Midjourney
Midjourney has become a powerful sketchpad for early design work. It shines at rapid prototyping in brainstorms, quick concept visualization, style exploration, and material studies, producing polished assets that strengthen mood boards and client communication. That said, the gap between seductive renders and buildable reality is large, cross-image consistency is brittle, and mastering advanced prompts/parameters has a steep, opaque learning curve. In short: excellent for ideation and storytelling; unreliable for documentation or downstream production.
Designers use Midjourney as a tool for rapid conceptualization by typing text prompts into Discord to generate visual ideas for buildings, materials, styles, and moods. They provide descriptive text to the AI, which creates a grid of four images. Designers then iterate by creating variations, upscaling promising designs, or even uploading an existing image to generate new concepts based on that visual, integrating AI into their creative workflow to quickly explore design possibilities.
- Rapid Visualization
- Rapid Material Study
- Polished Visual Communication
- Fast Style Generation
- Generate Strong Mood Board Assets
- Idea Generation
Midjourney Adventure
An introduction for beginners to explore generating architectural images with ChatGPT created prompts.
Comparing Midjourney Plans
All Midjourney plans are subscriptions – meaning they automatically renew on a monthly or yearly basis unless you set your plan to cancel.
Midjourney offers four subscription tiers: Basic, Standard, Pro, and Mega. See the chart below for a comparison of plan features.
· For unlimited image generations with Relax Mode, subscribe to the Standard, Pro, or Mega Plan.
· For unlimited video generations with Relax Mode, subscribe to the Pro or Mega Plan.
· Stealth Mode, which keeps your images and videos private, is only available on the Pro and Mega Plans.
You can get a 20% discount on your subscription by committing to an annual plan, where the full year fee is paid upfront.
*Queue size will extend to accommodate repeat/permutation jobs.
**If you have subscribed at any point, you are free to use your images/videos in just about any way you want. You must purchase the Pro or Mega plan if you are a company making more than $1,000,000 USD in gross revenue per year. For complete details, please see the Terms of Service.
Plan availability and features are subject to change.
Ethical and legal Concerns
DeepFake
Many jurisdictions are introducing new laws to address the creation and distribution of malicious deepfakes, and platforms like Midjourney are responding with strict policies to avoid legal and reputational damage. The company has also blocked the generation of images of prominent political figures like Donald Trump and Joe Biden to curb election-related disinformation. Attempting to use Midjourney for deepfakes is a clear violation of its Terms of Service and will almost certainly lead to a permanent ban from the platform.
Character Reference feature (--cref)
Yes, you can use your own photos for the Character Reference feature in Midjourney. While uploading a user’s own image is possible, the service explicitly states that “images of real people typically won’t look exactly like them” when used as a character reference. This moves users away from using potentially sensitive or copyrighted real images.
Copyright infringement
Users must be able to prove they have the necessary rights to upload and use any image. Most images on the internet are protected by copyright, meaning the owner controls how it is used. Uploading or generating images that infringe on someone’s copyright can expose Midjourney and its users to legal liability. In fact, Midjourney is already facing lawsuits over its AI training data from artists and major corporations, including Disney and Universal.
Community rules
· Maintaining a safe community: The rule is part of Midjourney’s broader Community Guidelines, which are designed to keep the platform a safe and welcoming space for all users. This includes a strict “Safe For Work” (SFW) policy that bans adult content, gore, and other visually shocking material.
· Enforcing ownership: The policy reinforces Midjourney’s ownership guidelines, which state that if you upscale an image created by another user, the rights to that image belong to the original creator, not to you. You would need their permission to use it.
