House Design using AI – you will be surprised

AI, which stands for artificial intelligence, has brought us into the future.

It can do a lot of amazing things, like designing houses and studying architecture and the housing market.

One of the interesting things AI can do is analyze what a typical house looks like.

And guess what? It’s not those big, unattractive McMansions that you might expect or a Jetson’s house to the right.

Instead, the AI suggests that a typical house is actually a Late Victorian – Edwardian style house from around 1915.

The following is an article that explains this project in detail. Thank you to my friend Marilyn A. for sending me this article.

What AI Thinks a Typical New Jersey Home Looks Like

by: William Westhoven
NorthJersey.com
USA Today Network – New Jersey
The Home News Tribune, July 12. 2023

 

New Jersey residents are painfully aware that their average home prices and property tax bills are consistently among the highest in the United States.

But what does the “average” home look like in the Garden State? All Star Home, a national home-improvement contracting company, has harnessed the growing power of artificial intelligence to produce images of what may represent the “typical” home in each of the 50 states.

“There are two things people are commonly talking about in 2023: AI and the housing market,” the All Star Home report begins. “AI is booming with new tools rolling out every day while the housing market is volatile. So, our team decided to combine the two.”

The precisely detailed results, filtered through statistically based methodology, may inspire debate from border to border.

As one of the original 13 Colonies, New Jersey has ample architecture representing more than 300 years of history. The report does not describe the “typical” Al-generated New Jersey home, but it appears to include elements of Folk or Shingle styles of Victorian homes popular in the latter half of the 19th century.

The details include mature landscaping, a few weeds growing through the driveway surface and several neighboring homes close by, a type of property that would fit well in many towns from High Point to Cape May.

The full report offers images of “typical” homes in each state, including a separate section for the 30 most populous cities, along with the median home price

“The median home value of a house in New Jersey is $545,000, which provides a lens into what this home could potentially cost if it were for sale in your neighborhood.,” company spokesperson Matt Zajechowski said, offering insight into the motivation for producing the report

The AI images were generated using a methodology from Midjourney, San Francisco-based generative artificial intelligence program and service. Constants in the process included showing the house on a sunny day “not impacted by the elements” and a consistent size.

“While each home’s style was slightly different, most homes were spacious with two stories and large, landscaped yards, painting the picture of idealistic homes in each state,” the report reads.

The generator also took the environment into consideration when designing the homes, Homes in El paso, Texas, and Las Vegas, for example, rarely have green grass yards, so the Al El Passo home has cacti outside, and palm trees surround the AI Nevada home.

My Thoughts

Pretty scary what technology can do. I am really pleased to see the house style AI created. This shows that we people that like old houses are doing right. Although the image created is good here are some comments below in no particular order.

• The author is not an architect of course but this house is more like a 1910-1915 Edwardian (Late Victorian) style home.
• AI created an average home that INCLUDES average design mistakes.
• White plastic windows . Some sashes are black and some white in the front.
• Skinny high railing although that on the steps looks great.
• Notice the toothpick porch columns.
• Rafter tails under the porch eaves are nice but in construction you would never have them on the side of the porch roof!!
• It attempts to add a gable in a different color but only on the front. The gable could only be a different color if the house was all clapboard and the gable was shingle separated by a piece of trim.
• Gable ornament. Good idea but AI created a sort of lattice.
• Windows on the side are squished together with an Oriel window in the center. All good but spacing is not good as you see. I don’t believe that is what people want but a mistake of interpretation by AI.
• I do like the roof with the copper valley which creates a sharp neat look.
• Landscaping is cluttered but remember this is an average house and a lot of people do not have gardeners.
• No chimney?? A chimney makes a house appear warm and cozy even if viewed on the outside.
• This is REAL WOOD siding – NO vinyl – hurray!!

So I found a lot of issues and I know you are not surprised about that! These issues are minor compared to the amazing ability of AI. What is next – only time will tell.