in an isolated environment where the environment is assumed as utopian. This runs in parallel with the neglection of other factors in the human expectations towards AI.

Thus, humans brought forth this expectation towards artificial intelligence to be comparable to themselves but expect them to make minimum mistakes due to the computing in them. (Tugrul n.d.) The expectations towards its accuracy in performing are even higher because AI is instinctive compared to previous technologies. However, this ideal towards ai has neglected a lot of factors that it might make mistakes due to the possibility that ai will be affected by other frequencies in natural forces such as wind and light that will become input in their sensory navigation. The diagrams below will further elaborate on this argument.

( Figure 1: current nanobot photo)

As shown in figure 1, it is shown that the artificial intelligence within the nanobot is able to plan the best and most efficient path for the nanobot to move through its surroundings for it to function at its best.

(Figure 2: Current artificial intelligence advancement)

(Figure 3: Prediction of the advancement of artificial intelligence in the future)

The current advancement of artificial intelligence is reflected in figure 2. Since the research on artificial intelligence has shown a tremendous increase in recent years, we are speculating that artificial intelligence will be more advance in vision, robotics, planning, scheduling and optimisation when it is more rooted and established in architecture in the future as shown in figure 3.

Through this research on nanobots, we speculated that its artificial intelligence has a huge potential in the architectural field in the future. The diagrams below outlines our speculation of how the artificial intelligence work in a natural environment.

(Figure 4: Programmed path)

(Figure 5: Artificial intelligence has the possibility to receive unintentional sensory input such as sound waves)

(Figure 6: speculation on the possibility that the programmed path will be affected by other frequencies in the natural)

(Figure 7: speculation on the likelihood that the outcome of the architecture will be affected)

The artificial intelligence that is speculated will be applied to different mediums in the architectural field. Therefore, the amount of fluctuation will vary depending on the size of the medium.

This raises the question of how mankind perceives beauty. Beauty is an extremely complex subject in the field of design as it is often said as being highly subjective. Nonetheless, it is probable that AI can be taught what mankind find beautiful. However, a big question still remains. How mankind measures beauty.

2. How Do We Measure Beauty?

Since ancient times, people used mathematics as the basis of architecture. Such as temples, palaces, and vaults. The beauty of mathematics in architecture might have come from an extended period of math-based architecture. Math and physics have become the foundation of architecture for a very long time. Perhaps the application of mathematics in architecture has been deeply rooted in the minds of mankind. Thus, our perception of good design is favoured towards mathematics.

As mentioned before, Artificial Intelligence works with input algorithm, which is based on mathematical principles and logic. Math enables human to have a measurable system for beauty. It is also easier for AI to determine a workable parameter. So, it is safe to say that designs generated by AI will have mathematical characteristics. Thus, the measuring unit of beauty generated by AI should also involve a mathematical point of view as human measures beauty with math too and it gives human and AI the same base criteria.

(Figure 8: This artwork created by Google Deep Dream is selling for serious money. Via World Economic Forum. [https://99designs.com.au/blog/design-history-movements/artificial-intelligence/)

2.1. Beauty in Mathematics

1. Golden ratio

"phi" (Golden Ratio or Golden Section): ={1.618}{033}{988}{7} \ Φ=1.6180339887…

The golden ratio has been applied to various works by artists and architects since ancient

times. (Examples: The Parthenon、Notre Dame、The Taj Mahal)

Figure 9

2. Centers

The research conducted by Koman is that when space is divided into multiple parts, each part will have a new center. When these parts form irregular subdivisions, it is possible that the center of each small part is not the same as the original center position. The brand new centers will create completely different patterns.

Figure 10

3. Boundaries.

Boundaries are related to geometry. Two points can be connected into a line, plus the third point can be connected into a triangle. The triangle can translate into many kinds of polygons. The final format is close to the circle.

Figure 11

6. Symmetries

When an item has its own symmetrical axis, it can easily complete the whole form. One of the outcomes of the mathematical beauty is the mirror effect.

Figure 12

7. Deviation

A slight change in the value can cause deviations. The error can bring diversity to the whole, and also vary in density, structure, quantity, and strength.

