Seyedreza Fateminasab: Architects design much more than buildings
The following story was written in April 2018 by Sebastian Wellford in ENGL 4824: Science Writing as part of a collaborative project that included the English department, the Center for Communicating Science, the Fralin Life Science Institute, and Technology-enhanced Learning and Online Strategies (TLOS).
Many of us inhabit a cluttered workspace. Papers, supplies, and cardboard boxes sprawl across desks, taking up space. In the office of Seyedreza Fateminasab, empty cardboard boxes are not a sign of clutter but an integral part of his work.
On a desk much more organized than most, Reza keeps what at first seems to be six equally sized, neatly stacked cardboard boxes. Upon closer inspection, these small boxes display cut holes and patterned exteriors, and they are carefully oriented next to each other.
Reza explained to me that the boxes are concept models for modular homes. In Saudi Arabia, the housing market is exploding, so modular homes are being prefabricated and shipped to areas where new homes are needed. The homes Reza designs, as part of a larger group within and beyond Virginia Tech, can be easily stacked and placed next to each other. Special properties of their materials and shape make them both comfortable and convenient.
“Architecture does create the scene for the play that we call living. In that sense, it has a great impact on our life, our society, our culture. But I don’t think many architects do believe their role is that important,” said Reza, who firmly grasps the importance of architecture to communities.
Reza believes every aspect of building design, from light to acoustics to materials, impacts the way humans interact and behave. This conscious awareness is necessary for architects, and it is evident in Reza’s daily research. He focuses on improving aspects of the tools architects use during the design process. This involves a lot of work with enhancing computer design programs, as well as qualitative analysis of the process, which Reza explaines in an interview you can watch here.
The computer programs he studies have made a huge impact on architecture. “Computers and their adaptation in architecture is a few decades old, but it has drastically changed how architects do things,” he said.
Reza explains how computers were initially drafting tools that replaced paper and pen, but didn’t fundamentally change the way architects worked. Computer use has shifted in recent years towards initiating phases of the design process. He studies programs like Grasshopper that help architects experiment with new forms. Architects can now realize shapes that they could never consider before. However, computers have created certain limitations as well. Reza believes he can improve these digital architectural tools to work better for architects and for society.
An example of this societal impact was Reza’s master’s thesis work at the University of Tehran in his home country of Iran. He collected census data from an old city in Iran to design a community center. During this analysis, he discovered that a population group of middle-aged women were staying at home and not working. He proposed a location in the neighborhood center for these women to learn a trade. It would also provide a space where they could sell their products and interact with the community. Although this project was hypothetical, he enjoyed learning about an unfamiliar problem and proposing a way to solve it with architecture. He hopes that he can make this type of impact while at Virginia Tech and in his career.
While it’s hard for many to realize the connectedness of their work, Reza exemplifies the architect at Virginia Tech: an artist who can hone his craft while embracing the motto Ut Prosim. To Reza, architecture and design is about conscientiousness and attention to detail, not only in buildings, but also in society.