Problem
Turning a sketch into a realistic visual takes hours of modeling, material and lighting setup, and rendering. That is far too long when a class wants to see different interpretations of an idea and talk about form and context.
ARCH AI
- Role
- Co-founder
- Company
- Alamet
- Users
- Architecture students
- Used in
- Studio courses
- Platform
- Web
01Overview
Arch AI was built for the students of a faculty of architecture, to be used in their courses. A student drags and drops an image and describes the material and atmosphere they want in a single sentence; shortly afterward, the idea is right in front of them as a realistic architectural visual.
Solution
An image-to-image generative model turns the uploaded image into a building while preserving its form; the text prompt sets the material, surroundings and atmosphere. The input doesn’t have to be a sketch: an object, a photo or a work of art can also be the starting point of an architectural idea.
02How it works
- 01
Upload
A sketch, a photo, an object or an artwork; just drag and drop it.
- 02
Describe
Describe the material, surroundings and atmosphere in one sentence.
- 03
Generate
Progress shows in real time while the image is generated.
- 04
Compare
Regenerate, put different interpretations side by side and discuss them in class.
03Highlights
01
From sketch to building
A hand-drawn perspective sketch becomes a realistic building in glass, concrete and landscaping, with its massing, angle and stairs preserved.
02
From object to form
A plate of bananas becomes a structure of curving shells. An everyday object becomes the starting point of a search for form.
03
From art to facade
The lines of a cubist portrait become windows, its eyebrows become eaves and its colors become facade panels.
04
From photo to reinterpretation
A photo of a brick industrial building is reinterpreted in glass and steel, keeping the same silhouette.
04Screens and outputs
The interface, and structures generated from different kinds of input.
05Who it’s for
01
Architecture students
Take an idea from a sketch to a realistic visual quickly and compare alternatives.
02
Studio courses
Different interpretations are generated from the same input; form, material and context are discussed through concrete visuals.
03
Instructors
Shows a way to bring generative AI into the design process as a tool.
06Technology
AI
From image to architectural design
- Image-to-imageForm-preserving generation
- Text promptMaterial · surroundings · atmosphere
- Generation modesBy input type
Web
Drag-and-drop interface
- Web interfaceUpload · describe · generate
- Progress trackingLive status
Infrastructure
Generation server
- GPU serverIn the cloud