There has never been a more exciting time to be designing buildings. The tools now available to architects, engineers and consultants not only improve the design process – allowing them to work more quickly, more efficiently and more flexibly – but can also open up new ways of thinking that can influence the design itself. 

BIM is increasingly an everyday part of working life. A recent survey on BIM usage found it is becoming the norm, with take-up growing at the fastest rate in four years.

Meanwhile, early adopters are exploring which other emerging technologies might become everyday tools. Machine learning, automation and using artificial intelligence to make decisions are pushing the boundaries of what is possible and producing new solutions to problems. 

Next year, the first habitable homes made by 3D printer will be completed in the Dutch city of Eindhoven, developed by construction firm Van Wijnen in a response to a shortage of bricklayers. 

So, how will digital technologies change the way we build? Here, two examples of schemes from opposite sides of the globe illustrate how technology can fundamentally change our understanding of how to create the built environment.

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