Arfakhashad S. Munaim Summary of Qualifications
Education
mobile: (818)251-0186 email: a.munaim786@gmail.com
University of California, Los Angeles, Luskin School of Public Affairs Candidate for the Master’s in Urban & Regional Planning, 2012-Expected 2014 University of California, Los Angeles Extension Certificate in Project Management, 2011-currently pursuing University of California, Irvine Bachelors in Environmental Analysis and Design, Cum Laude Honors, Jun 2008 University of Nottingham, United Kingdom Study Abroad with undergraduate/graduate coursework in Architecture, 2007-2008 Harvard University, Graduate School of Design Career-Discovery Summer Program in Architecture, 2006
Professional Experience
Associate Designer, Rangwala Associates, Ventura, CA (April 2010 -present) Assist in the preparation of form-based codes and powerpoint presentations; prepare Request For Quotation (RFQ) responses; collaborated with Moule & Polyzoides, Architects and Urbanists in the preparation of design competition for the university campus masterplan in Nairobi, Kenya; submitted design proposal for the Building for Livable Cities 2010 Initiative; and currently pursuing research with Professor Vinayak Bharne on the modernity between Mumbai, India and Los Angeles, California with an emphasis on Fatimi Islamic design. Architectural Associate, Anjuman-e-Burhanee Organization, Woodland Hills, CA (Feb 2009 -March 2011) Served as a volunteer in designing the exterior and interior of a mosque project, including physically sandblasting floral designs into glass facades, prepare sketches using AutoCAD and Google Sketchup, and facilitated meetings with community members Planning Technician, City of Ventura, CA (Nov 2008 -Feb 2010) Conducted and delivered over 75 comprehensive planning and design reviews of mixeduse and residential development; prepare illustrations and three-dimensional diagrams; facilitate meetings with client’s proposals; formulate planning documents and present recommendations to advisory-and decision-making bodies; review development applications at public counter; and served as a panelist for two consecutive years on reviewing and evaluating the annual Housing and Community Development scholarship. Architectural Intern, Steven A. Ormenyi & Associates, Landscape Architects, Woodland Hills, CA (Jul 2007 -Sept 2007) Draft and plot landscape plans using AutoCAD; prepare conceptual sketches. Planning Intern, Community Action Partnership of Orange County, Garden Grove, CA (Mar 2007 -Jun 2007) Nominated Project Leader by the Director of Planning; trained two interns and examined the economical impacts affecting low-income families from the proposed Platinum Triangle Development project in Anaheim; and present powerpoint presentations to faculty.
Urban Humanities Summer Institute, Fall 2013
Arfakhashad S. Munaim Summary of Qualifications
Public Engagement
mobile: (818)251-0186 email: a.munaim786@gmail.com
Participant, Sixtynine-Seventy Urban Ideas Competition (Mar 2013 - April 2013) led a five-member group from UCLA Urban Planning on the development of a two-block masterplan for Downtown Salt Lake City, Utah. The proposal seeks a revitalization effort with wayfinding and “placemaking” of public spaces. Semi-Finalist, Boulder Civic Area Ideas Competition (Dec 2012 -Jan 2013) Group-led design competition for the City of Boulder in the development of a long-term vision plan. Out of 40 submissions, our project title: “Re-imagining A Civic Identity,” was selected in the finalist’s round competing with 12 teams. Student Contestant, Physical Site Planning Studio, UCLA (Sept 2012 -Jan 2013) Group-led planning and design proposal for the River Glen Opportunity Area at Atwater Village in Los Angeles. All student proposals were published in Curbed L.A. and our proposal was selected to assist the US Army Corps of Engineers’ LA River Ecosystem Restoration Feasibility Study. URL: http://la.curbed.com/archives/2012/12/ucla_planning_students_design_a_ riverfriendlier_north_atwater.php Student Member, American Planning Association (2012 -present) Member, Urban Sketchers (2010 -present) Editor, Anjuman-e-Saifee Organization, Chicago, IL (Sept 2011 -Feb 2012) Compiled the annual yearbook for a church organization using Adobe Suite software. Lead Staff, City of Ventura and Rangwala Associates, CA (2008-2010) Housing Element 2008 -2014 Saticoy and Wells Form-Based Code Victoria Corridor Form-Based Code Plan Westview Village Form-Based Code Plan Member, Social Ecology Honors Program and Senior Thesis, University of California, Irvine (2006 - 2007) Research on the relationship between Fatimi Islamic Architecture and sustainable design with assistance of faculty mentors, Professor Kristen Day and Professor Richard Matthew; and presented powerpoint at the 14th Annual Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (U.R.O.P.) Symposium.
