Listen to the full podcast segment on Mon Carnet by Bruno Guglielminetti
Émilie Delvoye, Director of Communications at Prompt, welcomes Stéphane Turbide, who received second prize in the Alchimia Grant awarded by Prompt, in collaboration with E:AI, a few weeks ago.
Maket Technologies, in collaboration with Atelier L’Abri, a Montreal-based architecture firm specializing in green and sustainable construction, has developed an innovative project that democratizes architecture with artificial intelligence tools to help individuals design their homes or carry out renovation projects.
Discover captivating excerpts from the podcast.
Can you tell us a little about this project?
Yes, of course. We are developing technology that enables the automatic conceptualization of architectural plans. In concrete terms, our solution not only helps generate plans, but also explore different design alternatives for a given project. The platform incorporates advanced features for conceptualization, regulation, and optimization of architectural choices. In short, we have integrated a true architectural brain into our algorithms to enable the generation and construction of houses by artificial intelligence.
What problem are you trying to solve with this project?
Today, designing a house and obtaining a building permit can take several months—sometimes up to ten months. Our goal is to significantly reduce these delays, both in terms of design and regulatory approval. While an architect may take several weeks to conceptualize a project, our technology now makes it possible to do so in just a few hours. Thanks to our algorithms, it is possible to automatically generate plans, explore different design options, and take into account as many regulatory constraints as possible.
What is the impact in terms of cost?
There is a significant impact on costs, particularly for architects. Thanks to our technology, they can avoid numerous errors and move more quickly toward the right concept, taking into account as many constraints as possible from the outset. This is also a considerable advantage for the client, who often invests significant sums in architectural fees to explore, validate, or invalidate concepts. Sometimes, he simply wants to try out an alternative, which involves additional costs. Today, with the tools we develop, customers can not only explore these ideas for themselves, but do so while automatically incorporating regulatory constraints, such as the National Building Code. This reduces the risk of errors. It’s a bit like having a little virtual architect on his shoulder, accompanying him throughout his project.
Our system is effectively based on regulations. This is where we stand out from our competitors: we have integrated a true “architectural brain” into our algorithms. We take into account zoning regulations, construction plans, and National Building Code standards to ensure consistent traffic flow, structural viability, and much more. The user does not have to worry about these technical aspects—the platform takes care of them. That said, our solution does not replace the architect. On the contrary, she supports him in the design phase. It allows you to arrive at the best possible concept more quickly. Our goal is to help solve the housing crisis by building more, faster, and with better optimized buildings. And this is precisely where technology can play a key role in supporting architects in their work.
What triggered this innovation?
The catalyst for our initiative is the current housing crisis—a global issue. Personally, I was tired of seeing uniform streets and projects that all look alike, simply because we have to deal with time and budget constraints. This is what motivated us to develop algorithms capable of building faster and more efficiently, while optimizing projects. But above all, we wanted these projects to be more visually rich and inspiring. The idea is to combine performance and creativity, so that each building is both functional and aesthetically appealing.
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