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Practice 19 October 2026 · 13 min read

AI in architecture: where it helps, and the studio rules to set first

Where AI helps at each stage of an architecture project, what comes back, and the studio rules to set before client work, from AIA, ICO and insurer guidance.

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Studio workflows 16 October 2026 · 13 min read

Space planning: how to test a layout against the brief before you draw it up

Space planning for architects: turn the brief into a room schedule, test it against a space standard, then plan adjacency, circulation and furniture.

Studio workflows 15 October 2026 · 14 min read

Floor plan symbols: what each one means and how to keep them consistent

Floor plan symbols for doors, windows, stairs and annotations: what each one tells the reader, who standardises them and how to keep one office set.

Studio workflows 14 October 2026 · 14 min read

Redline drawings: how to mark up a drawing set and close out the comments

How to mark up redline drawings so the drafter can act on them, log every comment with an owner and close each one against a numbered revision.

Studio workflows 12 October 2026 · 13 min read

Web-based CAD for architects: what to test before you move drafting

Before you move drafting to web-based CAD, test the consultant file round trip, plotted scale, sharing, export and data questions on one live job.

Studio workflows 11 October 2026 · 12 min read

AI architecture render from a floor plan: what to send and what comes back

An AI architecture render follows your plan and camera and invents finishes. Prepare openings, furniture, camera and brief, then read it against the plan.

Studio workflows 10 October 2026 · 14 min read

Image to CAD: turn a JPG or photo of a plan into an editable DXF

Image to CAD for plans: what online JPG to DXF converters return, how to prepare the photo, trace or vectorise it, set the scale and clean up the DXF.

Studio workflows 9 October 2026 · 12 min read

Architectural title block: what goes on it and how to set it up once

What an architectural title block must carry, where it sits on the sheet, how sheet numbers and revisions are built, and how to draw it once and reuse it.

Studio workflows 8 October 2026 · 13 min read

Floor plan dimensions: how to dimension a plan a builder can use

Floor plan dimensions a builder can set out from: what to dimension, string order, which face to measure from, units, room areas and how to check them.

Practice 7 October 2026 · 14 min read

Schematic design: what it produces and how to run it

Schematic design turns a brief into preliminary plans, sections and massing the client approves. See the deliverables, the steps and a sign-off checklist.

Studio workflows 6 October 2026 · 14 min read

As-built drawings: what they show and how to produce them

As-built drawings show a building as it stands, not as designed. Learn how they differ from record drawings, what to include and how to survey and draw them.

Studio workflows 5 October 2026 · 13 min read

AI floor plan generator: what it gives you and what to check

An AI floor plan generator gives you a starting layout, not a checked plan. Learn the three output types and a 10-point check to run before you develop one.

Studio workflows 4 October 2026 · 13 min read

CAD file formats: DWG, DXF, IFC, PDF and which to ask for

CAD file formats for architects: DWG, DXF, DGN, RVT, IFC, PDF and SVG, what primary sources say about each, and which to ask for by job.

Studio workflows 3 October 2026 · 8 min read

Architectural drawing scales: what two UK councils list

Architectural drawing scales for plans, elevations and details from two UK council guides, how 1:48 relates to 1:50, and a check to run after export.

Studio workflows 2 October 2026 · 11 min read

PDF to DWG: convert a vector PDF, trace a scanned plan

PDF to DWG for architects: tell a vector PDF from a scan, import it in AutoCAD, see what Autodesk says changes, and trace scans instead.

Studio workflows 1 October 2026 · 11 min read

DWG vs DXF: which file to send, and what to check after

DWG vs DXF for architects: what each file is, which to send by recipient, what Autodesk says about DXF losses, and a five-step pre-send checklist.

Studio workflows 29 September 2026 · 5 min read

Free floor plan creators: AI, editing and export limits

Compare free floor plan access, AI allowances, editing and paid export limits. Check whether your whole task can finish without an upgrade.

Studio workflows 29 September 2026 · 14 min read

8 AI tools for architects in 2026, and what each one outputs

Eight AI tools for architects sorted by output, plus the AI built into Archicad, Revit and SketchUp. Prices and file handoff checked on 29 September 2026.

Studio workflows 29 September 2026 · 6 min read

How to choose floor plan software for architectural work

Choose floor plan software by testing input files, precise edits, dimensions and exports on the same task. Use a practical evaluation card.

Studio workflows 21 September 2026 · 5 min read

Synaps: The AI architectural platform for drafting and design

Use Synaps for AI-assisted tracing, editable layouts and design images. Choose a workflow, check the result and prepare the right handoff.

Studio workflows 14 September 2026 · 8 min read

Scanned floor plan to editable drawing: a workflow and buyer's checklist

Convert a scanned floor plan into editable geometry, check scale and openings, and compare floor-plan tools using a repeatable review worksheet.

Studio workflows 7 September 2026 · 5 min read

AI floor plan generation within a boundary: what stays editable?

Generate an editable floor plan inside a closed boundary in Synaps. Write the brief, check constraints and understand what changes after generation.

Studio workflows 31 August 2026 · 12 min read

Architectural post-production: a complete guide to image editing in Synaps

Edit architectural images in Synaps: change materials, replace furniture, refine lighting, create cutouts, expand compositions and enhance resolution.

Essay 31 March 2026 · 5 min read

Why we're not trying to replace Revit

The recent a16z article “Every building you’ve ever been in was designed by software built in 1997” resonated deeply with us as a team building in AEC.

Practice 12 August 2024 · 2 min read

Prioritizing design craft

In a crowded digital market, distinguishing between products can be both time-consuming and costly. For decades, differentiation was achieved primarily through…

Essay 9 July 2024 · 3 min read

Fast is more

Every aspiring architect starts their journey with a burning desire to be creative and design spaces that nurture people, stories, and emotions. They envision…

Essay 28 September 2023 · 5 min read

The blueprint of architecture

Architects shape the spaces we inhabit, from our workplaces to our homes, parks, and streets. These architectural spaces are essential to human life, a fact…

Introducing Vecy-1 Our proprietary SOTA floor plan generation model achieves best-in-class benchmark performance in geometric validity, coherence, and spatial reasoning.
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