Landscape Architecture Portfolio by Maryam Rastegar Pouyani

PORTFOLIO Landscape Architecture

Maryam Rastegar Pouyani

Personal Statement I find landscape architecture to be a powerful and robust medium to address the most pressing environmental challenges of this century, while realizing desirable environments to sustainably live in. I am a devoted researcher throughout the design process and I believe in the power of every landscape’s unique biophysical and socio-cultural patterns to offer endemic solutions for global issues. I engage in varying scale projects, from regional strategic planning and vision development to the scale of urban districts and smaller niches. I strive to collaborate in international and interdisciplinary teams to broaden my skills, share my knowledge and learn from others.

Education M.Sc. Landscape Architecture - Landscape Heritage, Politecnico di Milano

Sep 2020 - May 2023

M.Sc. Landscape Architecture and Planning

Feb 2022 - June 2022

GPA: 28.29/30 Thesis: The Green Heart of Groningen; Regeneration of Groningen’s Peat Landscape

Utrecht, 3523DB m.rastegarpouyani@gmail.com 0648193807

linkedin.com/in/maryamrastegarpouyani/

Technical Skills Experienced Rhino 3D Sketchup AutoCAD QGIS V-ray Adobe Illustrator Adobe Photoshop Adobe InDesign Adobe Lightroom Basic Knowledge Lands Design Grasshopper Revit ArcGIS Enscape Adobe After Effects

Soft Skills Communication (visual & verbal) Teamwork Time management Adaptability Leadership Organization Prioritizing Calmness Problem-solving Creativity Attention to detail Authenticity Accepting criticism

Languages English - Fluent German - Intermediate (B1) Dutch - Basic (A1- learning A2) Farsi - Native

Studio Regional Design grade: 9.5/10 Wageningen University & Research, Erasmus Exchange

B.Sc. Architecture, University of Tehran, College of Fine Arts

Sep 2014 - Sep 2019 GPA: 17.25/20 Thesis: Design of a visitor center, nature trails and shelters for Miankaleh Biosphere Reserve, Iran

Professional Experience Landscape Designer, Buro Sant en Co, The Hague

March 2023 - Present

- Central Park Zoetermeer

Tekenaar - Sections and technical details (Definitief Ontwerp Fase 2).

- De Uithof Gebiedsagenda, Den Haag

Assistant designer, tekenaar - A comprehensive programming agenda for Uithof park redevelopment.

- Groenoord Schiedam Assistant designer - Landscape design for 3 residential blocks in Groenoord neighborhood (Tender Fase)

Full-time Intern, Flux Landscape Architecture, Utrecht

Sep 2022 - Feb 2023

- Steck Urban Design Concept, Utrecht

Design and optimization of parking spaces, building volume options based on footprints, building compositions and roof study, concept isometric, diagrams, physical models.

- Action Perspective for Deventer Kien Campus, Deventer

Historic analysis and diagrams, existing situation sections, design principles diagrams, design typologies map and diagrams, design intervention plans and sections.

- Future Perspectives for the Rhine-Meuse Estuary Creation of atmospheric impressions for two future scenarios for Haringvliet and Nieuwe Waterweg.

Full-time Intern, SHE-Architekten, Hamburg

Oct 2017 - Jan 2018

- Renovation and extension of a residential building from the 1920’s Fabrication of the physical models, plans for the building permission, construction detail plans.

- Residential building Leverkusenstrasse

Architectural plans, post-production renderings.

Honours and Awards University of Calgary International Entrance Scholarship

Sep 2020

For Admittance into Maser of Landscape Architecture Program

Awarded Fellowship

Sep 2014 - Sep 2019

IAESTE International Exchange Program

Oct 2017 - Jan 2018

Undergraduate program, University of Tehran

Selected to carry out international internship, IAESTE & DAAD Germany

Extracurricular Activities Bioclimatic Greenhouse Design and Construction

Nov 2021- May 2022

Passion in Action course, Politecnico di Milano

MOOCs

- Sustainable Urban Development, Wageningen University & TU Delft - Co-creating Sustainable Cities, Wageningen University & TU Delft - Climate Action in biodiverse Landscapes, Wageningen University

June 2022 June 2022 July 2021

- The Health Effects of Climate Change, Harvard University

July 2020

(Learned stakeholder analysis, multi-stakeholder partnerships principles and facilitation, climate impact assessment, climate vulnerability assessment, impact chain analysis)

CONTENTS

Professional Deventer Kien Campus 1 Rhine - Meuse Estuary 13 Steck 23

Academic Repeat 29 The Space Between Us 41 Greenfold 55

Competition Coziness Valley 65

Miscellaneous Visuals 75

DEVENTER KIEN CAMPUS Developing an action perspective for the public space of Stadscampus de Kien, Deventer.

Flux Landscape Architecture Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 Project Leader: Inge Kersten My role: Temporal analysis diagrams, typologies identification and allocation, typologies map and diagrams, Singelpark principles diagrams, Singel schematic diagram, current situation sections, design sections, a design map, site visit and photographic documentation. the materials that are not created by me are marked with

symbol.

The municipality of Deventer asks Flux for an action perspective to develop for the public space of Stadscampus de Kien in Deventer. In relation to the compaction task, urban design can be combined in Stadscampus de Kien with high ambitions for sustainability, health, mobility, biodiversity and climate. A network of well thought out and designed green-blue spaces creates a answer to major current issues and an attractive living and working climate. De Kien can grow into an area, which thanks to an inspiring design, good meeting places and joint activities permanently challenges people to meet and share knowledge, and parties from the business community, education, creative industry, etc. can find each other in varying compositions.

The Site

Ambitions and the Vision

First, it is necessary to understand the larger landscape setting in which the project area sits, and to understand the main natural structure and connections.

