Danial's Portfolio (small version), 2018-2023

Computational Design

Portfolio

Danial Keramat

Selected Works 2018-2023

DANIAL KERAMAT

Male | 23 MAY 1994 | Iranian

Passionate, Meticulous, Diligent. I am an experienced computational designer with a demonstrated history of working in the architecture & planning industry. My profession in architecture and programming originates from my enthusiasm in learning, stubbornness in seeking the practical knowledge, and my collaboration with great academic and professional teams in various fields.

Language

Persian (Native Speaker)

English (Proficient) -TOEFL ibt : 107

Contact Info

+98 937 194 17 73

keramat.danial@gmail.com

Linkedin

References

Ramtin Haghnazar

Email: Ramtin@vt.edu

Jonas Hauptman

Email: jonasah@vt.edu

Mohammad Reza Matini

Email: m.matini@art.ac.ir

Education

2017 – 2020 Master of Architectural Technology - Digital Architecture GPA: 18.85 / 20 (94%)

University of Tehran, College of Fine arts, School of Architecture, Tehran, Iran

Thesis: a BIM integrated design tool for curtain wall facades

2012 – 2016 Bachelor of Architectural Engineering GPA: 18.87 / 20 (94%)

Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman, Saba Faculty of Art & Architecture, Kerman, Iran

2008 – 2012 Diploma in Mathematics GPA: 19.07 / 20 (95%)

NODET High School (National Org. for Development of Exceptional Talents), Kerman,IR

Teaching Experience

2023 Tutor | DigitalFUTURES 2023 - DigiPy workshop (click HERE)

Digital Craft House, University of Art, Tehran, Iran.

2022 Tutor | Freeform Space Structure #6 - 3D-Printed Structure workshop (click HERE)

Digital Craft House, University of Art, Tehran, Iran.

2021 Tutor | Freeform Space Structure #5 - Bending Active Shells workshop (click HERE)

Digital Craft House, University of Art, Tehran, Iran.

2021 Tutor | Freeform Space Structure #4 – Bamboo-Bam workshop (click HERE)

Digital Craft House, University of Art, Tehran, Iran.

2020 Graduate Teaching Assistant | Design Studio I - Discrete Design

University of Tehran, College of Fine arts, School of Architecture, Tehran, Iran.

2019 & 2020 Teaching Assistant | Computer Aided Design and Fabrication undergraduate course

CADF97B & CADF98A, University of Tehran, School of Architecture, Tehran, Iran.

Honor & Awards

2020 Top Student – 1st among 13 (2017 graduate class)

Master of architectural technology, College of Fine arts, University of Tehran

2019 First Prize – “Poonak chi” in Farahzad environmental design competition

Contribution: Member of the design team, Arxe Design Studio, Tehran, Iran.

2018 Best design project – Master design studio 1 & 2

Chosen for 5th annual exhibition of nominated projects, University of Tehran

2017 National Merit Scholarship (Tuition Waiver)

Graduate study, University of Tehran

2017 1st Rank - National university entrance exam (among 7271)

Exam field: Master of Architectural Technology

2016 Top Student – 1st among 69 (2012 undergraduate class)

Bachelor of architecture, Shahid Bahonar University of Kerman

2012 National Merit Scholarship (Tuition Waiver)

Undergraduate study, Shadid Bahonar University of Kerman

Professional Experience

2018-Present Dahi Studio (Part-time)

Senior Computational Designer and Researcher – Tehran,Iran

2022 – 2022 Emre İstikam Architecture & Construction (Part-time)

Computational Designer and BIM Modeler - Remote(Turkey)

2022 – 2022 Parametric House (Part-time)

Computational Designer - Content Developer – Remote(UK)

2021 – 2022 Digital Craft House (Part-time)

Researcher, Tutor, Lecturer – Tehran, Iran

2018 – 2020 Arxe Co-Op Architecture studio (Part-time)

Associative architectural designer – Tehran, Iran

2015 – 2017 Taq bostan, Design & Build (Part-time)

