Design tools are evolving faster than ever, and the role of the architect is shifting from form-giver to curator of intelligence. This workshop is a deep dive into Synthetic Architecture Methodology, 25 years of architectural theory and practice, enhanced with AI.
We will explore why the faulty, the sloppy, and the imperfect often reveal more than “beautiful design,” and how to build Second Brains that manage complexity, structure ideas, and support critical decision-making.
Participants will learn how to break down architectural problems into modular components and move from philosophical grounding to simulations, storytelling, and clear visual output.
Design tools are evolving faster than ever, and the role of the architect is shifting from form-giver to curator of intelligence . This workshop is a deep dive into Synthetic Architecture Methodology, 25 years of architectural theory and practice, enhanced with AI. We will explore why the faulty, the sloppy, and the imperfect often reveal more than “beautiful design,” and how to build Second Brains that manage complexity, structure ideas, and support critical decision-making. Participants will...
What you will learn
01
Construct Second Brains: A digital ecosystem to organize references and ideas
02
Read Context: Understand what is ugly, faulty, misplaced—and why that matters
03
Master the Surgery Workflow: Combine all tools into controlled, meaningful illustrations
04
Create Strong Visuals: Produce intentional architectural imagery with AI
05
Validate with Data: Use environmental simulations and light BIM to prove feasibility
06
Software Philosophy: Push tools to their limits, collaborate with technologies, and shape your design environment
Methodology
This course focuses on adaptive design systems, a way of thinking that outlives any single tool. Instead of “prompt engineering,” we practice Surgical Concept Formation: stitching, refining, and curating outputs into a coherent architectural narrative.
We will cover:
History of AI in Architecture: From pre-CAD to the AI era
Data & Networks: Turning abstract ideas into relational diagrams
Visual Production: Generating, mixing, upscaling, and repairing images through a modular workflow
Simulation & Light BIM: Validating AI concepts with environmental and functional data
The Scope:
Modular Workflow Design is treated as a network of refinement stations rather than a linear or chaotic process.
Second Brains: Using Pinterest, Graphcommons, and AI tools, we externalize thinking, classify information, and build intelligent visual repositories.
The Surgery Table Rejecting the myth of the “perfect generation,” Photoshop becomes a surgical table—where we stitch, layer, and manipulate outputs into intentional architectural compositions.
Reality Check: With Autodesk Forma and Rayon, we test AI hallucinations against real constraints: ergonomics, sunlight, climate, program, and feasibility.
Program:
Day 1
Module 1: The Mind — Introduction
What is Synthetic Architecture
History of tools
Reading societies, context, and underlying forces
Module 2: Secondary Brain Theory & Data Classification
Building meaning with AI tools, spreadsheets, and Graphcommons
Using Pinterest as an intelligent visual repository
Module 3: Building the Concept Base
Idea-generation tools and the value of “wrong” or “sloppy” outputs
Deterministic prompting: telling AI exactly what you need
Creating a sketch or simple 3D massing for downstream use
Module 4: The Tool Arsenal
Overview of Midjourney, Gemini, ChatGPT, Runway, Magnific, Photoshop, Forma, Rayon, Rhino, etc.
Task: Prepare site, context, visual repository, sketches, and tools for Day 2.
Day 2
Module 1: Forming the Base
Reviewing site data
Creating a network diagram for a function
Reviewing Pinterest + sketches + base model
Module 2: Storytelling, Illustration & Surgery
Creating concept visuals using MJ, Gemini, and Mystic
Selecting viable options
Conducting the "surgery" for architectural integrity
Module 3: Reality Check (Simulation & Light BIM)
Environmental simulations in Forma
Adapting plans in Rayon
Creating elevations and render sets
Module 4: Finalization
Selecting final illustrations
Storyboard-based video generation
Final layout using ChatGPT + Canva
This course focuses on adaptive design systems, a way of thinking that outlives any single tool. Instead of “prompt engineering,” we practice Surgical Concept Formation: stitching, refining, and curating outputs into a coherent architectural narrative. We will cover: History of AI in Architecture: From pre-CAD to the AI era Data & Networks: Turning abstract ideas into relational diagrams Visual Production: Generating, mixing, upscaling, and repairing images through a modular workflow Simulation...
Knowledge Requirements
What you should already know or have ready before you start, experience, tools, and any baseline skills the instructors expect. Scan the list below so nothing catches you off guard.
Be Curious: This workshop requires reading, thinking, and engaging, not just generating images.
The Ugly Truth: Understanding the faulty and the wrong is essential before arriving at good design.
Synthetic Architecture (Ozan Ertuğ & Pınar Ongun) Founded in 2023 by Pınar Ongun and Ozan Ertuğ, Synthetic Architecture is a research and development studio that merges over 20 years of architectural experience—spanning design, education, theory, and application—with artificial intelligence.Ozan Ertuğ (YTÜ, 2006) focuses on computational design, smart simulation, and interactive spatial strategies. His passion in the field of architecture has been to foresee what would happen in the near and far future, to analyze and recognize what has been done before, and to realize the present as a result of this process. He adopted a hybrid design process in which hand sketches, handicraft prototyping, and computational design techniques are combined. In these processes, he feels passionate about dealing with ecology and sustainability to respond to dynamic living standards and climate realities in design.
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5.0avg·3 Reviews
3 Comments
Austin Gawrys
Great class and taught me a lot of skills that I will be taking into my day-to-day routine. Highly recommended for those who want to take their visuals up a notch but not devote the required time to get that last 5% of an already great image. Let AI do that for you and spend more time designing and less time tweaking visuals.
Mar 2, 2026
Walter Patrick Smith
Ertuğ was able to represent the life of an architect living with so many new productivity tools. Hopefully, I will continue to be a better architect because of Ozan's logic transfer.
Feb 24, 2026
Ana Santos
I am very grateful for Ozan Ertug’s time and for the opportunity to learn from their experience that has been absolutely amazing.
