Authors: Yan ho Ng
Mentors: Brandon Ro
Insitution: Utah Valley University
Background: This study aims to compare the form and shape in the building designs by AI and those by architects and to find out which design is superior to the other.
Purpose: The study seeks to find out if the architects, who have received formal architectural education and training, can design buildings with better form and shape than those created by AI.
Method: This study uses a survey to find out the opinions of Utah Valley University students regarding the comparison of the form and shape in the designs by AI and architects. To contact the potential respondents, a flyer will be posted with a QR code to the online survey in all classrooms. In the online survey, four sets of images created by AI and four sets of images designed by architects will be provided for the respondents to select the ones with better form and shape. The respondents will then decide whether the images are designed by AI or architects. The images are Gothic and modern Catholic cathedrals and churches. After receiving the responses, the data and summarized result regarding the preference of the respondents and their ability to distinguish whether the design is by AI or by architects would be provided.
Result: As expected, most of the students can tell the designs by AI and which designs may have better form and shape. Further, the results from the architectural and non-architectural students may have some differences.
Conclusion: AI is one of the tools in architectural designs. Nevertheless, it cannot take over the works from architects who have received years of training on learning architectural elements such as form and shape. As an architecture student, this research will help architectural students to value the education and training more.