Junior Architect – Kerman, Iran

Workshops & Seminars

2021 7th International conference on space structures

Surrey, London (Remote, as guest lecturer)

2019 Robotism (Robot Fabricated Structure) workshop

DCH and University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran (as Student)

2019 Construction & Engineering rights workshop

University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran (as Student)

2019 Coding in architecture

University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran (as Organizer & Student)

2019 2nd International BIM conference

Tehran, Iran (as attendee)

2019 Freeform Space Structure #1 – Nexorade workshop

University of Art, Tehran, Iran (as Student)

2018 Diamond Wall workshop

University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran (as Student)

2018 Twisted Arc workshop

University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran (as Student)

2017 Active Bending workshop

University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran (as Student)

Publications

2023 Journal Paper (under review)

Saghafi Moghaddam, S., Ashjazadeh, Y., Keramat, D. , Baqershahi, M., Hauptman, J., Haghnazar, R.

“Hybrid Learning in Computational Design and Digital Fabrication: A Hands-On Course on Bamboo Spatial Structures during the COVID-19 Pandemic”

Automation in Construction

2020 Journal Paper

Haghir, S., Haghnazar, R. Saghafi Moghaddam, S., Keramat, D., Matini, M.R., Taghizadeh, K. (2020).

“BIM Based Decision-Support Tool for Automating Design to Fabrication Process of Freeform Lattice

Space Structure”

International Journal of Space Structures (click HERE)

2019 Conference Paper

Mehrabi, H., Keramat, D. (2019).

“Hidden costs of building construction, Discussing sustainable post-construction economy”

6th National congress on civil engineering, architecture & urban development

Volunteering Experience

2018 –2020 Association of Architectural Technology

Founder & main member, University of Tehran, Iran

Arranging extracurricular classes, workshops, research sessions for architecture students

Hard Skills

AutoCAD

Revit

Rhinoceros

Navisworks

Lumion

Photoshop

primeire

Office

Hobbies

Grasshopper 3D

C#

Python

MySQL

Laser cutter

CNC miling Mechine

3D Printing (FDM)

Robotic Arm (6 Axis)

THE LINKING LIVE LANDSCAPE

Academic - Group Work Tehran, Iran | Spring 2018

Role Concept Developer, Designer Supervisor Dr. Ali Andaji

Email aliandaji@ut.ac.ir

The Main Challenge : Shortage of Space

In a room that has an area of about 12 to 16 sqm, every unit of space is of great importance. In a «Rectangular Room», the space one can use is mostly dependant to the ground. The increasing of height leads to less usability. Simply because those spaces close to the ceilng are hard to reach.

Solution : The Pipe House

A circular space that extrudes along an axis produces a pipe shape. Any furniture and equipment you need is positioned inside the body of the cylinder. Through rotation, you can access the furniture you need. So the furniture that are not needed at the moment are exchanged with the ones you actually need. This vresults in an optimized usage of space. In a limited space of about 16 sqm it is hard to imagine an ideal living space, but «The Pipe House» can provide most of the ideals you have in mind of a living.

The main structure of «The Pipe House» is a hollow cylinder. Five rings which contain the furniture are placed inside this cylinder. These rings can be rotated, while the cylndrical structure is still. Each ring has its own seperate floor which is fixed and does not rotate with the rings. But they can be opened to provide access to the furniture that are hidden under.

Step 1: Choosing the Ring Size Step

Color Codes

2: Arranging the Slices Step 3: Panelling the Slices

Step 4: Rotating vs Fixed?

Step 5: Overall Arrangement

CURTAIN WALL DESIGN TOOL(WIP)

Professional & Academic Project - Personal Project

Tehran, Iran | Summer 2020

Role Initiator, Project manager & lead programmer

Cooperation with Dahi Studio

Email info@dahistudio.com

For more information click HERE

Nowadays, Facade companies undertake the design to fabrication process of Curtainwall facades completely. However, the early design phase of the facade is still the responsibility of the architect or architectural team to take. The architect has to rationalize the facade’s surface and determine the main characteristics of the curtain wall. Despite the importance of the architect’s role in the early design phase, this task is often overlooked and done carelessly due to its complexity. This negligence will consequence in unwanted situations such as repetitive reworks, an increase in time and cost of the design development phase. A digital tool might be very helpful to assist architects to design curtainwall facades in accordance to fabrication considerations.