Four main ambitions shape the vision for Stadscampus de Kien. These ambitions are: 1. Increasing the quality of stay 2. Increasing the fordability 3. A green-blue transformation 4. Developing a strong identity

On the largest scale, the greenblue structure is composed of the IJssel with its floodplains and “IJssel landscape” with its agricultural areas, hedgerows and and country estates.

1. Developing a strong identity

2. Increasing the fordability

3. A green-blue infrastructure

4. Increasing the quality of stay

1900-1933

1933-1966

1966-1976

1976-1997

1997-2009

2009-now

The vision for this design is “green, unless” as a means to achieve the ambitions and develop a coherent design. The green structures of Deventer

On the medium scale are the new Plantstoen and the Rielerenk parks. On the smaller scale the city parks: The Rijsterborgherpark, the old cemetery and the Venenpark. There is also the green structure along the railway zone.

Temporal Analysis

Connections between the green structures

In the Kien area itself there are no large parks available. Around the canal structure at the Verzetslaan and Handelskade area there is a continuous green zone present, but its shape, design and the presence of a dominant car infrastructure suggests a mere green strip rather than a park zone. This situation also applies for the green zone between Stationsplein and Gedempte gracht. It seems that the green area of de Kien is an elongated zone sandwiched between infrastructures.

Oude begraafplaats

Rijsterborgherpark Buitengracht

Moestuinen

De Ijssel

Plantsoen de Worp

The green structure of de Kien

Key developments of de Kien from 1900-now

Typologies Legend

The total vision on the Kien provides a green, climaterobust, biodiverse, attractive and interactive public space for the residents, visitors, employees and the students. The different types of public space all have their own design principles and appearance. To emphasize on the Singelpark as the green link, these typologies pay special attention to the principles of the Singelpark, and together they form the palette of the Kien and contribute to the four ambitions.

Slow traffic city street

Parks

Courtyards

Green city street

Nodes

Semi-open public spaces

Green Singel street

Parking squares

Small meeting squares

Green Singel street

Public entrances

Ecological connection

Typologies map

A vision map based on the typologies 1:1000

Principles of the Singelpark

Singel as a Green Connector

Cultural-historical Singelpark

The total vision on the Kien provides a green, climaterobust, biodiverse, attractive and interactive public space for the residents, visitors, employees and the students.

Groups of trees vs. open lawn

Winding path structure

Height differences & destination

Planting diversity & ecological value

Clear water edge made of wood

pay special attention to the priniples of the Singelpark, and together they form the palette of the Kien and contribute to the four ambitions.

Historic inner city as spatial boundary

A veiw of de Kien project area with Singel as the green connector

Organic water structure

Innovative Singelpark

Groups of trees vs. open lawn

Diverse and robust tree species

Height differences & destination

Planting diversity & ecological value

Orthogonal paths with extensions

Accessible water & innovative shore

Natural banks

Representative building entrances

Schematic diagram showing Singel Street (left) and Singel Park (right)

Designing Handelskade (west)

Typologies

Current situation with old building - 1:400

Minimum intervention - 1:1500

Singelpark Principles

Minimum intervention - 1:400

Maximum intervention with crossing - 1:1500

Maximum intervention with crossing - 1:400

Maximum intervention with roundabout - 1:1500

Maximum intervention with roundabout - 1:400

Designing Handelskade (east)

Designing Stationsstraat

Typology

Typologies Singelpark Principles Current situation - 1:400

Current situation - 1:400

Singelpark Principles

Minimum intervention - 1:400 After design - 1:400

Designing Singel

Typology

Intermediate intervention - 1:400

Current situation - 1:400

Singelpark Principles

Maximim intervention - 1:400

After design - 1:400

RHINE-MEUSE ESTUARY Atmospheric Impressions for the Future Perspectives of the Rhine - Meuse Estuary

Flux Landscape Architecture Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 Project Leader: Bram Willemse

In drawing these impressions, I took help from the project leader. The tidal area in the last image is a direct copy form one of his previous works, with a few changes.

Where rivers flow into the sea, nature produces a unique wealth. The tidal nature in South Holland is in danger of disappearing due to the rising sea level. The reduction of green space causes problems with quality of life, economy and recreation. The World Wildlife Fund and ARK outline a look ahead to 2100 and have placed challenges and trends in two perspectives, one in which we continue on the current path and one in which we opt for an approach with natural solutions. Atmospheric images are needed to collect reactions and opinions from citizens, young people and companies. Flux was asked to sketch these atmospheric images to depict a future with ‘business as usual’ versus a future with ‘natural solutions’. These images are created for two viewpoints, one of the area outside the dykes and one of the area inside the dykes. The end product is therefore 4 atmospheric impressions at eye level.

Haringvliet, Business as Usual Scenario

3. More than half of all dikes in the Rhine-Meuse estuary are being reinforced and/or raised. Dikes are therefore being widened. The remaining riparian nature is drowning under the rising water.

1. Due to seepage pressure, the salinization of agricultural land from the sea is continuing, the yields of the agricultural land are declining. 2. The polders continue to sink. As a result, we have to pump harder and harder to keep them dry.

4. Due to sea level rise and salt water intrusion, the Haringvliet sluices will close more and more often, which limits fish migration.

Business as usual future scenario impression of inside the dykes

Haringvliet, Nature-based Solutions Scenario

1. Because the dike does not have to be raised and widened, there is more room for nature inside the dike. This also helps against saline seepage pressure.

polder between the double dikes, so that the buntings and mud flats grow along with the sea level rise, by 1 cm per year.

2. No hard flood defences, but flowery dikes with natural banks. The current dike remains the primary flood defence. The wide water-retaining landscapes with double dikes provide space for tidal nature and recreation.

4. Tidal recovery on the Haringvliet and Hollands Diep. The Haringvliet locks serve as a storm surge barrier. 5. Migration of salmon and sturgeon can start again.

