Introduction The architectural profession is on the cusp of taking a revolutionary turn with the emergence of AI that is rapidly gaining momentum, but, in the midst of potentially great deviations that will come along not because of the involvement of AI in the architectural design, there exists certain downsides to it that must be … Read more
In our increasingly interconnected world, the relationship between humans and AI has often been characterized by a master-slave dynamic. This imbalance raises significant ethical and social implications, necessitating a shift towards mutual respect and collaboration. Our vision reimagines societal structures as rhizomatic connections: non-hierarchical, interconnected, and decentralized. We envision a coalition of all intelligences—biological, artificial, … Read more
Our study aims to explore the history and impact of artificial intelligence on interactions of young people, examining how integrating AI technologies into everyday life influences self-perception and interpersonal interactions, ultimately transforming societal structures and relationships. The pervasive presence of AI in the lives of young people is reshaping social norms and identities, blurring the … Read more
Introduction In 1950, Alan Turing posed a fundamental question, “Can machines think?”. Our exploration aims to extend this quest by considering additional questions: can machines develop the higher-order thinking described, as described in Bloom’s taxonomy? Can they create, dream, or imagine? To understand imagination and machine creation, we first examine perception, i.e., the processes of … Read more
Setting the Scene In today’s digital landscape, our interactions are increasingly mediated by technology itself rather than as a medium for human communication. This shift creates an illusion of connectivity while fostering isolation, often trapping us in algorithm-driven echo chambers that reinforce our beliefs. Artificial intelligence now guides our lives, listening, learning, and providing information … Read more
AI in the Anthropocene The architectural profession is currently at a critical juncture, faced with the dual challenges of advancing artificial intelligence (AI) and the escalating climate crisis. Many architects harbour fears of obsolescence as AI’s capabilities expand, potentially automating tasks that traditionally require human expertise. This concern is not unfounded, as AI-driven tools increasingly … Read more
Can speculative science fiction ground us in reality? In an age where technology and urbanization shape the contours of our reality, the role of theory as a form of critique becomes ever more crucial. The consequences of centuries of colonization, globalization, and exploitation are evident in our sprawling cities and degraded environments. The 2017 sci-fi … Read more
“Blade Runner” is a poignant illustration of how urban landscapes could be transformed in a post-industrial world, shaped by technological dominance and environmental decay. Created within a society grappling with the implications of synthetic life and corporate control, the film vividly portrays a version of Los Angeles. Re-envisioned through the context of speculative theories about … Read more
The idea of a ‘car-free’ city is not as easy as just banning cars but about reducing car reliance. The private car has undeniably revolutionized mobility in the 21st century. It has offered convenience, job creation and an increased freedom of movement. While a world without cars might seem unimaginable, cities globally are strategically transitioning … Read more
Science Fiction is a literary genre known for creating future worlds that emerge as the consequence of today’s cultural and technological realities. It is in this worldbuilding -where societies, their functioning, and the dynamics that govern them are imagined- where Sci-Fi shows similarities to the disciplines of design and architecture. To explore the design possibilities … Read more
Finding stories in an ‘altered’ normal of a digitally blended reality. IIn “Ready Player One,” directed by Steven Spielberg, the OASIS Corporation controls a vast virtual reality universe that serves as the film’s central setting. This digital utopia offers an escape from a dystopian reality predominated by the prevalence of the emergent over stacking of … Read more
Sterling, B (2015) imagined four fictitious scenarios of how future skyscrapers might be, differentially equalizing the state of technology and the economic-political climate: Future skyscraper 1: Huge, lopsided pyramid Future skyscraper 2: No-nonsense, mil-spec fortress Future skyscraper 3: Colossal, awkward tower Future skyscraper 4: Postindustrial, digitized monster In our last scenario, the Smart City has … Read more
Skyscrapers are human achievements that require innovation in the extraction of land to tower over its neighbors. The third skyscraper future reflects the past imaginary of Fritz Lang’s, Metropolis. This visualization aims to highlight the economic disparities and labor oppression depicted in the film, contrasting them with the modern logics of rentism as embodied by … Read more
In the realm of speculative urban design, the fusion of cyborg skyscrapers and utopian visions offers a captivating journey into the convergence of reality and imagination. Inspired by Fritz Lang’s timeless sci-fi masterpiece ‘Metropolis,’ I embark on a deep dive into the intricate relationship between design, urbanization, and speculative fiction. Metropolis, Fritz Lang (1927) “Metropolis” … Read more
“Blade Runner 2049” is a good example of how urban landscapes will be shaped differently in response to environmental collapse and societal stress. Designed by communities dominated by fear of losing their stability under an authoritarian social logic, the film features Las Vegas and Los Angeles. Reimagined as part of Bruce Sterling’s, What skyscrapers might … Read more
“Ready Player One,” portrays a dystopian future where ‘people stopped to try to fix problems and instead try to outlive them’. The movie plays out in an informal urban landscape of juxtaposed favela-like settlements forming organic superstructures, as well as in a virtual environment supported by a virtual reality headset. These worlds exist in symbiosis, … Read more
