Mostafa W Alani | Tuskegee University (original) (raw)

Uploads

Papers by Mostafa W Alani

Research paper thumbnail of Performatively Shaped, Traditionally Inspired Contemporary Houses: The Case of Courtyard Houses in Baghdad

Design Computation Input/Output 2021

This paper presents a computational approach to generate and optimize traditionally inspired hous... more This paper presents a computational approach to generate and optimize traditionally inspired housing solutions in the city of Baghdad. The study first presents a computational method to explore the possible design spaces of the houses. Then the study moves from massive customization to mass customization and presents a genetic algorithm to optimize design solutions through narrowing down the possible design space based on a performative fitness function. This study achieved the outcome that the semi-traditional, hybrid, house model is the best model for use in Iraq due to the severe environmental conditions represented by extreme temperatures and harsh solar radiation through the contribution of these models to reducing the applied solar radiation and thus reducing the heat gained in the home spaces.

Research paper thumbnail of Dynamic Environmental Plugins: Programmable Architectural Elements Reactive to Socio-environmental Conditions

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Reinforcement Learning-Based Generative Design Methodology for Kinetic Facade

Research paper thumbnail of Session 3 (Cultures) Discussion

Design Computation Input/Output 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Performatively Shaped, Traditionally Inspired Contemporary Houses: The Case of Courtyard Houses in Baghdad

Design Computation Input/Output 2021

This paper presents a computational approach to generate and optimize traditionally inspired hous... more This paper presents a computational approach to generate and optimize traditionally inspired housing solutions in the city of Baghdad. The study first presents a computational method to explore the possible design spaces of the houses. Then the study moves from massive customization to mass customization and presents a genetic algorithm to optimize design solutions through narrowing down the possible design space based on a performative fitness function. This study achieved the outcome that the semi-traditional, hybrid, house model is the best model for use in Iraq due to the severe environmental conditions represented by extreme temperatures and harsh solar radiation through the contribution of these models to reducing the applied solar radiation and thus reducing the heat gained in the home spaces.

Research paper thumbnail of Morphological Code of Historical Geometric Patterns - The Digital Age of Islamic Architecture

This study intervenes in the long-standing paradigm that considers compositional analysis as the ... more This study intervenes in the long-standing paradigm that considers compositional analysis as the key to researching the Islamic Geometric Patterns (IGP). The research argues that the compositional analysis of the geometry is not solely sufficient to investigate the design characteristics of the IGP, and the better way of achieving this emerges through a consideration of the design formalism.

Research paper thumbnail of The reestablishment of Mosul's city fabric: an approach to computational hybridization

International Journal of Architectural Research , 2021

Purpose-This paper aims out to analyze the confluence of spatial analysis and computational desig... more Purpose-This paper aims out to analyze the confluence of spatial analysis and computational design strategies to support the reestablishment of Mosul's city housing fabric. According to a UN-Habitat report, Mosul suffered from catastrophic losses on an urban scale, resulting in a housing crisis that requires a largescale response. However, the need for immediate shelters might lead to a rapid, uninformed reconstruction process, causing the loss of the architectural identity that the city accumulated over the years. Design/methodology/approach-The study utilizes a two-phase sequential research method. In Phase 1, the study applies space syntax techniques to transform the floor plans of the collected traditional and contemporary houses into "quantifiable data." This phase aims to identify design criteria that capture the "spatial configuration" of both types of houses. In the subsequent phase, the study utilizes the identified design criteria to develop a genetic algorithm inspired by traditional and contemporary practice that facilitates an informed design process. Findings-The outcome of the study indicates that informed computational synthesis can assist in generating multiplicities floor plan layouts that mimic the inner spatial configuration of existing traditional courtyard houses and contemporary noncourtyard houses. In addition, the developed genetic algorithm was able to generate hybridized design solutions that have been spatially validated. Originality/value-The study concludes with observations linking informed computational synthesis to the postwar construction process as a remedial methodology to analyze and redesign Mosul's city fabric in an informed, affordable and accessible fashion.

Research paper thumbnail of reTessellate: Modular Dynamic Surfaces Reactive to Socio-Environmental Conditions

International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, 2019

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and programming of a reconfigurable structure. The s... more This paper presents the design, fabrication, and programming of a reconfigurable structure. The structure is comprised of modular, programable units, which can be stacked together, and collectively construct surfaces that shape-shifts in response to the surrounding physical and social conditions aiming at enhancing the link between occupants and the built environment.