Midjourney Prompt Handbook for Architecture, Interior & Landscape Visualization
Core System Parameters
Midjourney Prompt Handbook for Architecture, Interior & Landscape Visualization
Parameter / Prompt | Explanation | Example |
--ar [x:y] | Aspect ratio; e.g. 16:9 for widescreen, 9:16 for vertical | modern villa exterior --ar 16:9 |
--q [.25 / .5 / 1 / 2 / 5] | Quality; higher = more detail | luxury living room --q 2 |
--chaos [0–100] | Randomness; higher = unexpected variations | urban park design --chaos 50 |
--s [0–1000] | Stylize; higher = more artistic | minimalist bathroom --s 50 |
--seed [number] | Reproduce or control randomness | roof garden design --seed 123 |
--no [object] | Exclude elements | courtyard design --no people |
--v [version] | Select model version | gothic cathedral --v 5.2 |
--weird [0–3000] | Increase surreal/abstract results | desert eco-village --weird 800 |
Parameter / Prompt | Explanation | Example |
Wide-angle / ultra-wide / fisheye | Exaggerates spatial depth | Luxury hotel lobby, ultra-wide angle, cinematic lighting --ar 16:9 |
Bird’s eye / aerial view | Site planning, landscape layouts | Coastal resort masterplan, aerial view --ar 21:9 |
Isometric view | Architectural diagrams, massing | Conceptual office tower isometric view |
Sectional / cutaway / exploded view | Educational or technical presentations | Exploded view of museum interior |
POV (point of view) | Makes spaces feel inhabited | Kitchen viewed from dining table POV |
Parameter / Prompt | Explanation | Example |
Natural Light | Daylight, golden hour, dusk, dawn, overcast, moonlight | Modern glass house at sunset, warm interior lights glowing --ar 21:9 --q 2 |
Artificial Light | LED strip lights, chandeliers, recessed lights, skylights, fireplace | Hotel ballroom with chandeliers and soft LED lighting |
Architectural Techniques | Uplighting, backlighting, silhouette, volumetric light | Sculptural staircase with dramatic uplighting |
Parameter / Prompt | Explanation | Example |
Concrete | Polished, raw, board-formed | Minimalist gallery with board-formed concrete walls |
Glass | Frosted, reflective, stained | Skyscraper with reflective glass façade |
Wood | Oak, walnut, reclaimed timber | Modern cabin interior, walnut floor, oak beams |
Stone | Marble, granite, limestone, travertine | Hotel lobby with marble flooring |
Metal | Brass, corten steel, stainless steel, copper patina | Corten steel façade with patina details |
Sustainable Materials | Bamboo, rammed earth, strawbale | Eco-lodge with bamboo structure and rammed earth walls |
Parameter / Prompt | Explanation | Example |
Classical | Greek, Roman, Gothic, Baroque | Baroque cathedral façade at sunrise |
Modernist | Bauhaus, Brutalism, Mid-century | Brutalist university campus --ar 16:9 |
Contemporary | Parametric, Deconstructivism, High-tech | Parametric pavilion design, futuristic style |
Regional | Japanese Zen, Scandinavian Hygge, Mediterranean, Moroccan | Scandinavian cabin in snowy forest |
Futuristic | Cyberpunk, Biophilic, Metaverse, Organic AI | Futuristic eco-tower with vertical gardens, parametric façade --ar 9:16 |
Parameter / Prompt | Explanation | Example |
Furniture | Modular sofa, Eames chair, low Japanese table, built-in cabinetry | Scandinavian living room, oak wood floor, white walls, soft textiles, pendant lamp |
Surfaces | Terrazzo floor, marble countertop, mosaic tile backsplash | Luxury kitchen, terrazzo floor, marble island |
Decor | Hanging plants, wall art, pendant lights, rugs, sculptural objects | Loft with hanging plants and pendant lighting |
Layout | Open-plan, loft-style, double-height ceiling, mezzanine | Double-height living room with mezzanine level |
Parameter / Prompt | Explanation | Example |
Natural Features | Mountains, rivers, ponds, desert, rainforest | Mountain resort with infinity pool overlooking valley |
Urban Context | Plazas, streetscapes, pedestrian-friendly zones | Urban plaza with water feature, shaded seating, sustainable landscaping --ar 16:9 |
Green Infrastructure | Green roofs, bioswales, urban farming, vertical gardens | City block with green roofs and vertical gardens |
Seasonality | Spring blossoms, autumn leaves, snow, tropical rain | Japanese garden in autumn leaves |
Parameter / Prompt | Explanation | Example |
Photorealistic | Close to reality, architectural renders | Photorealistic render of glass office building |
Diagrammatic / Concept Sketch | Early design phases | Concept sketch of housing block, pencil style |
Cinematic / Dramatic | Presentation-ready | Cinematic render of museum interior with moody lighting |
Hand-drawn / Watercolor / Collage | Artistic renderings | Hand-drawn watercolor of Italian piazza |
3D Software Style | V-Ray, Lumion, Enscape, Unreal Engine, Blender Cycles | Interior rendered in Unreal Engine style |
Parameter / Prompt | Explanation | Example |
Urban | Dense city, skyline, alleyways, rooftop view | Modern apartment rooftop with city skyline view |
