My Extended Portfolio by Amir Arsalan Tahouni

ARSALAN

TAHOUNI

Contact Address: 14A Glazbury Road, West Kensington, London, UK, W14 9AS Phone: +44 7521 392453 E-mail: amir.tahouni.18@alumni.ucl.ac.uk

ABOUT ME Hi. Iâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;m an Architect, a constructor and a leader. If you would like to know me better, please go ahead and take a look at this portfolio. It consists of three chapters, presenting three sections to elaborate upon. 1. My experiences in construction, manufacturing and the design and make exchanges. 2. My experiences in pure design. 3. My experiences in management and leadership. Why is it separated into these three parts? They are all pointing at one centroid, which is where I am standing right now. It is about having a holistic point of view about the matters around us. It is about looking at the bigger picture while focusing on the small details. It is about keeping balance and harmony.

EDUCATION

ARSALAN TAHOUNI Contact Address: 14A Glazbury Road, West Kensington, London, UK, W14 9AS Phone: +44 7521 392453 amir.tahouni.18@alumni.ucl.ac.uk

Master of Architecture: Design for Manufacture (With Merit) University College London (UCL), Bartlett Faculty of Built Environment, London, UK

2018 - 2019

Bachelor of Science: Architectural Engineering (GPA: 3.56/4.0 – 16.99/20) Tehran University of Art, Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, Tehran, Iran

2012 - 2018

Diploma in Mathematics and Physics (GPA: 3.9/4.0) Allameh-Helli high school – NODET (National Organization for Development of Exceptional Talents), Tehran, Iran

2007 - 2012

WORK EXPERIENCES

Architectural Designer for 3D & BIM Modelling, 2D Drawings, planning, passivehaus certificates, accounting and website administraton at The Magnificent Basement Co Ltd

2018 - Present

Team Supervisor for Renovating the Gas Control Rooms of the stations of National Iranian Gas Transmission Company (N.I.G.T.C)

2017 - 2018

Managing Consultant of Non-Degree Programs Center of Tehran University of Art, Tehran, Iran

2017 - 2018

My master’s thesis supervisor at UCL

ACADEMIC REFEREE

Student Ambassador of Sixth Iran International Green Film Festival

2017

Dr Christopher Leung BSc(hons) DipArch MArch ARBreg(UK) RIBA Eng.D FHEA christopher.leung@ucl.ac.uk

Student Member of the Supervisory board for the election of representatives of Academic Journals’ Managers of Tehran University of Art

2017

Associate Professor (Link)

Procurement Manager of 1st National Collegiate Handcrafts Festival – “Ganjineh”

2017

Founding board member and Director of Non-Degree Programs Center of Tehran University of Art Editor in Chief of Student’s Scientific Association of Architecture Journal at Tehran University of Art: “Mehraz”

2016 - 2018

Secretary of Student’s Scientific Association of Architecture of Tehran University of Art

2015 - 2017

Documentation Executive of National Museum of Iran’s Renovation Holder & Supporter of the ‘Pedestrian Design Competition’ for Iran’s University of Medical Sciences

2015

Bartlett School of Architecture UCL Here East - Awarded AJ100 building of the year 2018 Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, UK E15 2GW

PROFESSIONAL REFEREE My supervisor at The Magnificent Basement Co Ltd

Hadi Sarmadi BSc MSc Structural Engineer info@magnificentbasement.co.uk Director (Link) The Magnificent Basement Co Ltd Winner of RIBA sustainability award 2018 Winner of Camden & Islington sustainability award 2019 27 Birchwood Road, London, UK SW17 9BQ

2015 - 2018

2015

TEACHING EXPERIENCES Architecture Software Tutor on Tavistock Tutors Platform

2020 - Present

Piano Tutor as a freelancer

2014 - Present

Teaching Assistance for structural-based courses in the Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning of Tehran University of Arts.

2014 - 2017

SKILLS 3D & BIM Modelling Software • Rhinoceros • Autodesk Revit Architecture • Sketchup

Teacher of Adobe Photoshop CC for 6 semesters at Non-Degree Programs Centre of Tehran University of Arts

2014 - 2017

HONORS & AWARDS Awarded with the Masters of Architecture Design for Manufacture with Merit, UCL, London, UK

2019

Awarded with the UCL FA Fund of £2,500 as a financial support, UCL, London, UK

2018

Parametric & Algorithmic Design Plug-ins • Grasshopper • Kangaroo • Pufferfish • Mesh+ • Anemone • Hoopsnake

First rank in Studio: Design and Construct the ‘Butterfly Bench’, Tehran University of Art, Tehran, Iran

2017

Discovery, Record and Registration of the ‘Farajollah Khan’ House Situated in Oudlajan, Tehran as a Cultural Heritage at Cultural Heritage, Handicrafts and Tourism Organization of Iran

2016

Optimization, Genetic Algorithms & Machine Learning Plugins • Galapagos • Silvereye • Octapos • Dodo • Karamba • Topos

Nobble Conceptual Design for Renovation ‘Moghaddam Co’ Lands, Nazarabad, Iran

2015

Ranked top 5 at Design Studio 1 and 3 Courses During the Bachelor’s program, Tehran University of Arts, Tehran, Iran

2014 - 2015

Ranked top 0.5% amongst more than 300,000 competitors in Iran’s National University Entrance Exam

