MEHRDAD AZIZKHANI

Founder | Architect | Computational Designer

Mehrdad is an architect, maker, and computational designer and holds a master’s degree in architecture. He founded MSA (Mathematical Solutions for Architecture) in 2014 with a desire to meld his passion for creative design with his architecture and fabrication know-how. He is interested in how things are made and enjoys making things himself. Mehrdad has conducted many workshops on computational design and digital fabrication and taught his related knowledge at the Barikeh platform, University of Mazandaran, University of Babolsar, University of Qazvin, and University of Tafresh. He enjoys programming, rock music, playing overly professional computer games, and playing complicated board games with friends.

CURRICULUM VITAE (click on header to close)

Research Interests

- Computational Design
- Digital Fabrication
- Responsive Architecture

Education

2018 MA, Architecture Engineering _{^{Saveh, Iran}}
- Azad University, Saveh Branch
2013 BS, Architecture Engineering _{^{Tafresh, Iran}}
- Azad University, Tafresh Branch

Teaching Experience

2020 Grasshopper online workshop _{^{Tehran, Iran}}
- An online university course focused on computational design and digital fabrication using Grasshopper during the COVID-19 pandemic.
2019 CDX#5 – Café Barikeh _{^{Babolsar, Iran}}
- An independent workshop on computational design and how to collect data from the environment using the Firefly plugin at the Barikeh platform.
2018 CDX#4 – Computational Design course _{^{Babol, Iran}}
- A university course for MA students on digital fabrication related to the “Minimal Pavilion” at the Azad University of Babol.
2017 CDX#3 – Digital Fabrication ^{_{Mazandaran, Iran}}
- A one-day workshop to describe how the process of designing and fabricating the Harekat pavilion.
2017 CDX#2 – Computational Design _{^{Qazvin, Iran}}
- A one-day workshop on computational design and digital fabrication at summer school for architects at the Azad University of Qazvin.
2016 CDX#1 – Computational Design _{^{Tafresh, Iran}}
- A 3-day workshop on the basics of computational design and digital fabrication at the Azad University of Tafresh.

Professional projects

2020 Café Transit _{^{Tehran, Iran}}
- Concept design for yard canopies of Transit book café with modular technique using steel, plywood, and fabric.
2018 Reusable Wall _{^{Tehran, Iran}}
- Design and installation of the parametric wall for the exhibition of the photography industry using plywood and neodymium magnets with the possibility of reassembly.
2017 CHP Building ^{_{Tehran, Iran}}
- Collaboration in designing the parametric facade of the commercial headquarters of Petrochemical with Dr. Raya Shahlaei, CEO of Araya Architecture firm.
2016 Café Cinema ^{_{Tehran, Iran}}
- Design and installation of canopies of the third branch of Café Cinema inspired by the canopies of traditional Iranian markets using canvas.

exhibition

2021 Patternitecture _{^{Tehran, Iran}}
- A review of how artists, architects, and urbanists in Iran construe patterns and their application in the built environment and tries to initiate a debate among them.

Research Projects

2020 Swarmotech _{^{Tehran, Iran}}
- An interdisciplinary study on the development of Iranian patterns from static elements to moving components in human interaction.
2018 Minimal Pavilion _{^{Babol, Iran}}
- A digital fabrication experiment using the minimal surface concept to design a pavilion with the least materials and 2D fabrication machinery.
2018 Eyelid Facade _{^{Tehran, Iran}}
- An interdisciplinary study on the subject of responsive facade inspired by the upper eyelid of the human eye.
2018 Vertical Farms _{^{Tehran, Iran}}
- Vertical Farm building design with computational design approach in the National Botanical Garden of Iran.
2017 Harekat Pavilion _{^{Mazandaran, Iran}}
- Invited as a member of the computational design and fabrication team, 10th Harekat Festival, University of Mazandaran.
2016 Iron Shell Pavilion _{^{Tafresh, Iran}}
- The final project of the first CDX workshop on the gridshell structures and fabrication methods.
2015 Steel Dome Pavilion ^{_{Tehran, Iran}}
- Invited as a member of the Computational Geometry research group, 8th Winter School, Amirkabir University of Technology.

skills and abilities

Language

- Persian _^Native
- English _{^Intermediate}
- Deutsch _^A2

Software

- Rhinoceros _^Good
- Grasshopper + Firefly, Ladybug _^Advance
- Google Sketchup + Vray _^Good
- Lumion _^Advance
- Autodesk AutoCAD 2D _^Good
- Adobe Photoshop _^Good
- Adobe InDesign _^Familiar
- Python _{^Intermediate}
- HTML, CSS _^Beginner

Soft Skills

- Communication
- Presentation and public speaking
- Innovation and creativity
- Decision making
- Teaching

Hobbies

- Esports
- Squash
- Photography
- Walking