Natasha K. Hirt

Natasha is a PhD candidate in the Department of Architecture’s Building Technology Department, where she is a member of Dr. Caitlin Mueller’s Digital Structures Lab. She is also pursuing the Advanced Urbanism concentration with the MIT Norman B. Leventhal Center for Advanced Urbanism.

Natasha’s interests lie at the intersection of computation, engineering, and architecture. Her work focuses on developing generative algorithms to rapidly extract key performance indices, such as material consumption, constructability, and environmental impact, from early-stage architectural designs. Many of these metrics are inaccessible during the most critical stages of architectural and urban design. Shortening the feedback loop between qualitative design and quantitative results from several weeks to seconds unlocks novel opportunities for data-driven iteration, guided optimization, and the holistic evaluation of complex structural and urban problems. Additionally, Natasha studies the interface between creative generative AI and physical reality in the context of structural optimization and design.

Natasha is a German national who was born and raised in Hong Kong. She holds a Master of Science in Computational Science + Engineering, a Master of Science in Building Technology, a Master of Engineering in Civil and Environmental Engineering, a Bachelor of Science in Urban Studies + Planning, and a Bachelor of Science in Architecture, all from MIT.