This project was initiated to tackle this concern as my master’s thesis project. As the early developed tool shown to be promising, it’s was pursued as professional project in cooperation with Dahi studio to become a commercial tool in AEC market. Currently, it is a work in progress project and limited to “Stick” curtain wall facades.

FACADE SURFACE DIVISION PROCESS

This computational design tool is developed in grasshopper visual programming platform. it helps to facilitate and accelerate the design process by automating many complex and time-consuming tasks. Furthermore, it provides step by step feedbacks and reports during the design process to assist architects in making more rational decisions. Also, designers can compare their design alternatives based on the provided information such as BIM data, early vendor list, and early material waste estimation. Besides, the architect can implement a waste optimization algorithm to reduce the amount of material waste in the Procurement and fabrication stage.

TOOL`S ALGORITHMIC PROCESS

WASTE OPTIMIZATION

The Optimization process revises the inputted division numbers to reduce the material waste. In a test run, changing the division numbers by 20% led to 78% waste reduction of glass & 60% for profiles.

SHOP DATA, NUMBERING

ROBOTISM

Academic Project - Group Work

Tehran, Iran | Fall 2019

Role Participant

Tutors Mehran Masuodi, Farzane Skandari

Email mehran.masoudi.arch@gmail.com

INTRODUCTION

ROBOTISM was a ten-day workshop held in December 2019 at the University of Tehran, focused specifically on the computational design and robotic fabrication. The workshop included 45 undergraduate and graduate. architecture students who were divided into groups of 5 to 6 and practiced working with robot. KUKA KR6 with a KRC2 controller was used in this workshop.

After teaching the KRL Syntax at the beginning of the workshop and elaborating on how to generate G-Codes, the students did two series of basic exercises in their groups to learn the concept of paths in robot simulation in the first part of workshop. For the first exercise, they were asked to draw continuous curves with specific patterns in grasshopper 3d and define the motion path of the robot and after generating the G-Codes they started to light painting by using a simple LED as a tool that was placed on the robot’s head. Groups produced corresponding G-codes to make the robot follow the specified paths and print the pattern with the light. In the next exercise, each group was asked to design a structure making use of wooden pieces with specific sizes and numbers, and assemble it with Pick and Place technique, making sure that it could maintain its stability throughout the assembly without the need for screwing or gluing.

INITIAL EXPERIMENTS WITH ROBOTS

THE FIRST EXERCISE ROBOT SIMULATION

3D-light-printing

THE SECOND EXERCISE

Design a structure making use of wooden pieces FINAL PRODUCT

THE SELECTED DESIGN

The pictures below are the perspectives of the final model, which modified alot after it has been approved. they are obtained from moving around the model.

The final design had to be prepared for the assembly process. Given the limitation of robot reach to 1.6m and the conditions of the site, we decided to halve the arch, and also split each half to 4 and 5 sections respectively, making a total of 9 sections. Two methods were proposed for connection of wooden pieces; utilizing a glued roller to which each wooden piece would be rubbed by the robot and placed at the its position, or using a collaborative human-robotic fabrication technique in which someone would use a pneumatic nail gun to fasten objects together after being placed by robot. Considering some practical issues and time constraint, the latter was preferred.

the fabricated sections in the workshop space were transported to the campus and assembled over two hours.

Form Finding: After performing introductory tasks by the teams and getting acquaintance with practical challenges viz properly defining planes to prevent collision of the robot arm with its surroundings, and installation of pneumatic gripper and air pump, students embarked on designing a pavilion on a scale of one to one. The major restriction to be considered in designs was the amount of available material, 40 square meter of 18-mm plywood. All of the proposals were assessed by the jury, and eventually one of them was opted for the final project. Modification were also made to finalize the design.