Research paper thumbnail of Algorithmic investigation of the actual and virtual design space of historic hexagonal-based Islamic patterns

International Journal of Architectural Computing, 2018

This research challenges the long-standing paradigm that considers compositional analysis to be t... more This research challenges the long-standing paradigm that considers compositional analysis to be the key to researching historical Islamic geometric patterns. Adopting a mathematical description shows that the historical focus on existing forms has left the relevant structural similarities between historical Islamic geometric patterns understudied. The research focused on the hexagonal-based Islamic geometric patterns and found that historical designs correlate to each other beyond just the formal dimension and that deep, morphological connections exist in the structures of historical singularities. Using historical evidence, this article identifies these connections and presents a categorization system that groups designs together based on their “morphogenetic” characteristics.

Research paper thumbnail of The Reconfigurable Wall System: Designing a Responsive Structure Reactive to Socio-Environmental Conditions

International Conference on Distributed, Ambient, and Pervasive Interactions, 2018

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and programing of an interactive, responsive wall sy... more This paper presents the design, fabrication, and programing of an interactive, responsive wall system. The wall system shape-shifts in response to the surrounding environment aiming at improving occupants’ social and physical experiences of the architectural space. The study identifies and elaborates different dialogues that can be established between occupants, the Reconfigurable Wall System and the surrounding environment.

Research paper thumbnail of Heritage at Stake: Computational Design Processes for Rescuing Mosul’s Architectural Identity

XXII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IBEROAMERICAN SOCIETY OF DIGITAL GRAPHICS, 2018

A generative algorithm for exploring the virtual design space of historic houses in the city of M... more A generative algorithm for exploring the virtual design space of historic houses in the city of Mosul is presented. The method aims to progressively engage the spatial organization of traditional houses through investigating existing examples.

Research paper thumbnail of Chronological Examination of the Morphology of Hexagonal Based Islamic Geometric Patterns

Design Communication Conference, 2018

This research employs mathematics to chronologically investigate the morphology of hexagonal-base... more This research employs mathematics to chronologically investigate the morphology of hexagonal-based historic Islamic Geometric Patterns (IGP). Historic designs were coded, and content analysis was conducted to compare the codes of hexagonal IGP, searching for earliest appearances of design morphologies.

Research paper thumbnail of MORPHOLOGICAL CODE OF HISTORICAL GEOMETRIC PATTERNS

Proceedings of the 8th ASCAAD conference, 2016

This study intervenes in the long-standing paradigm that considers compositional analysis as the ... more This study intervenes in the long-standing paradigm that
considers compositional analysis as the key to researching the Islamic
Geometric Patterns (IGP). The research argues that the compositional
analysis of the geometry is not solely sufficient to investigate the
design characteristics of the IGP, and the better way of achieving this
emerges through a consideration of the design formalism.

Research paper thumbnail of A parametric metamorphosis of Islamic geometric patterns: The extraction of new from traditional

ARCHITECTURAL RESEARCH CENTERS CONSORTIUM, 2015

A method for the exploration of design space in traditional Islamic geometrical patterns is prese... more A method for the exploration of design space in traditional Islamic geometrical patterns is presented. The method uses traditional Islamic geometry as a starting point and performs a metamorphosis operation for geometrical creation and exploration of possible variations.

Research paper thumbnail of A PARAMETRIC DESCRIPTION FOR METAMORPHOSIS OF ISLAMIC GEOMETRIC PATTERNS

Emerging Experience in Past, Present and Future of Digital Architecture, 2015

This paper presents a parametric approach toward studying the characteristics of the Islamic geom... more This paper presents a parametric approach toward studying the characteristics of the Islamic geometric patterns (IGP). The presented computational system utilizes a parametric description of the geometry to initiate the process of metamorphosis exploration and to document the generated variations. The study found that changing the parameters in the description produces new variations that have a wide range of qualitative and quantitative properties; some match exactly the properties of traditionally existed geometries.

Conference Presentations by Mostafa W Alani

Research paper thumbnail of Performatively Shaped, Traditionally Inspired Contemporary Houses: The Case of Courtyard Houses in Baghdad

Design Computation, 2021

This paper presents a computational approach to generate and optimize traditionally inspired hous... more This paper presents a computational approach to generate and optimize traditionally inspired housing solutions in the city of Baghdad. The study first presents a computational method to explore the possible design spaces of the houses. Then the study moves from massive customization to mass customization and presents a genetic algorithm to optimize design solutions through narrowing down the possible design space based on a performative fitness function. This study achieved the outcome that the semi-traditional, hybrid, house model is the best model for use in Iraq due to the severe environmental conditions represented by extreme temperatures and harsh solar radiation through the contribution of these models to reducing the applied solar radiation and thus reducing the heat gained in the home spaces.

