Postgraduate Architecture Portfolio by Saba Mirmotalebi

Saba Mirmotalebi Selected Works

I CurriCulum Vitae Saba Mirmotalebi Canadian / saba12mgithub.com/saba12minstagram.com/saba12mlinkedin.com/in/saba12missuu.com/sabamirmotalebiToronto,+1saba.mirmotalebi@gmail.comPersian(647)523-1248Canada Profile A self-driven designer, interested in integrated design and computational architecture. Organized and used to working for deadlines and meeting client requirements, both independently and collaboratively. A fast learner who quickly adapts to new environments and situations. A creative personality with a keen eye for details, who is passionate about photography. The cover art was created in Processing by releasing a physics particle system into a Perlin noise flow field. Work Experience 2021 - present / WATG / Los Angeles / Junior Designer Schematic design, design development, diagram design, interior design, modeling, research, presentation 2018 - 2019 / Sunrise Photography / London / Photographer Portrait, couple, wedding, child, family, headshot, product, nature photography 2016 - 2017 / Arxe Co-op / Tehran / Assistant Architect Conceptual, schematic and parametric design, design development, diagram design, modeling, post production, presentation, research and portolio design Education 2017 - 2018 / University College London / The Bartlett School of Architecture MSc Architectural Computation 2012 - 2017 / University of Tehran / College of Fine Arts BSc Architectural Engineering 2008 - 2012 / Abou-Reyhan High School Diploma in Mathematics & Physics Competitions 2019 / Non-Architecture Competitions / Dying: Alternative Designs for Cemeteries / In orbit 2019 / Fentress Global Challenge / Airport of the Future / Los Angeles / USA 2016 / Archasm / New York Liberty Museum / Liberty Island / USA 2016 / Eleven Magazine / Moontopia / The Moon 2016 / Land Art Generator Initiative / LAGI 2016 / San Francisco / USA 2015 / ARCHMedium / Detroit Station for the Arts / Detroit / USA Awards & Honors 2019 / Shortlisted Top 16 / Airport of the Future Competition 2018 / Bronze Prize Winner / The Bartlett B-Pro Show 2018 2016 / Shortlisted Top 50 / New York Liberty Museum Competition 2012 / National University Entrance Exam (Konkoor) / Ranked 495 among 260,000 applicants 2008 / National Robocup & Robotics Exam / Accepted among 11,000 applicants

II Skills Modeling & Rendering Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk Revit EnscapeV-RaySketchUpRhino Programming Languages ProcessingC++C#Grasshopper Programming Platforms ProcessingUnityXcodeVisualGrasshopperStudio Presentation Adobe Photoshop Adobe InDesign Adobe Illustrator Adobe Lightroom Documentation iWorkMSPhotographyOffice Workshops 2018 / Robot Workshop / Bartlett UCL / London 2017 / Arduino Workshop / Bartlett UCL / London 2016 / Reciprocal Frame Workshop / University of Tehran / Tehran 2015 / Algorithmic Design Workshop / Architectural Center of Iran / Tehran Interests & Hobbies Arts Photography / graphic design / origami / sketching / model making / watercolor / colored pencil / oil painting / fashion design / jewelry design / music / reading Research Computational design / parametric design / data visualization / architectural technology / responsive architecture / facade design / programmable materials / sustainability / structural engineering Sports Weight training / pilates / swimming / jogging Languages Persian / Native English / Fluent (TOEFL 116 / 120) Travels

III FANAVA 33 DATA PROCESSING COMPANY PROFESSIONAL Contents GROWING STRUCTURES 1 VENATION STRUCTURE ACADEMIC CURVED CREASE FOLDING 5 GRASSHOPPER PLUG-IN ACADEMIC SYNC WITH NATURE 11 GREEN ACADEMICLIBRARY MODULAR LIVING 19 RESIDENTIAL COMPLEX ACADEMIC THE ARCHITECT’S HOME 25 ACADEMICHOUSE KASHANAK 29 CULTURAL COMPLEX ACADEMIC

IV THE FLOATING JUNGLE 47 LAND COMPETITIONART THE MOON’S FERRIS WHEEL 51 LUNAR COMPETITIONCOLONY SHATTERED 55 LIBERTY COMPETITIONMUSEUM PHOENIX 2075 41 AIRPORT OF THE FUTURE COMPETITION NEXORADES 57 RECIPROCAL FRAME STRUCTURE WORKSHOP RESPONSIVE PARTITION 61 ALGORITHMIC WALL WORKSHOP NEX+[US] 39 ALTERNATIVE CEMETERY COMPETITION

Venation struCtureGrowinG struCtures1

The common structural forms of today, while optimized and becoming even more so, do not meet the needs for all structural circumstances. This thesis investigates the creation of a new hybrid structural system that merges open branching growth with stable closed growth. This is to allow for diversity of design, alongside structural stability. The convergence of both parametric and organic in this system, influences how the designer can interact with and affect the final form, both in the sense of structural performance and aesthetic appeal.

type: aCademiC (postGraduate thesis) *Bronze prize winner role: sole desiGner year:

2018

For this purpose, a space colonization algorithm implementing relative neighborhood graphs was designed and coded in OpenFrameworks using the C++ language, and structurally analyzed using the finite element analysis plug-in Karamba in Grasshopper.Ahypothetical situation, requiring a structure with limited spacing for the support base, intended to support a number of loads spread out in space was conceptualized and a curved funnel volume was formulated as the testing volume for the proposed system. The system is discussed in detail through this experimental application and ran through an optimization using genetic algorithms. As a result, a series of optimum initial parameters for venation structures within the controlled experiment are reached. Nevertheless, these are not inclusive to all structures. The system shows initial positive results at this stage, but requires further experimentation and optimization to reach real-world application.

