Uli Blum, senior associate, Zaha Hadid Architects, on empathetic AI, indispensable algorithms & expanding architectural possibilities.

When we first encountered Uli Blum, senior associate, Zaha Hadid Architects, he spoke about algorithms allowing workspaces to evolve in real-time to better meet end-user needs.

Needless to say, we were hooked.

Keen to find out more, we contacted Uli to discuss in more depth how he has embraced technology to positive effect. And when it comes to the topic of technology, you'd be hard-pressed to find many others in the sector that have more hands-on experience than Uli.

Beginning his career at Bosch, where he installed robots, Uli went on to pursue a 'more creative path' in architecture. Though coming from the world of electronics to the built environment, Uli says, was a shock to the system.

"I was shocked how compared to those cutting-edge factories, the world of architecture felt like it was stuck in a different era."

But rather than be deterred by this realisation, for Uli, it sparked a question: "Why couldn’t architecture embrace the same level of innovation, the same technological sophistication, to transform the way we design and build spaces?"

This question, Uli shares, has fuelled his journey ever since.

From harnessing technology to catalyse positive change for both people (AI for fostering empathy), and planet (real-time evolution to counteract under-utilised spaces), to being inspired by the younger 'digital nomad' generations, via 3D print, VR, AR, Artificial Intelligence, parametric tools, robot labs, algorithms, and more, Uli speaks through a wealth of experience, from OMA, Gehry Technologies, lecturing at Münster School of Architecture, and, now, Zaha Hadid Architects - read the fascinating chat below. Over to Uli...

Firstly Uli, can you please share a snapshot of your professional career to-date?

"I am an architect but my journey into architecture began with an unusual starting point: at the age of 16, I took up an apprenticeship in Electronics at Bosch, where I was involved in installing robots and sophisticated machines in highly advanced factories which I found totally fascinating. Later, when I transitioned to architecture in search of a more creative path I was shocked how compared to those cutting-edge factories, the world of architecture felt like it was stuck in a different era. That realisation sparked a question: Why couldn’t architecture embrace the same level of innovation, the same technological sophistication, to transform the way we design and build spaces? That question has fuelled my journey ever since.

"Years later, I found myself studying at the Architectural Association’s Design Research Lab taught by Patrik Schumacher, exploring the future of workplace design. It was there that I started wondering of how technology could revolutionise not just how buildings are designed, but how they are built, how they serve people, and how they adapt to change.

"When I graduated, I went straight to Hong Kong to work for OMA Asia, where I learned how the program of a building could be a creative force. Combining different functions, layering experiences was about more than just form; it was about creating spaces that are alive, responsive, and magnetic for people.

"And then there’s Frank Gehry. I’ve always been fascinated by his ability to create sculptural designs like an artist that feel impossible, but also to harness technology to make them real. I still remember watching a film about the Zollhof project in Düsseldorf and being completely captivated by his new digital process.

"That was the moment I knew I had to work for him. At Gehry Technologies, I had the privilege of working as a BIM projects director for some incredible projects—an exclusive Gehry designed residential tower in Hong Kong, the renovation of Pacific Place shopping centre for Heatherwick Studio, and big office towers. Today, I’m still driven by that idea, using technology to expand the possibilities of what architecture can achieve. Because I believe architecture isn’t just about building spaces; it’s about building possibilities.

"Technology enables us to dream bigger and turn those dreams into reality."

You’re now a senior associate at Zaha Hadid Architects - what does your role there entail?

"In 2015, I got the opportunity to join forces with Arjun Kaicker to start the Analytics and Insights team at Zaha Hadid Architects. Our goal was to create a team dedicated to placing the building user at the centre of the design process. Over the years, we’ve developed a pioneering approach that combines architectural design, workplace strategies, trend research, and advanced technologies such as IoT and AI. This has allowed us to optimise and refine buildings at every stage of their development, increasingly focusing on creating spaces with inherent flexibility, environments that can adapt instantly to changing needs and evolve into self-learning, user-responsive systems.

"While a typical senior associate focuses on leading one or two projects, my role in the Analytics and Insights team enables me to work across a broad range of projects, sectors, and typologies, including workplaces, education, retail, and hospitality. Some projects require only a few days of my involvement, while others span several months. This diversity of engagement has given me invaluable exposure to the latest trends and innovations, keeping me deeply connected to the driving forces that are shaping the future of workplace design."

You’re also a Professor of Architectural Design at Münster School of Architecture - with a particular specialism in digital design - can you explain your particular interest/teaching philosophy?

"Having had the privilege of working for firms at the forefront of architectural innovation, I feel a deep responsibility to share that knowledge and inspire the next generation of architects. By encouraging my students to explore the growing potential of digital technologies, we can continue to enhance and optimise the design process and create visions for advances in architecture.

