The article explores how advances in AI, computational design, and digital fabrication are reshaping building design. It argues that traditional architectural workflows are being replaced by more iterative, data-driven processes that enable greater complexity and customization, potentially making design more accessible and responsive to human needs.
Background
- Ari Porad is a software engineer who has worked at Vercel, Google, and Amazon. His Substack applies software engineering concepts to other domains.
- This post argues building design should follow the path of modern software: moving from fully custom, one-off projects toward standardized, modular, prefabricated components assembled cheaply and quickly.
- The context is the well-known shortage of affordable housing in the US. Porad claims construction has seen almost no productivity gains in 50 years, unlike most other industries.
- Modular/prefab construction has been discussed for decades (Sears Roebuck houses, post-WWII Levittowns) but never scaled for complex buildings. Porad frames it as analogous to the shift from monolithic codebases to reusable libraries and package management.
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