Research paper thumbnail of Performatively Shaped, Traditionally Inspired Contemporary Houses: The Case of Courtyard Houses in Baghdad

Design Computation Input/Output 2021

This paper presents a computational approach to generate and optimize traditionally inspired hous... more This paper presents a computational approach to generate and optimize traditionally inspired housing solutions in the city of Baghdad. The study first presents a computational method to explore the possible design spaces of the houses. Then the study moves from massive customization to mass customization and presents a genetic algorithm to optimize design solutions through narrowing down the possible design space based on a performative fitness function. This study achieved the outcome that the semi-traditional, hybrid, house model is the best model for use in Iraq due to the severe environmental conditions represented by extreme temperatures and harsh solar radiation through the contribution of these models to reducing the applied solar radiation and thus reducing the heat gained in the home spaces.

Research paper thumbnail of Dynamic Environmental Plugins: Programmable Architectural Elements Reactive to Socio-environmental Conditions

Lecture Notes in Computer Science, 2022

Research paper thumbnail of Reinforcement Learning-Based Generative Design Methodology for Kinetic Facade

Research paper thumbnail of Session 3 (Cultures) Discussion

Design Computation Input/Output 2021

Research paper thumbnail of Performatively Shaped, Traditionally Inspired Contemporary Houses: The Case of Courtyard Houses in Baghdad

Design Computation Input/Output 2021

This paper presents a computational approach to generate and optimize traditionally inspired hous... more This paper presents a computational approach to generate and optimize traditionally inspired housing solutions in the city of Baghdad. The study first presents a computational method to explore the possible design spaces of the houses. Then the study moves from massive customization to mass customization and presents a genetic algorithm to optimize design solutions through narrowing down the possible design space based on a performative fitness function. This study achieved the outcome that the semi-traditional, hybrid, house model is the best model for use in Iraq due to the severe environmental conditions represented by extreme temperatures and harsh solar radiation through the contribution of these models to reducing the applied solar radiation and thus reducing the heat gained in the home spaces.

Research paper thumbnail of Morphological Code of Historical Geometric Patterns - The Digital Age of Islamic Architecture

This study intervenes in the long-standing paradigm that considers compositional analysis as the ... more This study intervenes in the long-standing paradigm that considers compositional analysis as the key to researching the Islamic Geometric Patterns (IGP). The research argues that the compositional analysis of the geometry is not solely sufficient to investigate the design characteristics of the IGP, and the better way of achieving this emerges through a consideration of the design formalism.

Research paper thumbnail of The reestablishment of Mosul's city fabric: an approach to computational hybridization

International Journal of Architectural Research , 2021

Purpose-This paper aims out to analyze the confluence of spatial analysis and computational desig... more Purpose-This paper aims out to analyze the confluence of spatial analysis and computational design strategies to support the reestablishment of Mosul's city housing fabric. According to a UN-Habitat report, Mosul suffered from catastrophic losses on an urban scale, resulting in a housing crisis that requires a largescale response. However, the need for immediate shelters might lead to a rapid, uninformed reconstruction process, causing the loss of the architectural identity that the city accumulated over the years. Design/methodology/approach-The study utilizes a two-phase sequential research method. In Phase 1, the study applies space syntax techniques to transform the floor plans of the collected traditional and contemporary houses into "quantifiable data." This phase aims to identify design criteria that capture the "spatial configuration" of both types of houses. In the subsequent phase, the study utilizes the identified design criteria to develop a genetic algorithm inspired by traditional and contemporary practice that facilitates an informed design process. Findings-The outcome of the study indicates that informed computational synthesis can assist in generating multiplicities floor plan layouts that mimic the inner spatial configuration of existing traditional courtyard houses and contemporary noncourtyard houses. In addition, the developed genetic algorithm was able to generate hybridized design solutions that have been spatially validated. Originality/value-The study concludes with observations linking informed computational synthesis to the postwar construction process as a remedial methodology to analyze and redesign Mosul's city fabric in an informed, affordable and accessible fashion.

Research paper thumbnail of reTessellate: Modular Dynamic Surfaces Reactive to Socio-Environmental Conditions

International Conference on Human-Computer Interaction, 2019

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and programming of a reconfigurable structure. The s... more This paper presents the design, fabrication, and programming of a reconfigurable structure. The structure is comprised of modular, programable units, which can be stacked together, and collectively construct surfaces that shape-shifts in response to the surrounding physical and social conditions aiming at enhancing the link between occupants and the built environment.

