Hoda Moustapha Portfolio of Research, Teaching and Creative Work

Computational Design Program

Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics

School of Architecture

Carnegie Mellon University

hoda@cmu.eduhttp://www.andrew.cmu.edu/~hoda

Table of Contents

Curriculum Vitae

Research PhD Computational Design

Building Performance and Diagnostics Master’s Computational Design

Research Agenda

Teaching Philosophy

Courses Future Visions

Creative Work

Arabic Calligraphy Web Development

Computer Graphics

Publications

Research

Research PhD Computational Design

PhD Computational Design

My research investigates Computational Representations for Design Exploration. I believe that Exploration is

fundamental to design, especially in the early phases. Spatial relations and ordering principles organize the

parts of a design, into a coherent whole. These relations and principles, used in composition, “structure”

designs. These are referred to, in the context of my research, as “Design Structures”. My approach is to

capture architecturally significant design structures in a computational environment and use them to explore

architectural design configurations in a cyclic manner.

Through empirical observations, I found that designers expressed structures, such as grid lines or axes of

symmetry, in the form of regulating lines, and use these as active compositional tools, especially in early

conceptualization phases. For additional information, please refer to the paper: Akin, Ö. and H. Moustapha

(2003) “Strategic Use of Representation in Architectural Massing” Design Studies, Vol. 25, no 1, Elsevier Ltd,

London.

Consider the Floor Plan of Frank Lloyd Wright’s Lloyd Lewis House; consider the effects of changing the

directions of underlying grid lines or changing their curvatures. Furthermore, consider the ability to control

each of these grid lines individually, and to perceive their effects on a certain group of elements. One can

only begin to imagine the possibilities for such exploration, and the range of ideas that these may bring

during early conceptualization phases.

Transformation of the underlying Structure of Lloyd Lewis House

Changing orientation of grid

Changing the curvature of the grid

Changing part of the grid

Explorations involving the transformation of structures produce intellectually stimulating results, but are very

labor intensive; these require individual modification of numerous related elements. Such repetitive

interaction considerably slows down the exploration, and often discourages it completely, particularly when

configurations are complex and inter-relations are numerous. It is my objective to provide the intellectual

stimulation without the associated labor.

My approach consists of separating design structures from configuration elements, and augmenting

structures with control over elements. I developed the concept of a “regulator”, which is an abstraction that

captures a single unit of structure i.e. a single relationship within a configuration. For instance a grid

structure is captured by alignment lines; a symmetry structure is captured by a reflection axis or center of

rotation. Regulators maintain control over other elements of the configuration; therefore, a user can

transform the configuration, either completely or partially, by applying simple changes to a regulator.

Regulators used for transformations in massing

Rotating the translation regulator

Replacing the translation regulator

Regulators used for transformation across styles

Replacing mirror Inserting balcony Changing degree Introducing scale Introducing exception

For my dissertation, I developed the ICE framework, which stands for Interactive Configuration Exploration.

It consists of both a notation and an implementation. The ICE notation is a formal notation for representing

shapes and configurations by means of their structures. The ICE implementation is a 3D modeling system

that supports the exploration of such shapes and configurations through the transformation of their

structures.

The ICE Notation

The notation describes shapes and configurations succinctly and accurately as a string, by means of its

regulators. A configuration defined in ICE is represented by means of a few regulators instead of being

represented by the numerous points that define its boundary. Therefore, it is a more concise representation,

and this is advantageous in data storage size and data transfer rates. ICE strings captures a generation

method for a configuration as well as a set of applicable transformations to the configuration. ICE is

comparable to DNA, where a short string sequence captures generation and transformation patterns for

configurations.

In order to describe the various structures observed in architecture. I identified several categories of

regulators. These include the following: (1) regulators based on geometric transformations, (2) regulators

based on constraints, (3) regulators based on variations, (4) regulators based on hierarchies, and (5)

regulators based on operations. A string would consist of a starting point/shape and a set of regulators.

Each regulator is represented by a symbol; its category, parameters and dimension are also represented in

the notation string.

Regulators Based on Geometric Transformations

Translation ])(},,,{[ shapendtp1TΔ TΔ

])(},,,{[ shapentp θΔ 1R ])])(},,{[ shapenp θΔ 0R Rotation

RΔ

Mirror ])(},{[ shapenp0MΔ ])(},,{[ shapentp1MΔ

])(},,,{[ shapenvtp2MΔ

Dilation (scale) ])(},,{[ shapenkp0DΔ

Shear ])(},{[ shapenk SΔ

Curve ])(},,,{[ shapentp αΔ eC ])(},,,{[ shapentp αΔ hC

CΔ

SΔ

DΔ

MΔ

Categories of Regulators

Variation Regulators ])(},,{[ n0 shapeshapeca −Ξ f G G TΞΔ )]s}( [{ cf,a,n,d,,t,pGTΞΔRhythm/Gradation