3. Tides restart the sediment transport. Sediment is captured in the exchange

Nature based solutions future scenario impression of inside the dykes

Nieuwe Waterweg, Business as Usual Scenario

1. Due to seepage pressure, the salinization of agricultural land from the sea is continuing, the yields of the agricultural land are declining.

4. Due to sea level rise and saltwater intrusion, the Nieuwe Waterweg may be permanently closed off from the sea. This has negative consequences for shipping and for tidal nature and fish migration.

2. The polders continue to sink. As a result, we have to pump harder and harder to keep them dry. 3. Dikes must be raised, which takes up a lot of space and is at the expense of riparian nature.

Business as usual future scenario impression of outside the dykes

Nieuwe Waterweg, Nature-based Solutions Scenario

1. Old creeks, creek ridges and creek runs are restored to their former state and enrich the landscape. They also contribute to a robust and future-proof freshwater system for agriculture, among other things.

more room for tidal nature and recreation along the banks. There is room for beaches, mudflats and buntings. An attractive range for surrounding cities.

2. Because the dike does not have to be raised and widened, there is more room for nature inside the dike. This also helps against saline seepage pressure.

4. Tidal recovery in the Hollands Diep. The Nieuwe Waterweg will be naturally shallowed, reducing the tidal wave. This creates opportunities for more natural banks and tidal parks.

3. No hard flood defences, but flowery dikes with natural banks. There is

5. Due to the tidal difference, the sediment transport gets going again, which

means that the areas outside the dikes can grow along with the rise in sea level. 6. The Nieuwe Waterweg is naturally becoming shallower. Port activities are moving seaward. 7. Migration of salmon and sturgeon can start again.

Nature based solutions future scenario impression of outside the dykes

STECK Urban Design Concept for Steck, a Production Park in Utrecht

Flux Landscape Architecture Fall 2022 - Spring 2023 Project Leader: Inge Kersten

Steck is situated in a unique location on the northern edge of Utrecht, attached to the Dutch Waterline and perfectly connects the city and countryside.

My role: Drawing the concept isometric, design options for the parking lot (400 cars), Buildings volume study beased on given footprints, Building composition and roof study, diagram analysis, building physical models of 1:500

This project seeks to develop a production landscape that is part of the Ruigenhoek park. A park that produces, cleans and reuses streams, but is also fascinating to visit and forms a link between city and landscape. A layered park with multiple social functions in which the spatial layout is based on the original peat reclamation landscape. In the park there are several small pavilions and places related to the production landscape.

Concept Isometric

Current green & blue

Tree plots and sight lines

Water canals and ditches

Paved areas (roads, parking)

Parking lot option 1

Parking lot option 2

Parking lot option 3

Parking lot option 4

Building Composition Study

Synthesis of Options A & C

option 1.a

Elevation Profiles, 1:1000

option 1.a

option 1.b

option 1.c

option 2.a

option 2.b

option 3.a

option 3.b

option 3.c

Building volume option A

Building volume option B

Building volume option C

REPEAT A National Park New Style in the Province of Friesland Friesland, Netherlands Studio Regional Design Spring 2022 Instructors: Rudi van Etteger Homero Marconi Penteado Lisanne Struckman Seth Wilberding Tai Yuting Individual Project

The aim of this regional design studio was to design a new style national park in the province of Friesland, that could become among the top 50 national parks of Europe: A national park in which people and nature can exist in harmony and complement each other. The project started by exploring the middle part of Friesland and studying deeply the history of the landscape, soil types, land uses, and the Frysian economy and heritage. After becoming familiar with this unique open landscape, some main issues were identified and three concepts were formed on how to deal with these issues that created the basis of the design; first on a regional level and then on a focus area to provide a detailed design.

Landscape Analysis The area of focus for this project is the middle part of Friesland; the region between Leeuwarden, Drachten, Heerenveen and Sneek. This area consists of several different soil types. The main soils are sand in the east, peat in the middle and clay in the west. In the past, peat was burned as a fuel for many purposes; therefore,

Main Issues the majority of the peat has been excavated and the peat layer has shrinked considerably. Peat is also a highly productive soil and for many decades it has been drained for grass cultivation as pasture for meat and dairy production. The consequeneces of peat mining and peat draining, is a high rate of land subsidence and CO2

emissions to the atmosphere due to peat oxidation. This project focuses on addressing this problem. As can be seen in the analysis maps, most of the peat soil is free of urban settlements and mostly agriculture, with fewer infrastructure present and consisting mostly of nature conservation sites instead.

land use Urban Area Nature Reserve Water Body Forest Highway Railway

1. Land subsidence As a result of constant drainage, peat becomes exposed to the air, oxidizes and releases carbon, and the land subsides as a result at a rate of 1cm per year. 2. Eutrophication of soil Peat formation needs conditions with low amount of nutrients. On the other hand, grass production requires a lot of nutrients, which find their way to the ground and surface waters and hinder peat formation. 3. Ecological Fragmentation Remaining natural patches face the threat of further reduction and isolation as a result of urban and population growth. As natural habitats become more scarce, it gets harder to move between patches and biodiversity decreases exponentially.

The problem of constant drainage to the Boezem, land subsidence and eutrophication

Time

Fragmentation of nature areas in a primary agricultural landscape

Concepts

soil type Sand Moss Peat Podzol Peat Clay Heavy Clay Landscape analysis map 1:300,000

Soil types & Urban areas/terps

Three of the main issues addressed in this project:

Infrastructure

Water bodies & Nature reserves

1. Building up the peat Restoration of the peat through paludiculture as an alternative to grass production. In Paludiculture, flood tolerant species are cultivated and there is no need to drain the water. This restored peat forms a protected nature core. 2. Winter wetlands Grasslands are left unused during winter, but with continued drainage. Instead of draining, they can temporarily transform into shallow wetland habitats to host bird species. By Spring the land is naturally fertilised with bird remains and the water can be drained again. 3. (Re)Connection Reinforcement of the existing ecological corridors on the landscape level. This concept goes hand in hand with the first concept, as creating this connection depends on the nature core areas.