GrowinG struCtures

At the beginning of the venation generation, the space within the 3D mesh and the area of the load bearing surface are seeded with a set of attraction points. These points signal the availability of empty space for growth, and are removed when they are reached by one or more branches, depending on the venation type. The number of attraction points distributed is something that is specified by the user and affects the intricacy, detail and module shape of the structure. Given the attraction points, the structural skeleton is formed by an iterative process that begins at the initial starting points specified by the user (signifying the base of the structure). In each iteration, new nodes delimiting short branch segments, extend the skeleton in the direction of the average of the nearby attraction points. This process terminates when all attraction points have been reached, and deactivated.

Venation struCture

Population fitness over one generation

Isometric view

Structural displacement on a grown structure Plan viewSide view

200 iterations of the GA with a population of 50 individuals

The genetic algorithm on the proposed structural growth system was run for 200 generations, each consisting of 50 individuals. Each individual is setup with 500 total attractors, node size of 2, and a volume mesh shaped as a curved funnel with a height and radius of 25m. Each structure takes approximately 40 seconds to grow and save to disk, and each generation around 20 minutes. Grasshopper script for finite element analysis using Karamba Example of a finished structure with 500 attractors Highest fitness structures for each generation (200 in total)

4 type: aCademiC (postGraduate thesis) *Bronze prize winner role: sole desiGner year: 2018 This process is run once for the open venation algorithm, and then a second time for the closed version with the open growth nodes as the starting points. After the second venation is complete, the thickness of the grown branches is computed and the data saved to disk. This file is then read by the analysis software and ran through an FEA procedure, where the maximum displacement and total mass of the structure is calculated and then saved to disk. This data is used in a genetic algorithm process, in an attempt to optimize future grown structures, by trying to find higher fitness individuals who have lower displacement and mass, while exploring the varying range of the degree of openness and the surface vs. volume ratio. The final structure is converted into a closed mesh structure for fabrication.

5 Grasshopper pluG-inCurVed Crease FoldinG

• Each point of a developable surface is contained in a straight ruling line. type: aCademiC (postGraduate studio ii) role: sole desiGner year: 2018

Using these parameters, an energy is defined for measuring how developable a surface is. This project was aimed to design an interactive realtime system for simulating curved crease folding forms using C# in Visual Studio as a Grasshopper plug-in . There was a need for this for several reasons including difficulty in modeling such geometries digitally and interactively (stemming from the lack of both appropriate geometric descriptions and constructive tools available in commercial CAD software) and the fact that most current methods present difficulties when incorporated within an intuitive, real-time, edit-and-observe, interactive and exploratory method of design.

Smooth surfaces: at any point, there is a normal and any tangent direction can be picked. A plane that slices the surface through the normal in that tangent can also be used to extract a curve. That curve’s curvature is the normal curvature associated with that direction. Among all possible directions, the extreme curvatures are called k1 and k2.

• Ruling Lines 



Discreet surface: Quad meshes: An arrangement of n planar quads in a single row is a discrete representation of a developable surface.

• Flattenability 

• If one of the principle curvatures is zero, that means there’s some direction along which the surface isn’t bending so the surface can be flattened in the other direction. Or the Gaussian curvature can be examined, and it can be stated that a smooth surface is developable if it’s Gaussian curvature called K=0 at every point.

• Flattenability (K=0) 

2. Each vertex is a hinge (if the triangles can be partitioned into two edge connected regions over which normals are constant or in other words all of it’s normals are in a common plane (limits them to 2))

• Ruling Lines (edges)  Triangle meshes:

Developable surface: One that can be flattened onto the plane without stretching or compressing any part of it.

Flattenable surface:

1. A triangulated surface is developable if the angle sum equals 2π at every vertex.

7 Grasshopper pluG-inCurVed Crease FoldinG Curved Crease Folding Flat Cut and Crease Curves 3D Developable Mesh Kinetic Energy Folding Curves Initial Mesh Angle (Amount) of Folding (ifFoldingfolding)DevelopabilityLengthsEdge OutputsSubdivisionInputs Level Curvature Along the surface SubdivisionMeshTriangulationMesh SetCurvesBoundarySetCurvesFold CalculationCurvatureFlattenMeshVerticesHinge EnergyKinetic