Rural | Countryside, forest clearing, coastal bluff | Cottage in forest clearing |
Climate Context | Desert, tundra, tropical, alpine | Desert eco-resort, rammed earth walls, oasis setting |
Cultural Setting | Italian piazza, Japanese tea garden, Moroccan courtyard | Traditional Moroccan courtyard with fountain |
Parameter / Prompt | Explanation | Example |
With people | Lifestyle scenes, families, business meetings, children playing | University courtyard with students walking, late afternoon light |
Without people | Pure architectural/landscape visualization | Empty museum gallery, focus on architecture |
Scaled Figures | Silhouette figures, ghosted outlines, diagrammatic people | Office floorplan visualization with ghosted silhouettes |
Midjourney Adventure
5 architecture-focused Midjourney videos from 2025:
Midjourney V7 for ARCHITECTURE 2025 | Write Prompts, Render, Animate — complete walkthrough of V7 tools for architects. YouTube
The ULTIMATE Midjourney VIDEO Guide for Architects & Interior Designers (2025) — end-to-end guide to creating architectural videos with Midjourney 7. YouTube
Midjourney v7 Beginner Tutorial for Architecture (EASY METHOD) — updated 2025 beginner workflow for architecture & interior. YouTube
Midjourney for Architects: The Ultimate Workflow for Design & Photorealistic Renders (2025) — practical pipeline and 2025 tool comparisons. YouTube
Midjourney for Architecture Guide: Zaha Hadid, Frank Gehry styles (V6/V7, 2025) — style-transfer/reference methods for iconic architects. YouTube
Midjourney Using Discord Quick Tutorial
Author: MICHAEL FOX, ARCHITECT, AIA, LEED AP, CONTRACTOR (B), PROFESSORl
First make sure you have Discord for Midjourney – a discord account and a mid-level subscription to Midjourney.
“To be noted that everything you do is saved.”
Follow Discord Command List – Interact with the Midjourney Bot using Discord commands!
Type /settings – and turn on remix
Start with /imagine then some text “modern house” – Be descriptive
Then pick one of them or do a variation – and if you like none – pick blue arrows
Try upscale – then use “Vary” tool – select a chunk and redo that portion
Strong variations – keeps them random – subtle variations – hones it in
Try very strong and then
--chaos(and a number), then /imagine and paste in the prompt, then some wordsTry
--iw 2(takes more from the image than from your prompt)Try combining two image prompts like the above
--repeat 3or--r 3(If you want three sets of images from the same prompt, just add--r 3to the end of your prompt.)
Find an image you like – find the plus sign in the prompt and upload image – then right click / open link / copy browser link back in
Here I used my own image to make a conceptual watercolor:
Tricks with language:
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Most important to least important – first literal not artistic – like street
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View or top down angle – then abstract – like serene – peaceful….
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Try /describe with an existing picture to see what prompts it gives you for that image
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These are 7 inputs from the tutorial
Prompt: /imagine
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An impressive image of a contemporary glass-walled residence perched on a hilltop, in a grassy field with a hillside behind it. The house is very long and thin with many rooms and has a roofline composed of many smaller roofs. Capture the dramatic twilight sky and the reflection of lights on the transparent surfaces. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/5.6, ISO 400, and use a wide-angle lens to encompass the panoramic view.
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An impressive image of a contemporary glass-walled residence perched on a hilltop, in a grassy field with a hillside behind it. The house is very long and thin with many rooms and has a roofline composed of many smaller roofs. Capture the dramatic twilight sky and the reflection of lights on the transparent surfaces. Set your professional camera to aperture priority mode, f/5.6, ISO 400, and use a wide-angle lens to encompass the panoramic view.
AI Architecture: 15 Breathtaking Modern Residences (Prompts Included) In the first of our AI Architecture series, get inspired by this diverse collection of visualizations created using Midjourney AI.
How To Use Midjourney AI, Discord Quick-Start Guide (a good tutorial)
Midjourney is amazing! And in this video, I’ll show you a Midjourney tutorial on how to get started in Discord quickly. To use Midjourney, you first need to be able to access Discord. It’s easy, and it’s free. You’ll love it. All you have to do to give the AI bot in Midjourney a command is use the “IMAGINE” prompt. Like this: /imagine (prompt) create a visual of the video game Atomic Hearts..
