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Michael Drobnik joined Herzog & de Meuron as BIM Manager in 2014 and was appointed an Associate in 2020. Michael leads the multidisciplinary and global Design Technologies (DT) Team, that supports architectural projects with digital methods and tools ranging from BIM, Computational Design, Visuals and Animations to the Analogue/Digital Workshop. Over the years Michael and his team have brought research initiatives like XR, custom Early Design Tools or Sustainability and Performance Simulations into daily practice.
In this talk, Michael from Herzog & de Meuron reflects on how architecture must evolve in a time of rapid technological change. Framed around the idea of “unlearning,” he argues that progress is not only about adopting new tools, but also about questioning old assumptions, workflows and beliefs.
Drawing on examples from Herzog & de Meuron’s work, Michael traces how the office has moved through different technological eras, from hand drawing and collage to BIM, scripting, real-time tools and now AI. Rather than treating innovation as a straight line, he shows how each shift requires practices to rethink what drawings, models, visualisation and digital processes are actually for.
The talk also explores how design technology teams can support this shift, not just by adding more tools, but by helping practices simplify, adapt and respond more intelligently. From BIM-enabled construction workflows to carbon analysis, visualisation and AI-assisted processes, Michael makes the case that the real challenge is not external disruption, but the willingness to change from within.
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