Mostafa Akbari is a computational designer and researcher with a unique background in architectural design and computation. He is currently a PhD student in Computational Design and Advanced Manufacturing at the University of Pennsylvania. He previously earned a Master of Science in Design in Advanced Architectural Design (MSD-AAD) at the Weitzman School, where he also received one of the highest merit-based scholarships. He received his Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Tehran and a Master of Architecture from the University of Shahid Beheshti.
His Research interests consist of structural form finding utilizing 3D Graphic Statics and specially focused on Shellular Minimal Surfaces, which is a novel surface-based design language in the subject of Graphic Statics. He is also interested and has done research for many years in Digital Fabrication background, computational design, and human-computer interaction. He tries to explore contemporary architecture’s nascent opportunities to rethink tectonics and material systems within design due to the convergence of innovative developments in Robotic Fabrication, Computation, Mathematics, and Material Science. He has collaborated with renowned international offices such as Gensler and has design and construction experience as a freelance architect as well.