Posts on Dr. Arman Arisman

The Meta-Designer: Why AI Doesn’t Kill Architectural Craft—It Elevates It

Sun, 06 Sep 2026 12:00:00 +0700

For hundreds of years, an architect was a maker. To design meant to touch materials: pencil on paper, wood models on a desk, and slow, careful lines drawn by hand.

Today, an artificial intelligence can create 100 room layouts, building facades, and 3D shapes in ten seconds. Because the computer generates forms so fast, we face an existential question:

If the machine makes everything, what is the human for?

Ilusi Efisiensi: Mengapa Digitalisasi Konstruksi di Indonesia Gagal Membenahi Kultur Sosial Kita?

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 08:30:00 +0700

Setiap kali menghadiri seminar atau pameran arsitektur digital di tanah air, narasi yang disuguhkan hampir selalu seragam: kurva percepatan proyek yang fantastis, visualisasi terintegrasi, serta janji manis efisiensi biaya lewat adopsi Building Information Modelling (BIM). Kita terbiasa merayakan angka, akurasi, dan deretan perangkat lunak mutakhir. Namun, ada satu panggung yang nyaris selalu luput disorot: bilik-bilik kerja studio arsitektur dan konsultan perencana di mana lampu monitor menyala hingga subuh, ditemani mata para desainer dan engineer yang kelelahan.

Navigasi Ruang Laten: Membedah Epistemologi AI Sebelum Mengkritisi Hasil Generatif

Sat, 29 Aug 2026 08:04:46 +0700

Kekecewaan arsitek terhadap kecerdasan buatan (artificial intelligence) sering kali berpangkal pada kekeliruan ekspektasi: memperlakukan sistem generatif layaknya asisten manusia yang memiliki intuisi ruang, lalu memprotes hasilnya ketika bentukan yang lahir terasa janggal, tidak tektonis, atau melenceng dari intensi desain.

Protes semacam ini kerap lahir dari ketidaktahuan kita terhadap apa yang sesungguhnya terjadi di dalam “kotak hitam” (black box) tersebut. Sebagaimana ditegaskan Neil Leach, AI bukanlah entitas berpikiran sadar dan bukan pula sekadar perangkat lunak CAD berbasis geometri pasti. AI adalah mesin pengenalan pola probabilistik. Memprotes hasil keluarannya tanpa memahami epistemologi di balik cara ia belajar dan berpikir adalah sebuah kenaifan metodologis.

Building a Better Bridge: A Revit-SketchUp Story

Fri, 28 Aug 2026 12:00:00 +0700

That was the feedback from our 3D artists. They had just received a SketchUp model that was exported from Revit—the standard workflow for our government building project. The geometry was a disaster: broken faces, missing materials, random layers, and no logical structure. Hours of cleanup work lay ahead. And this wasn’t the first time.

Every project, the same story. A Revit model needs to move to SketchUp for visualization, rendering, or further design development. And every time, the transfer damages the model so badly that it almost feels like starting over.

A Building Can Perform Well and Still Feel Wrong

Wed, 17 Jun 2026 08:04:46 +0700

Today, architects can measure buildings in more detail than ever before. We can calculate energy use, daylight, temperature, structure, cost, circulation, and many other factors. Digital tools help us compare different options and find solutions that perform better. This is important progress because buildings should be safe, efficient, comfortable, and responsible toward the environment.

But good performance does not always create good architecture. A building can meet every technical target and still feel cold, confusing, or out of place. It may work well on paper but fail to create a meaningful experience for the people who use it.

BIM Represents Buildings Better Than It Represents Design Intent

Tue, 16 Jun 2026 08:04:46 +0700

BIM is very good at describing buildings. A BIM model can store dimensions, materials, quantities, systems, and technical data. It can also help architects coordinate drawings, find clashes, and manage project information.

However, BIM is less effective at representing one important thing: design intent.

A model can show where a wall is located. It can store its thickness, material, fire rating, and other properties. But it usually does not explain why the architect placed the wall there, which options were considered, or what design value the decision was meant to protect.