First concept: Restoration of peat and formation of nature cores

Second concept: Alterating farmlands

Third concept: Connection and a nature network

The Landscape Plan The landscape plan consists of three main nature core areas that are buffered with paludiculture from the grasslands, and a connector between them. This connector is the alterating grassland/wetland area from the third concept, and can be regarded as the heritage patch that unifies the landscape plan. The core of the nature protected areas are composed of peat bogs and peat meadows - reeds, sedges, and

Landscape Plan Explanations swamp forests. This peat landscape is established after paludiculture has prepared the land by removing the nutrients and restoring the groundwater table. The connecting patch is the meeting place of the river valley landscape (clay soil) and the Boezem system. As it sits on clay, the grass production does not interfere with peat restoration, and because it is close to the Boezem, the land is

under the influence of water and can be easily flooded during fall and winter to become a shallow wetland habitat. The main eco-corridor follows the course of water and stretches further, connecting north and south of the province.

Large scale eco-connectivity

Encroaching clay as connector

Development typologies

The aim is for the landscape plan to act as an ecological corridor in the larger scale of the whole province. Also three main habitat patches can be seen in the middle area region.

The clay acts as a connector between the three nature reserves. Here is where the wetland/farmland idea establishes. Because of clay, this idea does not overlook the peat formation, while at the same time creating a heritage connection between these new nature areas with new practices of paludiculture.

A closer look into the landscape reveals three different typologies in which these new reserves can shape. There typologies are based on the positioning of the current reserves, the water bodies and finding possible connections in between.

1. One central core: expanding outwards

2. Cores as stepping stones: expanding by filling the gaps

3. Multiple cores: first unification, then outward expansion

Area of the detailed design

Legend

Landscape plan 1:200,000

Eco-corridor

Paludiculture Type a

Swamp Forest

Grassland/Wetland

Paludiculture Type b

Peat Meadow (Fen)

Polders

Paludiculture Type c

Peat Bog

Water Bodies

Development typologies

Detailed Design Masterplan This masterplan shows the transition from the protected nature core to the grasslands, through paludiculture. The protected peat landscape on the left is a dynamic landscape in which grazors are introduced sometimes to set back the succession and maintain vegetation diversity. Visitors can experience this are following the designed walking paths and the wooden platforms. From left to right sit the three types of paludiculture production: 1.Willow, Birch and Alder forests 2.Reed parcels 3.Cattail and Cranberry The river and the riparian buffer separates the paludiculture from the grasslands. Legend Swamp Forest

Reed

Bluegrass

Alder

Wild Reed

Willow

Peat Bog

Birch

Wild Sedge

Cattail

Forage Water Body Rainwater Basin Grassland Route Walking Path Platform Cranberry Detailed design masterplan 1:10,000 35

Detailed Design Explanations An alternative corridor

Hydrological Profiles

When river Boarne crosses the city, many species are unable to use this main river as a connector to their habitats. An alternative route is proposed here, with widening one of the canals that eventually reaches the Boarne after it has passed the city. It also gives access to the protected bog area and connects with a green-blue network to ease the connection for many insects, amphibians, fishes as well as birds and mammals.

1. The Double Ditch System The protected peat meadow landscape is hydrologically buffered from the rest of the farm with a double ditch system. the inner ditch is basically a pond, with an impervious layer that retains the water in the pond, and acts as a retention basin. When water surmounts the capacity of the pond, it is directed to the second ditch through pipes. This second ditch has an adjustable dam to drain water in winter and retain it in summer.

2. The Adjustable Dam

3. Widening of the Ditches

The adjustable dams in the ditches allow flooding of the land. Here the trees flourish in a land that is under the level of natural water fluctuations - not always flooded nor dry - and this can be achieved using these dams.

This diagram shows the before and after the establishment of the trees. Before it used to be a grassland with a soil overloaded with nutrients and regular ditches. After, there are trees on a relatively nutrient poor soil, with more dynamic ditches that sometimes expand as much as to become small ponds of water in which certain species of willows can flourish better.

4. Water Sources and Nutrition Levels The water needed for growing cattails is coming from three sources with three different nutritional values. First ditch gains its water from the rainwater basin in the peat meadow landscape with very low amount of nutrients and low pH. The second ditch has groundwater with medoum amount of nutrients and pH. The third ditch receives water from the lake, full of nutrients and higher pH.

Adjustable Dams

The alteration between grassland and wetland allows for a natural fertilisation of the land with hosting many bird species over the colder months. Therefore the need for artificial fertilizer decreases and less nutrients will leach to the peat. In this concept, the groundwater level is temporarily untouched during second half of the year, and peat has some time to for again.

