A method includes generating a plurality of reference neighborhoods from a sample material structure. Tensors are determined for each of the plurality of reference neighborhoods associated with a material property. A neighborhood orientation is determined for each of the reference neighborhoods based on the tensors. A plurality of target neighborhoods are defined for a target structure. Each target neighborhood has a target orientation associated with the material property. A synthesized structure corresponding to the target structure is generated by selecting a reference neighborhood for each target neighborhood having a neighborhood orientation matching the target orientation.