Constraint based Regulators ])(}{[ k00 shapeshapep −ΦA

Alignment ])(},{[ k0

1 shapeshapetp −ΦA

])(},,{[ k02 shapeshapevtp −ΦA

AΦ

Topological Regulators ]),(},,{[ 21 shapeshapemodmaxminJΦ 0JΠ -JΠ Distance

Hierarchical Regulators ])({}[ n0 tconstituennt constituecontainer, −Ψ H HΨ Containment

Operation Regulators ])(},{[ shapensZΩ Subdivision

Other aspects of the ICE notation include strategies for composing regulators, mechanics of using regulators

for generating designs, and the specifics for using regulators for transforming designs. A small change in the

notation string produces significant transformations in the design. For more information on the notation,

and the complete set regulators and their functionality please refer to the paper: Moustapha, Hoda. (2004)

“A Formal Representation for Generation and Transformation in Design”, the Generative CAD Systems

Symposium (GCAD’04), Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh.

Generation Methods

Discrete generation

><−><Δ 20s)(T

>><><<Δ 210s)(T

Continuous generation

>−<Δ 20s)(T

><Δ 210s ,,)(T

Combined generation

>−><><−<Δ 65430s)(T

>><><<Δ 6543210s ,,,,)(T

Motion regulators )(s⎯→⎯Δ 1T

])}(,,[{ sd0tp ⎯→⎯Δ 1T

TΔ

TΔ

TΔ

s

TΔ

ZΩ

s

Composition Methods

Simultaneous Composition

])(},n,,,,{[ shapedktpp DT01 DT ΔΔ TΔ

])(},,,{[ shapendtp11 AM ΦΔ

Successive Comp

osition )])](},,,{[(},,,{[ shapentpndtp αΔΔ 11 RT TΔ

RΔ

Partial Composition

)])](},,,{[(},,,{[ ,# 43shapentpndtp αΔΔ 11 RT TΔ

RΔ

Multiple Control

])(},,,{[

])(},,,{[>><<

>><<

Δ

∧ΔθΔ30

i

20

shapendtp

ntp

1i

1

T

TR

10TΔ

RΔ 12TΔ

11TΔ

Representation of shapes using the ICE notation

Straight line 1TΔ

])(},,,{[ >−<Δ= 10sndtpline 1T s

Curved line

])(},,{[ >−<Δ= 10snθpcurve 1C

Regular polygon

])

])}(,,,{[

}(,,,[{

#

><−><

>−<Δ

=θΔ=

40

101sndtp

n72tppentagon

1a

1b

T

R

Square

]]))(},,,{[(},,,{[ >−<>−<ΔΔ= 1010sndtpndtpsquare 12 TT

Triangle and Trapezoid

]]))(},,,{[(},),,(.,,{[ >−<>−<Δ=ΔΔ

=1010sndtpnd15ktp

triangle

12 TDT

Circle and Variations

]]))(},,,{[(},,,{[ >−<>−<Δ=Δ= 1010sndtpn360θtpcircle 12 TR

Cuboid

])])(},,,{[(},,,{[ >−<>−<ΔΔ

=1010sndtpndtp

square

12 TT

])(},,,{[ >−<Δ= 10squarendtpcuboid 3T

Prism

])])(},,,{[(},,,,{[ >−<>−<ΔΔΔ

=1010sndtpndktp

triangle

12 TDT

])(},,,{[ >−<Δ= 10trianglendtpprism 3T

Pyramid and Frustum

])])(},,,{[(},,,{[ >−<>−<ΔΔ

=1010sndtpndtp

square

12 TT

])(},,,,{[ >−<ΔΔ= 10squarenθktpfrustum 3DT

3DTΔΔ

3TΔ

3TΔ

1TΔ

2TΔ

1TΔ

2DTΔΔ

s

1TΔ s

1CΔ

2RΔ

s

s

1RΔ

1TΔ

Cylinder

]]))(},,,{[(},,,{[ >−<>−<Δ=Δ

=1010sndtpn360θtp

circle

12 TR

3TΔ

])(},,,{[ >−<Δ= 10circlendtpcylinder 3T

Cone

])])(},,,{[(},,,,{[ >−<>−<ΔΔΔ

=1010sndtpndktp

triangle

12 TDT

])(},,,{[ >−<Δ= 10trianglendtpcone 3R

Slinky

]]))(},,,{[(},,,{[ >−<>−<Δ=Δ

=1010sndtpn360θtp

circle

12 TR

])(},,,{[ >−<Δ= 10circlenθtpslinky 3C

Sphere

]]))(},,,{[(},,,{[ >−<>−<Δ=Δ

=1010sndtpn360θtp

circle

12 TR

])(},,{[ >−<Δ= 10circleθ,ntpsphere 3R

3CΔ

3RΔ

3RΔ

I used the ICE notation to describe a sequence of drawings in a design studio as well as the transformation

between these drawings. For more information, please refer the paper: Akin, Ö. and H. Moustapha (2004)

"Formalizing Generation and Transformation in Design: a studio case study" - First International Conference

on Design Computing and Cognition (DCC’04), Kluwer Academic publisher, the Netherlands.

