Yesterday, our senior architect Haakon Brouwer had the honour of returning to his alma mater, TU Delft, to give a lecture at the invitation of the student organization Stylos. His talk, “Old Tools / New Tools,” offered an inspiring reflection on the evolving tools of the architectural profession and how the next generation of architects can navigate between them.

Haakon explored how AI can serve as a catalyst for creativity and a means to streamline design processes, while emphasizing the enduring value of hand sketching. The tactile nature and intuitive freedom of drawing by hand remain essential for spatial thinking and the early stages of idea development.

For students and young professionals, the future lies in combining the precision and potential of digital tools with the depth and spontaneity of analogue methods. Embracing both offers exciting new possibilities for architectural expression and innovation.

We would like to thank the Faculty of Architecture and the Built Environment at TU Delft and D.B.S.G. Stylos for making this event possible. And a special thanks to everyone who attended and contributed to the conversation. At Dam & Partners Architecten, we believe that design moves forward when tradition and technology go hand in hand.