Insights, tutorials, and news from the PAACADEMY community.
In the ever-shifting landscape of the architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industry, the rise of advanced design tools, computational design, parametric modeling, artificial intelligence (AI), and 3D printing heralds a revolution as profound as the drafting table’s twilight. These technologies are not mere accessories; they are the keystones of a new era where efficiency meets artistry in a luminous dance. As firms like Foster + Partners and BIG harness these innovations to craft sustainable, boundary-pushing projects, the message is clear: mastering these tools is no longer optional; it’s the pulse of progress, ensuring architects remain creators rather than relics in a digital age.
Computational and parametric design, with its algorithmic elegance, transforms the mundane into the extraordinary, automating workflows that once shackled creativity to repetition. Tools like Grasshopper and Rhino allow designers to tweak a single parameter, say, a façade’s curvature, and watch an entire structure ripple in response, optimizing daylight or energy use with a finesse that feels almost poetic. Meanwhile, AI steps in as a visionary collaborator, sifting through data to propose site-sensitive solutions or generating hundreds of design iterations in moments. This synergy slashes timelines, boosts precision, and frees architects to chase bold ideas, making it indispensable for tackling the complex demands of 2025’s urban and environmental challenges.
Then there’s 3D printing, a tactile marvel that bridges the digital and physical with audacious grace. From parametric ceramics to full-scale concrete structures, it’s redefining materiality and sustainability in AEC, enabling bespoke solutions at scales once deemed impractical. These tools collectively empower the industry to meet pressing needs, think carbon-neutral buildings or resilient urban frameworks, while elevating design to an art form that resonates with both intellect and soul. For architects, engineers, and builders, learning them is a rite of passage, a way to wield innovation as a chisel, carving legacies in a world that demands both beauty and brains.
Yet, the true allure lies in adaptability. The AEC field is no stranger to disruption; digital twins, VR walkthroughs, and generative design are already redefining how we conceive, construct, and inhabit spaces. PAACADEMY stands as a vital ally, equipping architects with cutting-edge Architectural Design Courses that master computational tools, AI, and 3D printing, ensuring they stride confidently alongside technology’s relentless evolution. Firms that lag risk fading into obscurity, while those who embrace these advancements craft projects that captivate clients and reimagine skylines. In 2025, proficiency in these systems isn’t merely an edge; it’s the bedrock of relevance, a passport to a future where human ingenuity and technological prowess converge to sculpt the built world with unparalleled vision.
Below are PAACADEMY’s standout courses for 2025, each a gateway to mastering the advanced tools reshaping the AEC, computational design, parametric modeling, AI, and 3D printing. Rich with detail and guided by luminaries, these workshops promise to equip architects with the skills to thrive in a tech-driven world.
This workshop plunges students into the parametric deep end, where Grasshopper becomes a wand for conjuring adaptive designs. Aimed at architects eager to harness data-driven creativity, it covers parametric fundamentals, think geometry manipulation and optimization workflows. Participants will craft dynamic models that respond to real-time inputs, leaving with a portfolio that sings of innovation.
Tim Fu, a former star at Zaha Hadid Architects, is a parametric pioneer whose work has redefined architectural fluidity. With a career steeped in computational design and AI, Fu’s expertise illuminates complex concepts with clarity, making him an ideal mentor for this transformative journey.
Discover Parametric Intelligence Workshop
Course Details: Precision reigns supreme in this advanced course, blending ControlNet and ComfyUI to master parametric complexity. Perfect for architects tackling large-scale or intricate projects, it teaches how to impose order on chaos, from structural systems to bespoke façades. Students will gain hands-on skills to refine designs with surgical accuracy.
Instructor: Carlos Bañón, co-founder of Subarquitectura Architects and Associate Professor at the Singapore University of Technology and Design, is a leader in integrating AI and digital fabrication into architecture. His innovative designs have been showcased at the Venice Biennale and honored with the Singapore President’s Design Award. Bañón’s expertise makes him an ideal guide for this workshop, merging AI tools with architectural design.
Course Details: AI takes the spotlight here, with diffusion models as the brush for generative design. Aimed at visionaries, this workshop explores how to spark and refine unexpected forms, blending creativity with algorithmic magic. Participants will learn to push architectural boundaries, emerging with concepts that dazzle and disrupt.
Instructor: Ismail Seleit, a senior architect at Foster + Partners, excels in computational design and BIM. He integrates AI tools like Stable Diffusion and ControlNet into architectural workflows, enhancing design innovation. Beyond architecture, Ismail is an ambient-electronic music producer, crafting soundtracks for architectural films and independent projects.