Hejduk’s Half House represented using the ICE notation

scommonlinkunitunitunitHalfHouse CBA ∧∧∧=

staircasewalkwaycorridorscommonlink ∧∧=

AAA

AA

A

columnsquarewindow

onsarticulatienclosurentp

unit

,,

]),(},,[{ 10 ∧Δ

=>><<1M

])

])

])(},,,{[

(},,,{[

(},,{[

10

0

0#

>−<

>−<

>−<Δ

Δ

Δ

=

n

nnA

A

sndtp

ndtp

nkp

enclosure

1v

1h

0

T

T

D

BBB

BB

B

columnsquarewindow

onsarticulatienclosurentp

unit

,,

]),(},,[{ 10 ∧Δ

=>><<1M

])

])(},,,{[

},,{[

0

0

>−<

>−<Δ

Δ

=

n

nB

B

sndtp

nkp

enclosure

1v

0

T

D

CCC

CC

C

columnsquarewindow

onsarticulatienclosurentp

unit

,,

]),(},,[{ 10 ∧Δ

=>><<1M

])

])(},90,,{[

},,{[

0

0

>−<

>−<Δ

Δ

=

n

nC

C

sntp

nkp

enclosure

0

0

R

D

])(},,{[

])(},,{[

])(},,{[

>><<

>><<

>><<

Δ°Δ=Δ

Δ°Δ=Δ

°Δ=

10

10

10AC

n90p

n90p

sn90ps

1Ah

1C

1Ch

1A

1C

1C

1C

TRT

MRM

R

)],,(},,{[

)],(},,{[

)],(},,{[

)],(},,{[

CBA

C

B

A

hCC

hBB

hAA

pppntp

pntp

pntp

pntp

eline p

eline p

eline p

0

1C

1

1B

1

1A

1

L

MA

MA

MA

Φ

ΔΦ

ΔΦ

ΔΦ

=

=

=

)](},{[

)](},{[

CB

BA

unit ,unittp

unit ,unittp1h

11v

A

MA

Φ

ΔΦ

A studio example represented using the ICE notation

ecommonSpac

dormUnitnt,p

dormUnitnt,p

rdormClustent,p

,nt,pbuilding

∧Δ

∧Δ

∧

Δ

Δ=

>><<

>><<

>><<

>><<

])}((,[{

])}((,[{

])

])}((,[{

}([{

105

104

10

101#1

5

4

3

2

M

M

M

M

])([ 101

>><<Δ= dormUnit,nt,prdormcluste }{M

Wednesday, June 12, 2002

DELETE_REGULATOR( , ) 4MΔ 5MΔREPLACE_REGULATOR( ) 3MΔ )])][([()])][([( rdormClusterdormCluste RMMM 232 ΔΔ⇒ΔΔ

])}(,,[{

])

])}(,,[{

}([{

])

])}(,,[{

}([{

0

10

101#24

10

101

>><<

>><<

>><<

>><<

>><<

Δ

∧

Δ

Δ

∧

Δ

Δ=

necommonSpacnt,p

rdormClustent,p

,nt,p

rdormClustent,p

,nt,pbuilding

θ

θ

θ

R

M

M

R

M

2

2

])([ 10111

>><<Δ= dormUnit,nt,prdormCluste }{M

])([ 1022

>><<Δ= dormUnit,nt,prdormCluste }{M3

Friday, June 21, 2002

The ICE system

The ICE 3D modeling system supports cyclic design exploration of configurations by means of transforming

their generative and relational structures. The ICE notation captures the set of transformations applicable to

a configuration in the form of the geometry and the parameters of the regulators; changing these

parameters results in the redefinition of the configuration. In the ICE system, these parameters are

manipulation handles, which are used to transform configurations, thus allowing users to explore these

configurations interactively.

Regulators establish a higher level of interaction with design configurations, and enable significant

transformations with relatively short exploration paths. The ICE implementation through the transformation

and redefinition of configurations support cyclic explorations, where earlier decisions can be updated at a

later stage without affecting the design’s integrity.