Grassland Pasture (Spring / Summer)

Rainwater Reservoir (Oligotrophic)

Widened Ditch

Bog Peat

5. Grassland Pasture / Wetland Nature

Wetland Nature (Fall / Winter)

Groundwater (Mesotrophic)

Rainwater Reservoir

River (Eutrophic)

Retention Pond (1st Ditch) 2nd Ditch with Adjustable Dam

Peat Moss

Swamp Forest

Sedge

Reed

Bluegrass

Willow/Birch/Alder

Reed

Cattail/Cranberry

Section A - A 1:3000

Riparian

Pasture

Some Impressions

Phasing of the Design

The Cranberry Fields

The Walking Paths in Nature Reserve

Retaining water instead of draining it into the boezem during fall and winter Raising groundwater level for type a Paludiculture type a: Cattails take out the excessive nutrients from the soil

Expanding the core: Filling the gaps with Paludiculture type a

Establishment of the peat meadow zone: maintaining succession of species Raising groundwater level for type a Paludiculture type b: Reeds establish in the relatively nutrient-poor soil, stabilizing phase

Establishing connections: Paludiculture type b

Establishment of the swamp forest zone: protected area Raising groundwater level for type c Paludiculture type c: Willows, Alders and Birches on a nutrient poor soil

Unifying & stabilizing connections: Paludiculture type c

The Wooden Platforms

Harvesting the Reeds

Establishment of the bog peat zone: protected area

THE SPACE BETWEEN US Farmlands, Active Spaces in Climate Change Mitigation Milan, Italy Open Space System and Parks Design Studio Spring 2021 Team Project: Maryam Rastegar Pouyani Ruoxi Zhang

The specific studio theme is the development, at different scales, of a research and design proposal for a system of open spaces to be interpreted as an urban and metropolitan park.

My role: Spatial analysis, coming up with the concept and the spatial strategy, complete design of Campagnetta park and the ecological corridor and related visuals, research & design of the indoor vertical farm, drawing the landuse map, collages, strategy map, project diagrams.

This goal implies the reflection on plural territorial conditions, varied land-use forms and a substantial instability due to climate changes. With this aim, the studio will consider urban spaces and their transition to rural and agricultural areas, including relevant heritage components in the South sector of Milan and its Metropolitan City. The main question of the studio therefore arises: How to structure and design an articulated, innovative and experimental metropolitan park in the problematic context determined by climate change and eco-systemic degradation?

A Reading of the Rural Land The site of this project is the 5th zone of Milan municipality, where the landscape is composed of mainly arable agricultural land, an industrial zone in the middle, and scattered villages. The regional roads are the main connectors, however, there is a complex highway junction to the south, and an obsolete railway strteches in the middle of this area. The Vettabia canal is a prominent water body in this area.

Unbuilt areas in Milan are mostly used for agriculture. Sine 1980, these permeable surfaces have decreased considerably and a large portion of agricultural lands have become urbanized, mainly due to population growth, new production settlements and transportation networks.

A leading agent of climate change is changed land use, namely natural surfaces to agricultural fields. As this trend continues, the loss of nature also impacts the quality and amount of yields. This fact is one critical focus pint throughout this design.

Unurbanized in 1980 (light gray) vs. current urbanized areas (dark gray)

Agricultue lands in 1980 (light green) vs. currentagriculture lands (dark green)

The map below shows the crops that are being cultivated in this area, as well as the main villages, zones and parks.

Milan Municipality

Zone 5

Legend Non-Permanent Stable Meadows Arable Land Nectarine Garden Permanent Stable Meadows Wheat Corn Various Herbs Soy Cover Crop Wheat for Fodder Oat Legumes

Landuse map of the site 1:60,000

A vision for the Agricultural Park

Nature; a Carbon Sink Toolkit 1. Groves

Biodiversity is essential for healthy and productive landscapes, as it supports ecosystem services. Healthy ecosystems are carbon sinks, meaning that grasslands, forests, wetlands, soils, and oceans take greenhouse gasses out of the atmosphere.

2. Hedges

1. Subtracting CO2 from atmospher by photosynthesis 2. Produce oxygen 3. Important resource for agritourism 4. Limit erosion 5. Supply groundwater

1. Important ecotones 2. Eco-corridor networks 3. Wind protection 4. Increasing soil moisture 5. Reducing erosion 6. Recharging aquifers

3. Canals 1. Important eco-corridors 2. Habitat for wild plants 3. Rich animal communities 4. Highly dissolved O2 for survival of fish species

4. Stable Meadows 1. Refuge for biodiversity 2. Pollution reduction (atmosphere, water and soil) 3. Increasing the organic matter 4. Increasing the soil fertility 5. Balanced forage (diverse plants of variant nutritional properties)

The landscapes of the Lombardy region used to be diverse and flourishing with biodiversity. These original landscapes hosted various flora and fauna species, each of which played its role in maintaining and regulating the lands. These landscapes can be categorized into eight main habitats: Groves, hedges, canals, stable meadows, lakes, farmhouses, Marcite (a traditional farming system used in the Po Plain), and fallow lands. These landscapes helped with the quality and amount of the agricultural yields, as they provided many valuable services for the farm, from pest control to increased biomass and soil fertility. As farming systems became mechanized and grew in scale, the role of nature was replaced with artificial inputs and mechanisms. This replacement has come with significant financial burdens and environmental impacts and has greatly contributed to climate change.

5. Lakes & Ponds 1. Constant temperature 2. Habitat for fish invertebrates, and amphibians 3. Refuge for sedentary species

6. Farmhouses 1. Breeding and wintering sites 2. Protection for various species 3. Building levels provide niches for different species

7. Marcite 1. Increase of biodiversity 2. Feeding place for crustaceans, insects, annelids, etc. 3. Suitable habitat for wintering of migratory birds

8. Fallow Lands 1. Animals reproduce without disturbance 2. Food availability during winter 3. Hosting migratory birds

The aim of this design is to recognize the role of nature in agriculture and give nature the space it deserves to flourish and function. Agriculture does not have to be invasive on natural lands, but can inverse the trend through innovative solutions.

A view of the original landscapes of Lombardy 45

A Trade-off Strategy

The landscape structure from an ecological point of view is composed of main habitat patches, and corridor connectors that together form a natural network, like the figure below.

In this strategy, there is a tradeoff between the agricultural lands in the site, and the leftover lands and obsolete buildings of the industrial site. The project will behave through two main gestures, a linear and an aerial. By utilizing the leftover lands and abandoned buildings in the industrial zone, part of some fields can return to the original landscape, yet retain the productivity and even enhance it. The main aim is to introduce a significant alternative ecological corridor to Vettabia Canal.