Intuition and Algorithm in Harmony: Architects in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Sun, 22 Sep 2024 16:01:46 +0700

The rise of AI in architecture raises a critical question: How do we merge the intuitive intelligence built over years of practice with the logic of algorithms? Both are powerful forces. But for them to work in harmony, architects must learn to wield these tools effectively, rather than being replaced by them.

To thrive in this new era, architects need to cultivate specific technical skills that bridge the gap between creative intuition and computational power.

The Importance of Critiquing BIM in the Architecture World: Fostering Open-Mindedness for Advancement

Mon, 17 Jul 2023 21:01:46 +0700

As an architect and daily user of Building Information Modeling (BIM), I am the first to admit its tremendous value. It has undeniably revolutionized how we handle efficiency and quality in architectural projects. But here is the thing: if we want this technology to keep evolving, we cannot afford to turn a blind eye to its flaws.

Being a BIM advocate doesn’t mean accepting it blindly. In fact, pointing out where BIM falls short is exactly what we need to drive the industry forward.

Bridging the Gap: Balancing Tradition and Innovation in the Digital Church

Sun, 09 Jul 2023 21:02:57 +0700

We live in a world that changes fast. With technology advancing every day, the church faces a unique challenge: how do we respond? Do we resist the tide, or do we learn to surf?

Rather than seeing technology as a threat to tradition, I believe we should view it as a bridge. The church has a massive opportunity to embrace the digital world, not to replace our treasured traditions, but to amplify them. It is about becoming a community that adapts to the times while staying deeply rooted in its values.

Understanding Game Age Ratings: Protecting Children from Inappropriate Content

Thu, 06 Jul 2023 19:28:58 +0700

A lot of parents worry about the games their children play. They are often afraid that some games might not be suitable for their kid’s age. But actually, parents need to know that every game already comes with an age rating set by the developers. These ratings exist to help parents decide if a game is okay for their children or not.

When making a game, developers and publishers already have a target audience in mind. They set the age rating based on what is inside the game—like violence, bad language, or adult themes. For instance, a game with intense fighting will have a higher age rating than a family-friendly game. Parents should treat these ratings as important guidelines, not just suggestions, to pick the right games.

Church and Virtual Reality: Exploring the Intersection

Sun, 02 Jul 2023 20:04:46 +0700

It feels like every time we blink, the world moves a little faster. Technology has fundamentally shifted how we learn, how we work, and how we talk to each other. We have accepted that smartphones keep us connected and streaming services bring entertainment to our living rooms.

But when it comes to our spiritual lives, the conversation gets a bit more complicated. Is there meaningful space for cutting-edge tech like Virtual Reality (VR) inside the church? It sounds like science fiction, but it is a reality we are already facing. I want to explore how these digital advancements might change the way we worship, interact with our community, and experience faith in a world that is increasingly glued to screens.

Exploring the Techniques of Generative Design

Fri, 23 Jun 2023 22:01:46 +0700

Generative design is often talked about as a single concept, but in reality, it is a collection of distinct mathematical and computational techniques. For architects, these aren’t just abstract formulas; they are tools that allow us to explore design territories that human intuition alone might never reach.

By leveraging algorithms, we can push past simple geometry into complex, optimized forms. Here is a look at some of the most prominent techniques that drive this process.

Computational Thinking in Architectural Design Process

Thu, 06 Jan 2022 21:44:46 +0700

The use of computers in the field of architectural design initially only involved digitizing tasks that were traditionally done manually. Computer-based modeling or drawing still relied on additive logic, which involved adding overlapped information without associative relationships, heavily relying on the designer’s consistency. This additive logic persisted for a long time as it was considered stable for exploring and refining variations through traditional image media. However, this logic had limitations as it lacked connections between depicted elements and couldn’t incorporate physically relevant aspects that shape the generation of real-world forms. These limitations prompted architects to develop their design mindset.