I have implemented two versions for the ICE system: ICE-2D, which supports two dimensional symmetry

and gradation structures, and ICE-3D which support three dimensional transform-based and variational

structures, continuous and discrete generation, and multiple composition methods. Both are engineered

using the UML notation and implemented in OpenGL and C++. The 2D system has already proven to be a

usable design tool. I personally used it to design the logo for the GCAD conference and explore numerous

variations within a single session. I also used it as a creative venue, resulting in the discovery of fascinating

configurations. In addition I have used ICE to explore calligraphy compositions. For additional information,

please refer to the paper: Moustapha, H. and R. Krishnamurti (2001) “Arabic Calligraphy: A Computational

Exploration” – Mathematics and Design 2001, Third International Conference, Geelong, Australia

Exploring the GCAD logo using ICE-2D

moving rotation point

moving rotation point

moving rotation point

Exploring creative venues using ICE-2D

Exploring creative venues using ICE-2D

Exploring creative venues using ICE-3D

Research Building Performance and Diagnostics

Research in Building Performance

NEAT (National Environmental Assessment Toolkit) is a post occupancy evaluation project conducted at the

Center for Building Performance and Diagnostics. My contributions are the EnvirSoft software and the

EnviroQuest online surveys.

EnviroSoft: the GIS-Based Software

EnviroSoft collects building data, such as measurements or physical indices, and evaluates the building’s

performance with respect to thermal, visual, acoustic, spatial, and indoor air quality. A typical scenario for

using EnviroSoft occurs during an expert walkthrough. The expert walks around the building with a tablet

PC displaying this building’s floor plan. He/she enters a space and measures (temperatures, lighting levels,

carbon dioxide, sound level, etc) and records this on the corresponding space in the electronic floor plan.

He/she records physical indices that may be a cause of disturbance in the space; for instance a high volume

printer producing noise as well as odors, heaters indicating thermal discomfort, or backrests indicating

seating discomfort. Once the building data is entered, the user can visualize it via summaries that indicate

the total health of the building, and scatter plots evaluating measurement according to ASHRAE standards.

EnviroSoft (Plan and input window for indices and measures)

EnviroSoft (Sample analysis windows)

Summary for visual indices

Scatter plot for air temperature

Summary for thermal measures

EnviroSoft is developed using Visual Basic and the ArcView GIS object library. It uses the ArcView’s spatial

analysis capabilities and augments these with a customized set of features that are specific to our data

collection and evaluation requirements. EnviroSoft was developed using a cyclic approach, simultaneously

with the data analysis strategies. EnviroSoft was tested in the field and refined several times. A Pocket PC

version of EnviroSoft that communicates with a central building knowledge base is currently under

development.

EviroQuest, The Online Surveys

The EviroQuest are a suite of online questionnaires for analyzing workplace productivity. These include the

user satisfaction, time spent, work tools, environmental controls and facility management surveys. This

project is implemented in HTML and ASP (active server pages) to access and retrieve questions and answers

from the central database. JavaScript provided real-time consistency checking of users’ responses.

Snapshots of the Online Questionnaires

Satisfaction questionnaire

Time questionnaire

Tools questionnaire

Environment controls questionnaire

Results of collective user’s responses for a single question

Results of a single user’s responses for multiple questions

Research Master’s Computational Design

Masters Projects

Contextual Site Analysis

The site project is a domain specific computational tool that assists architects and site planners to perform

the necessary research and analysis with respect to the building site. It allows them to visualize, present,

and manipulate site information, thus helping them make meaningful design decisions. The site system

captures contextual site data and infers from this additional information. The site system evaluates user’s

decisions based on both the existing data and the inferred information. Site information, whether existing,

or proposed, is entered interactively and displayed diagrammatically. This information is organized according

to predefined site categories. The navigation window allows the display of categories singly or in

combinations to support integrated or segregated views. Information inference includes generating the

build-able area given the setbacks and determining drainage directions given the contours. The site system

evaluates the proposed elements with respect to site requirements and existing elements.

The site project, which was my master’s project, was designed as part of the specification requirements

module of the SEED (Software Environment to Support the Early Phases in Building Design) project. The

system was designed using object oriented software engineering methodologies and OMT notation, and was

implemented using the ET++ application framework.

The interface of the site system

Course Projects

• James: I participated in the development of the JAMES project. James' features were to control a

vehicle and to provide assistance to the driver from a Smart-card. The project focused on

requirement analysis, object design and the JAVA implementation of the vehicle subsystem, and

emphasized teamwork.

• Room Evaluation: A knowledge based system, (implemented in Clips) that evaluates the room

layouts, based on requirements, clearance, and dimension considerations.

• Office Database: An interactive database management system for completed projects within a

design office.

• Quick-sort Animation: A graphical interface that illustrates the recursive QuickSort algorithm.

Research Research Agenda

Research Agenda

Computational design research is constantly being enhanced with the development of new technologies. I

plan to investigate several intriguing research venues, some of which extend my PhD research, while others

present novel opportunities for innovation in Architecture and Computer Science.

Extending My PhD Research

Gesture-Based Interaction with the ICE Models

Although ICE represents complex geometric relationships in a simple way, interaction with the ICE models in

3-dimension needs to be further developed. Complexities of converting 2D interaction in 3D space are still

prevalent. A significant research venue would be to investigate novel interaction hardware applicable to the

design exploration activities of the ICE system. The ICE generation sequences can be mapped to gestures of

drawing with the pen in a 3D sketch environment. Manipulation would also be mapped to gestures, without

intermediate windows and widgets.

The ICE system as an Educational Tool

Although the ICE system was conceived primarily as a design tool, its ability to preserve relationships

communicates the fundamental properties of these relationships. So if the user is not familiar with the

relationship, he/she will learn about it though the interaction with ICE. Often, users cannot visualize the

global result of a local manipulation, and become pleasantly surprised, as they discover new possibilities,

when interacting with models in ICE. In particular the 2D version of ICE can be used teach the fundamental

properties of symmetry and symmetrical patterns and the 3D version can be used to teach 3D-design

principles.

Algorithmic Manipulations of the ICE notation

The ICE notational string can be manipulated algorithmically, for the purpose of form generation, form

manipulation or form analysis. It can be used as the basis for genetic algorithms. Configurations would be

represented in ICE and the evolution patterns would be based on patterns of random ICE transformations.

These would result in more intricate evolution patterns than those produced by typical binary mutations

used in genetic algorithms.

The ICE notational string can also be used in conjunction with rule-based representations. Regulators can

be incorporated into generative systems, in order to enable users to further manipulate the generated

results. Shape configurations can be represented as ICE strings, while generative rules would be

represented as ICE transformations. In the present context, users generate and control regulators. In a

generative context, the system can generate regulators as part of configurations, therefore making

generated configurations very flexible. Furthermore, generative systems can focus on the use of specific

regulators, in order to promote exploration within certain styles.

The ICE Framework and Non-Geometric Information

Although regulators were described as geometric in nature, the vocabulary of the ICE framework can be

extended to include non-geometric design information. These include physical/material properties (such as

light reflectance, thermal transmission, and acoustic absorption), budgets constraints and design

requirements (such as privacy or climatic considerations). With such semantic additions, the ICE framework

would evolve into a complete design language relating semantics to geometry, and therefore, enabling the

control of a design through its requirements as well as its functional properties.

Furthermore, ICE can be integrated with a design evaluation system: as a user explores alternate solutions,

his/her design can be evaluated in real time, thereby enabling him/her to continuously compare the results

of the exploration. In this scenario, regulators and evaluators work together to guide users in transforming

design configurations in ways that improves the quality of the design.

Process Analysis and Case-base Adaptation using the ICE notation

ICE captures history on two levels: (1) the generative sequence captured in the shape definition; and (2) a

record of transformations that occurred in the process of creating the design. Keeping track of the history is

a valuable tool in analyzing the course of design processes precisely, and completely. Furthermore, history

can be used effectively as a multidimensional element of the exploration. Users can step through their

history, forward and backward, and change the course of the exploration while replaying their design

actions. This would result in a history tree of branching exploration paths, instead of a linear history list.

The ICE representation can be integrated to case-base systems where cases are represented by means of

the ICE notation, while the adaptation of a case to a new problem can be achieved readily through regulator

transformations. As novel shapes and configurations are defined by regulators, these can be stored in the

configuration library, then later retrieved, re-used, and manipulated, as part of other configurations.

Recognition of Implied and Emergent Structures

Recognition of emergent structures is a challenging and complex task. Incorporating a module for

recognizing design structures would complement the ICE implementation, and would uncover implied and

hidden structures in any configuration. Therefore, it would enable the identification of the geometrically

equivalent, yet notationally different, representations, in cases where multiple representations exist.

Structures recognition will also support the reverse engineering of configurations described in other

representations.

The ICE Framework and other Design Domains

Although regulators were primarily conceived for Architectural Design, this concept can be utilized in other

domains, such as Mechanical, Industrial, and Graphic Design. Geometric regulators are easily applicable.

Domain-specific regulators can be further developed; in particular, motion-regulators have great potential in

exploring mechanical and industrial design.

Novel Opportunities

Computing Flexibility and Augmented Reality

Augmented reality and mobile computing technologies have the ability to liberate designers from the

confined desktop environment. Imagine an environment where architects conceptualize and design their

buildings on the site by using mobile computers to project virtual design elements in their intended

locations.

Architectural Flexibility and Robotics

Organizational flexibility is critical in providing for changing requirements during the life cycle of a building.

Features like modular designs, plug and play technologies, and reconfigurable building components such as

diffusers and plugs, provide for multipurpose customizable and spaces. Furthermore, buildings can use

computational technologies to automate flexibility. Architectural components, such as roofs or walls, can

automatically reconfigure themselves to accommodate changing uses. For example a roof can change its

inclination depending on the rainfall; it can also become flat to accommodate rooftop activities during good

weather. Partitions can automatically extend or retract thus providing a larger space or several smaller

spaces to accommodate various activities.

Environmentally Conscious Spaces

Spaces and rooms have no knowledge of their environmental conditions. I would like to investigate the

concept of a space equipped with sensors, which are constantly recording external environmental conditions

and user activities. These sensors would cause the control systems to adjust the internal environment

conditions according to the external conditions and the type of user activity.

Teaching

Teaching Teaching Philosophy

Teaching Philosophy

In my opinion, education should be a pleasurable experience, rather than a painful one. Therefore, curricula

and courses should be designed with an entertainment factor in mind, and computing technologies are ideal

for providing the entertainment factor. I believe that every student has potential, and that it is often up to

the educators to identify this potential and encourage students to pursue their own interests, especially at

the graduate level.

In a vast area such as computational design, it is necessary to teach students to navigate a complex world

full of intricate interrelations and exciting discoveries. Educators offer guidance and support, but ultimately

they need to teach students to learn on their own, while showing them how to discover knowledge and

explore new ideas.

Student’s participation in class is very important for group dynamics. The most exciting educational

environments are those where there exits constant dialogue between the professor and students. In such

an environment, educators can also learn new concepts and approaches from their students.

It is often a challenge to maintain equilibrium in interest levels among students with various backgrounds;

some may be familiar with the subject while others might not. Extra credits and optional recitation sessions

may help establish the balance; I believe it is important that each student participates and benefits from the

course material.

In my experience, every course is unique; programming courses are different from software training

courses, and those are different from studio courses and lecture based courses. Each type of course

requires its own special way of delivering information and acquiring experience. Some rely on visuals, others

on discussions, and others yet on physical interactions. My expertise in both Design and Computational

fields allows me to develop intriguing courses that are interdisciplinary in nature while providing students

with a novel and unique experience.

Teaching Courses

3D - Design

Computer Design Technologies

Materials and Assemblies

Introduction to GIS systems

Colors and Textiles

Spatial Construction

Grammar Implementation

Geometric Modeling

3D-Design

The 3D-Design course introduces students to the basic elements and principles of Design in three

dimensions. The course focuses on aesthetic and functional aspects of abstract/geometric forms, spaces,

and compositions as well as their application in architecture, interior design, and sculpture. The course

emphasizes three dimensional thinking in conceptualization of simple forms and complex compositions as

well as the understanding of relationships between the various parts that determine the coherence of the

whole design. Assignments include 3D compositions with lines, planes and volumes, using design principles

of rhythm, hierarchy, and transformation.

Compositions with lines and planes

Computer Design Technology

The computer design technology course is an introduction to computing technologies that support

comprehensive interior architecture presentations techniques, such as drafting, 3D modeling, image

processing, vector drawing, and desktop publishing. Students are introduced to Computer drafting through

AutoCAD 2006, and 3D modeling by means of SketchUP. They are introduced to image processing, vector

drawing and desktop publishing through Adobe PhotoShop, Illustrator, and InDesign, respectively. The

focus of the course is on developing the technical ability to communicate designs from conceptual

development to final details through the digital medium. 2D drafting concepts are covered in particular

detail. Assignments include flyers, brochures, 2D plans and 3D models.

Short assignments using Adobe Creative Suite

Creative advertisement in Illustrator

Creative advertisement in Illustrator

Filter Exploration in Photoshop

Course Poster in InDesign

Materials and Assemblies

The Materials and Assemblies course is part of the technology sequence in the Interior Architecture

Program. The course explores issues concerning aesthetics, functional and environmental aspects of

materials used in interior environments. The focus is on characteristics, properties, and uses of a variety of

interior building materials as well as on performance criteria, regulations, installation methods, and

maintenance of these materials. The course also addresses global sustainability and indoor environmental

quality, safety considerations, and emphasizes the impact of material selection on people’s health and

psychological state. Assignments include construction details, cost estimation and material selection.

Construction Details

Introduction to GIS

The Geographical Information Systems course is an introduction to Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

which is a system of hardware, software, and procedures designed to support the capture, management,

manipulation, analysis, modeling and display of spatially referenced data for solving complex planning and

management problems. GIS applications use both spatial information (maps) and databases to perform

analytical studies. This course covers the underlying geographic concepts of world coordinate system and

projections, vector map topology, tiled and layered maps, standard computer map file formats, etc. The

focus of the course will be on landscape architecture applications of GIS, to analyze existing situations as

well as proposed concepts. These include solar studies, vegetations studies, soil composition analysis, view

analysis and elevation studies as well as street, traffic, circulation, and storm and water drainage analysis.

The main project for this course consisted of mapping the Chatham College Arboretum using GPS (global

positioning systems) in conjunction with GIS software.

Arboretum Project

Arboretum Map: trees and tree canopies Campus Map: vehicular and pedestrian circulation

Picture and qualitative information associated to the spatial information

Color and Textiles

The Color and Textiles course explores issues concerning aesthetics, functional and environmental aspects

of soft materials used in interiors. The focus is on the properties of “colors”, “paints”, “wall coverings” and

“textiles” as well as their effects on indoor environmental quality. The course also addresses global

sustainable issues and emphasizes the impact of colors, and soft materials on people’s health and

psychological state. The color component of this course examines theories of color in relation to physiology,

light, space, perception, psychology, health and symbolism, with an emphasis on color selection for building

types. The textile component discusses textile types, properties, and the uses of textiles in interiors. The

emphasis is on textile selection based on performance criteria, regulations, installation methods,

maintenance and sustainability. Application of interior colors and textures through paints and wall covering

are discussed with an emphasis on application, maintenance, and sustainability. Assignments include

evaluation of color compositions, textile selection (with performance criteria as a main goal), and analysis of

sustainable paints.

Material Boards

Textile Selection Boards: based on performance criteria

Spatial Constructions

This course investigates the various representational paradigms that are related to spatial and geometric

forms with a slant towards design and composition. Topic includes Euclidean construction, symmetry-based

constructions, Boolean construction, and Rule-based construction. I conducted weekly lectures and

coordinated the course project.

Student Projects

Magic Form Construction (LINGO) This tool generates complex forms derived by sweeping basic 3D primitives. Textures and transparencies contribute to the final form.

Euclidean Geometry Explorer (JAVA) This tool simulates the Euclidean compass and ruler. Euclidean compositions can be generated and manipulated interactively.

Object Algebra (MFC) This is an algebra for creating complex shapes out of simple primitives. The tree structure allows the transfer of semantics.

Modeling toolkit (PANDA) This is a virtual environment for the creation of complex objects out of a simple component library.

Grammar implementations

This course introduces students to the shape grammar paradigm and teaches them to produce grammar

implementations. The course covers the fundamentals of grammars from formal language theory as well as

shape/spatial grammars and their application to design with an emphasis on representations and algorithms

for shape grammars. I was the teaching assistant for this course (with Professor Krishnamurti) and I

coordinated and graded the assignments and guided students their final projects.

Student Projects

Star patterns generation and recognition This project uses the grammar formalism to generate star patterns and to recognize and replace the shape between stars.

Tree pattern generation This project uses the grammar formalism to generate tree patterns. Rules are either interactive or through an automatic mechanism.

Geometric modeling: Theory, Programming and Practice

This geometric modeling course introduces students to the theory and programming of geometric modeling.

Geometric modeling theory concerns the use of mathematical and computational models to represent

geometric objects in order to solve problems that are, inherently geometrical, and that allow for computers

to assist in the design process. Geometric modeling programming provides hands-on practice of the

geometric modeling concepts by implementing them onto a three dimensional graphical environment.

Professor Krishnamurti thought the theory and I conducted the programming component of the course: I

taught students to program in C++ and in OpenGL and I designed the assignments, coordinated the course

project, and participated in writing the syllabus.

Student Projects

Assignment: Hierarchical Models

Information Box This visualization tool maps complex data and interrelationships as a 3D network.

Enumeration of cube configurations This tool generates all possible cube configurations and calculates the performance according to thermal transmissivity.

Teaching Future Visions for Teaching

Future Visions for Teaching

Given my diverse background, there are several areas that I can contribute to as an educator. The following

is a non-exclusive list of courses that I would like to conduct, both at the introductory level and the research

levels.

Islamic Geometrical Patterns: in Design and in Mathematics

This course introduces students to Islamic geometrical patterns and their underlying mathematical

principles; it focuses on creating geometrical patterns using traditional techniques as well as digital

techniques. Students will have the unique opportunity to use my ICE system to generate these patterns and

to investigate their extension in 3-dimension. Students with programming experience can create programs

to generate Islamic geometrical patterns.

Arabic Calligraphy: Past and Present

This course introduces students to Arabic Calligraphy as a historical and contemporary art form, and to the

various Arabic scripts. Students develop their calligraphic skills through constant practice of their preferred

scripts, and produce their own artistic compositions utilizing those scripts.

Architectural history: a Virtual Experience

This course introduces students to the various architectural styles and engineering methods that were

developed throughout history and examines the factors influencing the transfer of styles across space and

time. Students immerse themselves and navigate in historic worlds by means of a virtual learning

environment. Students would contribute by modeling cities or buildings in this virtual environment.

Introduction to Web Technologies

This course introduces students to the various web technologies (such as HTML, DHTML, XML), web

development software (such as HotMetal, DreamWeaver, FrontPage and Flash) and scripting languages

(such as JAVA and PERL, and ASP, JSP and PHP).

Graphic Programming in OPENGL (or JAVA 3D API)

This graphics programming course introduces students to the fundamentals of computer graphics

programming and develops their skills in using a graphic library such as OpenGL or JAVA 3D.

Artificial Intelligence for Design

This course introduces students to the fundamentals of artificial intelligence, such as search strategies,

constraint satisfaction, expert systems, vision, and machine learning, with an emphasis on their application

to Architectural or Engineering Design.

Design Exploration

This course introduces students to the concept of Computational Design Exploration. The course

investigates exploration as perceived in various design domains, such as Industrial and Mechanical design,

Architecture, Art, and Music. Topics covered range from computational representations for exploration (such

as constraint representations, and shape grammars) to interfaces (software and hardware) facilitating

exploration.

Interfaces and Interaction for Design Applications

This course introduces students to the fundamental principles of Interface Design with a focus on design

systems. It will also investigate novel interaction approaches, such as sketch-based interfaces and gesture-

based interfaces including motion trackers.

Design Flexibility

This is hands-on studio course that is intended to introduce students to flexible design concepts such as

modularity and plug-play components, which enable re-configurability and customization of interior and

architectural spaces.

Environmental Architecture

This course is intended to introduce students to sustainable practices in design with an emphasis on their

application to interiors. Design decisions, construction methods and choices of materials, all have a

significant impact on the environment. The course analyses environmental hazards (such as landfills, water

pollution, air pollution, health issues, and consumption of earth resources). The course also evaluates

various materials’ lifecycle, from extraction to disposal, from the environmental perspective.

The Mathematics of Architecture

This is an exploratory course that focuses on the relationships between Mathematics and Architecture. The

geometry of various structures and spaces is studied as well as the mathematical relationships of the space

geometry with vision, orientation, light and sound.

Creative Work

Creative Work Calligraphy

Arabic Calligraphy

I design abstract Calligraphy compositions as a hobby. In May 2004, I received the Akram Midani Award for

promoting International Understanding through my Artwork. I had an exhibition at Carnegie Mellon

University from Oct. 4 to Oct. 16 2004, where my guestbook comments included words such as “calming”

“uplifting” “unique” and “impressive”. I have also exhibited at the Frick Art Museum in conjunction with

Empire of the Sultan’s exhibition and at the University of Pittsburgh in conjunction with the Saudi Coffee

House during the International Week.

“I promote international understanding through my calligraphy artwork. I use a unique approach that

combines the traditional Arabic language with the universal language of geometry. I transform letters into

abstractions thus blending the cultural with the international and erasing the boundaries between them. My

approach, which brings a visual dimension to words and a conceptual dimension to images, is influenced by

my Architectural Design training and inspired by the choice of meaningful words and phrases ranging from

the Divine to the secular. The fluidity of the Arabic script allows me to express my feelings in a purely

international way.

Every design is an intellectual challenge… A spiritual journey”

Peace. (pencil) Winner of the Akram Midani Award for International Understanding

Samples of my Calligraphy Design Work

The Merciful. (pencil)

Welcome. (pencil)

Samples of my Calligraphy Design Work

The Prayer (felt pen)

Forgive me God (pencil)

Creative Work Articles

Creative Work Web Development

Web Development

I worked as webmaster for the School of Architecture for about two years, where I designed and developed

several websites for the Graduate Programs, for the Center for Building Performance, for the GCAD’04

symposium, and for the rapid prototyping lab. My approach can be summarized as follows: simplicity,

clarity of information, and ease of navigation.

Graduate Programs website (www.cmu.edu/architecture/graduate/)

Computational Design website (www.cmu.edu/architecture/compdes)

Rapid Prototyping website (http://code.arc.cmu.edu/rp_lab/)

CAD Network Solutions website .

Creative Work Computer Graphics

Computer Graphics

My computer graphic programming course was both a creative as well as a technical endeavor.

Paint Program with impressionism effect

Spline controls

Character animation

Publications

Publications Generative CAD Systems SYMPOSIUM

2004

A Formal Representation for Generation and Transformation in Design

Best Paper Award

Best Presentation Award

Publications Design Computing and Cognition

2004

Formalizing Generation and Transformation in Design: A Studio Case Study

Publications Design Studies

2003

Strategic Use of Representation in Architectural Massing

Publications Mathematics and Design

2001

Arabic Calligraphy: A Computational Exploration