PREMISE

“All of a sudden, AI is everywhere. It is on our phones, opening them up through facial recognition, identifying friends on Facebook and feeding us news and advertisements, on our computers, reminding us of meetings, finishing off sentences, and filtering out spam in our homes in the form of Alexa, Cortana, and other AI assistants, controlling robotic floor cleaners and regulating environmental control systems, and in our cars, giving directions, finding parking spaces and notifying us if we stray out of lane. Meanwhile, self-driving cars are already here. AI is changing every aspect of our existence, and architecture is no exception, where it has already infiltrated the architectural office. Embedded in our software tools, it is changing the nature of design.
The hottest topic in progressive schools and practice, AI is now the latest buzzword in architectural culture. Forget Parametricism and 3D printing, the 2020s are all about AI, the first genuinely 21st-century design technique that is revolutionizing architectural culture.”

-Del Campo, M., & Leach, N. (2022). Can Machines Hallucinate Architecture? AI as Design Method. Architectural Design, 92(3). 

The term ‘artificial intelligence’ was first coined in 1956. Since then, individual AI systems have matched or outperformed humans in everything from chess and AlphaGo to marketing and navigation. In the past 12 months alone, the consequences of AI, and specifically ‘deep learning,’ on the AEC industry have been propelled to the top of human consciousness through the advent of text-to-image tools such as Midjourney, and outcome-based design software such as Spacemaker.

What does this mean for the future of architecture, architecture studios, architects, creativity, cities, and humanity?

“It’s difficult to make predictions, especially about the future,” said the Danish physicist Niels Bohr.

We cannot predict. But we can dream, forewarn, sculpt, and shape. We can capitalize on the opportunities of AI in the design process, the school studio, the construction site, and the built environment. At the same time, we can confront, question, and remedy the questions posed by AI in the field of architecture and the built environment, be it ethics, surveillance, ownership, representation, or the changing definitions of creativity itself.

“We are called to be architects of the future, not its victims,” said the American architect Buckminster Fuller.

BRIEF

This competition invites entrants to submit a story comprising text and images responding to one of the following four themes, in any way you may interpret them:

1. The AI-infused city
2. The AI-infused architecture studio
3. The AI-infused construction site
4. Open Category: entrants may define their own theme as it relates to AI and architecture

The setting, plot, tone, and message of this story are up to you. Is it an allegory? A love story? A horror story? A diary entry? A data-driven prediction? This is your chance to reflect on the relationship between bits and atoms, the artificial and natural, the machine and human, and propagate a scenario that can serve as an invitation for your fellow creatives and the general public to ponder: What should the future relationship be between artificial intelligence and the built environment?

Your submission is permitted to make use of AI-driven text-to-image tools for graphics, and text generation tools for words and scripts, providing such tools are credited in line with the direction in the ‘Submission Components’ section.

Submission Components

• Essay title
• Story text (maximum 1,000 words)
• Story images (maximum 5 images)
• A
  list of credits at the end of your submission text specifying what, if
  any, AI and software tools were used in the production of the
  submission.

Submission Method

All entries need to be submitted through our designated portal via this link.

Submission Fee

There is a $10 (USD) entry fee.

Timeline

• Monday, May 1st, 2023: Competition launch
• Friday, June 2nd, 2023, 6:00 PM PT: Deadline for questions or clarifications
• Monday, June 12th, 2023, 6:00 PM PT: Submissions close
• Friday, June 30th, 2023: Results published

Winning Categories *

• 1x Overall Winner
• 1x Honorable Mentions (AI-infused city category)
• 1x Honorable Mentions (AI-infused architecture studio category)
• 1x Honorable Mentions (AI-infused construction site category)
• 1x Honorable Mentions (Open category)

* Organizers may alter the composition of winning positions in response to the quality of submissions

Prizes

Overall Winner prize pack:

• $500 cash prize
• 1-year subscription to the Morpholio Trace app
• 1-year subscription to the SketchArch Pro app
• Publication on Archinect’s and Bustler’s editorial and social media

Honorable Mentions prize pack:

• 1-year subscription to the Morpholio Trace app
• 1-month subscription to the SketchArch Pro app
• Publication on Archinect’s and Bustler’s editorial and social media

Judging Criteria

• 50%: Creativity and originality
  Entry demonstrates unique and innovative perspectives on the
  relationship between architecture and artificial intelligence. Judges
  will evaluate how well the story integrates images and text to convey a
  compelling narrative and captivate the reader’s or viewer’s attention.
• 50% Impact and relevance
  Entry has a clear message or theme that is relevant to current
  challenges, opportunities, or trends in architecture or artificial
  intelligence. Judges will evaluate the story’s impact on the reader’s
  understanding and perception of the relationship between these two
  fields, as well as its potential to inspire future innovations or
  solutions.

COMPETITION TERMS AND CONDITIONS

Language

English is the official language of this competition.

Eligibility

The competition is open to all individuals. Submissions must be limited to one individual, with group submissions not permitted.

No member or employee of the organizer or sponsor organizations may apply.

Jury decision

The judges’ decision as to winners and commendations is final. Judges reserve the right to declare no winners if entries are of insufficient quality.

Disqualification

Submissions shall be excluded from the competition:

• If an entrant improperly attempts to influence the decision
• If received after the latest time stated under the Submission method (see above)
• If, in the opinion of the organizer, it does not fulfill the requirements of the competition brief
• If any of the mandatory requirements of the brief and conditions are disregarded.

Privacy and Ownership

Entrants must not release their submissions to any third parties until 3 months after the results have been published.

Archinect reserves the right to publicize any or all of any entrant’s submission in any promotional activity, including all social media channels, with due credit given to the entrant.