Technical Skills
Adobe Suite CS5 (Indesign, Illustrator & Photoshop) AutoCAD 2011 MS Office 2010 (Word, Excel, Outlook, Powerpoint & Project) Geographic Information Systems (ArcView GIS) Google Sketchup 8.1
Urban Humanities Summer Institute, Fall 2013
Arfakhashad S. Munaim a.munaim786@gmail.com mobile: (818) 251-0186
Landscape Plan for the Moghavem Residence 2 As an architectural intern, I composed hand-drawn landscape plans for small-scale residential projects. An Enviro-Architetural Identity: The Fatimi Philosophy of Design 3-7 Senior Thesis for the Social Ecology Honors Program at the University of California, Irvine. Comprehensive Review of Design Projects for the City of Ventura 8-9 I conducted comprehensive review of design projects presented in powerpoint to advisory- and decision-making bodies for the City of Ventura. Westview Village Pattern Book & Form-Based Code 10-14 As lead staff, I conducted background research and neighborhood pattern studies, documented the pattern book, prepared powerpoint presentations for the Town Designer, prepared maps and materials for the charrette and assisted in preparing a form-based code. Landscape Plan for the Anjuman-e-Burhanee Mosque 15 As a volunteer for the master planning of a mosque project in Woodland Hills, California, I composed hand drawn diagrams, drafted plans on AutoCAD and produced 3-dimensional renderings. Building Livable Cities Initiative 2010 16-17 A design submission to the Urban Vision Group for seeking publication in a journal entry by creating a sustainable community located in India. Watercolor Sketches 18-19 As a member of the Urban Sketchers world-wide organization, the images are a study of spaces and forms by composing hand-drawn sketches. Atwater Village: A Vision for the River Glen Opportunity Area 20-21 The development of urban design interventions in a manufacturing/industrial environment. Group led project in site planning studio with Professor Vinit Mukhija at UCLA. City of Boulder: Re-imaginging A Civic Identity 22 The development of a vision for the City of Boulder, Colorado. Our thematic approach focused on five visionary goals was showcased at the Boulder Library for public voting. Arfakhashad Munaim
The Moghavem Residence
Steven A. Ormenyi & Associates, Landscape Architects
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Multiple-Family Residential Development City of Ventura
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Courtyard Housing Development City of Ventura
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Westview Village Design Charette City of Ventura
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Westview Village Masterplan Community City of Ventura
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Westview Village Regulating Plan City of Ventura
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Westview Village Design Guidelines City of Ventura
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Westview Village Street Type Standards City of Ventura
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Architectural and Landscape Design for Mosque Anjuman-e-Burhanee Organization
The planning and construction of the Anjuman-e-Burhanee Masjid in Los Angeles was granted razaa (permission by His Holiness, Dr. Syedna Mohammed Burhanuddin on October 4, 1998. The complex includes a three-story masjid comprised of 12,000 square feet and connects to a madrasah building with a communal area on the first floor. The masjid complex is located on a sloped settign with communal gardens and encompassed by single-family dwellings and enclosed with a 12-foot blanket wall. Urban design elements such as the central fountain serve to integrate with the masjid and encourage public activity. Massing of buildings with Fatemi ornamentation and curved windows resemble its profundity in concept, but simplicity in outline. The minaret serves as a high density building volume designed to practice passive solar energy.
