Before aircraft, it took months to transport letters across the country on mail carriers that operated on horseback. Before washing machines and dishwashers, it took a lot of physical effort to wash and dry the family’s clothes and wash utensils. And before we had cranes, it took years—sometimes even decades and centuries—to construct large building structures like castles and cathedrals. All in all, whatever you do, technology plays a huge role and gives you a better way to do it. In today’s digital age, countless architecture technologies have totally transformed the way modern architects design. Many of these creative technologies are new, yet few older ones have seen incredible development over time. The point being, these architecture technologies are bound to change the very face of architecture and we should embrace them and make the most of it.

Building on this, here are 10 creative architecture technologies that are making a huge impact on architecture.

Top 5 Architecture Technologies Every Architect Must Embrace

We have compiled a list of 5 pieces of technology for architects that will distinguish your firm from the competition:

1. Generative And Additive Design

Generative design is a definitive shift in conceptualising, designing, and building. It is a new method of design that enables you to discover unexpected novel designs and navigate trade-offs between high-performing designs, sketch constraints, and goals rather than form and co-design between human and computer.

On the other hand, the additive design is not that different from generative design; it is mostly known as 3D printing on an industrial scale. Simply put. It combines generative design with advancements in additive manufacturing.

2. Virtual Reality

No, VR isn’t just for games anymore, instead, this technology has immense potential for architects and designers. All that is needed is the headset and a software program. Industry-standard head-mounted displays (HMDs) like Oculus Rift, Samsung Gear VR, HTC Vive, Microsoft HoloLens, and Google Cardboard ship all the accessories you need. For the software programs, you can import existing 3-D models from Rhino, Revit, SketchUp into virtual reality–compatible format. Once geared you get to look into your newly created world and walk through your own designs.

From initial design mock-ups, to project collaboration, through to the finishing touches that make a building design go from good to great, virtual reality possesses the capability to really sell an idea better than any other medium.

3. Google Tilt Brush

Developed and published by Google, Tilt Brush is a room-scale 3D painting VR application. This is one of those technologies that is easy, fun, artistic, and playful. It allows you to experiment with painting and offers a completely new perspective.

Tilt brush can be integrated with VR systems, this increases the possibilities in designing.

4. Touchable Holograms

Another incredible gem in the world of innovative architecture technologies is touchable holograms that not only let you see the project but feel it as well. These are made of 3D virtual objects that can be easily manipulated by hand. You may ask how does this work? So, when a person tries to touch the 3D image in the second box, the hologram produces ultrasonic radiation pressure which feels like we are actually touching the object – This feels realistic.

Imagine being able to feel different wood grains, wall textures, furniture fabrics, and even more.

5. 3D Printing

Three-dimensional or 3D printing is one of the most popular architecture technologies of the decade. It is counted as a type of additive manufacturing, as it allows you to build an object from the ground up, layer by layer, through computer-controlled equipment. Here the computer-controlled equipment uses software to convert a 3D digital model into machine print instructions for the 3D printer.

3D printing has several uses in architecture, from building concept models to building entire structures while saving time and money. It also benefits designers and clients, letting them change the concept model quickly and comparatively inexpensively.

In The End…

From Virtual Reality, Additive Designs, Touchable, to Generative Design, the eventual promise of next-gen architecture technologies will continue to get better, never less.

Authored by a Building Expert from Wienerberger India