"Since 2017, as a professor of design, I’ve been fortunate to combine my passion for digital innovation in architecture with both my professional practice and academic role. At Zaha Hadid Architects, my work frequently informs the projects I undertake with my students, bringing real-world relevance and contemporary challenges into the teaching. In return my students’ research often influences my work, fostering a productive exchange of ideas that drives creativity and innovation on both sides.

"This dual engagement reflects a longstanding tradition at Zaha Hadid Architects of maintaining close ties with academia. Many of my colleagues also hold teaching positions at some of the world’s most forward-thinking architectural institutions. This commitment to education, championed by Zaha Hadid herself and Patrik Schumacher, has shaped generations of talented architects, ensuring that the exchange of knowledge and the pursuit of innovation remain central to the firm’s ethos and legacy."

Architecture undergraduates have grown up as digital natives – does this also apply to the way they are approaching practice?

"Young architects in our office and many of my undergraduates have indeed grown up as digital natives and gained exceptional capabilities by mastering a variety of powerful technologies that they integrate throughout the design process. Their skillset includes a number of graphic programs, multiple 2D and 3D CAD applications, visualisation software, VR/AR technologies, 3D printing, video editing, and beyond. Many also have a good grasp of coding, parametric tools, algorithms, and AI.

"This makes architects some of the most digitally versatile professionals, with great skills to contribute across different domains. In the office I see how colleagues are continuously sharing new techniques with one another and acquiring new digital skills through self-learning. This eagerness to learn extends to professional knowledge, which they absorb constantly.

"I find it particularly inspiring how younger architects are driving change in the profession."

"Interns and recent graduates often introduce new technologies and fresh perspectives to firms, teaching even experienced architects how to adopt innovative tools and methods. They bring a level of digital fluency and innovation to offices that more established practitioners may not have exposure to, reshaping the way architecture is practiced today."

You have expertise in parametric design and space analysis – has digital helped enhance your work in this area?

"Our expertise in parametric and workplace design has been instrumental in advancing our space analytics. This experience enabled us to develop a suite of custom algorithms that function like a fitness centre for design variations. These tools are vital during the design phase and throughout the lifespan of a building, ensuring it remains adaptable to ever-changing user needs.

"Recently, our work has been greatly accelerated by integrating AI. Our methodology allows us to design spaces and buildings that are thoroughly evaluated for performance before construction. We focus on creating user-centric environments that prioritise the health and well-being of occupants. We believe this approach leads to outcomes that are sustainable for both the user and the environment."

What are the milestone changes to workplace you’ve seen during your career?

"During my career I have seen the workplace moving from one size fits all where everyone had to conform to the same workstyle and same workplace to one size fits one where the workplace matches each persons individual workstyle. In fact AI enhanced smart workplaces are giving us the opportunity to move from one size fits one to many sizes fit one – where individual workspaces can themselves respond to or even predict our changing needs and adapt in real time."

What purpose do workplaces now need to serve?

"In recent times, we are seeing that many offices have become under-utilised and lacking a personal touch, while the increased freedom and autonomy of hybrid work have made it more challenging for teams and groups to come together effectively. The traditional social glue, everyone gathering in the same place at the same time, no longer holds. This shift has made the role of physical space more critical than ever as a provider of that social glue, creating a sense of belonging and connection within organisations.

"As people spend less time in the office, the time they do spend there counts so much more."

"Workplaces must evolve to better support a wide range of human experiences, from intimate exchanges that strengthen team cohesion to larger group interactions that build and maintain communities. However, architecture alone cannot achieve this. Spaces must be designed to integrate with systems that actively manage and nurture the social fabric of the workplace.

"To address this, companies may need to take an active role in analysing social connections and deliberately orchestrating how people interact. By using algorithms and AI, they can better understand and shape workplace networks, using subtle nudges, targeted initiatives, and thoughtfully designed activities to strengthen workplace dynamics. In the future, we may even see the emergence of a Chief Network Officer: a dedicated role focused on optimising information flows, fostering collaboration, and ensuring seamless communication across teams and departments. By integrating innovative spatial design with the intentional management of social networks, workplaces can transform into vibrant hubs of engagement, connection, and productivity."

How does hybrid working factor into the design of space?

"The hybrid workplace must seamlessly connect physical and virtual environments while offering a compelling architectural identity that draws individuals together in both real and virtual spaces.

"This vision demands a new generation of buildings where the boundaries between physical and virtual domains are blurred, spaces where present and remote participants feel as equals, and where information becomes space and space transforms into information. These environments will extend beyond the physical by incorporating seamless transitions into digital realms, such as the metaverse.

"Physical and virtual structures will need to be exceptionally flexible, capable of learning and evolving to meet the evolving needs of their occupants. Users will interact with their environments intuitively, adapting them in real-time to suit their immediate requirements.