2013

Programming Software • Arduino • Visual Basic

EXHIBITIONS

Rendering Software • Lumion • Enscape

2D Drawings Software • Autodesk AutoCAD Project Management Software • MS Project Graphics Software • Microsoft Office • Adobe Photoshop • Adobe Indesign • Adobe Lightroom • Adobe Illustrator • Adobe Premiere Manufacturing Skills • 3D Scanning • Robotic Milling • Robotic Incremental Sheet Forming • Robotic Weaving • Robotic Hot Wire Cutting • 3D Printing • NC Manual Milling • Laser Cutting • Shuttering • Wood Works (Cutting, Drilling) • Metal Works (Cutting, Drilling) • Metal Bending Other Skills • Playing Piano (16 years) • Website Administration • Accounting • Photography (Link) • Horticulture • Basketball

Fifteen Show at Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London (Link)

2019

‘Oudlajan, words of a Thousand’ Exhibition & Seminar, held with the official press cover

2016

PARTICIPATIONS Sir Peter Cook Drawing for Making Workshop on catalysing ideas for making through drawing, UCL, UK

2019

3D Scanning the 2000 years old Black Oak for “The Table for the Nation” project at Building’s Craft College, London, UK

2019

Robotic Step-frames Workshop, TRAM (Tehran Robotic Architectural Matters), Tehran, Iran

2017

Member of “The Oudlajan Project”, Tehran, Iran

2015 - Present

LANGUAGES Persian: Native

1994 - Present

English: Fluent (IELTS: 7.5/9.0)

1999 - Present

French: Basic

2019 - Present

GLOBE-TROTTING Travelled to more than 20 cities and villages in Iran and 25 cities in the United Kingdom, Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, France, Spain, Russia, Thailand, Malaysia, Bulgaria, Cyprus, United Arab Emirates and Turkey, and I am still counting.

1994 - Present

TABLE OF CONTENTS PART I - DESIGN, CONSTRUCTION & MANUFACTURING EXCHANGE 1. Processing Irregularity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4 2. Pint-Sized Millionaire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 3. Robotic Step-Frames . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36 4. The Butterfly Bench . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46

PART II - ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN 5. Residential Complex . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 6. Experience-based School . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66 7. Alborz Hospital . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74

Piano. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80

Travelling Sequences . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81

PART III - MANGERIAL & LEADERSHIP 8. Control Rooms of the N.I.G.T.C . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84 9. Non-Degree Programs Centre of Tehran University of Arts . . . . . . . . . . . . . 86 10. Merhaz Journal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88 11. Students Scientific Association of Architecture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90

PART I

D E S I G N , CONSTRUCTION & MANUFACTURING E X C H A N G E

The first part presents where I am standing. As someone interested in project management, I sought the fields within which I was able to work as a coordinator who appears both in the design and the construction stages of a product and as a catalyst in-between, connects these two worlds to each other. In this part, projects are started from the conceptual design to architectural design, design to production and the construction or manufacturing phase. The type of the projects vary, from a rule -based house in Kensington to a complete on-the-moon conceptual project. The tools and methods are different as well. Some of the projects require speculative point of view and some other require reality-based point of view.

1. PROCESSING IRREGULARITY • • • • • • • •

Organization: Bartlett School of Architecture, University College London Address: UCL Here East, Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park, London, UK E15 2GW Start Date: Feb. 2019 End Date: Dec. 2019 Teammates: Matthew Osborne, Archana Chenthil Kumar Software: Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, Karamba, Kangaroo, Octapus, Dodo, Topos, Galapagos, Silvereye, Anemone, Hoopsnake, Pufferfish

Watch the teaser for this project from this link. Read the full portfolio for this project from this link. Visit the UCL website for the Fifteen show from this link.

Image by Sarah Lever

INTRODUCTION The main key of the project of the very beginning was Sustainability. We started the project by focusing on different types of waste. After testing and working with different materials such as molten resin, grinded plastic and casting slip, we finally found Stone as an interesting and unexplored field amongst materials. Around 60% of total generated waste is made by CD&E industry. The treatment of waste is usually either recycling and recovery or landfill. We decided to investigate a path within which we would be able to reuse this raw waste instead of spending so much time and energy to recycle it and make to another material.

MY CONTRIBUTIONS As this was a long-term group project, I will elaborate on the parts that I was either involved in or have done entirely by myself: • • • • • • • •

System’s Engineering Analysis 3D Scanning Geometrical Analysis Optimizations & Machine Learning Design 3D Printing Robotic Milling Manufacturing

My individual thesis topic in this program was: “Utilizing a system’s engineering approach to increase the efficacy of the manufacturing and assembly process of parts related to irregular objects”

METHODOLOGY What have we done? In basic terms, we wanted to build an structure using irregular stones, without doing any type of machining and spending any amount of energy on them. We created this workflow (at the right) which enabled us to make an structure as the natural stones were the key elements.

As my thesis topic is in line with my main interest, project management field, one of my tasks in the group was to analyse the general workflow and find new ways to enhance the general process from the System’s Engineering point of view. System’s Engineering is based on Trade-offs in a process: • • • • • • •

Material Availability of resources Time Cost Labour Precision Convenience

Photogrammetry, Creaform 3D Scanning

Surface curvature, Features & character, Gripping zones

Indicative Design parallel with optimizations to inform overall geometry

Fabrication methods and techniques in additive manufacturing/milling to make connections.

Augmented Reality, Mobile phone Applications, eyewear

Sequential Assembly, step by step process assisted by AR

SCANNING We tried both photogrammetry and also 3D Scanning. For photogrammetry a Canon Camera 700D and for the 3D scanning a Creaform Handyscanner was used. The scanning stage was also made to have a faster scanning. Overall, 3D Scanning was more reliable, easier to use, faster and more precise in comparison to the photogrammetry. The analysed comparison will be discussed later.

