Architecture has always had one foot in tradition and the other in innovation. From Vitruvius to Bjarke Ingels, the discipline has been a constant dialogue between technical knowledge and a vision for the future. Today, this debate inevitably intersects with the rise of Artificial Intelligence. Tools capable of generating images, synthesizing data, and automating processes are entering architectural firms, arousing both enthusiasm and mistrust.
Amid this transformation, Roger Blasco, head of Roger Blasco Arquitectos , a firm with over 15 years of experience in the sector, offers a vision that combines openness to innovation with professional rigor. "I'm one of those who believes that AI has not yet surpassed the quality of a truly human creation. With time and passion, our work is generally superior," he told Arquitectura y Diseño magazine. That addendum—"with time"—makes all the difference . Because, as he emphasizes, the main value of these tools is precisely to free architects from repetitive tasks and give them more space for what really matters : design.
Time as a new luxury
Blasco's experience with artificial intelligence doesn't stem from grand revolutions, but rather from concrete, everyday applications. " Automating processes and streamlining work gives us extra time that we can dedicate to other creative tasks that will surely enhance our work," he points out. He finds a good example in meeting management: "The most widespread use was various AI applications for transcribing meetings. Whether through videoconferences or in-person meetings with lapel microphones, we activated apps that recorded the meeting audio and then transcribed it according to our instructions."
What might seem like a minor detail ends up having a real impact on a firm's efficiency. " AI was able to generate summaries, highlighting the most relevant and important topics and comments over superfluous ones . Imagine if part of the firm's team could conduct a visit or a meeting and share the most relevant information in a summarized format with the rest of the team, archiving it all as useful documents in an organized and compact way." The conclusion: save time on repetitive tasks to gain time for creative ones.
The boundary between tool and authorship
Regarding architectural design, Blasco's firm has already explored the usefulness of generative AI. " At the workflow level, the use of more specific AI for image generation is practical , mainly to enhance final images or generate design alternatives," he explains. From quickly creating facade variations to converting sketches into initial 3D models to show a client, these applications are being integrated as visual support.
However, the architect is emphatic: it's still too early to speak of a decisive role for AI . "Not decisive. I still think we haven't reached that technological point. Nevertheless, AI has participated to a greater or lesser extent in the firm's daily work." This caution is what distinguishes those who see these tools as automatic replacements from those who understand them as instruments at the service of human judgment.
Educating the machine
Blasco warns against a common mistake: thinking that simply pressing a button is enough. "Today, AI cannot replace that work. Furthermore, not everyone knows how to use AI effectively . To achieve good results, you also need to know how to use these tools." The architect insists that in-depth knowledge of the profession remains essential, even for properly training an AI: " A firm can and should teach an AI its criteria and styles so that it generates results very similar to those the firm or architect itself would produce .
The risk, as he himself points out, lies in being swayed by grandiose promises: "We must not be seduced by false promises and magic trinkets that flood YouTube or social media. Even today, these tools are not capable of performing many of the tasks they promise to do on their own.".
His message to architecture students is clear: " The foundation of knowledge in the degree is and always will be fundamental so that tomorrow they can practice as architects or interior designers with or without AI."
Risks and limitations
What worries Blasco most is the current inability of these tools to offer an integrated view. "Most AIs are segmented by topic, and the generic ones don't delve deeply enough. Therefore, right now they work in packages or for specific tasks and are unable to combine them. They lack the comprehensive view that we can provide , and that's what we should always demand as part of our profession: the complete picture."
AI can be a great tool, but it needs a director to guide it. "AI is like a great tool, but it needs a director to combine all the results and interpret them. We will continue to assume the role of directors for many years to come ." However, he acknowledges that those who know how to integrate it well will have a competitive advantage: "AI won't replace us, but those who know how to use it will seem to have superpowers."
The immediate future
Roger Blasco's firm continues to cautiously explore these applications, testing the extent to which they can be integrated without losing sight of the essence of the profession. In his view, artificial intelligence will not replace architectural sensibility, but it can become an ally that expands creative possibilities.
Source: https://www.arquitecturaydiseno.es/
