Webinar | Tech Shaping Architecture

The May edition of Architecture Hunter’s webinar series tackled a theme that is rapidly reshaping the architectural discipline: the transformative role of technology in design practice. Entitled "Tech Shaping Architecture," the session featured two forward-thinking voices in the field: Carlos Banon, Associate Professor at Singapore University of Technology and Design and Director of the Architectural Intelligence Research Lab, and Cosimo Scotucci, Senior Project Leader at MVRDV. The conversation unfolded as an expansive dialogue about digital tools, innovation, pedagogy, and the evolving identity of the architect.

Carlos Banon opened with a provocation "More Artificial, More Human," exploring how AI is no longer just a tool but a design partner. Showcasing experimental projects that range from 3D-printed steel structures to hyper-realistic AI-generated environments, Carlos emphasized the shift from tools to agents, from static workflows to multimodal design interfaces. He reflected on the ability of AI to amplify imagination, increase precision, and accelerate iteration - but also called for a critical and ethical approach. In his teaching and professional work, he highlighted how AI expands students' intuition and design literacy, enabling a return to fundamentals through a new lens.

Cosimo Scotucci brought a complementary perspective from MVRDV, a firm renowned for its data-driven urbanism and formal experimentation. Beginning with a philosophical reflection on the meaning of technology, Cosimo traced how MVRDV has embedded computational tools into the DNA of their design methodology. From solar-optimized massings in Amsterdam to AI-assisted carbon-conscious architecture, technology, for Cosimo, is a medium of storytelling, problem-solving, and collective intelligence. He shared insights into the firm’s internal development of tools like Carbon Scape and argued that emerging technologies must align with human values and societal impact.

Together, the speakers framed technology not simply as a means of production, but as a mirror reflecting our evolving responsibilities as architects. Whether designing speculative forms or sustainable cities, the challenge remains: how can architects retain authorship and critical agency in a world shaped by increasingly powerful digital systems?

This timely webinar offered a nuanced vision: that design shaped by technology must remain rooted in meaning, guided by ethics, and driven by a humanistic spirit. As AI and digital tools become more integrated into practice, the architects of tomorrow are called not only to master the software, but to shape the questions that matter.

_article written by Daniela Moreira da Silva
_speaker 01: Carlos Bañón - Associate Professor at the Singapore University of Technology and Design (SUTD)
_speaker 02: Cosimo Scotucci - Senior Project Leader at MVRDV