Did you know that Zaha Hadid Architects uses both DALL·E 2 and Midjourney in their design processes, even showing clients images generated in the "stye of Zaha Hadid"?
I believe the fluid nature of AI tools like Midjourney along with the presence of a large number of Zaha Hadid images in the database and training data enables us to generate images that reflect the characteristic aesthetics and spatial identity of the firm’s work, making it a desirable tool for us.
Chhavi Mehta, Designer at Zaha Hadid Architects
Architects and architecture firms across the world have been experimenting with Midjourney, finding it allows them to rapidly generate and iterate on design ideas, and it can be intoxicating to design without limits.
The real potential of these tools was never as a replacement for creative people, but a way for them to augment their abilities a hundred times. So let's dive in!
General Tips & Tricks
Here's a prompt structure that works wonderfully for architecture styles in Midjourney V5. This is not a hard rule, but a suggestion that can improve most prompts:
[Detailed description of subject] [Surrounding environment] [Architectural style or time period, Architects, Designers & Photographers] [Parameters]
Example:
spiraling massive gothic monolothic structure with arches on a cliff, crashing waves and a sky tinged with the sun, hellenic, designed by Hidetaka Miyazaki, photography by Hélène Binet --ar 16:9 --c 3Prompt order matters. The close to the beginning of the prompt, the stronger a word is. So if you really wanted to emphasize an Architect's style you would place their name first:
[Architect Name] [Detailed description of subject] [Surrounding environment] [Other styles, aesthetics, Designers & Photographers] [Parameters]
Example:
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, house with glass and mirrors and grid columns, light and modern and transcendent, photographed by Ezra Stoller --ar 16:9 --c 2 --s 90Parameters to use:
- Use the --ar parameter to set the width/height ratio. --16:9 (landscape) and --9:16 (portrait) work well for architectural photography images.
- In photography, the most common aspect ratios are 4:3, 3:2, and more recently in modern cameras, 16:9.
- A little bit of chaos: the
--cparameter makes your results more varied/a bit crazier (range is 0-100, default value is 0). I always like to prompt a tiny bit of chaos, such as--c 2 - Stylize: --s parameter is how much the generation leans into the model's default style (range is 0-1000, default value is 100)
Famous Architects
Zaha Hadid
The first woman ever to win architecture’s version of the Oscar, the Pritzker Prize—the late Zaha Hadid was known for her futuristic designs that employed curving, swooping lines.
Futuristic skyscraper with a biomorphic design, lush vertical gardens, and soaring glass facade, inspired by Zaha Hadid, photographed by Candida Höfer --ar 16:9 --c 3
Shopping mall in Dubai, water inspired glass facade and multiple balconies and outdoor terracing at different levels, inspired by Zaha Hadid, photographed by Candida Höfer --ar 16:9 --c 2 --s 90Le Corbusier
Le Corbusier, born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, was a Swiss-French architect, designer, and urban planner who is widely regarded as one of the pioneers of modern architecture.
Minimalist concrete structure with geometric forms and dramatic shadows, inspired by awe, Brutalist style, Le Corbusier, photographed by Ezra Stoller --ar 16:9 --c 2
Minimalist concrete structure with geometric forms and dramatic shadows, inspired by awe, Brutalist style, Le Corbusier, photographed by Ezra Stoller --ar 16:9 --c 2
axial progression, reminiscent of hellenic columns but brutalist, sublime and worthy of awe, Brutalist style, Le Corbusier, photographed by Hélène Binet --ar 16:9 --c 2Ludwig Mies van der Rohe
Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, house with glass and mirrors and grid columns, light and modern and transcendent, photographed by Ezra Stoller, color photography --ar 16:9 --c 2 --s 90
Interior by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, house with glass and mirrors and grid columns, a fractal structured floor plan, photographed by Ezra Stoller, color photography --ar 16:9 --c 2 --s 90Kengo Kuma
large interior by Kengo Kuma, Harmonious blend of natural elements and modern design, an eco-friendly structure, pools and falling water --ar 16:9 --c 1 Santiago Calatrava
Intricate lattice framework, a contemporary cultural center, sun shining through, designed by Santiago Calatrava, photo by Iwan Baan --ar 16:9 --c 1 --s 90Renzo Piano
Ethereal glass structure suspended over a serene body of water, showcasing the innovative architectural style of Renzo Piano, captured by Hiroshi Sugimoto --ar 16:9Stefano Boeri
Eco-friendly, terraced building with lush rooftop gardens and fluid lines, sublime and visionary, designed by Stefano Boeri, photo by Hélène Binet --ar 16:9 --c 1 --s 90Architectural Photographers
I'd argue that photographers are the most important part of your prompt.