Figure 13

However, there have been studies on the fundamental of beauty from the point of view of our brain. Neuroaesthetic is an attempt at solving the very complex question of the definition of beauty. It is possible that AI can assist us to finally come to a definitive conclusion if AI develops beauty by instinct.

2.2. Mathematical Application in Architecture Design

There have been many approaches to applying mathematical devices by contemporary architects. As computation technology thrives in the last few decades, architectural design has been able to broaden and innovate its formal and/or organizational variations. Here are some existing examples on design outcome generated by mathematical algorithms.

2.2.1 Tesselation - tiling of a surface without gaps or overlaps, creating a complex pattern

Gerbis(2011) suggested that the tessellations are defined by the coding of mathematics where shapes are arranged in repetition without gaps or overlapping each other. There are a few forms of tessellation, they consist of the tessellation of regular geometric shapes, fractal tessellation and Voronoi tessellation.

https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2016/02/the-tessellated-and-elaborately-detailed-ceilings-of-iranian-mosques/

https://science.howstuffworks.com/math-concepts/tessellations.htm

2.2.2 Fractal

A repeated pattern that decreases in scale as it generates.

https://pixabay.com/zh/%E5%88%86%E5%BD%A2-3d-%E5%BB%BA%E8%AE%BE-%E4%B8%9A-%E8%AE%BE%E8%AE%A1-%E5%B9%BB%E6%83%B3-%E6%9C%AA%E6%9D%A5-%E5%A4%8D%E6%9D%82-%E7%BB%93%E6%9E%84-1120769/

Fractal is a never-ending pattern, the similar pattern repeats itself across different scales to form a complex pattern. This can be observed in Figure _. Fractals occur a lot in the nature such as trees, leaves, shells, rivers and snowflakes.

2.2.3 Parametric design using spline curves which use mathematical curves to generate forms.

Throughout his career, Antoni Gaudi had been designing architecture using pure geometrical forms and mathematical curves, albeit using manual tools. For example, his most historic project, Sagrada Familia, was designed using a prototype made of hanging chains. This method was utilized to simulate the physics in order to find the formal language that will be detrimental to its construction.

https://www.dezeen.com/2013/05/16/king-abdullah-financial-district-metro-station-by-zaha-hadid-architects/

2.2.4 GENERATIVE ALGORITHMIC AGENCY

Generative design methodology using an algorithmic agency such as swarm and material physics.

https://www.kokkugia.com/AADRL-swarm-printing-aerial-robotic-bridge-construction

2.2.5 Symmetrical ornaments in high-res - Michael Hansmeyer & Benjamin Dillenburger

The combination of complex computation with the sense of familiarity found in symmetry.

http://www.michael-hansmeyer.com/digital-grotesque-I

2.3 Computational Design Project: Finding Beauty in Perlin Noise

Contemporary computational designers are working to transcend postmodernism architecture into posthumanism prospect in design.

Architects working with computation and algorithmic scripts are doing what AI is best known for. Pattern recognizing.

Within the pattern generated by an algorithm, architects are searching for qualities that can provide unique spatial experience intended to be viewed through the human scale. We are searching these qualities with mankind’s benefits in mind.

(Figure 20: Pattern recognizing exercise creating bigger voids for human habitation potential. [Elvina’s studio work])

Currently: human-desired qualities from the algorithmic pattern are sourced from human spatial needs (human as the main agency). What happens when the main agency shift from human to inhuman?

However, in the future, we speculated that AI will have its own intuition and its own agency. As the main builder, it will eventually create space for themselves that might only able to be perceived by AI/machine.

Conclusion: inhuman population might take over space and create a new aesthetic that can only be perceived by AI. (thinking process caused by design studio exercise)

mankind has so much item in their possession or produces waste that eats up space on earth. Non-human matter already has agency in a way.
we build for our use.
what happens when AI build for us and themselves? It possibly has a very broad reach of scale and computing ability.
AI will build space for them (conclusion), has its own agenda.
AI perception/point of view & influences will be different from that of human’s, so it will perceive beauty differently as well.
The production of machines exponentially increase
Thus, the machine will have their own agency in architecture design and effectively shift architecture typology to provide space for them too and create new beauty in their perception.

