Technology and its impact on the future of architecture

Let us look at how technology affects today's architecture, how it influences our lives at home and at work, and how we connect with our surroundings. I interviewed a good friend of mine, a licensed architect based in Singapore, about his stand on this topic, "Well, I personally need a high-performance laptop that does not only look good but is also durable to deal with my difficulties in creating structures. It is like trying to build a sandcastle that will not crumble at the first wave. I need a laptop that can handle the 3D modelings, renderings, and simulations. I also often have to bring our laptops to our meetings and job sites, so we need something that is not too heavy. It is like carrying a brick versus a feather. So, in short, architects need a laptop with good performance, graphics card, and mobility to design and create structures that will make architects go "wow" and make their clients go "yay".

"I personally use a Legion 7i 16” with specs:

Intel® CoreTM i7-13700H Processor (E-cores up to 3.70 GHz, P-cores up to 5.00 GHz)

Windows 11 Home 64

NVIDIA® GeForce RTXTM 4060

8GB GDDR6 Memory, 16 GB DDR5-5200MHz (Soldered)

1 TB SSD M.2 2280 PCIe Gen4 TLC

Display 16" 3.2K (3200 x 2000), IPS,"

(Architect John Levie L. Jordan, personal communication, October 23, 2023)

Going forward, one of the most significant effects of technology in architecture has been the creation of software tools, and these are:

Computer-aided design, commonly known as CAD, produces 2D and 3D model concepts that help architects and engineers visualize the project before it is constructed.

BIM (Building Information Modeling) for digital representations includes 3D models, cost estimates, and maintenance.

Parametric design is creating architectural elements and technical components based on computational procedures or algorithms rather than physical manipulation.

These tools enable architects to create complex and precise designs with remarkable productivity. These tools also allow architects to try new designs that were previously difficult to imagine.

Architects usually get high-quality laptops that can handle intensive applications to maximize their digital design.

Big names in the field of laptop manufacturing also offer models that are specifically made for digital design. This includes Acer, Asus, Lenovo, Dell, HP, and Apple.

• Acer offers the Acer Predator Helios 500, which is equipped with a powerful AMD Ryzen processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX graphics card, making it suitable for demanding design tasks.

• Asus offers the Asus ROG Zephyrus G14, which combines an AMD Ryzen 9 processor and NVIDIA RTX 3060 GPU, offering excellent design performance.

• Dell's XPS 15 series laptops feature Intel Core i9 processors and dedicated NVIDIA GPUs to provide reliability for architects and designers.

• HP offers the HP ZBook series, known for its strong performance, including models with Intel Xeon processors and advanced NVIDIA Quadro graphics cards.

• Apple's MacBook Pro is the preferred choice for architects and designers, with M1 or Intel processors and exceptional Retina displays for a seamless digital design experience.

These notebooks meet many architectural requirements and offer different specifications for different design needs.

The effect of technology on the future of architecture is diverse and extensive. From digital design tools to sustainable materials and adaptive architecture, technology is shaping the way architects plan, design, and construct buildings. The future of architecture offers an exciting blend of art, science, and technology that opens up unlimited possibilities for building useful, attractive, and sustainable environments as architects continue to develop.