Tropical Algorithms: Reimagining Caribbean Design with AI

Synopsis

Tropical Algorithms: Reimagining Caribbean Design with AI, by Irvin Pascal, emerges from a critical observation: the global discourse on AI in architecture has largely excluded the Caribbean, a region uniquely positioned at the nexus of rich cultural heritage, pressing climate challenges, and burgeoning digital transformation. This eBook argues that artificial intelligence, when thoughtfully applied, can serve as a powerful collaborator in shaping a more resilient, sustainable, and culturally resonant built environment across the Caribbean archipelago. Pascal moves beyond the notion of AI as an imported, one-size-fits-all solution, instead advocating for context-aware innovation that amplifies, rather than erases, Caribbean architectural identity. It explores how AI-driven tools can address region-specific issues like sea-level rise and extreme weather, while also fostering equitable participation from local communities in defining their technological future. The book is a call to action, positioning the Caribbean as a vibrant laboratory for ethical, adaptive, and place-based AI-augmented design, ensuring that the region’s unique spatial and cultural realities are at the forefront of this technological evolution. This work aims to empower Caribbean architects, designers, students, and educators to embrace AI not as a replacement for their intuition and local knowledge, but as an extension of it. By fostering a critical awareness of AI's potential and pitfalls within the tropical context, readers will be inspired to engage with these technologies ethically and inclusively. Tropical Algorithms seeks to ignite a creative reimagination, demonstrating how ancestral wisdom can be blended with algorithmic insight to design not just smart, but wise, human-centered spaces that belong to the Caribbean. Ultimately, the book champions a shift from passive adaptation to active authorship, encouraging readers to move from curiosity to agency in shaping the future of their built environment, proving that Caribbean design can lead the global conversation on AI and sustainable development.