image by AAL
First of All, thank you.
(& BTW, scroll down JUST A LITTLE BIT for 100% OFF on our Super Architect 101 ecourse, free resource, for you.)
Thank you everyone for subscribing to us and entering the waitlist. Most of you are designers and professionals in the AEC (Architecture, Engineering Construction) This is first of many messages we are sending your way, and many resouces to come. And I think you will be able to tell that AI didn't write this - not because we can't make AI do it, but rather, this is the day and age when you yourselves, or we ourselves decide to write something on our own, even if it comes out less perfect. For example, you wouldn't want to ask AI to write a love letter to your romantic partner now... or would you?
I'll cut to the chase. We got 4 main sections for your today:
- What is AAL and what's this newsletter about
- A (free) 7-minute Technology Readiness Assessment that you can do,
- Some AI news and what's happening, in plain English so we make sure you understand everything and,
- A heartfelt personal story from one of our Peers (so you know you are not alone)
So let's get started.
đź‘Ź Welcome to "Super Architect 101"!
Grab your 100% off discount CODE (limited time only) for Super Architect 101 HERE 🎉
Its companion course, "Super Architect 102", will launch soon—stay tuned!
With AI tools on the rise and global construction volume declining, a new industry paradigm is emerging: fewer, smaller projects, enhanced productivity, and intense competition. Architects must learn AI tools and adopt an AI mindset to become Super Architects, ready for new opportunities and challenges.
Super Architect 101 will help you:
- 👨‍💻 Discover how AI is transforming architecture
- 🤩 Explore new AI-driven job roles in the field
- 🤖 Master the core skills of an AI-powered Super Architect
- 🚀 Boost productivity with 5-minute quick-start guides for top AI tools
Super Architect 102 will dive deeper into:
- đź‘Ť Mastering Generative AI for design
- 🧠Developing an AI mindset for architects
- 🧱 Applying practical AI workflows in real projects
- 🙇‍♂️ Pro tips to become an AI expert in architecture
Check Us Out:
What is AAL & what's this newsletter about
How did AAL come about? Well this could be a long story or a short story. It can be a personal one too. I (Adeline here) had always wanted to be an architect and actually I realised the reason why I wanted to become one is because I like solving problems, I like to find the rules and then get to know them, then find out how to break them if they don't make sense. The role of an architect is changing, due to the point in time in history, due to construction technology, due to the economy, and now due to AI. I used to be a director of a small architectural firm (it's just a title, everyone in that firm was doing everything, it was a lean ship) and I once spoke to a client about how I could use Midjourney to do AI renderings. I actually ended up teaching him how to use it, and then he actually, stopped giving interest into my services as a concept design architect at the time.
Now there is a lot more context to give. The point is, it was a turning point in my life. I lost a lot of confidence (& hair, no joke) to reflect on the meaning of my work and how I wanted to angle my career. Nobody I knew jumped from architecture to entrepreneurship or AI at that time. But it really was my gut feeling, I knew it was the right way. It was time to pivot.
I can go on and on, let's fast forward around, 1.5 years later from that moment. My new startup AAL, AI Accelerator Lab, is founded to be a peer-to-peer community that functions as a mini eco-system, nurturing AI-savvy designers, and then the goal is to eventually provide job opportunities for them. We are working on that part.
We have a team of around 8, the majority are stationed in Hong Kong. My CTO, Anne, whom I'm proud of, not only has a license as an architect but also a computer science masters degree. Double trouble.
So there you have it, the backstory.
So what's this newsletter about? It's our first step to give you an approachable way to navigate this AI era, through us, you can slowly feel that the new information is digestable. And you can feel our story relatable, and feel that you are part of the community. You will learn, you will grow and you will excel.
So, welcome!