drawings and three-dimensional architectural renderings, and developing a landscape plan for the complex. As a lead designer, I held several presentations with the project team and primary responsbilities included the selection and location of variegated planting, coordinating work with surveyors, and the ‘placemaking’ of the plaza by producing circulation pattern studies and urban design elements such as seating areas and fountains. Contact: Aamir Bhaisaheb bin Janab Turab Bhaisaheb Hatimi, Anjuman-e-Burhanee, Los Angeles, California, USA, (818) 571-2518 ATZ786@aol.com
As an Architectural Associate for the masjid, I was involved in the design of the Madrasah (academic institution) building, including the layout of classrooms. Day-to-day tasks were to generate CAD Arfakhashad Munaim
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Proposal for the Building Livable Cities Initiative 2010 Rangwala Associates
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Proposal for the Building Livable Cities Initiative 2010 Rangwala Associates
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Watercolor Sketches
Member, Urban Sketchers
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Watercolor Sketches
Member, Urban Sketchers
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River Glen Opportunity Area: Atwater Village Physical Site Planning Studio, UCLA Atwater Village lies between the Los Angeles River to the west and Glendale to the north and east. Atwater Village spans 1.78 square miles with over 100 blocks of development and became the agricultural enterprises by the Tongva Native American tribes during the early 1800’s. In 1868, prominent William Carr Belding (WCB) Richardson purchased the 671-acres known as Santa Eulalia Rancho. As development spurred, population increased and streets were created to allow access throughout the site. The first local transportation: The Big Red Trolley was introduced in 1904 and progressively transformed the area into a vehicle-oriented community. Atwater
Village underwent several cultural transformations and became one of the “hippest” towns in Los Angeles. Our project entails the northern portion of Atwater Village known as the River Glen Area. It is predominant in manufacturing and industrial businesses with a vibrant economy shunned against the public realm. Our team was primarily concerned with the view-shed of the Los Angeles River, vacant parcels, incomplete street network, production-oriented community and fostering a safe and accessible environment
Existing Land Use Plan
“This is a rare community in Los Angeles, a small town in the middle of a sprawling metropolis.”
We identified a series of possible interventions. This diagram illustrates several observations we explored.
Existing conditions
Street Border Analysis
Street Network Analysis
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River Glen Opportunity Area: Atwater Village Physical Site Planning Studio, UCLA
PROJECT VISION Creating a “Complete Industrial Zone” that activates the public life OBJECTIVES • Increasing Connectivity throughout the site • Linking industrial functions with the public realm • Preserve & enhance physical constructions
Existing
Proposed
Modifying Fences
Filling Vacant Areas
Principal Strategies • Preserving existing industries • Encouraging to create attractive interface between industrial production and the public • Identifying suitable locations to host these programs Arfakhashad Munaim
Inserting Green Spots
Principal Strategies • Using existing infrastructure • Opening up fences to allow pedestrian access • Extending dead-end roads to enhance connectivity
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City of Boulder: Re-imagining a Civic Identity Urban Ideas Design Competition, Semi-finalists
Project Overview Our project comprises a series of main features, including: foster an environment that is safe, clean and aesthetically attractive; connections throughout the site emphasize walkability and bicycling; importance of health with meditative and physical sport spaces; preserves the character of the neighborhood and provides state-of-the-art civic space and architectural design; and proposed buildings are flood-resistant thatincorporates sustainable design.
Project Approach Our approach begins with the City of Boulder’s Guiding Principles and we have developed a comprehensive approach by using the responses provided by the community and practicing Traditional Neighborhood Design principles: • Ecological Habitats preserving and enhancing Boulder Creek and Farmer’s Ditch • Outdoor/Recreation with a network of open spaces • Building Projects that articulate building and transportation uses and parking options • Transitional Spaces that serve to stitch the Famer’s Market with the surrounding neighborhood. The transitional spaces is constantly evolving every day to create a shared experience among the visitors.
Principal Strategies - The Civic Heart of Boulder • Site serves as an epicenter • Preserve and enhance all existing uses and incorporate new featuers based on the needs of the community • mixed-use and mixed-income attractions to invite all citizens • compact and connected development allows walkability throughout the site Principal Strategies - Life & Property Safety • No building footprint in the High Hazard Zone (HHZ) • Robotic parking feature to reduce surface parking • Shared spaces for both pedestrian and vehicular use • Landscape plan serves as a retention space for future floodings
Principal Strategies - New Community Activity & Arts • Scuplture and public art navigates citizens throughout the site • New enhanced state-of-the-art civic spaces • Interactive art such as human sundials and plaetary hardscapes • Mixed-uses encourage different activities throughout the seasons
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