A comparison from systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s engineering point of view showed us that choosing the 3D scanning is a preferable way to continue with. Photogrammetry Resources Cost Time Labour Precision Convenience

3D Scanning

ANALYSIS, OPTIMIZATION & MACHINE LEARNING

Gripping Points

Maximum Projection Area

• Based on: Standard deviation • Parameters: Rotating the rock • Goal: Maximum Roughness

• Based on: Stability • Parameters: Points at the bottom • Goal: Biggest triangle area

Avg. solution time: 120ms

Avg. solution time: 60ms

Watch the video for this optimization from this link

Watch the video for this optimizatio

We have done different analysis on the geometry of the stones in order to have a better understanding of them. The three optimizations above are just a few examples of them. The analysis include: • • • • • • • • •

Convex and Concave Parts Surface Divisions Ridge Lines and Ridge Curves Mesh Density Roughness and Flatness Gripping Points Longest Span of the Rock Biggest Sitting Area Stone Natural Orientation

on from this link

Structural Analysis • Based on: Structural rules • Parameters: Height, Distance, Order, Curvature • Goal: Minimum displacement & shear force Avg. solution time: 180ms

Watch the video for this optimization from this link

DESIGN

500mm width

With all the analysis on the features of the rock, it was now possible to design with them. Based on the criteria, the rocks could be aligned to any shape, manipulated digitally to understand how they fit within an overall geometry. Different iterations of designs were discussed. They varied from a straight column to a bench, a 3-legs arch, or a bridge. In each design, we followed an specific method of generating the global form and also orienting the individual stones.

1800mm height

This trial was to align the ridge lines of the rocks to a designed helical spline that formed a column. This can then be used with an engine such as Karamba to do structural analysis understand its structural stability.

54 stones

In these trials, any designed shape could be broken down into parts that require specific performance from the rocks, such as more gripping surface or higher volume. The rocks, now categorised into different libraries, based on their analysis for flatness, roughness, volume and geometry can then be used to fill in the appropriate zones within that geometry.

Eventually, an arch was the medium shown to the public in the Bartlett school of Architecture Fifteen Show at December 2019. The exhibition was held for 2 weeks. Different parameters were taken into account for the design: • Procedural assembly • Parametric generative production • Giving the correct clues to the genetic algorithms • Stability of the global structure • Possibility of altering the design

This is the final design for the Fifteen Show: • An arch with 4 legs. • Base plate made of 18mm plywood • 12 Connections in the body • 28 Connections for the base • 20 Stones in total

APPLICATIONS Despite the well-curated method that we had, we were looking for different applications for this method as well. Its potential applications range from reusing discarded materials to heritage or environmentally sensitive sites. Assemblies that were built with immediately available on-site materials would be feasible with this approach. It offers the possibilities of rebuilding cities that have been victims of disaster or terrorism. The latest application which is being worked on is to build an structure where there is no water or the possibility to make any aggregate. Our proposes include: • Building on the Moon or Mars • Retro-fitting a historical object or a historical site • Making a temporary scene set for a theatre or a movie • Urban Art Installation

MANUFACTURING THE CONNECTIONS CNC Milled Solid Aluminium Pros: Material strength Aesthetics Minimal material and machining time Optimised Cons: Structural strength - Based on the geometry Gripping strength can be improved

Systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Engineering Analysis: Resources Cost Time Labour Precision Convenience

CNC milled Timber Pros: Structural stability, strength Aesthetics Visual opacity More control on Depth Cons: Not optimised Depends on available stock

Systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Engineering Analysis: Resources Cost Time Labour Precision Convenience

3D Printed PLA Pros: Light and stable Aesthetics Porosity - visual or other purposes Highly Optimised Excellent curvature gripping Cons: Support material Strength - based on the geometry Time consuming to produce Systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Engineering Analysis: Resources Cost Time Labour Precision Convenience

Robotic Milled Timber Pros: Minimal Material Aesthetics Porosity - visual or other purposes Optimised to pick parts necessary Cons: Limited in depth Structural stability - Directional strength Multiple parts Systemâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Engineering Analysis: Resources Cost Time Labour Precision Convenience Watch the video for the robotic milling from this link. 19

AUGMENTED REALITY & ASSEMBLY

STEP THREE

After manufacturing the connections and testing different prototypes, it was the time for the assembly. Within this project, it was quickly evident that assembly by reference to a 2D diagram was a tedious process. We created a 3D digital guidance in design and construction through Augmented Reality, which enables digital layers that can aid and simplify the process of assembly. Augmentation is developed for recognition and tracking of every element. Each stone acts as a unique model target that can be recognised by shape and features by the pre-existing 3D scanned data. Watch the video for the AR from this link.

STEP TWO

STEP ONE

ROBOTIC WINDING At the end, it is worth mentioning that however in our final prototype we used 3D Scanning, but during the year we spent on this project, we explored different means of manufacturing. Robotic Winding and Incremental Sheet forming was two of the most important ones. Our first serious attempt before investigating the world of stones, was the robotic winding. We were trying to find different ways of casting. We had different ideas such as waffle structures, plastic, molten resin and so on. Eventually, the last prototype that we were trying to make was to make a pattern with robotic winding and then try to slip cast it, so that it can hold a certain shape.

After making the jigs, we made our own tool. The simulation was prepared in the Grasshopper and digital and physical process worked as expected. These two are the final prototypes. The project changed direction after making these prototypes.

