Embedding AI into Architectural Workflows: Design Process Reengineered

Abstract

This study examines the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in a fourth-semester architecture studio focused on personalized dwellings within urban settlements. Animated characters were used to represent diverse user profiles, helping students understand individual and community needs. Immersive tools, including virtual reality, enabled deeper engagement with user-centric principles, fostering empathy, creativity, and adaptability. The approach signals a pedagogical shift toward identity-driven, interactive, and technology-enhanced design methods. AI tools streamlined workflows, improved client engagement, and supported adaptive solutions. Socially, the method promotes inclusivity by acknowledging varied identities, reducing alienation in built environments. The novelty lies in merging animated proxies with AI and VR, creating an innovative experiential learning framework that enhances empathy and introduces fresh approaches in architectural education and practice.