"Architects will need to be able to bridge the boundary and work in both worlds."

At ZHA we have talented young colleagues who are fantastic designers and also great digital natives able to code these bridges. Our office has become a research platform where we explore these challenges and develop innovative solutions expanding what is possible in workspace design."

As you mention, you're the co-head of Zaha Hadid’s Workplace Strategies department and Analytics and Insights - how do you approach/use data in your designs?

"With the growing influence of data, architects now have the ability to use insights that reimagine architectural design and optimise building operations through a data-informed approach. At ZHA, data analysis provides us with powerful tools to test, simulate, understand, and refine buildings long before they are constructed. Our ZHA Analytics & Insights (A&I) team has developed a suite of algorithms that allow us to conduct constant “fitness tests” on building designs, putting spaces through a rigorous process of evolution well before any concrete is poured.

"In our approach, we use three types of data to create adaptive environments. Spatial data provides insights into visibility, connectivity, and movement patterns, helping us design spaces that enhance flow and support various activities like work, collaboration, and relaxation. Sensor data offers real-time information on occupancy and environmental factors like air quality and lighting, enabling spaces to dynamically respond to users’ needs and support productivity and well-being. Lastly, feedback data from users allows us to refine designs and drive continuous improvement, ensuring workplaces remain adaptable, responsive, and deeply connected to those who use them.

"This data-driven approach enables us to design buildings that are purpose-built, empathetic to users, sustainable, flexible, and capable of adapting and evolving—not only during the design phase but also throughout their lifecycle after users begin inhabiting them.

"Increasingly, we are designing buildings prepared for change across various future scenarios. These are structures designed to learn, evolve, and keep pace with the ever changing user needs and behaviours over time."

What are your general views on AI? And its role in workplace design?

"Although AI has been around for many years, it has recently gained significant momentum, unlocking exciting new possibilities for workplace design. AI encompasses a wide spectrum of algorithms, from rule-based systems that are predefined, narrow, and rigid, offering high levels of control, accuracy, and transparency, to more advanced systems like large language models (LLMs). These more sophisticated algorithms are open-ended, creative, and adaptive but come with challenges such as unpredictability, factual errors, and a lack of transparency.

"At ZHA, we utilise both types of AI: the former as dependable problem solvers and the latter as drivers of innovation, allowing us to explore groundbreaking design solutions.

"AI enables us to create floor plans and buildings that are more refined, thoroughly tested, future-proof, and sustainable. It allows us to predict key aspects such as flexibility, connectivity, accessibility, and usage intensity well before a building is constructed.

"While AI often evokes anxiety, I see its potential to foster empathy in design."

"It has the capacity to help us create spaces that promote deeper connections and collaboration, not just between co-workers and teams but also between people and their environment. This shift towards empathetic spaces offers a way to rethink how we experience and interact with the spaces and objects around us."

And what about digital twins?

"AI-enhanced agent-based modelling within Digital Twins allows us to test our designs with increasingly accurate simulations, offering valuable insights into how occupants might work, collaborate, and socialise over time within a space. This approach effectively enables post-occupancy evaluation of a building before it is even fully designed. The model can be continuously adapted and recalibrated throughout the design process to optimise for user needs.

"Once the building is constructed, the Digital Twin continues to play a significant role by utilising even more precise simulations of future behaviour and occupancy patterns, informed by real-time sensing and live analytics. For instance, booking data can help ensure that spaces are available when and where they are needed most, while movement pattern tracking enables us to better understand how users navigate the office. These insights allow us to optimise flow, resource allocation, and overall functionality.

"Looking to the future, buildings will increasingly “feel” their environment and intelligently respond to the needs of their users. Digital Twins will enable buildings to continuously learn from their surroundings, predicting and delivering optimal conditions for user well-being. This could involve automatically adjusting elements such as lighting, air quality, temperature, and even space allocation based on real-time and predictive insights. We believe Digital Twins are a transformative tool for creating spaces that are not only highly efficient but also deeply empathetic to the people who use them."

Algorithms are one tool you have mentioned using in space planning - how does the digital translate into the physical?

"Algorithms have become an indispensable tool in our design process, allowing us to refine designs with greater precision and depth than ever before. In the past, we were limited to testing only a few design variations, but today, algorithms enable us to explore hundreds, or even thousands, of possibilities. By analysing factors such as light penetration, visibility, connectivity, and views, algorithms help us to arrive at layouts that achieve the optimal balance for specific user needs.

"These simulations not only allow us to quickly identify the most promising options but also provide a comprehensive understanding of how certain design decisions impact multiple interrelated factors. For instance, algorithms might recommend desk placements that enhance collaboration or suggest the best locations for focus zones based on visibility data. This data-driven approach directly informs layouts and arrangements, ensuring the final space is both functional and human-centered. By seamlessly translating digital insights into physical solutions, we design environments that are responsive, intuitive, and optimised for the well-being and productivity of their users."