INCREMENTAL SHEET FORMING In an attempt to create mould for our early tests, using an incrementally formed metal sheet, I made this prototype with the KUKA robot. All the programming has happened in grasshopper and robotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s plug-in. The design is the presenting a negative space within which we could pour cement or molten plastic. The manufacturing process was: 1. Cutting the sheet 2. Cutting the holes into the sheet 3. Calibrating the Robot 4. Running a Dry-run 5. Fixing the sheet to the frame 6. Running the robot with adding some oil 7. Adding the oil gradually, especially the times than the robot seems to be pushing harder View the complete portfolio of this project using this link.

2. PINT-SIZED MILLIONAIRE • Organization: The Magnificent Basement Co. Ltd. Winner of RIBA Sustainability Award 2018 Winner of Camden & Islington Sustainability Award 2019 • Address: 40 Lexham Gardens, London, UK, W8 5JE • Start Date: Feb. 2019 • End Date: Work in Progress • Teammates: Michael D. Baldwin ARB, Studio Greenstone • Project Manager: Hadi Sarmadi • Client: David Lonsdale • Software: Revit, Enscape, Lumion, AutoCAD 26

HISTORY OF THE GARAGE The project is the demolition of a single storey garage and redevelopment with lower ground level to provide a one-bedroom flat. The site is found to the flank facade of no. 40 Lexham Gardens, which is on the end of a short terrace consisting of three properties. It is within the Lexham Gardens Conservation Area and has been described as an important gap that provides a visual breathing space between the terrace houses and the adjacent mews. The existing garage has been described as a “neutral building”. The current garage does not exhibit any particular architectural merit either internally or externally. Its lack of useful purpose has meant that the structure, the roofing and the drainage have all suffered from a lack of maintenance.

No dimension should be Site dimensions must be manufacture. If in doubt

LEXHAM GARDENS

The garage is primarily clad in timber and sits on a stock brick wall, with an electric shutter providing primary access from the front facade.

S7 8.598

COAL HOLE

TILES

DECKING

40 LEXHAM GARDENS

HOPPER OVER

RWP

FLOWER BED

BIN STORE

SHELVES OVER

GARAGE

CONC FLOOR CHANNEL

CONCRETE RAMP UP

RAMP UP

CONC

HOPPER OVER

RWP BT

RHODODENDRON G=0.50 S=5.0 H=6.0

BLOCK PAVING BL

SHED CONC

CONC FLOOR UP

ELECTRIC GARAGE SHUTTER

PAVING SLABS

SLATES DOWN

SVP

RAILINGS HT1.38

PARKING TICKET MACHINE LP

ALARMS

TIMBER FACE AT HIGH LEVEL

GARAGES

CONC

WALL IN DISREPAIR COBBLES TARMAC

Existing Plan of the Garage

/ 07.11.16 Planning application

letter date date

N 11.86

4ALARM 5

2VENT 3

TIMBER

LIGHT

11.86

10.45

VENT

11.34

ALARM 9.68 TIMBER LIGHT 10.45

8.66

ELECTRIC GARAGE SHUTTER

STREET ELEVATION

8.56

911.30 10 metres

8.56

8.41 8.36

LEXHAM GARDEN MEWS 8.35 8.41

8.35

8.35 8.41

11.70

8.35

APPROX

TIMBER

9.57

10.63

8.61

8.58

9.57

8.58

8.61

REAR ELEVATION

Existing Grou Site Plan 1:100 @ A3

job no.

dra

1154

Casson Conder Partners 29a Thurloe Place London

9.16 8.79

7.15

DECKING

Existing Rear Elevation of the Garage

STREET ELEVATION 28

10.32

BRICK

7.30 REAR ELEVATION

scale

9.16 8.79

9.16 7.30

10.32

BRICK

9.16

TIMBER

title

10.63

10.49 APPROX

10.49

LEXHAM GARDEN MEWS

The Garage L

11.22

July 2015

job name

11.70

TIMBER

8.65

Existing Street Elevation of the Garage 8.65

11.30

ELECTRIC GARAGE SHUTTER

9.68

11.34

revis

7.15

DECKING

PROPOSED DESIGN The proposed scheme is a two-storey one-bedroom flat with having the kitchen and the reception on the ground floor and the bathroom, bedroom and the walking wardrobe in the basement floor. There is also a light well next to the bedroom to bring the light down and also two roof lights on the roof. The smaller roof light serves the kitchen and is openable while the other one serves the both floors through the vertical staircase

B -

02.04

02.04 ---

02.04

E 02.03

D 02.03

Proposed Roof Plan

E 02.03

Kitchen/Dining Room 8.38 mÂ˛

Living Room

12.79 mÂ˛

D 02.03

A 02.04

B -

02.04 ---

02.04

B 6 Proposed Ground Floor Plan

Proposed Basement Plan

Autodesk Revit Architecture was completely implemented in the design process by us from the very beginning of the project. Since both architects were fully practiced with the software, from the date project initiated, we started modelling the site, environment and different alterations in the software. Using this parametric medium, we were able to finalise the design with the client and go ahead with the planning application. Almost all parts of Revit such as architectural, structural, site and mass modelling, detailing and lighting were utilised in the design process. While the design was strictly prohibited by us to be software-driven, it was highly useful and practical.

Living Room

Kitchen/Dining Room

12.79 m²

8.38 m²

Bedroom

Hall

Bathroom

9.59 m²

8.04 m²

6.78 m²

Plant Room 1.63 m²

Section E

Walk-in Wardrobe

Living Room

Kitchen/Dining Room

12.79 m²

8.38 m²

Bedroom

Hall

Bathroom

9.59 m²

8.04 m²

6.78 m²

3.63 m²

Plant Room 1.63 m²

Section D

SUMP Location

Section A

Section B

Section C

WHAT DID I LEARN?

