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2026-11-03T09:14:38

AI in Architectural Design in Bali: IGNITE BIM & AI 2026 and Warmadewa Study

巴厘岛建筑设计AI：IGNITE BIM与AI大会2026及瓦玛德瓦大学研究

AI in architectural design is starting to be used by Bali's construction players, but people still make the decisions. At the IGNITE BIM & AI Conference 2026 on 28 October in Badung, practitioners said BIM cuts revisions and staffing needs, while research by Universitas Warmadewa and Curtin University released on 2 November 2026 shows AI-generated images still need correcting by architects.

Key Facts

IGNITE BIM & AI 2026: one model, one team

The conference, organised by PT Indonesia AppliCAD with Graphisoft, the developer of Archicad, brought together architects, engineers, contractors, developers and academics. The theme was "One Model. One Team. One Standard." It was AppliCAD's third year running in Bali.

The main message was that BIM is no longer just a tool for 3D models. It is becoming a single source of information linking every discipline, so coordination is tidier, design revisions fall and handover comes sooner. One example shown was the Isleren housing project in Aargau, Switzerland, with 17 buildings and 270 apartments, whose construction documentation was produced by the Alex Ladda Architecture team in Bali.

Tobin Halim, Managing Director of G70 Asia, said BIM lets work that used to need five people be handled by about three and a half, freeing some staff for other projects.

How widely AI in architectural design is used

Speakers cited the RIBA AI Report 2026, a Royal Institute of British Architects survey of more than 1,100 respondents. It found 74% of architecture practices now use AI, up from 59% in 2025 and 41% in 2024, and 75% of respondents said AI improves productivity. The data come from the UK and several other countries, not Indonesia specifically, but they show where the industry is heading.

Warmadewa–Curtin research: from sketch to image

On the academic side, Universitas Warmadewa and Australia's Curtin University tested sketch-to-image technology, where AI turns a sketch into an architectural image. The work was led by Gde Bagus Andhika Wicaksana with Ida Bagus Gede Parama Putra and Camilo Idarraga Javela.

  • Four sketch categories were tested, from the simplest K1 to K4 with colour and material.
  • The average suitability score as a concept design rose from 2.70 (K1) to 4.50 (K4) on a five-point scale.
  • The gain from K3 to K4 was small, so a medium-detail sketch may be the best balance.
  • Balinese roof forms scored well, but ornament and the main room layout remained weak.

The researchers caution that only 10 respondents rated the images and the differences between categories were not significant after statistical adjustment. A realistic image is not necessarily faithful to the design, since AI may change the layout or add ornament. The next stage is a simple 3D model evaluated in virtual reality.

What it means for project owners and material choice

  • AI images are a communication tool, not working drawings. Material specifications still need to be written clearly.
  • A clean BIM model makes it easier to calculate quantities of tiles, paint, roofing and sanitaryware, so purchasing is more precise.
  • Fewer revisions also mean less risk of ordering the wrong materials.

The trend reaches the supply chain too. When designs and material lists are structured from the start, suppliers such as homeX, a one-stop building materials and furniture platform with a showroom, warehousing and delivery, can prepare quotes and delivery schedules more accurately.

AI in architectural design: related articles and products

FAQ

Can AI replace architects in house design? The Warmadewa–Curtin study says no. Respondents scored 4.50 out of 5 that AI output still needs manual correction, especially for ornament and room layout.

What kind of sketch gives the best AI image? Sketches with colour and material (K4) scored 4.50, but the gap from K3 was small, so medium detail is already efficient.

What are the benefits of BIM according to IGNITE 2026? Speakers said BIM reduces design revisions, speeds up coordination and lets work for five people be done by about three and a half.

For building and renovation material needs, reach the homeX team on WhatsApp +62 821 1818 998, by email at homex9998@gmail.com or through our contact page.

Sources: Bali Ekbis, IGNITE BIM & AI Conference 2026 (2 Nov 2026); DPPM Universitas Warmadewa, Warmadewa–Curtin research (2 Nov 2026)