Course Details: This course is a strategic ballet, merging AI and parametric tools for collaborative success. Ideal for team-oriented architects, it dives into managing hybrid workflows and aligning tech with human intent. Students will master negotiation tactics, leaving with skills to harmonize cutting-edge design in real-world studios.
Instructor: Kedar Undale, an architect and educator, specializes in AI-driven parametric design. As the founder of Kedar Undale Design Studio, he blends computation with creativity, with experience at Partisans Architecture. His expertise makes him the perfect guide for navigating human-AI collaboration in design.
Course Details: A leap into the avant-garde, this workshop uses computational design to shatter geometric norms. Perfect for those craving originality, it equips students with algorithms to craft forms that defy expectation, think sculptural pavilions or radical interiors. Participants will build a toolkit for the unimaginable in architecture.
Instructor: Bryan García Agudelo, a British architectural designer based in Alicante, Spain, specializes in parametric design. With over three years of experience as a geometric specialist, he applies computational techniques to projects of varying scales and complexity. His expertise in merging aesthetic exploration with geometric precision ensures participants gain valuable insights throughout the workshop.
Course Details: Parametric design meets materiality in this tactile odyssey, using 3D printing to shape ceramics. Aimed at architects blending digital and physical, it covers Rhino-to-printer workflows, creating sustainable, bespoke objects. Students will master fabrication, leaving with tangible creations.
Instructor: Josef Stöger, an artist and designer with a master’s in Architecture from the Bartlett School of Architecture, specializes in merging algorithmic design with traditional ceramics. He developed a custom clay 3D printer to explore new fabrication techniques, pushing the boundaries of digital craftsmanship. With experience as a technical tutor at the Bartlett and collaborations with companies like Peugeot, Josef offers a unique perspective on the intersection of digital and physical craftsmanship.
Course Details: This workshop crafts ethereal worlds through computation, perfect for dreamers with a designer’s eye. Students learn to weave immersive narratives, think VR-ready concepts, using advanced tools to blur reality and fantasy. It’s a cinematic leap into next-gen architectural storytelling.
Instructor Eliana Nigro, Head of Computational Design at Cobe, specializes in parametric design and digital strategies in architecture. With experience at 3XN Architects and a master's in advanced design methods, she has worked on global projects, consulted on AI-driven design, and lectured worldwide on computational approaches to architecture.
Course Details: A primer for computational fluency, this course lays the groundwork for innovation and computational thinking. Ideal for beginners or professionals seeking a reset, it explores algorithmic thinking and its applications in AEC. Students will emerge with a mindset to ignite creative breakthroughs.
Instructor Jak Drinnan, an architect and computational designer based in Bangkok, is the founder of Tekne Lab, a global consultancy that delivers high-tech, design-driven solutions for complex architectural challenges. With a decade of experience, including his role as an Associate Architect at Foster + Partners, Jak has contributed to iconic projects like Apple's global flagship stores. His expertise in computational design and parametric workflows equips participants with the skills to tackle complex design problems efficiently.
Course Details: In this practical workshop, AI becomes a co-creator, guiding students from sketch to render with machine precision. Perfect for architects seeking speed and vision, it covers ideation, visualization, and optimization. Participants will utilize AI as a tool for bold and efficient design.
Instructor: Ebrar Eke is a Turkish architect and designer based in Vienna, currently working as a design architect at Delugan Meissl Associated Architects (DMAA). She earned her Master of Architecture with distinction from Studio Greg Lynn at the University of Applied Arts Vienna, where she developed her thesis project, "Text-to-Architecture," focusing on AI applications in architectural design. Ebrar has also served as a teaching assistant at IAAC Barcelona. Her expertise lies in integrating AI tools into the architectural design process, making her an ideal mentor for this workshop.
Course Details: PAACADEMY’s bundles weave these courses into a bespoke education, ideal for insatiable learners. Mix parametric, AI, and 3D printing skills to suit your vision, mastering a suite of tools that define 2025’s AEC vanguard. It’s a tailored path to brilliance.
Instructor: A collective of the above luminaries, each a master in their craft, ensures a rich, multifaceted journey through this curated odyssey.
Visit PAACADEMY’s site for bundle options.
Excellent
5 / 5 stars
No reviews yet. Be the first!
.webp&w=3840&q=75)
Dec 23, 2025
Preview
Architectural language embodies the definitive vocabulary of the built environment, translating abstract architectural drawings into an executable physical real...
Dec 19, 2025
Preview
As long as humans have existed, technology has been used to improve our ability to do things. We can see this improvement with the use of drafting tables and CA...
