AI and Materials: Testing Paving and Texture Selection

When I was involved in landscape design with my company 'Dom i Sad' (House and Garden) starting in 2000, one of the most time-consuming tasks was always the selection of materials for paving and cladding. Imagine: a huge choice of tiles, paving stones, natural stone, wood, decking, and various textures for walls, curbs, and small architectural forms. This isn't just a matter of aesthetics, but also functionality, durability, budget, and climatic conditions. Now, at 61, as I independently develop formspace.design with the help of AI, I am actively testing how effectively artificial intelligence can assist in this complex task.

My Journey to AI in Material Selection

In my practice, it often happened that clients couldn't decide on materials, even after several presentations. We spent days searching for samples, creating 3D visualizations in Revit or 3ds Max, redoing renders again and again. I remember one time we spent a whole week selecting paving tiles for paths on a 15-sotka plot, sifting through dozens of options and making dozens of renders. It was exhausting, expensive, and often led to project delays. It was this pain, this resource drain, that pushed me to think about creating a tool that could automate and simplify this process.

Traditional Approach: Pros and Cons

The traditional selection of materials begins with studying catalogs, visiting showrooms, and obtaining samples. This is followed by the visualization stage, where the designer manually applies textures to a 3D model. This process has its undeniable advantages: the ability to physically touch the material, evaluate its color under different lighting, and feel its texture. However, the disadvantages are significant: it's a very lengthy process, requiring considerable time and effort. The cost of such visualizations is high, and making changes requires almost a complete repetition of the cycle. For example, if a client disliked the shade of paving stones after they had been integrated into a complex 3D project, it could mean hours or even days of rework.

The Potential of AI in Generating and Selecting Textures

Artificial intelligence offers a fundamentally different approach. It can analyze vast databases of materials, styles, combinations, and also consider plot parameters, its relief, and functional zones. AI can generate hundreds of paving and texture options in minutes, offering combinations a human might not even consider. It pays attention to color, shape, element size, pattern, texture, and even how light will fall on these surfaces at different times of the day. This opens up incredible opportunities to accelerate the process and find truly unique solutions.

My Tests: Paving and Decorative Elements

I am actively testing various aspects of selection. For example, I uploaded photos of real plots and asked the AI to suggest 3-5 paving options for a 40 m² patio area, using different styles — from minimalism to Mediterranean. The AI successfully handles the imitation of various types of tiles (clinker paving stones, concrete tiles, natural granite), gravel, as well as composite or natural wood decking. I also experimented with textures for cladding retaining walls or creating decorative elements. The results often surprise with their creativity and realism. Of course, not everything is perfect. Sometimes the AI suggests overly extravagant or, conversely, very dull options, but this is merely a starting point for further work.

Pros and Cons of the AI Approach

Pros:

• Time Saving: What used to take days now takes hours or even minutes.
• Variety of Ideas: AI is not limited by human experience and can suggest unexpected but harmonious combinations.
• Fast Iterations: Material or texture can be changed in a few clicks, instantly seeing the result.
• Visualization: High-quality and fast image generation.

Cons:

• Lack of Tactility: AI does not convey the feel of the material, its roughness or smoothness. This can be critical for the client.
• Need for Practical Verification: AI does not always account for parameters such as slipperiness in wet weather, wear resistance under high load, or drainage specifics. As I wrote in the article The Mistake I Almost Made by Fully Trusting AI in a Business Decision, one cannot blindly trust technology.
• Unrealistic Suggestions: Sometimes AI can generate materials that do not exist, or combinations that are difficult to implement technically or financially.

The Importance of Context: Climate, Functionality, Budget

AI is a powerful tool, but it cannot yet fully replace deep human expertise. It doesn't know that for northern regions with frequent frosts, porous stone it might suggest will quickly degrade due to freeze-thaw cycles. My years of expertise suggest that for such conditions, frost-resistant porcelain stoneware or dense granite is a better choice. It also doesn't always account for functional requirements: for example, the minimum width of garden paths for two people to walk comfortably should be at least 1.2 meters, and for a wheelbarrow, 0.8 meters. AI might suggest a narrow, winding path that looks beautiful but turns out to be impractical. Budget also remains a human prerogative – AI cannot accurately estimate the cost of implementing its suggestions, which can sometimes be exorbitant.

