From Hand-drawing to AI-Integrated Design: High-tech Architecture and Urban Design in the Wetware Era

Research Article
Open access

From Hand-drawing to AI-Integrated Design: High-tech Architecture and Urban Design in the Wetware Era

Yilin Shi 1*
  • 1 Tianjin University    
  • *corresponding author 3022206182@tju.edu.cn
CHR Vol.72
ISSN (Print): 2753-7072
ISSN (Online): 2753-7064
ISBN (Print): 978-1-80590-225-6
ISBN (Online): 978-1-80590-226-3

Abstract

As modern cities are primarily oriented toward economic growth rather than improving quality of life, the lack of humanistic care has become an important issue. The author explores the evolution of architectural and urban design workflows from traditional hand-drawing to AI-integrated design, reflecting on the shortcomings and improvement paths of high-tech architecture and urban design in terms of humanistic care, in conjunction with the Wetware theory. The hardware and software eras, centered on efficiency, led to emotional isolation and the lack of humanistic qualities in urban spaces. However, the Wetware era, through AI-integrated design and guided by "humanistic increment," transforms technological tools into creative partners, integrating emotional and ecological metaphors, and reconstructing the "technology-life-humanism" symbiosis. Finally, this paper reviews the ethical issues and technological limitations of AI workflows and offers prospects for future developments. Technological progress in design has emphasized efficiency, leading to emotional detachment and a lack of humanism in cities. The Wetware era seeks to rebuild the "technology-life-humanism" connection, using AI to express emotion and individuality. Yet, AI is mainly used in early stages, and challenges in technical compliance, ethics, and the role of designers remain.

Keywords:

Wetware city, High-tech architecture, AI-integrated design, humanistic care, urban design

Shi,Y. (2025). From Hand-drawing to AI-Integrated Design: High-tech Architecture and Urban Design in the Wetware Era. Communications in Humanities Research,72,1-7.
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References

[1]. Mumford, L. (1961) The city in history: Its origins, its transformations, and its prospects, Vol. 67. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

[2]. Gehl, J. (1987). Life between buildings: using public space. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

[3]. Bray, D. (2009) Wetware: a computer in every living cell. Yale University Press.

[4]. Bristol, K. G. (1991) The pruitt-igoe myth. Journal of Architectural Education,44(3): 163-171.

[5]. Britton, J. P., & deVos, A. N. (2005) CIM-based standards and CIM evolution. IEEE transactions on Power Systems, 20(2): 758-764.

[6]. Gao, F. (2021) Political Economy in the Evolution of China's Urban–Rural Economic Relations. Routledge.

[7]. Amer, E.A.A., Zhang, X., Meyad, E.M.A., Alareqi, M.M., Bather, S.M.H., Abdelwahed, A. (2025) Urbanization, growth, and carbon footprints: A GCC perspective on sustainable development. Sustainable Futures, 9: 100631.

[8]. Terranova, C.N. (2016) Bioart and Bildung—Wetware: Art, Agency, Animation, an Exhibition as Case Study. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, 17(3): 409–416.

[9]. Reyyan Dogan. (2023) The evolution of architectural practice: From hand drawings to computer-aided design to AI integration. https://parametric-architecture.com/the-evolution-of-architectural-practice-from-hand-drawings-to-computer-aid-design-to-ai-integration/

[10]. Addis, B. (2006) The Crystal Palace and its place in structural history. International Journal of Space Structures, 21(1): 3-19.

[11]. Buzard, J., Childers, J. W., & Gillooly, E. (Eds.). (2007) Victorian prism: refractions of the Crystal Palace. University of Virginia Press.

[12]. Wilson, M. O. (2005) Dancing in the dark: The inscription of blackness in Le Corbusier's radiant city. In Places through the body. Routledge, pp. 99-113.

[13]. Ferrandiz, J., Banawi, A., & Peña, E. (2018) Evaluating the benefits of introducing “BIM” based on Revit in construction courses, without changing the course schedule. Universal Access in the Information Society, 17, 491-501.

[14]. Saremi, S., Mirjalili, S., & Lewis, A. (2017). Grasshopper optimisation algorithm: theory and application. Advances in engineering software, 105, 30-47.

[15]. Pokojska, W. (2014). Mercedes-Benz Museum Stuttgart–muzeum idealne? Zarządzanie w kulturze, 15(2): 117-130.

[16]. Zaha Hadid Architects. (2006) Kartal Masterplan. https://www.zaha-hadid.com/masterplans/kartal-pendik-masterplan/

[17]. Jaruga-Rozdolska, A. (2022) Artificial intelligence as part of future practices in the architect’s work: MidJourney generative tool as part of a process of creating an architectural form. Architectus, 3 (71): 95-104.

[18]. PA Next Team. (2022) “AI x Symbiotic Architecture,” a self-growing residential tower by Manas Bhatia using Midjourney. https://parametric-architecture.com/ai-x-symbiotic-architecture-a-residential-self-growing-tower-conceptual-design-by-manas-bhatia/

[19]. Filion, P., Moos, M., & Sands, G. (2023). Urban neoliberalism, smart city, and Big Tech: the aborted Sidewalk Labs Toronto experiment. Journal of Urban Affairs, 45(9): 1625-1643.

[20]. Murray-Rust, D., Nicenboim, I., & Lockton, D. (2022) Metaphors for designers working with AI.