One of my biggest achievements in this project was as a result of its small size. I had the chance to have 360 degrees look on everything, which is what I exactly needed to drive my career to my intended path. The number of the tasks I gained experience in are not easily countable. Some of which are taught in architectural schools such as the design, details, hard and soft landscaping, MVHR, UFH, Solar panels and so on. BUT The rest of them which are more important were the ones that I was seeking to broaden my vision in the construction industry:

Existing Street View from the human eye level

Proposed Street View rendered from the human eye level

• Managing and balancing the labour, the costs, availability of resources and money throughout the project • Certificates such as the Passivehaus, Considerate Constructors Scheme, Liability Insurance, Fire Safety, First Aid, & Party-wall Award • Communication amongst the client, council, subcontractors, manufacturers & labours • Planning Application package, Appealing against a refusal, S106 agreement, CTMP & Discharging application conditions • Building Control’s package and regular checks • Negotiating with the Party-wall Surveyor • Orders such as eco-joists, bricks, tiles, timbers, windows & doors • Accounting such as invoices, quotations & payments • Scheduling the project in MSP. • Updating the entire model accordance with the as-built dimensions

A BIT OF EVERYTHING...

Notes:

• Copyright of this drawing rem property of the Magnificent Ba Co. Ltd

• Do not scale drawing. For refe

E. Proposed grass and potted planting areas for residents.

• All dimensions in millimeters un otherwise noted

F. Proposed 100mm wide strip of washed riverbed pebbles to facilitate drainage.

A. Proposed roof of bin & cycle store to incorporate 150mm deep planting bed, containing local fauna & flora, promoting local biodiversity and encouraging pollination.

• Contractors and consultants a MBC of any discrepancies

Lightwell

B. Proposed 3 no. shrubs to act as visual barriers to public realm, Pyrocantha or similar approved.

Planning Application Planning Conditions

Revision

Description

Purpose of Issue

Planning Application

E. Proposed grass and potted planting areas for residents.

Project

The Garage - 40 Lex Gardens Drawing

Proposed Soft Lands

C. Existing Rhododendron tree to be retained. New pit and surrounding dwarf wall (225mm high).

Proposed Soft Landscaping Plan - Trees & Shrubs 1 : 50

D. Proposed permeable cobblestone strips, situated over Sustainable Drainage System (SuDS). Min. 15mm gap between cobbles to allow for water absorption by layer below. Resulting greywater to be recycled for use within dwelling. See Drawing 01.12 for more detail.

Drawn By

Checked

Job No.

Dated

MB 19.002

Scale @ A3

1 : 50

Drawing No.

01.11

VISUAL SCALE 1:50 @ A3

34 Sekforde Street London EC1R 0HA T. +44 (0)20 7686 4585 E. info@magnificentbasement.co.uk

SOLAR ANALYSIS

9:30

11:30

13:30

15:30

17:30

Because of the client’s willingness and the company’s experience in sustainable development, this project is aimed to be one of the first passivehause buildings in the Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea. Several solar and light analysis have been conducted on the proposed scheme and the Initial PHPP (Passive-Haus Planning Package) report shows that the proposed scheme has shown the ability of this to achieve a Heating Demand of 24.3 kWh/(m²a), this represents a 80% reduction when comparing to a similar building built to the Building Regulation standards. Further actions are in progress to get the heating load down to 10 W/m² in order to become a passivehaus certified house.

WHAT HAS BEEN MADE AS OF NOW

1. Digging

2. Reinforcing

3. Shuttering

4. 16 Underpins & retaining walls

5. Underpinning finished

6. SUMP pit

7. Eco-Joist & membrane

8. Walls, roof & plywood

9. Underfloor heating

10. Basement Screed

11. Roof insulation & breathable

12. Superstructure

INTRODUCTION A fundamental element of architecture and an essential tool of ascent, stairs have captured the imagination of architects throughout time and challenged them to exercise their creativity and skill in making and reinventing them repeatedly. In addition to their interdependence with humans from a practical point of view, stairs appear in arts, literature, and movies as wonderful and whimsical constructs. Moreover, from a computational design point of view, stairs are nested for-loops with which one may explore complex and performative configurations. This complexity can be understood as multi-scalar architectural heterogeneous patterns integrating structure, function and aesthetics. In the 19th century, French architects used to produce scale models of staircases they had built. The models were extremely detailed and were used similarly to a modern-day portfolio allowing the architects to carry them around and showcasing their skills and craft to attract future clients. Reviving this historical reference, and noting the inherent parametric nature of stairs, the studio focused on producing 1:1 staircase prototypes. The materialization has been done using robotic fabrication techniques, specifically Hot Wire Cutting of Expanded Poly Styrene foam. 36

3. ROBOTIC STEP-FRAMES • • • • •

Organization: TRAM (Tehran Robotic Architectural Matters) Address: Niavaran Artistic Creations Foundation, Tehran, Iran Exhibition Location: Platform 28, Ab Anbar Gallery, Tehran, Iran Start Date: August 2017 End Date: September 2017

• Supervisors: Sina Mostafavi, Shabnam Hosseini, Hasti Goodarzi, Adib Khaeiz • Teammates: Sahar Barzani, Faezeh Pakravan, Hamed Zahedmanesh • Software: Rhinoceros, Grasshopper and plugins

CONCEPT Stairs represent one of the oldest and most intricate design problems in architecture. Aesthetics, circulation, structure, and safety combine to create a complex network of factors. Despite the essentially parametric nature of stairs, this project aimed to adopt and apply creative inter-disciplinary methods of design and fabrication such as utilizing HWC (hot wire cutting) system with a robot arm. During the studio, Scalalogy (the science of stairs) has been referenced as a comprehensive branch of architectural science that deals with the interdependence of humans and stairs.

