The MaCAD is a unique online programme training a new generation of architects, engineers and designers ready to develop skills into the latest softwares, computational tools, BIM technologies and AI towards innovation for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.
AI in AEC is often pitched as a design generator or a shortcut to faster output. We pushed a more real definition: AI’s purpose is decision support, helping teams see risk earlier and choose better options, while humans remain accountable. AEC is a chain of high-stakes decisions made under pressure: feasibility, coordination, procurement, construction risk, … Read more
Bab al-Luq Market in Cairo was designed to be bright, legible, and hygienic—then decades of add-ons and wear turned it into a dim, confusing interior. This proposal makes one clear move: a parametric double-skin roof that diffuses daylight and defines a readable circulation spine. Location: Cairo, Egypt Climate: Hot, dry, sunny Typology: Historic market hall … Read more
The project explores a contemporary reinterpretation of Finnish cabins, combining seasonal water living, public wellness, and boating storage. The core idea is that small modular units — cabins, saunas and workspaces — can aggregate into larger urban and social systems. Helsinki has a harsh Nordic climate, with long winters ranging from –10°C to +25°C, high … Read more
AI in intelligent architecture enhances design efficiency, sustainability, and user‑centric spaces. Key benefits include automation, data‑driven insights, and optimized building performance. Challenges involve data privacy, high implementation costs, and skill gaps. The future promises adaptive buildings, predictive systems, and seamless human‑AI collaboration shaping more resilient, responsive, and sustainable built environments. 1. AI-Driven Design Innovation Generative … Read more
Introduction: More Than a Robot in a Hard Hat The buzz around Artificial Intelligence in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry is impossible to ignore. Every conference seems to feature a new tool promising to revolutionize everything from design to demolition. You might be forgiven for picturing an AI as a robot in a … Read more
The Starting Point: AI as a Faster Pencil When I first began this journey on October 9th, I approached AI tools primarily through the lens of efficiency. My initial focus was on faster modeling, optimization, and the ability to test more options in less time. To me, AI was a high-powered calculator—a tool applied after … Read more
In the early stages of learning, artificial intelligence was perceived primarily as a digital aid tools created to improve efficiency, accuracy, and coordination across different stages of a project. AI was largely understood as a decision-support system, particularly valuable during the early design phases, yet always positioned as secondary to human expertise and judgment. However, … Read more
4 Main Ingredients Initial Design Strategy Reference Definition of the modules Topological Map Grasshopper Workflow Morphological Step by Step Stadium Buffer Zone Residential Material Choice Three structural materials—concrete, steel, and timber—were evaluated based on mass and carbon emissions. Timber emerged as the optimal choice: Structural and Buoyancy Analysis For the floating components, floating pontoons were selected as the primary … Read more
Initial Perspective: AI as an Efficiency Tool At the beginning of the course, I viewed AI primarily as a means to enhance productivity. It appeared to be a practical instrument for automating routine tasks, such as refining designs or performing structural calculations. By minimizing errors, reducing time requirements, and lowering costs, AI could expedite project … Read more
What Is the Purpose of AI in the AEC Industry? Artificial intelligence is not only a technology aimed at automating tasks; insights shared during this course demonstrate that AI plays a far broader and more strategic role in the Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) industry. Through real-world applications and practical case studies, AI emerges as … Read more
Introduction: The Wrong Question We Were Asking For years, the question sounded simple: What is the purpose of AI in AEC? The answers were predictable speed, automation, productivity. Faster drawings. Fewer errors. Leaner workflows. That definition collapsed the moment we confronted Jakarta. Through our studio project Floating Grounds, developed in the flood-prone Penjaringan District, and … Read more
Design via Experimentation with the Black Box When I started my MaCAD program this semester, AI felt like a threat. As an industrial designer, I saw it as this incomprehensible pattern-finding machine that could somehow analyze thousands of products simultaneously, finding relationships I’d spend years trying to notice. The black-box nature terrified me—I couldn’t trace … Read more
This project aims to revive and appreciate the beauty of the historical Bab al-Luq Market and to give it it’s former glory. This project explores the historic Bab al-Luq Market, aiming to celebrate its architectural beauty and restore its presence within the city. The proposal focuses on revealing the original steel structure, reconnecting it to … Read more
The purpose of artificial intelligence in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) is not to replace architects or engineers, but to support better decisions in an increasingly complex field. Today, the built environment is shaped by overlapping layers of constraints and ambitions: environmental performance, structural behavior, material systems, costs, timelines, regulations, and social impact. Managing this … Read more
The conversation around Artificial Intelligence in Architecture, Engineering, and Construction (AEC) often begins and ends with the concept of “efficiency”. We discuss doing things faster, reducing man-hours, and automating mundane tasks. But as the industry faces unprecedented challenges, the true purpose of AI is shifting. It is no longer just about speed; it is about … Read more
In AEC, the purpose of AI is not to replace architects or engineers. The purpose is to improve decision-making and coordination, while keeping clear responsibility. In AEC, the purpose of AI is not to replace architects or engineers. The purpose is to improve decision-making and coordination, while keeping clear responsibility.AI can be seen as a … Read more