Technology Readiness Assessment (7 mins & free)
image by AAL
So many people have come up to us asking how to get started with using AI in their works. We always feel like we need a lot more context before we can answer that question! And that is why we have created this free multiple choice Technology Readiness Assessment, specifically made for architects (if you are not an architect, we will be making other versions of this assessment very soon, hang tight).
Once you submit the assessment, our team is going to analyse your situation and return to you a free report to let you know how to go about with adopting AI. It should take less than a week, we hope to speed it up later on as well.
Here it is:
Technolog Readiness Assessment (Architects)
Some AI News: Deepseek & Architectural Design
Deepseek Logo
Hot take is that DeepSeek is a bit of a hype. DeepSeek's Impact on AEC: Arguably an Evolution, not Revolution
As architects and designers are already integrating AI into our workflows, we understand it's a constant process of refinement, not a singular disruptive moment. DeepSeek had actually been around for some time but just recently become popular with general public. Quick casual chats with our in-house NLP expert Dr Chersoni and CTO Anne, consolidates my understanding that while it may not be a revolution, it certainly provides intriguing new possibilities for our design process.
Couple of thoughts:
Granular Design Optimization: We're already using AI, what architects alike want to achieve is to automate daylighting strategies, material performance, and spatial layouts based on data-driven insights. E.g. generating design variations optimized for specific microclimates - DeepSeek potentially enables a deeper dive into design optimization, because of it capacity for complex reasoning
Reasoning for Complex Systems: And because of DeepSeek's capacity for complex reasoning, it opens up possibilities for optimizing building systems like HVAC, plumbing, and electrical, leading to more integrated and high-performing designs. Think AI-assisted coordination of MEP elements within tight spatial constraints. But this is saying on a very surface level. Please jump at me and correct me if see fit.
Open-Source Customization for Design Challenges: The open-source nature empowers us to tailor AI models to the unique challenges of our design projects. But this is really broad and there are other open source models that are already achieving this.
Oh, and data security is a valid concern.
Summary: the leap to use LLM and Diffusion Models in design development is happening already, DeepSeek's popularity can help push more creative professionals to open up their minds on AI further. However, there are still so many other constraints when we are talking about implementing new technology to existing infrastructure.
Last but not least: A Heart-Felt Short Piece from one of our peers
image by AAL
It is 23:45, just fifteen minutes before my birthday. I'm sitting in the dimly lit office, surrounded by stacks of papers and the faint hum of fluorescent lights. Tick. Tick. Tick. In this state, my thoughts emerge with an unsettling honesty.
I can’t help but wonder: Is this what I ever wanted? Am I doomed to this? I can’t possibly be doing this for the rest of my life until retirement, can I? This isn’t what school taught design to be.
“Clients want this done,” he said, his voice cutting through my spiraling thoughts as he added another project to my already unfinished pile of drawings. “By tomorrow at 10 a.m.” His words halted my racing mind, leaving me feeling even more trapped in this relentless cycle.
It feels so different now than those all-nighters I pulled in school, when I was fueled by passion and excited by the endless possibilities of design. Back then, creativity flowed through me like a current; I would spend hours sketching ideas on any scrap of paper I could find, taking apart models just to reassemble them in search of new perspectives. The thrill of discussing concepts with fellow young designers ignited my imagination and filled me with hope.
Little did I know that the real world would not be a canvas for boundless creativity or inspiration. Instead, it has become a landscape dominated by bureaucracy and inefficiency, stifling the very creative minds it should nurture.
“All it takes is a pivot—a small adjustment to reorient myself in this disorienting reality.” This thought has haunted me ever since I started working. Honestly, I’m frightened to stray from what I’ve always believed my goal to be. Yet, I am even more terrified of not making a change and remaining stuck in this cycle for another six months, and then another six months.
“All it takes is just a pivot, right?” I whisper to myself as I pack my things and prepare to leave, determined to reclaim the passion that once defined me.
story shared by our Peers
That's it for the first newsletter guys. If you have stories to share, you got something to say, ping me an email directly at [email protected]
We got you.
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