Are clients embracing technological advancements in the sector? Or have you faced resistance? And are there any differences on a geographic scale?

"We are observing a growing recognition among clients of the value that investing in technology can bring to their projects, particularly in space planning and workplace design.

"Although technology is still often treated as an afterthought, a noticeable shift is occurring as more clients understand the importance of integrating technology from the earliest stages of a project."

"This shift highlights a broader movement towards creating more responsive environments and high-performance workspaces that deliver tangible benefits to their users.

"For instance, leveraging technological advancements to optimise space utilisation can dramatically reduce the amount of space required, freeing up resources that can be reinvested into more innovative and advanced design solutions. While the pace of adoption varies across regions, the overall trend points to an increasing embrace of technology as a critical tool for achieving better outcomes and maximising the value of architectural projects."

What portion of clients commission post occupancy studies? Or is research more commonly front-loaded?

"Post-occupancy studies are often commissioned as a one-off process, leaving the occupier to navigate the building and any emerging challenges alone after the initial evaluation. However, our vision extends far beyond this. We believe in designing buildings that foster continuous occupancy and enable improvements not just on day one, but on day 10, 100, 1,000, and even 10,000 of their use phase.

"These are self-learning, self-evolving spaces that can constantly adapt to user feedback and dynamically reconfigure the workplace to meet changing needs. To achieve this, research must be front-loaded during the design phase to ensure the building is hyper-flexible and adaptable. This involves creating elements that can change quickly to address immediate requirements while also accommodating longer-term or seasonal shifts. By integrating adaptability into the design process, we aim to deliver spaces that evolve in tandem with their users, ensuring sustained functionality and satisfaction over time."

Having worked on projects on a global-scale - do you have a favourite? Or one you feel showcases your digital/data-driven approach best?

"One of my favourites is our own London office, which serves as a testbed for sensor technologies and real-time data integration. Here, we’ve explored how environmental data, occupancy patterns, and user feedback can inform future designs. Additionally, our in-house robotic lab allows us to experiment with new fabrication methods, expanding our toolset of innovative construction techniques.

"A notable example of AI integration is the recently completed BEEAH Headquarters in Sharjah, UAE. This building is recognised as the most AI-integrated office in the region and one of the smartest, most sustainable buildings worldwide. Driven by a very ambitious client it leverages over 100 AI use cases, including digital workspaces, smart back-office integration, and intelligent concierge services, to enhance employee convenience and collaboration.

"The Henderson Project in Hong Kong represents one of ZHA’s most futuristic designs. With intensive use of algorithms in the early design stages, we achieved a building that is both visually iconic and highly efficient, marrying form and function in ways that would have been impossible without digital methodologies.

"We are also nearing completion of the Unicorn Project in Chengdu, a city-scale development that represents a milestone in AI-optimised urban design. This ambitious project has utilised a variety of tools to create a highly interconnected work-life ecosystem that fosters innovation and collaboration on a massive scale.

"Each of these projects showcases how we leverage algorithms in the design process to bridge the gap between the digital and physical worlds, creating spaces that not only respond to current needs but also evolve with time."

What are you currently working on?

"Currently, we are expanding our use of algorithms and AI across a wider range of projects, including retail spaces, hotels, museums, educational buildings, and health centres. A key focus is on accelerating our algorithms to process more design options in shorter timeframes, enabling us to explore and refine solutions at an unprecedented speed. We are also training custom AIs tailored to specific projects, allowing us to support our design teams with highly advanced and personalised tools.

"At the same time, we’re pushing the boundaries of what’s possible in architecture and design, with a greater emphasis on creating user-centric spaces. This involves exploring the potential of large language models for architecture and workplace design, as well as breaking down barriers between the physical and virtual realms to create seamless, integrated environments. Across all our efforts, our goal is to innovate while maintaining a focus on beauty, functionality, and the evolving needs of users."

And what's next?

"Next in workplace design are AI-driven, multi-sensory environments that adapt dynamically to user needs. We’re exploring the use of 3D printing and re-printing technologies to create changeable and highly flexible spaces, enabling environments to evolve over time. Integration of advanced light mapping is another focus, allowing us to craft highly dynamic atmospheres that respond to the mood and activities of users.

"We are also leveraging spatial intelligence to design smarter, more intuitive workplaces, while integrating large language models (LLMs) into spaces through interactive communication points. This will allow users to directly engage with their environment, reconfiguring it in real-time to suit their needs. Ultimately, our vision is to create self-learning, self-evolving environments—workplaces that not only adapt but continuously improve, fostering productivity, well-being, and innovation."