BAMBOO-BAM

Academic Project - Group Work

Tehran, Iran | Summer 2021

Role Tutor , Lead Programmer

Cooperation with Dahi Studio

Email info@dahistudio.com

For more information click HERE

The workshop attempts to cover five main research areas in this process, including material study, sustainability, computational design, form-finding, structural design and digital fabrication.

These different areas require various knowledge, expertise, and experiences.

To ensure that we can cover them to the extent we need for a workshop, we have instructors and collaborators from different institutions and different backgrounds who generously offer to share their skills and experiences.

INTRODUCTION MATERIAL

A group was responsible for investigating bamboo as a natural, non-standard material, its properties, applications and how it can be used for construction.

We found 4 types, and performed a preliminary study, assessing their quality, geometrical and mechanical properties, workability and so on.

We also tried to follow recommendations of BS ISO for Grading of bamboo. In the end, a native species of bamboo, the so-called ‘Kheizaran’ was preferred over the others.

SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT

In a series of brainstorming sessions, various systems were proposed until a handful of them were chosen as final candidates.

The candidates were then prototyped to experience the fabrication process for each.

We have conducted an evaluation process based on various criteria to come to conclusion what are the pros and cons of each system. Among these 4 alternatives, we continued with the last one.

DESIGN DEVELOPMENT

On the other hand, everyone was encouraged to participate in form design, either using form-finding methods introduced before or coming up with free hand designs if interested. There was no predefined path and we have meant that participants’ interests direct the workshop. After quite some time of correction and discussion, 13 candidates were shortlisted. The final form was then selected based on votes.

Raw Iranian Bamboo (Kheizaran)

Raw Thai Bamboo

Flamed Iranian Bamboo (Kheizaran)

Flamed Thai Bamboo

1. Polyhedron

2. Nexorade

4. Radial

3. Star

BIM MODELING

After the form design phase, the BIM modeling starts.

Goals of this part was:

Visualizing the design Alternatives (with details: LOD 400)

Clash detection prior to fabrication

Extracting Fabrication Data (shop data & Estimations)

Preparing Coordination Model for Assembly process

we developed a “digital design workflow” in a parametric modeling platform known as “grasshopper”. This digital workflow fully automates the modeling process and delivers the required outputs instantly.

The workflow starts with getting two general inputs from the user: First, the wire mesh which is the result of the form design phase, and second, some numerical inputs about bamboo, CNC machine, Screws, and node design preferences.

The second output is the shop drawing of the nodes and handles. These parts will be milled from plywood sheets with a 3 Axis CNC machine. Also, the shop data of bamboos is delivered. This data is used for sawing bamboos & drilling them with a rotary CNC machine. And the last output is the numerical statistics about the BIM model like elements count and length.

After receiving these data and processing them It outputs the fully detailed 3D model including labels for each element. This means that it can also be used as a coordination model in the assembly process.

PARAMETRIC MODELING PROCESS

Generating bamboo axes (by adjusting mesh wires)

Adding Schematic Bamboo Pipes

Generating

Handles and Subtracting Screw Holes Adding screw, nuts and washers

CUSTOM DIGITAL FABRICATION TOOLS

We knew that each bamboo pole must be connected to its relevant joints by four screws, one pair at each end and the two pairs are not parallel.

We already had a three-axis CNC milling machine that could drill through the bamboo poles vertically along its Z-axis. Since the drilling is only in one direction, we were short in one more axis around which we could roll the poles. We had to either purchase a rotary axis that would cost more than our budget and might not even fit on our CNC bed or build a customized one ourselves. We decided to build one.

Horizontal limitations of available space on the bed were not a concern, but limited available height had to be taken into account.

The rotary consisted of three main parts. A gripper to grab the pole firmly in place while drilling and meanwhile align its center to the rotary axis. A rail and an adjustable wagon for different pole lengths. And a rotator to orient the pole at the right angle. For the gripper part, we decided to buy a low-budget 3-jaw concentric gripper for one end and to 3d print a cone-shaped part for the other end that could attach to a wagon fabricated with plywood and designed in a way that could easily move along the Y-axis on a rail making it adjustable according to the bamboo pole length.