8 Kinetic Energy Calculate total movement from previous position Flatten Mesh By creating a spring force on each edge to keep lengths consistent, converge angles between faces to 180° Folding Create a folding hinge goal at edges in proximity to folding curve Edge Lengths Create edge spring goal forces for length consistency Set Boundary Curves Extract outline curves Curvature Calculation Calculate sum degrees at each vertex Hinge Vertices By calculating the angle between faces, detect the two smallest , create a hinge seam and flatten each side Developability Create a goal to sum all vertex angles to 360° Mesh Triangulation Triangulate for flattenability Mesh Subdivision Subdivide for more intricacy Set Fold Curves Create curved crease lines from folded edges type: aCademiC (postGraduate studio ii) role: sole desiGner year: 2018

9 Grasshopper pluG-inCurVed Crease FoldinG CONTROLLER VIEW MODEL LINE / MESH / 3D GEOMETRY CONVERGENCEITERATETILL SETUP INITIALIZE MODEL UPDATE MODEL DISPLAY MODEL SETUP / PREFERENCES MGUIODEL INTERACTION MODEL MODIFICATION UPDATE DRAW KEY PRESS MOUSE PRESS CREATE MESH CONVERT MESH TO ACTIVE MESH INITIALIZE OPTIMIZATION DATA EFORCESNERGY / GRADIENT COLLECT VARIABLES COMPUTE FORCES PER VERTEX ALONG GRADIENT OF PLANARITY COMPUTE FORCES PER VERTEX ALONG GRADIENT OF DEVELOPABILITY ADD BOTH FORCES PER VERTEX CALCULATE NEW VERTEX POSITIONS UPDATE VERTEX POSITIONS ACTIVE MESH MGUIETRICS

10 The final results of the simulated folding of several different curved crease forms, with different subdivision values. type: aCademiC (postGraduate studio ii) role: sole desiGner year: 2018 With hinge vertexing No subdivisionsubdivisionNo subdivisionNo Without hinge vertexing 1 Level of subdivision1 Level subdivisionof 1 Level subdivisionof 2 Levels of subdivision

11 Green liBrarysynC with nature / tehran / iran

Research and reading in general has been on the decline in Iran for years and today it holds one of the lowest times spent reading per capita in the world. The aim of this project is to attract the everyday passerby by creating a new-age library typology that would break away from the formal environment of existing libraries and re-program the functional and spatial aspects to make it an exciting and viable prospect for the future, placing visitors in vicinity to books and increasing their predisposition for reading in this way. This landmark is a useful public resource for visitors that is in sync with nature and its site and has minimum impact on the natural environment. Ground level ......................... Urban buildings .................... Urban appearance ............... Green library ........................ type: aCademiC (underGraduate thesis) role: sole desiGner year: 2016 12 South Elevation Scale: 1:200

The site of the project was on the corner of an intersection which faces a local park. Its main characteristic was a steep beveled ground towards the park which had been excavated prior to design. This excavated site provides an obscured north side which was used as the basis of a structure which is in sync with it.

13 Green liBrarysynC with nature / tehran / iran Management Library Library Print Researchjournalsroom Reference room Digitallibrary Teen'slibrary libraryChild-ren's LockerroomroomChangingBreakCopyroomroom Gallery Bathroom Parking Mechanicalroom ReferenceSecurityroom Shop CoffeshopConferenceroomPublicrelations&financecareChild&playarea Gallery Tutor'sroom Educationalclasses

type: aCademiC (underGraduate thesis) role: sole desiGner year: 2016 14 East Elevation Scale: 1:200 Ground Floor Plan Scale:The1:500exterior environment of the green library creates an inviting impression on passersby and a relaxing area for users of all areas.

15 Green liBrarysynC with nature / tehran / iran

type: aCademiC (underGraduate thesis) role: sole desiGner year: 2016 16

17 Green liBrarysynC with nature / tehran / iran North-South Section Scale: 1:200

The influence of the inclined site in grading the landscape

The influence of the excavated ground area in forming the ribbon volumes

3D Model Scale: 1:200 East-West Section Scale: 1:250

The influence of Westerly winds on the section of the ribbons Storm water collection by the incline of the volumes for reuse for non-potable purposes like irrigation and flushing of toilets

The influence of the Western wind in the direction of cross openings

Decreasing heat loss by inserting the building volume into the ground

Decreasing energy waste by placing multiple doors between the entrance and conditioned areas

The influence of the Southern sun in directiondaylighting

Decreasing heat loss by decreasing the floor area to exterior surface area ratio

18 type: aCademiC (underGraduate thesis) role: sole desiGner year: 2016

Efficiency increase by natural top lighting

19 residential Complexmodular liVinG / tehran / iran

This project is comprised of just 4 main modules, which are rotated and / or mirrored. These modules are composed of several types of housing units (1, 2 & 3 bedroom), vertical access areas, and the complex public indoor areas such as the library and the cinema center. These modules are placed on top of each other in a slightly displaced manner, in order to create outdoor balconies for the larger units. Thus the most can be made of outdoor spaces using the same modules. It also creates an overall porous volume for the entire complex. This along with the gradual slope of the ground, the gradual increase of the building heights helps the project have a lighter and less intense impression, inviting users in. type: aCademiC (underGraduate desiGn studio V) role: sole desiGner year: 2016 North Elevation Scale: 1:400

Modular living is a residential complex which endeavors to create a wide range of architectural spaces for residents both on the ground and in the air, using only a small number of modules.