Ecological corridors: bushes, hedgerows and trees, waterbodies, spontaneous vegetation

Transportation network

Irrigation canals

Vettabia canal & water bodies

Marginal leftover lands

The Vattabia Canal is a significant corridor in this region but becomes unsafe for many species when it crosses the industrial zone. The design aims to compensate for the absence of this critical corridor and enhance the situation of the existing corridors.

Legend

Ecological

Here, the land is fragmented heavily by a bold transportation network. This fragmentation hinders the ability of wildlife to move around, reduces biodiversity and the resilience of ecosystems. More natural land is being replaced with farmlands that produce our food, weakening the ecological corridors and reducing natural patches. The importance of corridors and stepping stones can be seen in the figure below. If the connection is lost, the habitat faces an isolation risk.

The abandoned buildings will be an active part of the project in which vertical farming will be employed. By doing so, the effort is to maintain the same yield with less resources. The products are collected, packaged and delivered on the same day, thanks to the present transportation network.

Anthropic

Understanding Connections

The landscape strategy map 1:60,000

Obsolete Buildings Marginal Lands Regenerative Farms & Agroforests Nectarine Arable Land Corn Various Herbs Wheat Cover Crops Oat Legumes Stable Lawn

Campagnetta Park Campagnetta can be regarded as the buffer area between the industrial and the residential zones. Campagnetta is the main gateway to the southern farms, and is the starting point of the experience of the agriculture park.

Access layout of the design Primary School

In the design, a water axis divides the space into two main parts: the eastern side is for social activities such as playgrounds and dog walking areas, and the western side is mainly composed of community gardens. The layout of the bicycle and pedestrian paths follows the existing informal paths to keep the rest of the land untouched. These routes connect to the southern farms.

Zoning of the activities

Greywater recycling The abandoned industrial building on the south will be transformed into an indoor vertical farm, and the surrounding area will become the continuation of the park. In this facility, vegetables are grown using hydroponic, aeroponic, and aquaponic systems, reducing the amount of input resources such as water and fertilisers. Vertical farming The empty block between the industrial buildings is used for implementing a purification infrastructure that collects greywater from nearby residential and industrial blocks to irrigate the new cultivation blocks and artificial ponds. The surplus of this purified water is used for irrigation of southern farms and the indoor vertical farm.

Greywater collection and recycling A

Legend 1. Childrens’ Playground 2. Meeting Platforms 3. Artificial Ponds 4. Cultivation Blocks

5. Grass 6. Elevated Outlook Platform 7. Indoor Vertical Farm 8. Dog Walking Area Design masterplan 1:3000

Section A - A 1:200 Tranfsorming the abandoned facility into a vertical farm

The Civesio Agroforestry Park This site is a marginal buffering a residential district in the industrial zone from the farms. It is currently abandoned, and the connection of the plant community is also fragmented. The purpose of the design here, as a wild park, is to increase the lack of urban space quality, connect and increase the width of the green corridor in the transition between the city and the field, especially

Planting Systems beside the canal, and emphasize the recognizable spatial shapes and paths. This park is designed for mainly organic orchards to grow. Traditional orchards are defined as groups of fruit and nut trees planted on vigorous rootstocks at low densities in permanent grassland habitats and managed in a low-intensity way. Organic orchards have a similar lowintensity and deliver many carbon

and biodiversity benefits as with all organic production, managed with fewer chemicals. Communitybased orchards offer the benefit of community involvement, access to nature, enhanced biodiversity, and mental and physical wellbeing.

Based on the original terrain and plants, this park is divided into edible areas for not only people but also animals and insects. There are species edible by man, species for honey production, and species edible by animals. The food forest area will have fruit trees, shrubs, and annual crops and vegetables. Fruit and nut tree systems can fix significant amounts of carbon.

Species were selected using the following criteria: 1. Native nuts and fruit trees 2. Carbon sequestration capacity 3. Multi-level plant collocation 4. Combining slow, medium, and fast growing trees

Model 1 Planting trees with a 3 meter distance on the boundaries of the blocks, or on a line (along a canal)

Model 2A Planting trees within the crops (8m*8m to 12m*12m)

Accessibility

A vision for the community corner park

Enhancing existing corridors Model 2B Planting trees in the field (8m*8m to 12m*12m) and every 3 meter on the perimeters of the blocks

Legend

Model 3 Planting trees in the field 3m*3m in an unused or degraded land within the park or in the surrounding areas

Legend

1. Community Corner Park 2. Existing Football Field 3. Riverbank Ecological Corridor 4. Cultivation Blocks 5. Public Entrance 6. Fruit Gardens 7. Cycling Path to Viboldone 8. The Old Mill Attraction Point

Model 1 - Riparian Planting Model 2A - Crop Planting Model 2B - Agroforestry Planting Model 3 - Agroforestry Edge Planting Model 4 - Grassland Planting Grassland Community Garden Planting study and zoning

Planting models

Model 4 Planting trees 5m*5m in grassland

Making Room for Nature The path of the new ecological corridor is identified by analyzing the existing ecological corridors, tree patterns, and water canals.

The path tries to maintain as close to the existing water canals as possible, encouraging the aquatic and riparian biodiversity, and joining Vettabia in the south. Lines of trees and bushes and natural vegetation provide habitat for many pollinator species. These transformed portions of farmlands help to sequester more carbon into the soil.

winds that come from north and north-east with no disturbance. Trees are located on the northern border of this corridor. The width of this ecological corridor is five times the height of the border trees, which is the distance the wind needs to blow naturally again after being disturbed by the trees.