It is true that AI can still have our best interest as the priority. However, we cannot deny that as it becomes more and more intelligent and possesses a different point of view than human, it will start to create a new aesthetic that mankind might not be able to grasp.

3. Future Outlook

Presently, the existing artificial intelligence is mostly utilized as a performance optimization tool. However, this should not be the case in the field of design.

The vision of creating artificial intelligence was to make it fully autonomous and instinctive by itself. The foreseen characteristics of artificial intelligence allow it to remember things much more clearly thus allowing it to target a similar issue quicker than a human being. There is a high possibility that the nature of artificial intelligence can construct ornaments in a higher resolution because it is able to reduce the number of human errors compared to a human that is on the task. Artificial intelligence has a strong ability to learn and analyze the situation. For work, AI can accurately locate the route, choose the working mode rationally. This character that it carries also enables it to function in a greater precision when it is doing its designated job as it will not be distracted by psychological factors that humans have biologically.

Human has an expectation that AI will produce a flawless work, the work that is exactly the same as the one they imagined in their mind. However, it is not possible for the artificial intelligence to work in its programmed path under the site environment due to the other existing frequencies that are around. The fully autonomous artificial intelligence will create unexpected results due to the possibility of being distracted by other frequencies on site. Although the outcome is not what is expected by humans, this plays as a role to define the beauty that is created by artificial intelligence.

4. Conclusion

We are going into an age where we are increasingly placing our faith in artificial intelligence rather than our own hands. The intention of creating AI is for it to possess the ability to make instinctual-based decisions like human beings do. There is a possibility that they will make their own decisions to create outcomes that are far different from the initial input. The possible instinct that they will eventually have and the impossibility of total perfection in a real-world application caused by other environmental input will thus create beauty that humans are unable to comprehend.

SOURCES / LINKS / READINGS /

Koman, Luijks and Pronk, n.d. 'Mathematical Beauty in Architecture', Eindhoven Technical University, Netherlands, <http://www.arnopronk.com/bestanden/Bridges.pdf>

Nicholas Gerbis "How Tessellations Work" 25 April 2011.

HowStuffWorks.com. <https://science.howstuffworks.com/math-concepts/tessellations.htm> 26 September 2018

Figure 14:

Sierzptowski, 2016, The Tessellated and Elaborately Detailed Ceilings of Iranian Mosques, photograph, viewed September 2018,

<https://www.thisiscolossal.com/2016/02/the-tessellated-and-elaborately-detailed-ceilings-of-iranian-mosques/>.

Figure 15:

Fractal, n.d. photograph, viewed September 2018,

<https://pixabay.com/zh/%E5%88%86%E5%BD%A2-3d-%E5%BB%BA%E8%AE%BE-%E4%B8%9A-%E8%AE%BE%E8%AE%A1-%E5%B9%BB%E6%83%B3-%E6%9C%AA%E6%9D%A5-%E5%A4%8D%E6%9D%82-%E7%BB%93%E6%9E%84-1120769/>.

Figure 16:

Frearson, 2013, Zaha Hadid wins competition for Saudi Arabian metro station, photograph, viewed September 2018,

<https://www.dezeen.com/2013/05/16/king-abdullah-financial-district-metro-station-by-zaha-hadid-architects/>.

Figure 17:

AADRL, 2013-2015, AADRL BEHAVIOURAL PRODUCTION: SCL

aerial robotics swarm printing, photograph, viewed September 2018,

<https://www.kokkugia.com/AADRL-swarm-printing-aerial-robotic-bridge-construction>.

Figure 18:

Dillenburger, 2013, Digital Grotesque I, photograph, viewed September 2018,

<http://www.michael-hansmeyer.com/digital-grotesque-I>.

http://world-information.org/wio/infostructure/100437611663/100438659360

http://futurearchitectureplatform.org/news/28/ai-architecture-intelligence/