FORMATION DIAGRAM

Twisted Ribbon Twisted Ribbon

Thickness Acquire Thickness Acquire

Handrails Formation Handrails Formation

Thickness and Height Variation Thickness and Height

Variation

FORM VARIATIONS

Since the concept of the stair has originated from a twisted ribbon, the design process started with two twisted curves, combined with thickness variation for steps and handrail. Moreover, Power lines of the twisted surfaces intertwine and form tessellation patterns, which cover top and underside of the stair surfaces.

Applying Pattern pplying Pattern

PATTERN STUDY Scale -0.5

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COMPONENTS AND MANUFACTURING PROCESS

Texture and Pattern

Form

Pattern applied onto the form

Separated Components

After the components had been generated in the rhinoceros, we have been starting simulating the hot wire cutting process in the computer. After solving all of the problems and issues in the simulation such as the collisions or out of range operations, the components were ready to be revealed out of the cubic styrofoam. Most of the times the simulation needed to be tweaked slightly in terms of the rotation angles, targets planes orientation, or the third axis of the robot. Then we have been positioning the styrofoam in robotâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s working range as designed in the simulation, and then have been fixing it so that the wire became able to cut it. Sometimes some of the cuts were not so easy. Due to complex shape of each component, especially the ones with double curves, the operation required initial rough cuts to remove the obstacles from the way before performing the main operation.

ASSEMBLY & EXHIBITION An exhibition held in the platform 28 was the hard deadline for this project. After the parts were manufactured, assembly happened in the exhibition space. The components were connected using dowels and glue. A number of prototypes were coated in fibreglass and also made of plaster by pouring it into a mould.

Assembling the first two parts

Assembling the first three parts

4. THE BUTTERFLY BENCH • • • •

Organization: Tehran University of Arts Address: Karaj Campus of Tehran University of Arts, Tehran, Iran Start Date: Oct. 2017 End Date: Jan. 2018

• Teammates: Hananeh Rahimi, Farzaneh Afshar, Fatemeh Hashemi, Amir Rezaei, Peyman Hajimirzaei • Supervisors: Dr. Mojtaba Mahdavinia, Kaveh Shokouhi • Software: Rhinoceros, Grasshopper, Lumion, Kangaroo

INTRODUCTION The project aimed to build a 1:1 prototype of a dynamic structure with a practical function for it. A bench with a dynamic shade was designed to facilitate the recreational purposes for the students, especially when the weather is fair. As there was no appropriate place around, Many of them chose to sit on the stairs or the ground. An open Structure made of 5 different Modules has been designed to enable the users to sit on, chill out and have a quality time.

A parametric and dynamic shape which could work as a shade was the aim of this project. A research on folding structures showed us the path to find the best way to achieve a semi-dynamic structure. The conceptual and 3D modelling took place in the Grasshopper and I as the only person in the group working with the software completed the modelling including the folding movement.

DESIGN PROCESS

the conceptual design is consisted of M-Shaped profiles with four legs which can be repeated in a row. The idea is initiated from the scissors-like elements and are usually deployable.

Then the second module was developed to enable the joint movement along the ground.

For the general arrangement, the convergent array, divergent array and the circular array were tested. Eventually, the circular array was chosen because of itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stability.

The next step was the design of the folding method. The basic design included all of the four arms moving and turning.

Then, in the Advanced Design one of the arms is fixed and the other three are moving. This gives us a better stability as well.

DETAILING

After the 3D model was completely finished and the movement process was designed, the main part of the project started: Detailing. It was quite interesting for me to figure out how could we bring something from the virtual world to the physical world. A variety of challenges were involved in this project, from which I learnt how to: • Find the coordinates of each part in accordance with the previous/bottom part. • Align the 3D model and 2D Drawings to the physical as-built 1:1 prototype. • Find the correct bolts, nuts, screws, washers and fixings from the stores and match the design to the available resources. • Communicate with the manufacturers and trying to translate the data from our 3D model to a language understandable by everyone in the industry • Manufacture the pieces i.e. cutting and drilling the PVCs, Sandpapering the metals and colouring them, fixing the bolts and nuts and design to production labelling system to become able to identify the pieces.

MOVEMENT AND CONSTRUCTION The Tensile fabrics which were supposed to act as the shade for the structure, since the faculty was moving from Karaj Campus to Tehranâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s campus, the budget for the fabric was not provided, however everything was ready and in place. In the pictures on the left, the person is turning the gearbox handle to fold up the arms. When the structure is fully folded, the gearbox will be locked so the rest of the year the users can enjoy the sunshine. Since the time this project finished, the number of students using this specific area to have their meal increased considerably because of the interesting dynamic of the structure

Below are sequential photos from the construction and manufacturing process:

1. Concrete shuttering

2.Welding the reinforcing rebars

8. Welding the metal profiles to the embedded plates

3. Mixing the aggregates

4. Concrete dehydration

9. Cutting, drilling and manufacturing the PVCs

5. Dehy

EXPLODED DETAIL Tensile fabric

PVCs are connected using bolts, nuts and washers

Modules are connected horizontally via an integrated wire going through all of them

PVC structure

PVC bench fixed to the metal studs

200X200mm metal embedded plates welded to 50X100X300mm square profiles

ydration completed

750RX300mm reinforced concrete foundation

6. Cutting and manufacturing the metal profiles

10. Installing the main structure

7. Sandpapering and preparing the metal profiles

11. The main ring to connect all

12. 3-Step gearbox

PART II

ARCHITECTURAL D E S I G N

This chapter presents my experiences in pure design, from the conceptual design to architectural design. The process of drafting, modelling, rendering, post production and presentation have been carried out to achieve the outcomes. Creating a suitable design and present it in a pleasant way was the main concern in these projects. Suitable design is defined as one which is generated in respect to the society, environment, sunlight, culture, technical requirements, council and governmental laws, planning, costumer needs and financial investments.

5. RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX • • • •

Organization: Tehran University of Art Address: Moazen Blvd., Karaj, Iran Start Date: Feb. 2018 End Date: Jun. 2018

• Teammate: Bahar Khalatbari • Supervisors: Mohammad Matini, Ali Akbar Shakouri • Software: Revit, Lumion, AutoCAD

INTRODUCTION Home is the place that everyone should be at the most comfortable situation. One of the genuine concerns of our big cities is the construction of high-rise buildings without considering distances and privacy, which causes problems such as depression. In metropolitansâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; people are overwhelmed and discouraged in social relationships. This project provides 75 affordable flats for the staff of the Tehran University of Arts.

CONCEPT The questions have been raised: • What is the suitable view for a bedroom, so that the person living in that room would not get bored? • What is the appropriate shape of the buildings in relation to each other so that shades would not be annoying for other flats? • What is the best orientation for the flats, so that they have the maximum gain from the sunlight? • How can we design to encourage people to engage more with their society? • How can we divert the traffic to have a pleasant space inside the complex?

SITE DIAGRAMS Buildings 75 Houses 1, 2 or 3 bed

Streets Car Parks Central Road

Vegetations Green Areas Yards Gardens

Cultural and Leisure Tennis Court Shopping Centre Pergola

Pedestrian Roads Pavements Connecting Buildings

Buildings Footprint

FLOOR PLANS

FLAT TYPES

one-bedroom flats

Ground Floor Plan

two-bedroom flats

First & Third Floors Plan

three-bedroom flats

Second & Fourth Floors Plan

The entire complex is consisted of 75 flats in 4 blocks. There are 3 different types of flats with one, two or three bedrooms. 100 parking slots exclusively for the residents and 50 extra parking slots for the guests are provided within the scheme. The design is based on environmental factors, the suitable lighting and comfort, all of which serve the goal of creating a neighbourhood. Each two block have a communal open space in between and there is a core communal space in the middle-left side of the site.

The stores to fulfil everyday needs

The semi-private area in between two facing blocks is car-prohibited, kept safe for children and residents to walk and commute. The distance between two buildings is large enough to avoid unwanted shades.

Do you see the silent rhythm in the faรงades?

A perspective view from a flat showing the communal space between to blocks. All of the flats receive southern light (which is preferred in the region.

A perspective view showing a blockâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s south facade. A small vegetation area is also designed for the southern elevation to create a pleasant view from inside the flats.

A view from one of the balconies in the third floor. The north side of the corridors is serving the storage rooms, elevators, green traces and open spaces.

An interior view from a two-bedroom flat

6. EXPERIENCE-BASED SCHOOL • • • •

Organization: Tehran University of Art Address: Khovardin Street, Tehran, Iran Start Date: Oct. 2017 End Date: Feb. 2018

• Team: This is my personal thesis project • Supervisors: Akbar Dabestani Rafsanjani • Software: Revit, Lumion, AutoCAD

INTRODUCTION This project was my Thesis report for my Bachelor’s degree. The main title was defined as the experience-based pre-elementary and elementary school for the kids. Experience-based schools are based on giving the “path of finding the information” to the students instead of giving the “information” directly. This project has investigated the suitable architecture for this type of schools. 67

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The Ground floor of the main building includes workshops, and music classes which produce more noise. If you go down from the stairs the kindergarten is in the basement, and the first and second floor are occupied by the elementary students. The entrance atrium has a high ceiling and the communal access to the other levels goes through it. The teacherâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s relaxation room and the library are designed vertically, so they also have their own staircase within themselves. Also the Auditorium opens to both the atrium and the front garden.

Kindergarten garden

External Ramp

SCHOOL DEPARTMENTS Parking

Auditorium Main Classes

Concierge

Fire Staircase Sport Club

ing

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rk Pa

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Library

Pre-Elementary (Kindergarten) Restaurant

The pleasant moment of sitting in front of the door, me and you. With two figures and two faces, with one life, me and you. Joyful and careless, free from distracting myths, me and you. - Molana Rumi

The main atrium is the vertical distributor in the building

Since the School is designed as an experience-based one, I intended to create the spaces so that they stimulate the students to explore different views, different angles and different areas. Multiple parts of the school are designed speculative and searchable so that they would not be understood easily and the kids need to think about it to figure it out. Affected by the site location and surroundings, the south side of the site is chosen as the private area for the students and classes and the northern part of the site is more open for the schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s officials, public and parents.

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The front and rear garden are connected through a tunnel which goes from below the building. This connects the public and private garden. To be more experience-based, A three-storey ramp comes from the second floor to the first and then ground floor. This gives the students different points of view to the city, the streets and schoolâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s garden. Since â&#x20AC;&#x153;waterâ&#x20AC;? is one of the major elements in Persian architecture, There is also a small pound designed for relaxation.