The main production in this region is wheat, oat, and corn, all of which are wind-pollinated. The fields should receive Lombardys dominant

The ecological path

A vision for Civesio agroforestry park

GREENFOLD Rethinking the Parking Spaces of Vignale Monferrato Vignale Monferrato, Piedmont, Italy Built Environment and Landscape Design Studio Fall 2021 Team Project: Seyed Alireza Miraghaei Maryam Rastegar Pouyani

Vignale Monferrato is a small hilly village in northern Italy. The combination of warm temperate climate with insufficient green public spaces due to the old fabric of the town, has led the residents to use an abandoned parking lot on the village boundaries as a recreational space. This parking is situated at one of the most picturesque locations of the town.

My role: Spatial analysis, concept development and design, design masterplan and current situation map visualisations, sections, entire vegetation grid design, choice of species, and related diagrams and visuals of the vegetation grid.

This design proposal aims to integrate more greenery inside the town, and utilize the abandoned parking as both a parking and a green public space, in a twofold strategy. The spaces that are currently used as paking spaces inside the village will transform into green public spaces and the cars will have to park in the new public parking instead. The existing public parking becomes a green addition to the town as well: a cozy niche, yet a vibrant public space.

The Strategy Vignale Monferrato is a small hilly village in northern Italy. The landscape is characterised by vast vineyards stretching far behind the hillside of the village.

Here winters are usually mild, while summers can be extremely hot with dry spells. The rural fabric is old, with gardens enclosed within boundaries of individual homes. There are only two main green public open spaces in the town. The main spaces that could be allocated to natural parks are in use as parking spaces.

This design proposal aims to integrate more greenery inside the town, and utilize the abandoned parking as both a parking and a green public space, in a twofold strategy.

a green addition to the town. As it benefits from the best view towards the eastern vineyards, it has the potential to become a space for leisure as well.

Some of the parking spaces inside the town are relocated to the design site, and the space is used for creating greenery instead. The project site becomes the main parking space of the town, and the quality of this space is enhanced so that it becomes

This design seeks to create a synergy between the function of a parking and a green open public space: a cozy niche, yet a vibrant public space.

The ecological path 1:2500

Insufficient Shade/Parking Spaces/Urban Heat All Open Public Spaces Insufficient Shade/Urban Heat Parking Lot

Insufficient Shade/Urban Heat Piazza Italia

1. Open public spaces of Vignale Monferrato

2. The main nodes

3. Connecting open public spaces and historic elements

4. Replacing most of parking lots with greenery

Current situation of the town

Residents have started to use the parking space east of the village as a space for recreation. This parking was originally built to host many visitors during the Vignale Dance Festival, but the event was relocated to Turin. Now the parking that is situated at one of the most scenic locations of the village and sits empty.

Sufficient Shade/Heat Reduction All Open Public Spaces Sufficient Shade/Heat Reduction Piazza Italia

Sufficient Shade/Semi-forest Parking Lot

After design strategy implementation

Connection Vineyards

residents’ parking hourly parking new green plots

Legend 1. Entrances to Service Building 2. Shared Street 3. Upper Meeting Point 4. Stairs and Viewpoints 5. Parking Spaces 6. Bioswales 7. Raingardens 8. Green Patches 9. Lower Meeting Point 10. Path of The Cherries 11. Pedestrian & Cycling Path

1, 2

8 5, 6, 7

3 9

Design Masterplan 1:1000 59

A New Parking Experience The main aim of this design is to create an inviting environment for pedestrians and cyclists beside cars and drivers. This design enables a continuous pedestrian flow from the town into and throughout the parking, and to the vineyards down below the site. The asphalt street is transformed to a cobble stone shared street with a a slow-traffic, in which the primary traffic is pedestrian.

The Vegetation Grid The main aim of this design is to create an inviting environment for pedestrians and cyclists beside cars and drivers. This design enables a continuous pedestrian flow from the town into and throughout the parking, and to the vineyards down below the site. The asphalt street is transformed to a cobble stone shared street with a a slow-traffic, in which the primary traffic is pedestrian.

A B

A challenge in this design is to embrace the site as a continuation of the forest uphill, as well as holding enough parking spaces. This transition is characterized by a gradual change in the density and irregularity of the trees, meaning that the vegetation becomes thinner

and more geometrically identifiable, as it transitions from the forest to the vineyards. This irregularity can be simplified into a vegetation grid, in which a tree is either present or not. This grid directs the transition of density and geometry simultaneously.

A close observation of the plan suggests that three main lines for the grid are identifiable. After experimentations two are chosen to create a hybrid grid. The cells are 4 meters apart, which is an optimum growing distance for many trees and can be divided easily.

lines of the site

A hybrid grid

Grid cells

Current situation section A - A 1:500

Current traffic flow

Curent situation section B - B 1:500

Design traffic flow vehicles flow pedestrian flow

Existing Trees New Trees Bushes

permeable road green

Surfaces

The service building entrance from shared street

Trees layout on the grid

Tree Species As time passes, trees mature and grow. Some of them will be cleared to make room for others to grow or to let the sunlight in. In the Initial Stage: The patch of fast-growing Robinia is planted with a few slow-growing Fagus Sylvatica and Fraxinus excelsior in a combination

Placement & Growth that dynamically changes over time. These two species are shade tolerant in their growing phase, but are sun demanding as mature trees. As they grow, the Robinia trees around them must be pruned or cut to allow in more light and space. This pattern opens a corridor allowing people to move in between.

