my archischool’s education for young architects spans from hand sketch to AI render

RESHAPING WORKFLOWS FOR A NEW ERA IN ARCHITECTURAL EDUCATION

As artificial intelligence tools increasingly reshape design workflows, My Archischool is pioneering how GenAI can empower —  rather than overshadow — young creative voices. The Hong Kong–based institution, dedicated to architectural education for students aged 6 to 17, has developed a new workflow that integrates GenAI with physical and digital model-making. Over eight months, more than 100 students have tested this educational process, which prioritizes their own hand-drawn sketches, paper constructions, and 3D models as the foundation for all AI-enhanced outputs. Rather than relying on generic prompts, the school’s approach uses GenAI to visualize complex, imaginative ideas that young designers often struggle to express through language alone.

all images created by Albus Chung | courtesy of My Archischool

MY ARCHISCHOOL EXPANDS EDUCATION WITH GENERATIVE AI

My Archischool’s pedagogy is not about replacing creativity with technology — it’s about helping students translate the ideas in their minds into spatial realities. Founded nine years ago, the school has consistently introduced innovative methods in architecture education for youth. Expanding beyond traditional studio teaching to incorporating game design, filmmaking, and AI-assisted tools, their core philosophy revolves around using students’ own hand sketches, physical models, and 3D digital models (SketchUp or Rhino3D) as the seed for GenAI. This ensures that the inherent vision of each young designer remains central to the generated output, allowing their imaginative concepts to be accurately visualized.

This educational method was rigorously tested through the Youth ArchiDesign Competition, where students were guided through a multi-step process, combining analog and digital thinking. Always focused on maintaining the individuality of each student’s concept, GenAI becomes a collaborative design partner, enabling richer storytelling and new forms of artistic expression, while retaining the authorship of the student at every step. Diving deeper into this unique workflow, one student’s exemplary work illustrates how this educational platform empowers young talents to visualize complex ideas with unprecedented clarity and joy.

trial run with GenAI

FROM HAND SKETCHES TO AI GENERATED REALITIES

The design journey at My Archischool starts with imagination visualized on and through paper. Students begin with hand-drawn sketches and craft paper models that express the first iteration of their ideas. These physical forms are photographed and used as seed images for GenAI tools, which then extrapolate possible design contexts, atmospheres, and material studies. As the models evolve, students continue refining their designs physically and digitally, transitioning into software like SketchUp or Rhino3D for more precise 3D modeling. These are once again paired with GenAI to generate rendered architectural scenes embedded in imagined cityscapes.

paper model crafted at first stage

Rather than replacing technical skills, this iterative process removes barriers to visual storytelling. Students gain insights into architectural detailing, context planning, and spatial composition — skills traditionally beyond their reach at such a young age. But My Archischool maintains a clear stance: quality output must reflect depth of thought. When students rely solely on prompt-based imagery, the originality often diminishes. Only when the GenAI output is rooted in student-generated material like photos, sketches, and models, does it truly reflect their authorship.

This approach also addresses challenges many young students face, especially in multilingual environments like Hong Kong, where verbal articulation of complex design ideas may be difficult. GenAI becomes a translator between concept and image, helping mentors better understand student intent.

Throughout the workflow, the school encourages traditional architectural principles: clarity in program definition, sensitivity to shared spaces, and resolution of design conflicts. Students are reminded that AI-generated visuals must still align with spatial logic, user needs, and design articulation. As a result, GenAI here is not just a tool for rendering but a catalyst for architectural thinking in the next generation.

reiterated paper model integrates context and spatial composition

project info: 

school: My Archischool | @myarchischool
location: Hong Kong

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