21 1 Bedroom apartment type A 1 Bedroom apartment type B 1 Bedroom apartment type C 1 Bedroom apartment type D 2 Bedroom apartment type A 2 Bedroom apartment type B 2 Bedroom apartment type C 2 Bedroom apartment type D 2 Bedroom apartment type E 3 Bedroom apartment type A Vertical connections Public areas (library & cinema center) The 4 composingmodulesthe complex residential Complexmodular liVinG / tehran / iran The composingcomponentsthecomplex The volumecompleteofthe complex The plan of eachScale:component1:600

The South side has a more open approach to connect with the park located there and to create better views for residents.

The main East-West path is used to connect the alley end on the East to the main Street on the West of the complex and to engage more users in the public spaces. Yet the thin winding modules are combined in a manner to create more intimate and diverse green areas for resident use.

The porous facade is combined with a playful layer of wooden shaders to create more comfort and intimacy for the residents, to honor the sanction of the home in an Islamic community. This also helps the create diversity of space and aesthetics so that no one face is the same.

type: aCademiC (underGraduate desiGn studio V) role: sole desiGner year: 2016 East Elevation Scale: 1:400

23 residential Complexmodular liVinG / tehran / iran West Elevation Scale: 1:800Adjacency Plans Scale: 1:1000

24 type: aCademiC (underGraduate desiGn studio V) role: sole desiGner year: 2016 East-West Section Scale: 1:400 Site Plan Scale: 1:1600

25 housethe arChiteCt’s home / tehran / iran

ii) role: sole desiGner year: 2014 North-South Section Scale: 1:200 First Floor Plan Scale: 1:200 1 2 3 4 5 678 9 10 11 1. Entrance 2. Vestibule 3. Washroom 4. Garage 5. Architecture Studio 6. Master Bedroom 7. LivingPrivateRoom 8. Kitchenette 9. 11.10.BedroomBedroomBedroom

type: aCademiC (underGraduate

This studio was intended as a basis for students’ familiarization with architecture, considering the user’s requirements and needs and being able to merge the overall concept of the project with issues such as area management and interior planning. Students were asked to put themselves in the user’s shoes and design a house for their future family including their other half, children, grandparents living with them and occasional guests. A family of architects requiring a small home studio with three children was chosen here. The base concept of the project was to have a clarity of vision and interconnectedness between all areas of the house. As such, a central natural atrium next to a vestibule used for floor connections was placed in the middle of the house and all relevant areas were located around this transparent heart. desiGn studio

27 housethe arChiteCt’s home / tehran / iran South Elevation Scale: 1:200 Ground Floor Plan Scale: 1:200 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 6. Atrium 7. RoomGuest 8. RoomGames 9. 10.MechanicalRoomJacuzzi 1. BedroomGrandparent’s 2. Family Room 3. Kitchen 4. Dining Room 5. Living Room Wall Section Detail Scale: 1:100 A W.D +4.89 -1.57+1.57-2.87-1.30

28 type: aCademiC (underGraduate desiGn studio ii) role: sole desiGner year: 2014 The issue of privacy has been of the utmost importance in Iran for centuries, due to the religious and cultural requirements of the region. Wooden shaders of different designs were used in traditional Persian architecture to both create the required privacy in personal areas and limit the amount of incoming sunlight due to the region’s warm climate. This concept was used as a basis for a horizontal louver shading system in the facade, terrace roofs and as wooden railings. These are used to bring warmth to the sprayed concrete facade. East Elevation Scale: 1:200

KashanaK / tehran / iran Cultural Complex29

30 Kashan is an old city located near Isfahan, and an entertaining attraction for tourists because of its rich culture and architecture. The objective of this project was to design a little piece of Kashan, right here in Tehran, a place where anyone who walked by would feel as if they just passed Kashan. type: aCademiC (underGraduate desiGn studio i) role: sole desiGner year: 2014 Library & service areas TraditionalBazaarRestauranthandcraft shops Terraced ground for park access Site Plan Scale: 1:100 Kashan Skyline

KashanaK / tehran / iran Cultural Complex31 dimensionselongatedThe of the site and the mademisleadwhicharchitectureintricatesomewhatcouldvisitorsitanecessity

elementAnother often seen in Kashan is the use of specific building forms and elements in design to draw the attention of the users, either inwards for uses such as passive cooling in warmer climates, or outwards. The use of introverted architecture can be seen in the Amerian House in Kashan.Although these traditional uses were mostly used for climate control and conditioning of the built environments, the vicinity of surrounding elements suggested that the project would benefit from a focus of attention towards the center of the main building and away from the surroundings. Thus a U shaped building was chosen, facing towards the park, with hard exterior walls and porous interior walls of wood and glass.

to place a guide for visitors towards the center of the complex. A water path (pool) was used as this guide.