When including photographers, it's necessary to include --s, and set the value lower than the default (100).
Also check out our list of camera and light effects for Midjourney.
Hélène Binet
Hélène Binet is a Swiss & French architectural photographer. She is known for capturing the essence of architectural spaces through light, shadow, and texture.
photo by Hélène Binet, upward angle, delicate balance of light and shadow, rich textures, soul and essence of a space, very visually captivating --ar 16:9Candida Höfer
German photographer Candida Höfer captures large empty public and institutional spaces with majestic, wide-angle photography.
Captivating grand interior, a vast architectural space, photography by Candida Höfer, symmetry, color, and intricate details, --ar 16:9 --s 50Ezra Stroller
Ezra Stoller, a renowned 20th-century architectural photographer, captured the essence of American Modernism through his iconic images of structures and industrial scenes.
Ezra Stoller, wide open space leading up to a monothilic building in the distance, photorealism --ar 16:9 --s 50Hiroshi Sugimoto
Hiroshi Sugimoto focuses on themes of time, empiricism, and metaphysics in his classical photography. He's interested in the invisible forces within spaces.
Hiroshi Sugimoto photography , a serene scene with a minimalist composition, subtle gradations of light, and a captivating interplay between the ephemeral and the eternal --ar 16:9 --s 70 --c 2Julius Shulman
Julius Shulman is The Californian Architecture Photographer. He is famous for his photographs that glamorized the modern LA lifestyle, and was key in documenting the development of American Modernism over 70 years.
Julius Shulman architectural photography of a house in the LA hills overlooking the city, --ar 16:9 --c 1 --s 90
Julius Shulman architectural photography of a house in the LA hills overlooking the city, --ar 16:9 --c 1 --s 90Architecture Styles
Try these architecture styles. You can also get a ton of mileage out of combining styles, including anachronistic ones
Modernist Architecture
Modern Architectural Design, methodical use of space, artistic, Modernism, photographed by Ezra Stoller, color photography --ar 16:9Gothic Architecture
Gothic architectural Design, flying exterior buttresses, long stained-glass windows, ribbed vaults, and spires, photo by Hélène Binet --ar 16:9Classical Architecture
Ancient Greek Architectural Design, landscape view, tall columns, intricate detail, symmetry, harmony, substantially intact temples, open-air design, --ar 16:9 --v 5
Post Modern Architecture
post modern Architectural Design, landscape view, curved forms, decorative elements, asymmetry, dark green colored glass, ceramic tiles, stoned tiles, --ar 16:9 --v 5
Byzantine Architecture
Byzantine Architectural Design, landscape view, marble columns and inlay, mosaics on the vaults, inlaid-stone pavements, gold coffered ceilings, highly stylised, flattened designs --v 5Cool Things to Try
Hybrid Styles
Use prompt “Hybrid” to combine the 2 Architecture Styles
Neo-Gothic and Brutalist Architecture
Hybrid Neo-gothic and brutalist architecture combination style --ar 16:9
Brutalist and Victorian Architecture
hybrid brutalist and Victorian Gothic architecture, angular geometric, --v 5
Sci-Fi / Futurism
futuristic architecture, McDonald’s, interior design, futurism, futuristic, happy meal --v 5
hyperrealistic futuristic coffee shop, minimalist, morning sun, drive through, --q 2 --ar 3:2
street style photography, the architecture of the future of motor homes against a futuristic golden track highway background, swimming pool and sun deck on the roof, retractable wings, stained glass windshield, glowing neon hub caps --ar 16:9 --v 5
city architecture of the future, water canals and lush gardens, biomorphic shapes, dot matrix background, Gustav Klimt style, as seen from the sky --q 2 --s 750 --v 5
futuristic architecture, central pod in the middle connected by futuristic monorail transportation to identical smaller pod houses around in a circle surrounding the main pod, ultra-realistic photograph, high-tech architecture, community living, surrounded by water and green nature, high level view, renewable energy spaces --v 5
A luxurious resort of the future with a stunning Olympic-size swimming pool, surrounded by lush greenery and exotic flowers
Sci-fi, eye-catching Birds eye view, perspective of a scene from above, futuristic, sleek, modern, floating townlet, at night, ultrarealistic, photographic, sharp focus --s 500 --ar 16:9 --v 5 --c 10Get Inspired
The best Midjourney results come from real-life inspiration.
Architecture Magazines
- dezeen.com - world's largest architecture magazine
- archillect.com - architectural aesthetics curated by an AI
Check out these Pinterest boards for more inspiration. You can also check out our Pinterest for more prompt ideas.
More
More long prompt guides like this one: