Master's Portfolio

Asad Nasir Qureshi

2022-2023

Course Director - Dr. Elif Erdine

Founding Director - Dr. Michael Weinstock
Studio Master - Dr. Milad Showkatbakhsh
Studio Tutors- Felipe Oeyen, Fun Yuen
Lorenzo Santelli,Paris Nikitidis
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Content

01. BootCamp Project Pg 04 - 09

02. Design and Technology Pg 10 - 23

03. Natural Systems and Pg 24 - 47

Biomimetics

04. Design I Pg 48 - 79

05. Emergence and Pg 80 - 109

Evolutionary Computation

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BootCamp Project
2022-2023 Abstract
The Design aims to study a Double Curvature Ruled
Surface through the exploration of a Local Scale
component which resolves the surface by the formal
Characteristics of the component.
The process is worked simultaneously, with the
development of the Component as well as the Global
Surface. The Global surface is generated initially
by two Sine Curves each having a distinct degrees
of curvature. To test the extent of unidirectional
deformity the module can achieve, a tertiary curve
is introduced to the global surface. The local surface
originates from a diamond shape having a void in the
center to allow for variable width of the component
and the component is extruded for depth and given
an arc-shape opening to allow for bending of the
component.
After experimenting with multiple regional scale
arrangements of the component, the most optimum
regional scale is developed via subdividing the Global
Surface into skewed quadrants. This division helps
to establish i. the surface curvatures produced by
the deformity, and ii. a diagonal grid which provides
for the diamond module to populate the surface.
Furthermore, to display the effect on the Local
Component due to the bending on the Global
surface, local component is appointed variable
depths and opening sizes.
Whilst Informing the Design on Paper and then wood,
the component was tested on Local and regional
scales with different materials, namely wood veneer,
MDF and Plywood. The component’s scale, cutting
techniques and joinery types were all experimented
which were required due to the different variables
that arose when executing a physical formation from
a digital one. The material’s thickness, stiffness, grain
direction etc. are few examples of these variables.
The design was then compared in both digital and
physical realms, leading to a set of conclusions based
on the nonconformities between the two.

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Local Scale Formulation Global Scale Formulation

Digital Experimentation

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Computational Analysis

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Abstract
Bu i l d i n g u p o n t h e t e c h n i q u e s an d m e t h o d s
explored in Bootcamp, the team synthesized their
experiences, successes, and challenges to develop
a unified component and global surface in plywood.
Through experiments around kerf patterning,
three-dimensional component aggregation, and
global surface analysis, the team refined one
team member’s component from Bootcamp,
incorporating new techniques of addressing
structural, morphological, and performance-related
parameters.

Through an iterative process, the team methodically

developed a kerf pattern, based on a back-and-forth
dialogue between physical experimentations and
digital analysis, to enable bending of the plywood. To
understand how the component naturally aggregates
three-dimensionally, the team conducted finite
element analysis at the component and local scales
alongside physical load tests. Various curvature

02/
analysis, abstracted aggregation combinations, and
joinery connection experiments were conducted on
the global surface to understand how it may inform
the development of the component and vice-versa.

The team successfully fabricated the component

in plywood through evolutionary kerf pattern
experiments and aggregated it based on digital
analysis, forming a self-standing global surface.
The research by the team raises further questions
around the balance between induced material
flexibility and inherent material stiffness, the
incorporation of joinery into the morphology of the
component, and the refinement of the digital twin
based upon physical structural observations.

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Abstract
The purpose of this research is to extract biological
principles from the natural system and implement
them in design. Abstraction of these principles from
a biological context and systematic adaptation to a
new framework can provide innovative and intelligent
solutions on an architectural scale.

Based on a study of the biology of the banksia

flower, several natural principles have been
extracted and considered from an architectural
perspective. Focus was placed on the fruit of this
plant, which remains close until fire causes it to open
and release the seeds. For a physical prototype, it
was essential to choose a suitable material and to
simulate the opening process caused by a fire in
natural conditions. In order to open the system, a
two-layered silicone rubber primitive was chosen,
which was then inflated with air. The research then
was divided into two areas of study, which were
conducted simultaneously. First, a study of physical
prototyping aimed at investigating the properties
of silicone that could assist with the opening of
the entire system. In parallel, digital computational
processes commenced, which incorporate creation
of generations using breeding strategies, such as
crossover, elitism, and mutation. Through physical
modeling, we gained a better understanding of
material properties and performance characteristics,
and this knowledge was used for calibrating digital
experiments.

The results of both studies were then used to create

an intelligent system capable of opening and bending
with the ability to control the degree of opening.
This final goal was to apply the opening system to an
architectural scale and create a temporary stargazing
observatory. By completing this project, we have
gained a better understanding of how biomimetic
abstraction works, the importance of comparing and
correcting physical and digital models, and the need
to consider material behavior.

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Design I
Yuyu Fu, Chuheng Tan,
Asad Nasir Qureshi
2022/2023
Course Director - Dr. Elif Erdine
Founding Director - Dr. Michael Weinstock
Studio Master - Dr. Milad Showkatbakhsh
Studio Tutors- Felipe Oeyen,Fun Yuen,
Lorenzo Santelli, PARIS NIKITIDIS
Abstract
Design 1 was an in-depth look into a given extreme
biome, the purpose of which was to primarily
develop the morphological organization and a
composite façade-system of a 10-storeyed building
type. The design of the morphological organization
and it’s façade system, was based on studying of the
climate and it’s variation throughout the year, and
resultantly determining a climatically-responsive
design to create comfort for the user as well as
introducing to sustainable, environmentally friendly
and locally produced measures in the design. The
performative analysis of the morphological built form
and the façade of the building system was hence an
active part of the process to achieve desired results.
Furthermore, focus was also given on producing
morphological variations in the façade to cater to
differing conditions the governing environmental
and climatic induced, this also paved the path to
determining the various parameters on which the
design was dependent on. The involvement of a
biomimetic coefficient was kept as an underlying
concept, which worked as a guideline for both the
morphology and façade of the Architecture.

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[EmTech]
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AA Emergent Technologies & Design

Graduate Program

05/ Abstract

EMERGENCE & The London Tower project is designed by taking the

principles of generational evolution by processing the

EVOLUTIONARY
evolutionary algorithm in a computational workflow.
The biome and the environmental conditions are

COMPUTATION
the leading parameters in the tower design for
generating the hypothesis of the project. Alongside
the environmental concerns, the optimized habitable
2022 | 2023 area, functional division and the characteristics
of tower morphology is considered. All these
parameters are translated into a computational
medium, and the simulations run by using Wallacei
as the multi-objective optimization algorithm.
The project is divided into 3 stages. In the first stage,
GROUP 02: 3 individual experimentations are conducted by the
Maria Falivene authors in the framework of building functionality,
Selin Ozasik environmental consideration and façade panelling. In
the second stage, different ideas are extracted and
Asad Nasir Qureshi combined to set the parameters for morphological
development. In the third stage, the façade system
is designed by taking into consideration the previous
stages' principles, adding or subtracting some
more. In all three stages, different objectives, fitness
COURSE DIRECTOR criterias , aims and selection strategies are set.
Dr. Elif Erdine Though, all these elements are in a relationship with
the previous and following stages. After conducting
all the simulations, the best-performing morphology
FOUNDING DIRECTOR and façade system is selected. Finally, the critical
analysis of the experiment and the further scope of
Dr. Michael Weinstock the project is discussed.

STUDIO MASTER
Dr. Milad Showkabakhsh

STUDIO TUTORS
Dr. Naina Gupta | Paris Nikitidis
Felipe Oeyen | Lorenzo Santelli
Dr. Alvaro Velasco Perez | Fun Yuen

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