In the Mature Stage: The corridors created by Fagus sylvatica and Fraxinus excelsior are clearly visible inside the Robinia patch. On the turning points a single tall Oak stands mature now, accentuating the geometry and pattern of the site, and as a visual indicator of the space for drivers and pedestrians. Transition Patches

Disturbance & Diversity

Lines of Sight

Linear Guides

Oaks as Indicator Trees

Symbolic Trees

Legend Robinia Forest Sorbus aria Acer campestre Quercus robur Quercus ilex Existing Trees Prunus cerasifera Prunus avium Populus nigra Fraxinus excelsior Fagus sylvatica Cratægus Oxyacantha

Gradual openness

View of the initial stage vegetation(<25 years)

Initial stage (<25 years)

Mature Stage (>25 years)

COZINESS VALLEY Developing an architectural concept for Coziness Valley Park Murmansk, Russia Architectural Competition Summer 2020 Team Project: Amirsalar Mazaherkermani Maryam Rastegar Pouyani

My role: Research, identification of design elements, landscape layout, masterplan and sections visualisation, vegetation palette landscape design, choice of species, vegetation palette diagrams.

The purpose of this competition is to provide an opportunity to develop a comprehensive concept of revitalization and development of a city park. This park has to meet the needs of nearby residents as well as being feasible considering the natural and climatic conditions of the Arctic. In This design proposal, we focused especially on the long-lasting darkness in winter and the associated seasonal affective dissorder or SAD. The aim is to contribute to the users’ well-being and to overcome this depression. The zone of influence of the park zone is characterized by both great spatial and functional complexity and enhanced urban dynamics, as it meets commercial, residential and entertainment interests.

About Murmansk

Design Masterplan

Located in northwestern Russia, Murmansk is the largest city in the world beyond the Arctic Circle. Residents of Murmansk are pointing out the lack of walking routes, public spaces, parks and recreational spaces. Due to severe

climatic factors, the most popular forms of leisure among Murmansk residents are the ones involving various physical activities - active walks, outdoor and winter sports. The purpose of the competition is to provide an opportunity to identify and implement a comprehensive

concept of revitalization and development of the Coziness Valley park zone, which meets the needs of the local residents and is feasible considering the natural and climatic conditions of Arctic.

Legend 1. Biomass Plant 2. Maintenance & Restrooms 3. Cycling & Walking Paths 4. Kids Playground 5. Parents Area 6. Exercise Platform 7. Outdoor Cafe

8. Skate Park 9. Ice Skating Ring 10. Storage and Restrooms 11. Events Pavilion 12. Picnic Area 13. Lakeside Platform 14. Vending Machines

15. Vantage Points 16. Aurora Garden 17. Parking & Restrooms 18. Original Trees 19. Flagstone Road 20. Existing Gas Line

Murmansk

The project site

Northern site border D

Design to Evoke Joy Seasonal affective disorder or SAD is a depression common to the higher latitudes with extreme weather conditions. The aim of this design is to combat this depression by emphasizing on three main attributes: 1. Design elements evoking joy elements such as curvature forms, bright colors, symmetry, lightness, abundance, multiplicity, and elevation.

2. Prospect and Refuge Prospect and refuge are two environmental qualities that create appealing natural landscapes. Landscape elements that help people acquire information about the environment are prospects - such as a hill. A refuge is a place that provides shelter and protection - like a pavilion in an open landscape.

3. Compositions Constant elements are repeated in this vast landscape that create diversity with a sense of familiarity. The landscape follows simple mathematical transformations of these elements like translational, reflectional, and rotational symmetries.

Rotational symmetry

A B A

Prospect roundness bright colors

symmetry abundance lightness multiplicity elevation

Refuge

Translational symmetry

Reflectional symmetry

Design masterplan 1:1000

Design Elements Curves are prominent elements throughout the park, unifying shelter arcs, bridges, and walkways, and sitting furniture. They add a human scale to this vast territory and create a sense of continuity in both plans and elevations.

The kids playground and parents area are connected with bridges that transform to arcs, sheltering the playground equipment, along with the children in bad weather. The surrounding curves create a sense of movement and mischief, as well as protection in the center.

Kids can safely climb on the arcs, slide to the ground and play inside them. A riverbank platform is a place to observe the river and nurture curiosity safely.

Wooden pedestrian path Seats

1. Kids playground

2. SAD workout area

3. Events pavilion

Flagstone pedestrian road

Bicycle path

Design isometric

4. Biomass plant

5. Restrooms

The bridge

Children’s playground

Parent’s area

SAD workout area

Section A - A 1:1000

Outdoor cafe

Bicycle & pedestrian path

Skate park

Ice skating ring

Section B - B 1:1000

Wooden path

Outdoor cafe

The bridge

Biomass plant

Picnic area & lakeside platform

Restrooms

Central lake

Picnic area & lakeside platform

Section C - C 1:1000

Flagstone road

Vending machines

Vantage point

Aurora garden

Canal

Bicycle & pedestrian path

Section D - D 1:1000

Aurora on Ground The landscape of the park is composed of four main vegetatitive layers: vegetation on the roadside and rocky features, grass and flower meadows, riparian buffer around water bodies, and the reforested plots of the boreal forest.

All of the selected species can be found either in the park or in Murmansk region. Emphasis was given on evergreen trees and flowering species with bright colors to render the park lively during blooming seasons.

The same design elements and compositions (such as curves, bright colors, multiplicity and abundance, symmetry, transitions) are considered in designing the landscape layout and vegetation palette of the park.

blooming

A view of the Coziness Valley park

Vegetation palette

A view of the lake side platforms

VISUALS Selected visualisations of some academic projects, competitions, and workshops.

Abstract painting for a bachelor architecture studio

From landscape architecture representation course 75

Viusalition for a studio project

Viusalition for ReUse Italy competition

Viusalition for Bachelor thesis

Viusalition for a studio project

Viusalition form a studio project 77

Viusalition for WWF Observation Cabins competition 78

“I see landscape as a question and an invitation. In this border zone between heaven and earth we try to find our way and tell our stories to color our lives and to give them meaning.” Andrei Tarkovsky

Thank you.