The axis of the main building was rotated 45 degrees anticlockwise so as to distinguish itself from the smaller buildings, face the surrounding green spaces in 3 directions, give a beautiful view of the park when standing in its center and to attract visitors of the park to the complex.

The use of pools in guiding to the main point of an architectural building has many a basis in traditional Iranian architecture and even Kashan, and a distinct example of this can be seen in the Fin garden of Kashan.

Terraced ground to connect people from the project to the adjacent park and vice versa

type: aCademiC (underGraduate desiGn studio i) role: sole desiGner year: 2014 HouseTabatabaei Fin Garden HouseAmerian

One beautiful element of Iranian architecture is the use of stained glass windows in intrinsic designs as seen in the Tabatabaei house, which was how the idea for the multicolored glass tiles of the handicraft shops facade was formed.

The bazaar building is positioned so as to focus attention into the complex and away from the surrounding buildings to the West

33 data proCessinG CompanyFanaVa / tehran / iran

34 ModularDesignEconomicalSpaceUsage BottomDesignUpEconomicalSavingsCombinabilityGeneralizabilityFlexibility Developability Replacement,Repair&Maintenance

type: proFessional (arxe Co-op) role: desiGn proCess, plan desiGn, Furniture desiGn, FaCade desiGn, modelinG year: 2016-17

The first idea that came to mind as a design strategy was that the architecture of the organization also follows this concept and serves users and the organization in the same way. That is, the architecture of the building provides a platform for adjustment, editing and relocation, instead of being fixed and static. This idea was also consistent with the keyword flexibility.

Considering the nature and type of services that the organization offered, it seemed appropriate for it to be considered as a platform for creating new communications and services.

The project consisted of the design of the new building for the expansion of the Fanava data processing company from a previously residential building. A renovation of the entire building was required; including a complete interior and plan design, facade design, expansion of the lobby and reception areas, vertical access reassessment and planning, and expansion of the mechanical and electrical installation areas.

IslamicinProceduresSolvingProblemtheDesignFunctionalandCost-effectiveEncounterAvant-garde,Identity-based,Technological,FlexibleandIranianandIdentityIdentity-based,SymbolicandTechnologicalEncounterKeywordsIranian&Islamic CommunicationFlexibilty Enjoyment TechnologyCreativity

35 data proCessinG CompanyFanaVa / tehran / iran A-135E A-135EAA-130A-130AA-131B A-131BAA-133D-133DA-132C A-132C 51 m Multi-Purpose 12 m² Kitchen 23 m Secretary 26 m² ManagementAA-134F-134F Void /SWateruppyVent /SWaterupplyVent CCDataenterolng /CAVHEectrical iWklUpnres GiDeseenerator CAVHhExaust CentraHeatng REF 36 m² Lobby 32 m² Ba cony Sca e Date Drg NoClien D awing Ti e 1 75 06/06 17 A-108 Dadeh Pardazi FANAVA Co 1st Floor Pl 1st Floor Plan Scale: 1:200

36 type: proFessional (arxe Co-op) role: desiGn proCess, plan desiGn, Furniture desiGn, FaCade desiGn, modelinG year: 2016-17 Level EntrancLeLeLe7.3020vel310.500vel1-1.600Level413.700Level516.900Level620.100Level723.300Level826.500Level00.900vel2-4.600e0.000Level14.100 Archi ec Sca e Da e D g NoClient Draw ng T e Arxe co-op 1 75 05 06 17 A-130 Dadeh Pardazi FANAVA Co Section A-A 1 : 75 1 A Section A-A Scale: 1:200

37 Considering the characteristics of the organization, using modular forms seemed like an appropriate approach to furniture design. This was also consistent with previous ideas of providing a platform and flexibility in space. On the other hand, modulation provided an appropriate component, suitable to formulate and develop the whole in accordance with. data proCessinG CompanyFanaVa / tehran / iran

38 Therefore, from the beginning the design and initial sketches tried to be in conformity with components, in order to form a platform integrated with components, and converge the concept of flexibility to reality. type: proFessional (arxe Co-op) role: desiGn proCess, plan desiGn, Furniture desiGn, FaCade desiGn, modelinG year: 2016-17 LayoutsModulesGroups 45.2 60.0 60.0 80.0 90.0 90.0 80.0 60.0 60.0 80.0 90.0 90.0 90.0 80.0 60.0 60.0 120.0 80.0 30.090.0 90.0 120.0 80.0 A-135E A-135EAA-130A-130AA-131B A-131BAA-133D-133DA-132C A-132C SWCAVHaeruppy/Ven SWaeuppyVen CCeDatanteroing /CAVHElecrcal UplinkWies CentraHeatng GenelDieserator SWhauExstHVACaeruppy/Ven Perso8Perso8 OMicrowaveven T3LVL CCConaFonaFFano 128 m Open Office 11 m Office 20 m Movab e File S orage 10 7 1 6 1 5AA-13F-13FCCCFaFaFa Modular component 120º 120º 120º Grid layout for modular design Modular component3rd Floor Plan Scale: 1:200

