Ink Meets Stone Meets AI: Integrating Traditional Ink Painting and Artificial Intelligence into Architectural Pedagogy

This paper presents a pedagogical experiment that integrates the traditional art of Chinese ink painting with beginner-friendly artificial intelligence (AI) tools to address contemporary challenges in architectural education. In response to the dual concerns of technological intimidation for students without coding backgrounds and the homogenization of global, Western-centric curricula, the study explores a hybrid, culturally-grounded approach.

We conducted a one-week intensive workshop at Xi’an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU), where students engaged in a three-phase process: (1) learning foundational ink painting principles (e.g., void/solid, rhythm, yijing 意境), (2) digitally reinterpreting their work using low-barrier AI platforms (AutoDraw, Brush Ninja, PatternedAI), and (3) reflective critique linking their experiments to architectural precedents.

Findings indicate that this method successfully lowered barriers to AI engagement, allowing students to focus on creative exploration rather than technical mastery. The use of ink painting provided a culturally resonant foundation that strengthened design identity for Chinese students and offered new spatial logics for international participants. The iterative interplay between analog and digital practices fostered hybrid creativity, producing outcomes unattainable through either method alone. Furthermore, structured reflection cultivated critical awareness of authorship, authenticity, and the cultural implications of AI.

The study concludes that such a pedagogy positions AI as a supportive co-creative partner rather than a replacement for traditional skills. By bridging cultural heritage with accessible technology, this framework offers a model for inclusive, reflective architectural education that values students' diverse backgrounds as assets for innovation.