Side Project Ideas for Architects

Explore creative side projects to expand your architectural expertise and income.

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Why Consider Side Projects?

For architects, side projects can serve as an exciting opportunity to expand skills, explore new ideas, and even generate additional income. The architectural industry in 2025 is rapidly evolving with technologies like AI and sustainable design practices taking center stage. Engaging in side projects allows architects to stay current with these trends and enhance their professional portfolio.

Architects face the challenge of keeping up with continuous learning while maintaining their day-to-day work. Side projects provide a practical and creative outlet to overcome this hurdle. In 2025, architects can tackle relevant issues like affordable housing solutions, urban green spaces, or eco-friendly building materials through innovative side ventures.

Innovative Project Ideas

Architects looking for fresh and impactful side projects can consider:

  • Sustainable Housing Concepts: Design modular housing solutions that prioritize sustainability and energy efficiency.
  • Community Space Revitalization: Focus on transforming under-utilized urban spaces into vibrant community hubs.
  • AI-powered Design Tools: Create AI solutions that aid in architectural design and planning, streamlining the workflow.
  • 3D Printing in Architecture: Explore the use of 3D printing technology to create innovative building components.
  • Virtual Reality Tours: Develop virtual reality experiences for completed projects, enhancing client presentation.

How Appaca Supports Your Journey

Appaca is an AI platform that architects can utilize to build AI products as part of their side projects. It enables the integration of AI technology in architectural designs, making processes more efficient and forward-thinking. With Appaca, architects can turn their visionary ideas into reality, expanding their impact and potentially generating a new income source.

Start your side project with Appaca - no coding required

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Features

Build and ship your AI idea

Easily create AI products by yourself without needing developers.
Your vision, your product, enabled by Appaca.

Library of UI component

Build your app's interface without code

Easily use our library of UI components to design and build your end-user's interface. Fully customisable.

Custom workflows and logic

Create custom workflows and logic

Power your applications with automated workflows. Integrate with your favorite third-party tools thanks to our webhook and API call features.

Native AI infrastructure

AI-native infrastructure

Directly use LLMs such as GPT, Claude, Gemini, Flux, Dall-E, etc. Feed your custom data and instructions to your custom AI model.

Comes with an out-of-the-box AI credit system which streamlines AI usage across your projects.

Built-in Authentication and User Management System

Every app built on Appaca comes with a native Authentication system. Once your app is live, your users can sign up securely through a built-in page you can customize.

Manage users with ease on our User Management System. Create new users manually with a single click.

Authentication and user management system
Built-in database for AI App

Customizable databases

Easily store your users' data directly on Appaca's built-in database, or send it to your third-party tools with API calls.

Create new bases and fields depending on your needs.

Take full control over your apps' data. Manage and monitor all data in one place.

Monetize your AI app

Appaca offers native monetization via our Stripe integration.

Create custom subscription plans for your app, and charge your users based on their AI usage thanks to our AI credit system.

One click set up. No hassle. Just earn.

Monetise your AI App

Steps to Launch a Side Project

  1. Identify Your Niche: Determine what aspect of architecture excites you most. Whether it's sustainable design or urban planning, your niche is your starting point.
  2. Brainstorm AI Applications: Imagine how AI can enhance your identified niche. AI can optimize designs, predict trends, or provide new insights.
  3. Create an Account on Appaca: Utilize platforms like Appaca to access AI tools necessary for your project.
  4. Research and Gather Resources: Collect background materials, such as building codes, design guidelines, and case studies that inform your project.
  5. Design the Interface: Create a user-friendly interface for your project that showcases its unique value.
  6. Customize the AI Model: Fine-tune AI models within Appaca to align with your project's goals, ensuring they serve the architectural niche effectively.
  7. Add Features: Incorporate additional features like 3D previews, simulation tools, or sustainability metrics that enrich user experience.
  8. Market Your Project: Use social media, architectural forums, and events to reach your target audience and promote your side venture.

"I've built with various AI tools and have found Appaca to be the most efficient and user-friendly solution. In a world where only 51% of women currently integrate AI into their professional lives, Appaca has empowered me to create innovative tools in record time that are transforming the workplace experience for women across Australia."

Cheyanne Carter
Founder, Edubuddy

"At ai.boop.solutions, I was searching for a tool that would help me build an AI-based support platform for aspiring entrepreneurs, but I didn’t have the resources to develop the entire architecture myself. Appaca.ai was designed precisely for this purpose. It offers a user-friendly interface packed with features and versatile components that you can combine in countless ways. The team is incredibly supportive, and I confidently recommend it to anyone with a great idea but without a full IT department to back them up."

Katalin Dörnyei
Founder, Boop Solutions

FAQs

What are some good side projects for architects?

Some great side projects for architects include developing sustainable housing designs, creating AI tools for architectural planning, revitalizing community spaces, exploring 3D printing in building design, and offering virtual reality tours of architectural projects.

How can architects use AI in side projects?

Architects can use AI in side projects by integrating AI tools to optimize design processes, predict future architectural trends, simulate environmental impacts, and enhance client presentations through virtual reality. AI can also be used for energy modeling and efficient material usage calculations.

Why are side projects important for architects?

Side projects are important for architects because they provide a platform to explore creative ideas without conventional constraints, stay ahead in the industry by adopting current technological advancements, enhance their portfolio, and potentially generate additional revenue streams.

What role does Appaca play in architecture projects?

Appaca offers a comprehensive platform where architects can build AI-driven solutions to improve design efficiency, create innovative tools for the industry, and bring futuristic architectural concepts to life. It streamlines the incorporation of AI, making it accessible and practical for architectural side projects.

What is Appaca?

Appaca is a no-code platform for building AI apps. You can use Appaca to build complete AI products for your startups, businesses, or customers without requiring developer help. The platform supports various AI models including ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and Flux Image model.

What is an AI Credit?

AI credits are the system to bill AI usage. Appaca uses that AI credit system to streamline the usage of different AI models in one go. You can use any AI model across your application. For the cost of AI credit for different AI models, please see our pricing page.

Can I make money with the app I built on Appaca?

Yes, you can monetise your AI app easily. All you need to do is to enable monetisation in your app with one click. You will be prompted to set up Stripe account easily. Once you have enabled your monetisation, you can create subscription plans for your app.

For the usage of AI, our AI credit system allows you to bill your customers. You can simply set how much credit you want to charge for your customers. It all comes out of the box.

Can I get more credits?

Absolutely. You can top up AI credits as much as you want if your credits are low.

Can I connect my custom domain to my app?

Yes, you can use your own custom domain name as long as you are on any paid plan.

Are there integrations?

Yes. You can integrate with other third-party tools via API or Webhook in your action workflows builder. We are frequently shipping native integration as well.

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