Algorithmic investigation of the actual and virtual design space of historic hexagonal-based Islamic patterns. (March 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Alani, Mostafa W
• Is Part Of: International journal of architectural computing. Volume 16:Number 1(2018)
• Page Start: 34
• Page End: 57
• Publication Date: 2018-03
• Subjects: Islamic geometric patterns -- morphology -- computations -- digital design -- algorithmic thinking; Architecture -- Data processing -- Periodicals; Architecture -- Informatique -- Périodiques; Virtual reality in architecture -- Periodicals; Computer-aided design -- Periodicals; Architecture -- Data processing; Periodicals; 720.2840285536
• DOI: 10.1177/1478077118763237
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1478-0771

Abstract

This research challenges the long-standing paradigm that considers compositional analysis to be the key to researching historical Islamic geometric patterns. Adopting a mathematical description shows that the historical focus on existing forms has left the relevant structural similarities between historical Islamic geometric patterns understudied. The research focused on the hexagonal-based Islamic geometric patterns and found that historical designs correlate to each other beyond just the formal dimension and that deep, morphological connections exist in the structures of historical singularities. Using historical evidence, this article identifies these connections and presents a categorization system that groups designs together based on their "morphogenetic" characteristics.