For the rotator, we built a harmonic drive, also known as a strain wave gear, using 3d printed and laser cut parts, ball bearings and a stepper motor along with An Arduino board. With the rotary axis in place, we only needed the correct toolpath to start drilling the poles with our CNC milling machine. And the correct angel to rotate the poles after the drilling of the first two holes.

The rotation angles of each pole are retrieved from the BIM model provided in grasshopper, and the Arduino program for each rotation is generated using this information.

Academic Project - Group Work

Tehran, Iran | Winter 2022

Role Tutor

Cooperation with Dahi Studio

Email info@dahistudio.com

PRINTED STRUCTURE INTRODUCTION

This workshop focused on two topics, 3D printing technology and computational design and fabrication of the freeform standardless spatial structure. To learn and practice 3D printing, the workshop started with a simple object fabrication. Then, students try to design and fabricate the different types of joints. Next, we developed a BIM tool to convert a wire mesh to a LOD400 BIM model and fabrication data. Finally, researchers fabricate the elements and assemble the structure.

PROCESS

The first phase of this course consisted of two parts: Training and experience. In the training section, students were introduced to the grasshopper software as a digital design and fabrication tool to realize their potential in design. They tried to build a simple structure.

After a brief introduction, the main part of the workshop was to begin.Students started to design two main things, the system, and the form. The system is the way that we put the elements together to create a structure, and the form is the shape of the final product.

JOINT DESIGN, PROTOTYPING

In this section, each group designed and developed a system or a joint that can connect the structural elements to each other, according to what they learned in the first chapter. Then, they fabricated these prototypes, and students selected the best alternative considering criteria like aesthetics and strength.

Design and Develop a System by Students

FORM DESIGN

Researchers tried to generate different wire meshes as the form for the final product of the workshop, which was the real scale structure. Various forms were developed and designed in relation to the design systems. Finally, the best form, which was a kind of a cellular 3D Voronoi selected by the researchers.

Design and Develop a Form by Students

FINAL PRODUCT

We had a wire mesh as a form and a system, and in this chapter, we wanted to convert these data to a real structure. First, we developed a BIM generator computational tool that converts a wire mesh to a detailed BIM model containing fabrication data. Then, structural elements and the joints are fabricated using digital fabrication tools, and the components are assembled to create the final structure.

BIM MODELING

A model containing all of the elements, joints, bolts, and accurate information was needed to fabricate the structure, which is hard to create when the design is freeform. Thus, we developed a computational tool that uses the system logic to convert the wire mesh to the final model immediately and automatically.

The joints, the most controversial part of this structure, were fabricated using several 3D printers in 5 days. Whereas the only variable property of the elements was their length, elements were cut in different lengths from long metal profiles.

In the end, the structure was assembled in a day by the students and hung from the ceiling of the hall of the University of art.

JOINT MODELING

BENDING ACTIVE SHELLS

Academic Project - Group Work

Tehran, Iran | Fall 2021

Role Tutor , Lead Programmer

Cooperation with Dahi Studio

Email info@dahistudio.com

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this workshop was to provide students with an integrated digital design experience and familiarity with digital fabrication tools and facilities. Our ultimate goal was to produce a pavilion at the University of Art. The pavilion was constructed with plywood sheets and using a technique of surface active structures. Final tests and manufacturing of all parts of these pavilion was all digitally produced. This workshop was attended by 24 students and 9 teachers.