[21]. Reyyan Dogan. 41% of architects now using AI, indicates RIBA report. https://parametric-architecture.com/41-of-architects-now-using-ai-indicates-riba-report/

[22]. ArchitectureNow. How MVRDV is using AI to design its buildings. https://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/how-mvrdv-is-using-ai-to-design-its-buildings/

[23]. Tusikov, N. (2025). Toronto’s failed smart city: intellectual property, data, and bad governance. In Ineffective Policies. Policy Press, pp. 83-97.

Cite this article

Shi,Y. (2025). From Hand-drawing to AI-Integrated Design: High-tech Architecture and Urban Design in the Wetware Era. Communications in Humanities Research,72,1-7.

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The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study will be available from the authors upon reasonable request.

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About volume

Volume title: Proceedings of ICADSS 2025 Symposium: Art, Identity, and Society: Interdisciplinary Dialogues

ISBN：978-1-80590-225-6(Print) / 978-1-80590-226-3(Online)
Editor：Ioannis Panagiotou
Conference website: https://www.icadss.org/Lincoln.html
Conference date: 22 August 2025
Series: Communications in Humanities Research
Volume number: Vol.72
ISSN：2753-7064(Print) / 2753-7072(Online)

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References

[1]. Mumford, L. (1961) The city in history: Its origins, its transformations, and its prospects, Vol. 67. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

[2]. Gehl, J. (1987). Life between buildings: using public space. New York: Van Nostrand Reinhold.

[3]. Bray, D. (2009) Wetware: a computer in every living cell. Yale University Press.

[4]. Bristol, K. G. (1991) The pruitt-igoe myth. Journal of Architectural Education,44(3): 163-171.

[5]. Britton, J. P., & deVos, A. N. (2005) CIM-based standards and CIM evolution. IEEE transactions on Power Systems, 20(2): 758-764.

[6]. Gao, F. (2021) Political Economy in the Evolution of China's Urban–Rural Economic Relations. Routledge.

[7]. Amer, E.A.A., Zhang, X., Meyad, E.M.A., Alareqi, M.M., Bather, S.M.H., Abdelwahed, A. (2025) Urbanization, growth, and carbon footprints: A GCC perspective on sustainable development. Sustainable Futures, 9: 100631.

[8]. Terranova, C.N. (2016) Bioart and Bildung—Wetware: Art, Agency, Animation, an Exhibition as Case Study. Journal of Microbiology & Biology Education, 17(3): 409–416.

[9]. Reyyan Dogan. (2023) The evolution of architectural practice: From hand drawings to computer-aided design to AI integration. https://parametric-architecture.com/the-evolution-of-architectural-practice-from-hand-drawings-to-computer-aid-design-to-ai-integration/

[10]. Addis, B. (2006) The Crystal Palace and its place in structural history. International Journal of Space Structures, 21(1): 3-19.

[11]. Buzard, J., Childers, J. W., & Gillooly, E. (Eds.). (2007) Victorian prism: refractions of the Crystal Palace. University of Virginia Press.

[12]. Wilson, M. O. (2005) Dancing in the dark: The inscription of blackness in Le Corbusier's radiant city. In Places through the body. Routledge, pp. 99-113.

[13]. Ferrandiz, J., Banawi, A., & Peña, E. (2018) Evaluating the benefits of introducing “BIM” based on Revit in construction courses, without changing the course schedule. Universal Access in the Information Society, 17, 491-501.

[14]. Saremi, S., Mirjalili, S., & Lewis, A. (2017). Grasshopper optimisation algorithm: theory and application. Advances in engineering software, 105, 30-47.

[15]. Pokojska, W. (2014). Mercedes-Benz Museum Stuttgart–muzeum idealne? Zarządzanie w kulturze, 15(2): 117-130.

[16]. Zaha Hadid Architects. (2006) Kartal Masterplan. https://www.zaha-hadid.com/masterplans/kartal-pendik-masterplan/

[17]. Jaruga-Rozdolska, A. (2022) Artificial intelligence as part of future practices in the architect’s work: MidJourney generative tool as part of a process of creating an architectural form. Architectus, 3 (71): 95-104.

[18]. PA Next Team. (2022) “AI x Symbiotic Architecture,” a self-growing residential tower by Manas Bhatia using Midjourney. https://parametric-architecture.com/ai-x-symbiotic-architecture-a-residential-self-growing-tower-conceptual-design-by-manas-bhatia/

[19]. Filion, P., Moos, M., & Sands, G. (2023). Urban neoliberalism, smart city, and Big Tech: the aborted Sidewalk Labs Toronto experiment. Journal of Urban Affairs, 45(9): 1625-1643.

[20]. Murray-Rust, D., Nicenboim, I., & Lockton, D. (2022) Metaphors for designers working with AI.

[21]. Reyyan Dogan. 41% of architects now using AI, indicates RIBA report. https://parametric-architecture.com/41-of-architects-now-using-ai-indicates-riba-report/

[22]. ArchitectureNow. How MVRDV is using AI to design its buildings. https://architecturenow.co.nz/articles/how-mvrdv-is-using-ai-to-design-its-buildings/

[23]. Tusikov, N. (2025). Toronto’s failed smart city: intellectual property, data, and bad governance. In Ineffective Policies. Policy Press, pp. 83-97.

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