Research paper thumbnail of Algorithmic investigation of the actual and virtual design space of historic hexagonal-based Islamic patterns

International Journal of Architectural Computing, 2018

This research challenges the long-standing paradigm that considers compositional analysis to be t... more This research challenges the long-standing paradigm that considers compositional analysis to be the key to researching historical Islamic geometric patterns. Adopting a mathematical description shows that the historical focus on existing forms has left the relevant structural similarities between historical Islamic geometric patterns understudied. The research focused on the hexagonal-based Islamic geometric patterns and found that historical designs correlate to each other beyond just the formal dimension and that deep, morphological connections exist in the structures of historical singularities. Using historical evidence, this article identifies these connections and presents a categorization system that groups designs together based on their “morphogenetic” characteristics.

Research paper thumbnail of The Reconfigurable Wall System: Designing a Responsive Structure Reactive to Socio-Environmental Conditions

International Conference on Distributed, Ambient, and Pervasive Interactions, 2018

This paper presents the design, fabrication, and programing of an interactive, responsive wall sy... more This paper presents the design, fabrication, and programing of an interactive, responsive wall system. The wall system shape-shifts in response to the surrounding environment aiming at improving occupants’ social and physical experiences of the architectural space. The study identifies and elaborates different dialogues that can be established between occupants, the Reconfigurable Wall System and the surrounding environment.

Research paper thumbnail of Heritage at Stake: Computational Design Processes for Rescuing Mosul’s Architectural Identity

XXII INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE OF THE IBEROAMERICAN SOCIETY OF DIGITAL GRAPHICS, 2018

A generative algorithm for exploring the virtual design space of historic houses in the city of M... more A generative algorithm for exploring the virtual design space of historic houses in the city of Mosul is presented. The method aims to progressively engage the spatial organization of traditional houses through investigating existing examples.

Research paper thumbnail of Chronological Examination of the Morphology of Hexagonal Based Islamic Geometric Patterns

Design Communication Conference, 2018

This research employs mathematics to chronologically investigate the morphology of hexagonal-base... more This research employs mathematics to chronologically investigate the morphology of hexagonal-based historic Islamic Geometric Patterns (IGP). Historic designs were coded, and content analysis was conducted to compare the codes of hexagonal IGP, searching for earliest appearances of design morphologies.

Research paper thumbnail of MORPHOLOGICAL CODE OF HISTORICAL GEOMETRIC PATTERNS

Proceedings of the 8th ASCAAD conference, 2016

This study intervenes in the long-standing paradigm that considers compositional analysis as the ... more This study intervenes in the long-standing paradigm that
considers compositional analysis as the key to researching the Islamic
Geometric Patterns (IGP). The research argues that the compositional
analysis of the geometry is not solely sufficient to investigate the
design characteristics of the IGP, and the better way of achieving this
emerges through a consideration of the design formalism.

Research paper thumbnail of A parametric metamorphosis of Islamic geometric patterns: The extraction of new from traditional

ARCHITECTURAL RESEARCH CENTERS CONSORTIUM, 2015

A method for the exploration of design space in traditional Islamic geometrical patterns is prese... more A method for the exploration of design space in traditional Islamic geometrical patterns is presented. The method uses traditional Islamic geometry as a starting point and performs a metamorphosis operation for geometrical creation and exploration of possible variations.

Research paper thumbnail of A PARAMETRIC DESCRIPTION FOR METAMORPHOSIS OF ISLAMIC GEOMETRIC PATTERNS

Emerging Experience in Past, Present and Future of Digital Architecture, 2015

This paper presents a parametric approach toward studying the characteristics of the Islamic geom... more This paper presents a parametric approach toward studying the characteristics of the Islamic geometric patterns (IGP). The presented computational system utilizes a parametric description of the geometry to initiate the process of metamorphosis exploration and to document the generated variations. The study found that changing the parameters in the description produces new variations that have a wide range of qualitative and quantitative properties; some match exactly the properties of traditionally existed geometries.

Research paper thumbnail of Performatively Shaped, Traditionally Inspired Contemporary Houses: The Case of Courtyard Houses in Baghdad

Design Computation, 2021

This paper presents a computational approach to generate and optimize traditionally inspired hous... more This paper presents a computational approach to generate and optimize traditionally inspired housing solutions in the city of Baghdad. The study first presents a computational method to explore the possible design spaces of the houses. Then the study moves from massive customization to mass customization and presents a genetic algorithm to optimize design solutions through narrowing down the possible design space based on a performative fitness function. This study achieved the outcome that the semi-traditional, hybrid, house model is the best model for use in Iraq due to the severe environmental conditions represented by extreme temperatures and harsh solar radiation through the contribution of these models to reducing the applied solar radiation and thus reducing the heat gained in the home spaces.