AI Meets Office: Co-Designing with Generative Design

Spaces That Think, React, and Evolve: Designing for Human Needs with AI

“Technology is the answer, but what was the question?”

With this provocative remark, made during a late 1960s conference, visionary and unconventional architect Cedric Price challenged the certainties of his time, urging a deeper reflection on the true meaning of innovation. Beneath the surface of what may seem like a paradox lies a truth that remains relevant today: the role of the designer is not to conclude, but to open up new horizons. In the realm of workplace design, this vision has evolved into a radical shift, where artificial intelligence is no longer a peripheral technical aid but a creative agent—one that imagines scenarios, generates hypotheses, and expands the range of possibilities. Generative design embodies this paradigm shift: it breaks free from rigid models and fosters a dynamic dialogue between human sensitivity and algorithmic intelligence. The designer no longer imposes a form, but explores, guides, and refines. Computational models, powered by machine learning, evolve alongside the project itself. The result is the creation of intelligent environments—spaces that adapt, respond, and improve over time. These are design ecosystems that go beyond merely housing life: they interpret it.

Towards a Dynamic Analysis of Environments

The application of machine learning to design enables us to move beyond a static conception of space. By analyzing data on movement patterns, user preferences, and usage modes, artificial intelligence can anticipate behaviors and suggest configurations that evolve over time. This gives rise to responsive environments: meeting rooms that adapt their layout to the type of gathering, workstations that adjust to individual ergonomic needs, and interior pathways designed to encourage spontaneous encounters among colleagues—stimulating creativity and collaboration. Optimization goes beyond physical aspects: AI identifies inefficiencies in organizational workflows and suggests spatial improvements. Sensors and building management systems regulate lighting, temperature, and air quality in real time, delivering personalized comfort based on actual conditions and user preferences.

The Generative Workplace as an Ecosystem

The true value of generative design lies in its ability to move beyond the logic of standardization. Thanks to artificial intelligence, it is now possible to design workspaces that are truly unique—spaces that reflect the core identity of the organization and actively foster productivity. Algorithms explore countless configurations, balancing functional needs with perceptual quality to shape flexible, dynamic, and genuinely human environments. In this context, the vision of Friedensreich Hundertwasser feels strikingly relevant once again. He believed that “buildings are the third skin of human beings, after the epidermis and clothing.” According to him, every individual should have an active role in shaping the spaces they inhabit, as the environment is not merely a container, but a living extension of one’s identity. The generative workplace embodies this philosophy: it does not impose rules, but creates possibilities. It is a living habitat that transforms—adapting to the needs, desires, and ongoing changes, both individual and collective, of the people who inhabit it each day.

AI as a Partner in the Creative Process

Artificial intelligence does not replace human creativity—it provokes it, amplifies it, and guides it into uncharted territory. Rather than offering fixed answers, it generates possibilities—often unexpected—that spark imagination and open new paths in the design process. Architects and designers are thus empowered to explore forms and solutions beyond the familiar, supported by the precision of algorithmic analysis. This gives rise to a fertile synergy, where intuition meets simulation, vision engages with logic, and the creative act becomes a dialogue between two forces: human and machine, sensitivity and computation. It is a continuous interplay that pushes the boundaries of what is possible.

Sustainability and Well-Being: An Integrated Approach

Generative design also provides advanced tools to address today’s environmental challenges. By exploring and comparing alternative design scenarios, it is possible to reduce a building’s ecological impact from the earliest stages—optimizing resource use and minimizing waste. AI enables the scientific selection of sustainable materials, optimizes element placement to maximize natural light, and shapes spaces to enhance passive ventilation. At the same time, the environment becomes an active promoter of well-being: intelligent systems monitor air quality, adjust climate and acoustic conditions, and create personalized comfort based on users’ daily experiences. In this way, design becomes a form of care. The space not only consumes less—it gives back more, in terms of health, focus, and overall quality of life.

Human-Centered Technology

True innovation lies in the balance between technology and the human factor. The most advanced solutions incorporate parameters of physical and psychological well-being, assess the emotional impact of environments, and adapt continuously based on user feedback. The designer becomes an interpreter—translating needs and perceptions into technical language, and vice versa. In this context, AI also facilitates the integration of physical and digital dimensions: virtual models enable immersive simulations, augmented reality enhances spatial experiences, and rooms reconfigure themselves to seamlessly include remote colleagues. At the same time, aesthetics evolves: generative design gives rise to forms inspired by nature—adaptable and responsive. Movable walls, lighting systems that follow circadian rhythms, and customizable furnishings represent a new design language, where beauty emerges from functionality and adaptability.

Towards a New Design Language

The integration of AI into design represents not just a technological shift, but a cultural transformation. If, as Heraclitus famously said, “the only constant is change,” then design becomes a continuous process—an evolving dialogue between people, space, and artificial intelligence. The workplace is no longer a static container, but a responsive organism, capable of changing alongside its inhabitants. A living experience, shaped by time and interaction.