Architecture outside of the academy has been pessimistic for decades.
If you want scientifically-driven interventions that could make a difference, create tools that let investors and laypeople completely bypass the pre-existing real estate economy. Make software that designs spec homes, make robots that build spec homes, make self-driving cars, make telepresence to eliminate commutes entirely, make chatbots that file permits and respond to nuisance neighbor lawsuits, make gasses that can turn deserts and tundras into temperate climates, make safer sedatives and painkillers to put smiles on gruesomely NIMBY boomer neighbors. Tall order, right? That's like saying, "Destroy California."
> create tools that let investors and laypeople completely bypass the pre-existing real estate economy
> Make software that designs spec homes,
But isn’t that effectively what the original projects in top level post and in my top level comment are aiming to do? Make it possible to rapidly and easily generate architecturally and structurally meaningful designs within a fully automated end-to-end pipeline (even if the whole pipeline isn’t in place yet)?
> make robots that build spec homes
Yep there are people that I know working on this or adjacent to this (ie rapidly constructable pre-fab homes/tiny homes, 3D printable homes using on-site dirt and mud, drones that assemble structures, etc etc).
> bypass the pre-existing real estate economy
At the same time, you have to be somewhat pragmatic and recognize that this is so entrenched that the likelihood of successfully disrupting and sidestepping is low and there is value still in tactically intervening within existing frameworks…
Out of curiosity what is your involvement (if any) in AEC? Just curious as it helps to understand each other’s perspectives. For context I am in academia (duh lol) but also at a decarbonization/retrofit planning startup which works with large portfolio owners (ie thousands of buildings at a time).
Architecture outside of the academy has been pessimistic for decades.
If you want scientifically-driven interventions that could make a difference, create tools that let investors and laypeople completely bypass the pre-existing real estate economy. Make software that designs spec homes, make robots that build spec homes, make self-driving cars, make telepresence to eliminate commutes entirely, make chatbots that file permits and respond to nuisance neighbor lawsuits, make gasses that can turn deserts and tundras into temperate climates, make safer sedatives and painkillers to put smiles on gruesomely NIMBY boomer neighbors. Tall order, right? That's like saying, "Destroy California."