ABOUT
ARTIST INTERVIEW
Manas Bhatia: A Portal Into Another World
Weaving intricate portraits of dreamlike spaces and transcendent buildings, you may be surprised to find that Manas Bhatia’s architectural wonders aren’t that far-fetched from reality. Drawing much of his inspiration from natural-found patterns and objects in daily life, Bhatia’s AI creations serve as a portal into a world where redwood-inspired skyscrapers can grow and breathe, and architecture serves as an extension of its natural surroundings. In a world increasingly plagued by environmental crises and climate concerns, Bhatia uses artificial intelligence as his creative partner—mapping the road to sustainable solutions within a territory largely uncharted.
Location: New Delhi, India
Interview by Amy Borg
When did you become interested in the concept of “living” architecture?
(MB) You know, ever since I was a little one, I've been hooked on how the natural world does its thing—like the crazy cool designs on leaves, the way flower petals organize, and just the wild shapes of plants and trees. I used to imagine I was an ant, thinking about how massive a blade of grass would look if you were that tiny. I imagined mushrooms as huge shelters and old, curled-up leaves as tunnels. Most of my kid days were spent in this fantasy land, watching real ants hustle to their homes and picturing what their underground cities looked like. Man, I wished I could shrink down and join in!
Fast forward to my architect days, after getting that diploma in hand, I hopped aboard this place called Ant Studio. It's kind of poetic, right? It's here where all those childhood daydreams sort of took flight. We don't just sit at computers all day; we're all about getting our hands dirty and learning from what's been around way longer than us—like, you know, the earth. Our CoolAnt thing is pretty rad—it's all about making buildings chill out without guzzling energy, using good ol' clay. It's like we're teaching the buildings how to breathe on their own, which is pretty out there when you think about it. So yeah, all that time I spent in my own head as a kid, it kind of paved the way for this wild ride in the world of architecture, especially “living” architecture. With AI, it is possible to visualize the impossible. And that led me to using AI to answer questions like “What if buildings mimicked trees and could grow and breathe?”
In a world plagued by so many environmental crises, natural-focused architecture (like skyscrapers acting as “air purification towers”) is a nice utopia to daydream about. Do you foresee any aspect of “living” architecture that can become incorporated into reality?
(MB) Oh, for sure, living architecture isn't just a pipe dream — it's actually sprouting up all around us. We've got buildings getting cozy with nature, like green roofs that chill in the city heat, walls that change with the weather to save energy, and even towers designed to gobble up smog like it's nothing. Think of buildings with solar skin that soak up the sun, and gardens on high-rises where you can snag some fresh veggies for dinner. And let's not forget stuff like concrete that fixes its own cracks — pretty wild, right? It's all about making our concrete jungles a bit more, well, jungle-y, and a lot smarter.
Symbiotic Architecture is a great example of using AI to conceptualize something completely imaginative and unusual. Do you have any tips for using AI as a brainstorming tool?
(MB) AI is a game-changer for creative brainstorming. Imagine sketching out a rough concept and then having AI transform it into a photorealistic image. It’s a designer’s dream for creating moodboards and sparking conversations with clients. Ideas can be quickly fleshed out and refined. AI lets us paint with our thoughts, bringing them to life visually before we even doodle. We can create a tile pattern using Gen AI, and then ask it to zoom out so that the tile pattern becomes a small part of the entire building facade. We can whip up basic 3D forms and see them in full detail, surpassing traditional rendering tools. And now, with DALL-E 3 integrated into ChatGPT-4, it’s like we've hit a new stride in generative AI. We can chat with ChatGPT-4 about our design vision, and it crafts images in a blink. Start by imagining a street view in a chosen style, and voilà, images appear. Then, step inside the building in the same conversation, and it renders the interiors, maintaining the design narrative from the exterior. It’s akin to brainstorming with a wildly imaginative friend who can visualize anything you articulate. The possibilities are thrilling!
Left: Close-up of AI-generated pattern concepts.
Right: Zooming out, and applying those patterns on a larger scale.
What are you most excited to see come out of the AI “revolution”?
(MB) Standing on the brink of an AI-driven era, we should see these innovations not just as cool tech, but as catalysts for creativity. They're the key to unlocking a future where our most out-there fashion ideas leap off the sketchpad and into the streets. AI isn't just about slick buildings or pie-in-the-sky designs; it's about spinning dreams into reality and shaping experiences that were once just figments of our imagination. Let's dive into this journey with open arms and let our imaginations run wild!
When facing a creative block, what, or who, do you look towards for a spark of inspiration?
(MB) Nature often sparks my creativity; but music, movies, and TV shows can also stir my imagination. Whenever I hit a creative block, I take a step back from work. I find solace in the simplicity of being outdoors — perhaps listening to music under the vast canvas of the sky, or losing myself in the wonders of a science fiction movie. These moments of relaxation are not just breaks, but a gateway to rejuvenate my creative spirit.
Imagined exterior facade of “living” architecture, imagined through AI.
From Bhatia’s series, Symbiotic Architecture.
From Bhatia’s series, Symbiotic Architecture.
I was compelled by how your concept for Symbiotic Architecture was inspired by the Californian redwood, Hyperion. As creators and artists, we can pull inspiration from virtually anything, anyone, or anywhere within our lived experience. What is inspiring you right now?
(MB) Right now, I'm delving into the wonders of India's past, like the stepwells—those breathtaking feats of architecture have always captured my imagination. With AI, I'm bringing them into today's world. Picture a stepwell-inspired plaza at a university, where steps lined with greenery serve as both a sanctuary and social space for students. It's about blending tradition with the present in the most seamless way.
The world is changing fast. What is a significant force for change that fascinates you, and how might a brand use it to creatively communicate and deliver new value?
(MB) AI and sustainability form a powerful synergy that is forging a new architectural paradigm. As architects, we can use AI's analytical capabilities to improve sustainable design, resulting in buildings that are both ecologically responsible and highly functional. AI will help us design structures that respond dynamically to their surroundings, lowering energy consumption and waste through intelligent resource management.
In practice, this entails incorporating smart technologies that manage natural light and building temperature, as well as using innovative materials that adapt to changing weather conditions. These technologies not only minimize the carbon footprint, but also improve the experience of the occupants.
(MB) Brands can use AI to analyze data on consumer behavior — helping to create products that not only meet consumer needs, but also encourage sustainable practices. For instance, a fashion brand could use AI to predict trends and manage inventory, which reduces overproduction and waste. A tech company might use AI to extend the lifespan of devices through smarter diagnostics and repair services, thus promoting a culture of repairability over disposability.
By communicating these AI-enabled sustainable practices, brands can demonstrate their commitment to innovation and the environment. It’s about creating a narrative that shows consumers that, by choosing their products or services, they're part of a larger movement towards a more sustainable future. This not only fosters brand loyalty, but can also inspire other companies and sectors to follow suit — creating a ripple effect of positive change.
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