How to Plan Paving and Textures in formspace.design

At formspace.design, I aim to create a tool that harmoniously combines AI capabilities with the practical experience of a landscape designer. You can start by using Module 1.x, where you upload your plot plan, define its boundaries, and main zones. Then, moving to Module 2.1 'AI Concept,' you can generate various ideas for your plot, paying special attention to paving areas, paths, and platforms. AI will offer you not only a general layout but also different styles and materials for these zones. Imagine, you upload a photo of an existing plot to Module 3.1 'Design by Photo,' and AI suggests various paving and wall cladding options, and you then choose the most suitable one, adjust it, or ask for refinements. This significantly speeds up the process and allows you to visualize changes without complex software.

I am constantly working to ensure that AI in formspace.design considers as many nuances as possible, but the final decision always rests with you, as the plot owner or designer. You can experiment with different textures, colors, and patterns, instantly seeing how they fit into the overall picture, and then apply your experience to assess their practicality and durability. This approach allows you to get the most out of modern technologies without losing control over the project.

FAQ

Can AI completely replace a designer in material selection?

No, AI cannot completely replace a designer. It is a powerful tool for generating ideas, rapid visualization, and preliminary selection, but the final decision, consideration of specific client requirements, tactile sensations, and a deep analysis of material practicality remain with the human expert. AI is your assistant, not a replacement.

Which materials does AI select best?

AI excels at selecting materials with clearly defined textures and and colors, such as various types of paving stones, tiles, natural stone, wood, or gravel. It effectively mimics natural surfaces and offers interesting combinations. With more complex, unique, or rare materials, it is currently more challenging without additional training.

How to check the practicality of materials suggested by AI?

The practicality of materials suggested by AI should be checked using traditional methods. This includes studying material characteristics (frost resistance, abrasion resistance, slip coefficient), examining samples in person, and consulting with specialists. AI cannot account for all physical properties and local specifics, so human oversight is indispensable here.

Does formspace.design consider climatic conditions during selection?

At this stage, formspace.design provides extensive capabilities for visualizing and selecting materials, but directly and automatically accounting for all nuances of regional climate — this is a task I continue to work on. However, as a user, you can make these adjustments based on your experience and knowledge, choosing the most suitable options for your zone from those suggested by AI. My goal is to give you a flexible tool.

Can I upload my own textures to formspace.design?

Yes, formspace.design allows you to upload your own textures. This enables you to work with unique or specific materials that may not be in the standard AI library, or to use photos of real samples. This provides additional flexibility and personalization in your project.

How does AI handle complex projects with many different zones?

In complex projects, AI is particularly useful because it can quickly generate coherent solutions for different zones, considering their functional purpose and style. For example, for a recreation area, AI might suggest one paving texture, and for a driveway, another that is more durable and wear-resistant. This helps maintain stylistic unity while solving practical tasks. This is exactly what I lacked when I used my minimal set of AI tools for a practical designer.

How much time does using AI save for material selection?

Using AI for material selection can reduce the time spent on this stage significantly. Instead of days for searching and visualization, you can get dozens of options in hours or even minutes. This significantly speeds up the design process and allows for quicker progression to subsequent project implementation stages, saving your resources and client's time.

What if AI suggests overly unusual or expensive options?

If AI suggests overly unusual or expensive options, it's not a problem, but rather an opportunity. You can use these ideas as inspiration, adapt them to your budget and preferences, or simply filter them out. AI does not insist on its solutions; it offers a wide range of possibilities from which you choose what best suits your needs. This allows you to explore new horizons in design.

The use of AI in material selection for landscape design is not a replacement for human creativity, but its powerful enhancement. I see immense potential in this for every plot owner who wants to create an ideal space but doesn't want to spend an endless amount of time and nerves on it. formspace.design is created precisely for this – to give you the ability to quickly experiment, visualize, and make informed decisions. Try it yourself, and you will see how modern technologies can transform your approach to plot planning.

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