Sabri Gökmen
Sabri Gökmen
Dr. Sabri Gökmen is a computational designer, researcher, and educator with over a decade of expertise in parametric modeling, generative art, digital fabrication, and software development. His work bridges advanced technology and creative design, transforming fields such as architecture, cultural heritage, and public art.
Dr. Gökmen’s interdisciplinary research integrates artificial intelligence and computational design, with a particular focus on analyzing and preserving cultural heritage. He has received numerous research grants for projects such as the computational analysis of Seljuk Muqarnas structures and AI-driven classification of Ottoman-era Safranbolu houses in Turkey. His work has been published in prestigious peer-reviewed journals, including Environment and Planning B, Leonardo, Computer-Aided Design (CAD), Journal of Computing and Cultural Heritage, and Nexus Network Journal. Over the past decade, he has also presented at leading international conferences on design computation, including ACADIA, eCAADe, Sigradi, Caadria, and SIMAUD.
Beyond academia, Dr. Gökmen has designed and fabricated large-scale public artworks, contributed to the growing field of generative art on blockchain platforms, and worked as a consultant on high-profile AEC projects, such as the Central Bank of Iraq by Zaha Hadid Architects. His YouTube channel, Parametric Online, has become a vital resource for fostering technological proficiency and inspiring innovation among a global audience.
Prior to joining UNC Charlotte, Dr. Gökmen served as Chair and Associate Professor at Kadir Has University’s School of Architecture in Istanbul, where he founded the digital design and fabrication laboratory. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Architecture from Middle East Technical University, a Master’s in Digital Design and Fabrication, and a PhD in Design Computation from Georgia Institute of Technology. His PhD research revisited Johann Wolfgang von Goethe’s morphological writings, exploring their computational application to architectural form and symmetry.
Explore his recent work
Computational Analysis of Muqarnas | This research automates the design of Anatolian Seljuk muqarnas using 3D modeling, parametric design, and point cloud scanning. It redefines geometric rules digitally, integrating cultural heritage with modern strategies to revive Islamic art for contemporary use, providing valuable resources for interdisciplinary research and accessible applications in digital design and production.
Form-Finding and Strip Based Fabrication | This project explores a parametric design and fabrication workflow inspired by Frei Otto’s soap film experiments. By combining physical and digital methods, it investigates minimal surface geometry using Rhinoceros/Grasshopper tools. A case study demonstrates translating double-curved surfaces into flat, flexible strips for planar fabrication, emphasizing structural stability, material constraints, and parametric workflows.
Generative AI: Stable Diffusion and Grasshopper | Presented at Sigradi 2024 conference, this project explores the integration of Stable Diffusion into Grasshopper via a remote server API plug-in. Utilizing prompt- and image-based controls, it streamlines conceptual design while fostering creativity and innovation. Seminar results highlight its transformative potential, democratizing generative design techniques and empowering students to push boundaries in digital media.