REFLECTION

Through this assignment, I learned that AI can be a helpful tool in architecture when it is used as part of a structured workflow rather than as a replacement for design thinking. The process began with research using Gemini, which helped me understand Malaysia’s tropical climate, traditional Malay architectural strategies, the cultural significance of the Bunga Raya, and the five principles of Rukun Negara. This research gave the project a stronger foundation because the design was not only based on visual inspiration, but also on environmental and cultural context.

ChatGPT was useful in transforming the research into an architectural concept. It helped me organize the idea of using the hibiscus flower as a symbolic and spatial generator, especially through the central Unity Court and the five surrounding spaces representing the Rukun Negara principles. This stage showed me that AI can support concept development by arranging ideas clearly and suggesting possible design directions. However, I still had to decide which ideas were most suitable and meaningful for the project.

Midjourney/Image AI was helpful for visual exploration. It allowed me to test the inverted flower roof, layered petal canopy, porous timber screens, shaded walkways, and tropical atmosphere. Some outputs were successful in showing the overall form, while others were more useful for understanding the feeling of the central court and the shaded circulation. However, not all outputs were architecturally logical. Some images were too literal, too dramatic, or unclear in terms of spatial organization. This showed me that AI-generated images can look attractive but still need critical evaluation.

The most important lesson I learned is that human judgment is still necessary throughout the process. I had to select useful research, refine prompts, compare outputs, reject weak ideas, and make final decisions about the concept and spatial organization. AI helped make the workflow faster and more visually rich, but it could not fully understand cultural meaning, site response, user experience, or architectural feasibility by itself.

Overall, this assignment helped me understand AI as an assistant in the design process. It can support research, idea generation, image exploration, and presentation, but the architect must remain responsible for the final decisions. The final concept, Petals of Unity, became stronger because AI was used critically to connect Malaysian identity, tropical design strategies, and spatial symbolism into one architectural workflow.