Section B

7. ALBORZ HOSPITAL • • • •

Organization: Tehran University of Art Address: Karaj, Alborz, Iran Start Date: Oct. 2016 End Date: Dec. 2016

• Teammates: Hasti Fakouri • Supervisors: Dr. Behshid Hosseini, Hamed Yekita • Software: Revit, Lumion, AutoCAD

INTRODUCTION The aim was to design a Hospital consisted of 100 beds and departments of radiology, physiotherapy, Laboratories, emergency, LDR, ICU, CCU, isolation, surgery and offices. Circulation, buildingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s forms, different views and how to shape the formation of different wards of the hospital to obey strict rules was the main challenge we faced in this project. 75

Designing a hospital is quite different, since the creativity will be of less important and the strict designing rules will be in the centre of the focus instead. Therefore, it is more like solving a jigsaw puzzle. In this design the main challenges for us were to define the location of each department in a way that all of the horizontal and vertical connections and relations are considered, the peacefulness of the design is increased and the entire system will function properly.

EXPLODED DIAGRAM Main Staircase Fire Staircase 1

Fire Staircase 3

Fire Staircase 2

LDR Operations CCU ICU Emergency Physiotherapy Wards Clinics Offices Radiology

Hallways & Communals

Lobby & Reception

FLOOR PLANS Ground Floor

First & Second Floor

Third Floor

Fourth Floor

The most important thing that I learned from this design, was how the design should be balanced. Form, shape, circulation, lighting, windows and openings all need to be related. To achieve such a mindset in design, one needs to have a holistic point of view to everything.

PIANO

I have played the piano for 16 years. Although it was just a hobby for me but has really helped me to keep the harmony in my life.

TRAVELLING SEQUENCES As a globe-trotter, I aim to visit 2 new cities every year. I am sharing a non-linear narrative of my travelling photo-frames around the world in my Instagram public page. Check it out from this link.

PART III

MANAGERIAL & LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCES

Welcome to the last piece of the puzzle. This part presents the experiences that I have had which have helped me to reveal my talent in leading and gathering people together. These opportunities showed me another aspect of my characteristics that I was not familiar with previously. By getting elected in to the Students Scientific Association which was the beginning of this path, I found an enormous enthusiasm in myself, especially when I could feel the trust which have been placed in me. In the next few pages I have briefly described my situation, challenges, solutions, deliverable targets and achievements in each position.

8. CONTROL ROOMS OF THE N.I.G.T.C Position: Supervisor of Student Design Team Organization: National Iranian Gas Transmission Company (N.I.G.T.C) Start: March 2018 End: September 2018 (The project is still ongoing) Team members: Shahriar Sheykh, Hora Dehghan, Monir Mousavi, Mohammad Imanpour, Mahsa Mazhari, Farzaneh Shahriyari, Delaram Garousi, Parastoo Dehghan, Fatemeh Eshtiyaghi, Fatemeh Hemmatian, Atoosa Aghamirza, Kimia Jouyandeh, Niloufar Khanjani, Bahar Khalatbari Limaki, Zahra Zoroufchin, Leyla Hajiloo, Shafagh Shadravan, This project was part of Tehran University of Art agreement with the NIGC and NIGTC for renovating and retro-fitting the NIGTCâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s stations entrance gates and control rooms. Based on this, a group of 18 undergraduate and postgraduate students were gathered to start this project and I was appointed as the supervisor of this team. We carried out an extensive inspection of 9 control rooms of the NIGTC in 3 different stations, and then provided our proposal. While I applied to continue my studies in the UK, this project was still ongoing and I had to leave the group. The project is in the architectural design stage currently. Author: Atoosa Aghamirza, team member

Author: Atoosa Aghamirza, team member

OUR TASKS • Translating the ISO 11064 (7 chapters, 257 pages) so the research could be based upon that. • Preparing an standard questioner to be given to the control rooms staff. • Working on case studies. • Inspection of the existing situation of three stations, each station three control rooms. • Indicating the problems in the current situation. • Providing proposals for all of the nine inspected control rooms. • Carrying out the architectural design of the control rooms.

As I was not designing directly, contents on previous and this page are not generated or drawn by me and the author of each image is written in the caption Author: Mahsa Mazheri, team member

WHAT I LEARNED • The difference between leading a small group of people and a large group • Communication is the key • How to present/sell a proposal to a huge company such as the one we were working with • How do smart people in the group could be hard to work with, because they usually need to be appreciated enough and be able to work in their own desired way. There should be an special focus on them and they require specific attitude. • How to control the lazy people in the group, try to encourage them to get engaged with the work, and if they do not come along, how to resist amongst the spreading of their laziness. • How an architect needs to have a general and holistic view on everything. It is all related and will affect his work as well. • How to make a hard chore deliverable on the desired time by separating it into smaller pieces. • How to appreciate every different opinion in the group and yet be able to make a correct decision in a way that no one is offended and the team can still work in a healthy manner.

Author: Shahriar Sheykh, team member

9. NON-DEGREE PROGRAMS CENTRE

OF TEHRAN UNIVERSITY OF ARTS Position: Director & Founding Board Member Organization: Tehran University of Arts Start: July 2016 End: Jan 2018

After one year of working as the secretary of Students Scientific Association of Architecture, a momentous opportunity took place in my career. Starting up the Non-Degree Programs Centre for the university offered to me by one of the university`s vice presidents. Since I could feel someone’s trust on my shoulders, I was so enthusiast about it and I was thankful for this opportunity which was happening in my life. I made a team with 2 of my friends to run the institution. The project was aimed to turn 2 floors of one of the University`s buildings to an educational institution to provide classes for everyone from inside or outside the university, and increase the income for the university, and test whether it is cost-effective or not.

Gross revenue $60,000.00 income

Gross revenue gained per each costumer $80.00

737 Costumers

More than 2500 network followers

More than 150 different courses