alternatiVe Cemeterynex+[us] / in orBit39

year: 2019

access t o d i gi t al c o n t e n t o f t eh desaeced

g“DNAextractiongenomesequencingdecompositionreenburial”non-physicaldigitalfootprint data satellite server traveling light projection of souls physical plants parkin place of conventional cemetery light scanfrom cellphone

dashti) role: ConCept deVelopment, desiGn

Regardless of any culture, race or religion, our cemeteries are associated with mourning and the feeling of sadness. Imagining our loved ones watching us from above is an attempt to appease that emotion. Cemeteries, as we see traditionally, are valuable yet depressing spaces occupied by the deceased, only to be experienced by the living. When a person dies, their physical entity returns to earth and their non-physical entity turns to memories. However, physical bodies can be visually reconstructed from DNA data, while the non-physical being can be defined as a digital footprint.Nex+[us] is an evergrowing data server satellite orbiting the globe. It collects and stores DNA data as well as the digital footprint of the deceased, while projecting playful holographic lights onto earth for the living to interact with. By scanning the lights, they are taken to the memories of their loved ones, now living in the sky. It continues to grow, connect and watch over all of us. It is the ‘Next of Us’, a Nex+[Us], our future cemetery. aKram, ali deVelopment, post produCtion transmitdatatosky

type: Competition (with nahid

phoenix 2075 / los anGeles / Ca airport oF the Future41

year: 2019

What defines an airport?… Isn’t it the airplanes? The coming and going of passengers? Why not let them shape our airport too, give it meaning and even form. When they’re here, the building is an airport. When they’re not, it transforms into an attraction point.By the year 2075, 3/4 of the 21st century has passed and we’re pondering about how technology has evolved and reshaped our lives. Aviation and transportation has drastically changed from the beginning of the century. post produCtion

type: Competition (with ali dashti) role: ConCept deVelopment, desiGn deVelopment, diaGrams,

43 airport oF the Futurephoenix 2075 / los anGeles / Ca Electric Airpods SuctionInbetweenElevators Elevator Accessibility System Core Airport Hub Underground Transportation System

1. The CORE at the base of the building is the central hub and gathering place of users. Passengers would reach this center using automated high speed underground transportation running on clean electrical energy.

Suction Elevators Extrusions facing outwards from the core to connect the inbetween to the pods

2. The INBETWEEN is a green structure in the heart of the airport, between the main core and the pod docking area that acts as a calming environment for the users passing through to their flights, or as a separate attraction for visitors who are interested in experiencing this unique space. Visitors would access this space by elevators gliding on its underside. It not only serves as a nature-adventure amusement park, but also as a huge environmental support.

The Inbetween

PHOENIX 2075 consists of 3 parts:

3. The PODS and their docking area, connected to the inbetween with transparent elevators. The pods dock using a suction system to insure proper placement and safety. They run on clean electricity produced by the field of solar panels in the surrounding landscape area. They charge whilst docked, and no longer require kilometers of flat ground to take off and land.

Vertical Extrusion Extrusions facing outwards from the core to connect the inbetween to the pods

44 type: Competition (with ali dashti) role: ConCept deVelopment, desiGn deVelopment, diaGrams, post produCtion year: 2019 Airport Hub

Webbed Layer

Airpods

A hexagonal grid of connections above the main core used as a connection point to reach pods

The core placed at the center of the project to gather people from all over the city

Pods at the end of the elevators boarded to travel all across the Earth and into space

The grid takes volume and becomes an inhabitable space used as an attraction as well as a connection point

EPod45 • Small airpod for Earth travel • Runs on clean solar-generated electrical energy EPod Max • Large airpods for Earth travel • Runs on clean solar generated electrical energy MarsCruise • Large airpod for Martian travel • Runs on clean solar generated electrical energy • Grouped airpod for Lunar travel • Runs on clean solar generated electrical energy airport oF the Futurephoenix 2075 / los anGeles / Ca

The outer landscape of the PHOENIX 2075 is a tribute to the existing runways which have been rendered useless. This 12,000,000 square kilometer area now serves as a serene eco-friendly landscape, contributing to the clean energy and air of the city and noticeably reduces infrastructure. It’s composed of solar panels, greeneries, and recycled concrete from the old airport building.

The pods come in a variety of capacities and serve a number of purposes. The pods at the center are built for space exploration, whilst the surrounding pods are for Earth travel.

46 type: Competition (with ali dashti) role: ConCept deVelopment, desiGn deVelopment, diaGrams, post produCtion year: 2019

47 land artthe FloatinG JunGle / santa moniCa / Ca

GREEN SPHERES

The Floating Jungle consists of two main elements: type: Competition (with ali dashti, BaBaK talaee) role: desiGn deVelopment, teChnoloGiCal details and CalCulations, modelinG, post produCtion year: 2016

1. Their size in diameter ranges from 5 to 20 meters.2.Holes embedded on their surface will allow a good portion of O2 to be dispersed into the andwateringofatmosphere.3.Theyconsistsoil,grass,surfacestrees.4.Therearewatering pipes adhered to our green spheres by which people can water the plants inside. Water poured into the pipes will water the entire ground surface by way of methodical irrigation. 5. They produce a vast amount of electricity underneath.

