In 2023, Cake Houses, a Czech startup, has transformed the European architecture scene with its innovation, garnering awards. Founded by visionary architects, this company has revolutionized the industry through artificial intelligence that allows for home customization. It offers predefined modular options, providing instant cost and timeline estimates.
This modular approach, while not providing complete freedom in design, is based on a pre-designed structure adaptable in size and finishes. Cake Houses' creations are aesthetic variations of a basic model, reminiscent of picturesque rural houses with a modern touch, conveying a sense of permanence and high quality.
The process at Cake Houses is straightforward: clients choose basic specifications, and architects tailor the design to specific needs and the terrain environment, maintaining a crucial role in this collaborative process.
Artificial intelligence in architecture has been a hot topic, with the spotlight on Building Information Modeling (BIM). However, the future of AI in architecture remains uncertain.
What happens with architects?
Studies suggest that up to 37% of architects' tasks could be performed by AI. José Pinto Duarte, a Portuguese architect and Director of Design and Innovation at Pennsylvania State University, envisions a future where clients design their homes online, and builders print these houses on-site, reshaping the architect's role.
Standardization in architecture has been a debated topic. Cake Houses is considering expanding its model, recognizing the need to adapt to different climates and contexts.
Companies like Room2030 in Spain are exploring prefabricated and modular homes. Unlike Cake Houses, Room2030 allows greater customization in finishes. In Madrid, Bi Homes offers prefabricated concrete houses with flexibility in design, enabling clients to actively plan their homes.
The pandemic, the shift to remote work, resulting suburbanization, and instability in traditional construction prices, coupled with new energy efficiency requirements, have favored the rise of prefabricated housing. Despite initial perceptions of being costly, these solutions offer firmer control over budgets, timelines, and quality, making them increasingly attractive in an evolving market.
