AI as a path to architectural design knowledge

Meraz, Fidel

Abstract

This paper explores the role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) as a path to architectural design knowledge through the lens of phenomenology. It positions AI not as a replacement for human creativity but as a collaborator within an emerging creative ecosystem. Drawing from philosophical and design theory, the paper examines how human intelligence is constituted through perception, memory, and embodied experience, and contrasts it with the computational logic of AI. It investigates how AI can augment design intuition, accelerate iteration, and support more informed and responsive design decisions—while remaining ethically and epistemologically distinct from human judgment. The paper emphasises the importance of critical practice, contextual understanding, and ethical responsibility as AI becomes increasingly embedded in design processes. By integrating phenomenological awareness with AI’s computational capacity, designers can cultivate more situated, inclusive, and forward-thinking approaches to design knowledge. This hybrid practice demands vigilance, criticality, and care, but holds the promise of a more powerful and human-centred future for architectural design.

• Presentation Conference Type: Conference Paper (unpublished)
• Conference Name: 23rd International conference arquitectonics: Mind, land, and society
• Start Date: Jun 4, 2025
• End Date: Jun 6, 2025
• Deposit Date: Jun 17, 2025
• Peer Reviewed: Not Peer Reviewed
• Public URL: https://uwe-repository.worktribe.com/output/14570765