PROTOTYPING BY STUDENTS

Prototyping Material: high Impact polystyrene FINAL

A FLEXIBLE FRAMEWORK

Academic Project - Group Work

Tehran, Iran | Summer 2018

Role Participant | Material study, Mold design

Tutors Arman Khalil Beygi

Supervisor Dr. Katayoun Taghizadeh Azari Email ktaghizad@ut.ac.ir

INTRODUCTION

During the workshop, students had to deal with different issues in different sections. Initially, with the proper design of the modules in relation to the purpose, which was the design of a mechanism for the automated construction of modules, the design of the module and the final design resulting from the assembly of the modules should be presented in addition to the proposed mechanism. In the next step, we had to do experiments by researching the material and finding the right ratio to achieve the desired strength. I participated exclusively in designing the mechanism manually, research material and manager of production and supply of materials in the workshop. The purpose was to design a “flexible molding mechanism” that can produce all the elements of a parametric wall. This mechanism is controlled by an arguing to get exacting reliable results.

ALL STEPS

MOLD MECHANISM PROCESS

The wall and its pattern was designed using grasshopper plugin. After that, we started designing a mechanism that was flexible enough to be able to produce all of the elements. A material research was conducted afterwards to get a sense about the appropriate portins of materials for each: Then the components were molded, coded and finally placed in their position.

Step. 1 Research material

Step. 3 Concreting

Step. 5 Framework

Step. 3,

Step. 2 Mechanism

Step. 4 Module Depot

Step. 6 Infrastructure

Step. 2, Insert modules

FOUR FRANKFURT FACADE

Professional Project – Group Project Tehran, Iran | Spring 2022

Role Computational BIM modeler & Programmer

Cooperation with Emre Istikam & Dahi studio

Email info@emreistikam.com, info@dahistudio.com

TB_B_G_B

Junghofstraße

GrosseGallusstraße

At the very core of Frankfurt, on a site that has been inaccessible for the last 45 years, four new high-rise towers will change Frankfurt’s skyline from the air, while cultivating its liveliness on the ground. The development of these towers, reaching heights of 228 meters, will open up new streets to create a multi-use, vibrant inner-city quarter, bringing together a healthy mix of work, living, relaxation and recreation.

The highest tower (T1) of the quartet touches the sky at a height of 233 meters. As in the Tower 4, office space will be created on the 55 floors. At 173 meters, the T2 will then be one of the tallest residential high-rise buildings in Germany. The second residential tower (T3) is also impressive at 120 meters high. In addition to a hotel, serviced apartments and office space, there will also be a total of around 600 apartments with loggias and direct visual contact with the weather and clouds. Finally, the shortest tower (T4) is 100 meters high and has 25 floors which will be allocated to offices.

TB_B_G_H

Our team was responsible for preparing construction documents for the facade of the fourth tower (Known as RT4). These documents where required for production, Fabrication, and Assembly of the facade panels. We utilized our computational skills to automate the BIM-related tasks such as model generation, clash detection, geometrical validation check, shop drawing generation, Vendor list & material take-off generation through scripting & visual programming (Grasshopper).

UNROLLED RT4 FACADE PIXEL CONFIGURATION FACADE FEATURES

TB_A_G_B_11_U_L

The facades are comprised of “unitized” curtainwall panels which will be fully assembled in a factory and then moved to the constructions site. Each floor has nearly 90 panels, and in each panel, there are approximately 350 to 550 components (90 to 160 components types). In fact, there are about 72000 possible configurations of panels based on the existing parameters in the facade design. Some of these parameters are shown below. As a computational designer, I was responsible for developing an algorithm to automate some time-consuming tasks such as geometrical examination, components’ numbering, material take-off generation. With this algorithmic tool, our team was able to do these tasks for each panel under 5 minutes.

PARAMETERS OF PANEL CONFIGURATION

Ertüchtigungen

Schallschutzertüchtigungen von Profilen und Anschlüssen, Profilaussteifungen, Einschieblinge etc.) auch wenn diese der vorliegenden Planungnicht dargestellt werden, sind Leistungsbestandteildes AN und eigenständig zu planenund auzuführen -Beider Planung und Ausführung der Fassaden und deren Anschlüsse sind die durch die Tragwerksplanung ermittelten Rohbauverformungen zu berücksichtigen. Diese müssen durch Konstruktion sicheraufgenommen werden.

COMPONENTS OF A PANEL’S NAME

TB_A_G_B_11_U_L

The Numbering Module

PANEL TYPES ON RT4 FACADE