Architectural Design Education in the Age of Generative AI: A Critical Exploration of Future Opportunities, Challenges, and Implications

This study investigates the integration of Generative AI (GenAI) in architectural design education, focusing on its potential benefits, challenges, and implications across the different stages of the architectural design process. This study employed a mixed-method approach including a questionnaire survey of practicing architects and structured interviews with architecture faculty. The findings highlighted a growing acceptance of GenAI’s role in architectural design education, with more preference given to the conceptual design phase. However, this faces multiple challenges including the lack of technical knowledge and training as the most pressing issue, followed by the absence of clear guidelines, resistance to change, and the high cost of the required infrastructure. This study proposed a framework that summarizes the required actions concluded from the collected data to ensure responsible integration of GenAI into architectural design education. Further research is needed to explore the long-term impacts of GenAI on students’ manual skills and critical design thinking.