Santa Monica is a coastal city and has been recognized as one of the top ten sustainable cities in the United States. A 3D land art was designed as an iconic attraction on the waters surrounding Santa Monica Pier that’s not only aesthetically pleasing but also produces clean electricity, drinking water and cleanses the air.

Called so not only because they house a variety of trees, shrubberies and greenery inside, but also because of their clean energy production and sustainable features as explained below:

2. They produce water by acting as a seawater still. Seawater stored in these spheres is heated by the sun and evaporates, condensing on the glass membrane and is collected in the gutters on the sides of the spheres. A valve underneath automatically lets in seawater whenever the water level inside lowers. A small amount of this clean water is made available for passersby to gather and water the jungle, the rest however is moved to a reservoir, created on the sea floor, ready to be transported for urban use. These spheres daily produce a lot of clean water because of their large surface area for water evaporation (5 meter diameter).

BLUE SPHERES Another exclusive element which plays two major roles in the project:1.They are the source of the potable water used to irrigate the green spheres.

49 land artthe FloatinG JunGle / santa moniCa / Ca

The Floating Jungle consists of 34 green spheres and 44 blue spheres. The green spheres containing large trees and abundant bushes are themselves tall and looming, creating the feeling of walking in a lush forest. The landmark takes visitors through different levels of a jungle dispensed in water. The people are participants in keeping this natural environment alive; they are responsible for watering the greeneries with clean potable water they acquire from the blue spheres. These spheres act as seawater stills; seawater stored in these spheres is evaporated by the sun, condensing on the glass membrane and collected in the gutters on the sides of the spheres. A valve underneath automatically lets in seawater whenever the water level inside decreases. A small part of the clean water produced is made available for passersby to water the jungle, the rest however is moved to a reservoir on the sea floor, ready to be transported for use.

Since the spherical jungles are so large and inaccessible, small gutters are placed at the brinks of the openings, to help dispense water all across the surface of the soil and water the entire jungle evenly. All of these spheres are anchored down to the ocean floor, each being held in place by three steel cables, pulling at the sphere from different directions, to insure its stability and hold it in place. The sides of the platform are lined with rubber to absorb possible shocks produced by any encounter they might have with the spheres.Theindividual and exclusive attributes of the site were utilized for the technology used to create energy. Underneath each sphere a turbine is located, using the tidal waves at the sea floor to rotate and produce electricity. The electricity generated is transferred to a generator located behind the breakwater, where the waves can’t disturb it. The water reservoir used to store the clean water produced is also located there.

type:

role:

Water movements at the bottom of the ocean are used in this project to produce clean energy by the Gorlov Helical Turbine. One of these turbines is placed underneath each sphere, blue or green, and the sea floor water flow rotates the turbines, creating electricity. Each sphere not only helps to produce natural energy, but also cleans and filters the air we breathe and the water we drink on a daily basis. This vertical axis rotating turbine consists of three blades rotating around the central axis, and connected to the rotating axis in the middle.

The thickness of the glass membrane of the spheres is 2cm: The green spheres float on top of the water, with almost 80% of the spheres floating above water level. Section through the site

Eachat: GHT has a power of 1.5 kW at wave speeds of 1.5m/s and 180kW at wave speeds of 7.72m/s. Nominal wave speeds of the Santa Monica coast are estimated to be 4m/s. So the power of electricity produced is in the range of 1.5-180kW. Potential annual energy production of the floating jungle consisting of 78 GHTs at wave speeds of 4m/s is in the range of: Competition (with ali dashti, BaBaK talaee) desiGn deVelopment, teChnoloGiCal details and CalCulations, modelinG, post produCtion can a jungle float? Gorlov Helical Turbine Technology

Each blue sphere produces a daily amount of 97-167L of clean water per day. A total of 44 blue spheres produce 4,300-7,300L of water per day. Potential annual water production of the floating jungle is estimated

year: 2016 How

51 lunar Colonythe moon’s Ferris wheel / the moon

Living Units

Living unit on earth Living unit on the moon The Ferris wheel of living units

This lunar colony consists of modular living units, revolving around a communal core, thus creating a day and night rhythm for the colony called the rhythm of life, enabling them to live and work on the moon.

A day on earth has 24 hours. According to where you live, day and night lasts differently, creating a Circadian Rhythm. The residential units on the Ferris wheel spins at a speed of one round per day, creating a lunar clock based on their location. This creates the experience of day turning into night by spinning and moving underground and vise versa. Thus living units on the moon follow a circadian cycle called the Rhythm of Life.

A circadian rhythm is a 24 hour cycle in the physiological processes of living beings. They are endogenously generated, although they can be modulated by external cues such as sunlight and temperature. Circadian rhythms are important in determining the sleeping and feeding patterns of all animals. There are clear patterns of brain wave activity, hormone production, cell regeneration and other biological activities linked to this daily cycle.

When considering a family a unit, adding a certain amount of planting area to the units will fulfill their basic needs. These living units coexist together in the Ferris wheel cycle and are connected to a core via gravity ducts that manage waste disposal.

Circadian Rhythm

52 type: Competition (with ali dashti, BaBaK talaee) role: ConCept deVelopment, desiGn deVelopment, details desiGn, diaGrams, modelinG, post produCtion year: 2016

Rhythm of Life

53 lunar Colonythe moon’s Ferris wheel / the moon

Living Units If a family is considered a unit, they will have certain biological needs such as Oxygen, water, food, etc. alongside psychological needs such as working, studying, having fun and etc. Attaching a planting area to every unit can fulfill their basic biological needs alongside producing food and Oxygen. Site opportunities are used to sustain the planting area and create a livable environment for each unit. All these living units on the moon will work together in a cycle creating the rhythm of life and connecting to a central space named the communal core.

role:

year: 2016

Every living unit consists of a family, so there are a number of people with different ages and abilities living in a private environment but the communal core is where they can each give back to the community based on their abilities. This is a place where the individuals from each living unit can meet and spend time together as a community. Based on the qualities that every individual has, the communal core serves a place to work, research, plant, learn and recreate. Each unit is individually connected to the core via a service elevator. (with ali dashti, BaBaK talaee) ConCept deVelopment, desiGn deVelopment, details desiGn, diaGrams, modelinG, post produCtion

54 Communal Core

type: Competition

55 liBerty museumshattered / liBerty island / ny

56 type: Competition (with ali dashti, BaBaK talaee) *shortlisted top 50 role: ConCept deVelopment, modelinG, post produCtion year: 2016 A place that expects its viewers to protest and fortify their voices is amazing. This project distinguishes itself by its impacts from a greater power, The Statue of Liberty. The specific site location demands inspiration from The Statue of Liberty. By implementing it as an epicenter, like it had struck the ground and created waves of energy that have influenced the site, thus being formed with shattered surfaces and volumes. This project is mostly covered by mirrors; reflecting the cause of these shatters is an experience which is a reminder of the its identity in any angle. The project encourages people to gather inside it to benefit from its library and museum and presents a platform for visitors to make their voices heard. The goal is to gather people of any race, nationality or opinion, give them an extraordinary experience by walking amongst the shattered mess, and present images of the Statue of Liberty and themselves in the mirrors to demonstrate the power of liberty. Site Plan Elevation

57 nexorades / tehran / iran reCiproCal Frame struCture

Although these structures have a complex structural hierarchy and composition, they have easy and rapid constructions.

58 type: worKshop (with JaVad allahGholi, mahshid moGhaddasi, dena shamsollahi, maryam toosi) role: desiGn deVelopment, Grasshopper sCriptinG, photoGraphy, ConstruCtion, presentation year: 2016

The first experience was the formation of the saddle form reciprocal frame structure made with cylindrical components. In this experience, the goal was to form simple hand made nexorades structures using wooden poles. It was also a personal goal to try and form a two-way curved structure which resulted in a hyperbolic paraboloid (saddle) formation.

The reciprocal frame (nexorade) is a threedimensional assembly structure made up of three or more sloping rods in a closed circuit. The inner end of each rod rests on and is supported by its adjacent rod. Signified by the word “reciprocal,” which expresses mutual action or relationship, such closed circuit is obtained as the last rod is placed over the first one in a mutually-supporting manner. At the outer end, the rods are given an external support by a wall, ring beams, or columns. They compose a stable geometrical configuration without any clear structural hierarchy. The structure is most commonly used for roof structures because the span length of the structure can be much longer than the length of each individual element.

nexorades reCiproCal Frame struCture

The second experience was the development of a 1:5 scale saddle form using planar components; a planar base form was chosen. The formation pattern for the circuits was the same as the last experience, which allowed the structure to be curved in two perpendicular directions. The wedge segments were then designed using Grasshopper coding, laser cut, individually coded and group assembled.

/ tehran / iran

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The final experience shaped a 1:1 scale free standing structure using cylindrical components. The design consists of polycarbonate pipes of no longer than 70cm, connected using screws drilled into specific locations in the pipes. A 3D mesh was first chosen, then a mesh relaxation method using Kangaroo was used for the form finding process, the components were cut to their individual lengths, and then the location of the holes were coded into a CNC drilling machine with G-codes. Finally the pipes were painted for aesthetic appeal and assembled by a team of almost 20 people. This structure was designed to hang as a non-dependent structure above the exhibition hall at the Fine Arts College of University of Tehran.

The form-finding process of the structure

60 type: worKshop (with JaVad allahGholi, mahshid moGhaddasi, dena shamsollahi, maryam toosi) role: desiGn deVelopment, Grasshopper sCriptinG, photoGraphy, ConstruCtion, presentation year: 2016

The final structure (A 5m x 5m x 5m structure)

responsiVe partition / tehran / iran alGorithmiC wall61

62 type: worKshop (with mahshid moGhaddasi, marJan naraGhi) role: ConCept deVelopment, desiGn proCess, ConstruCtion, presentation year: 2015

In order to allow for the vertical exertion of pressure and to achieve an absolute structural behavior the vertical surface was cut into ribbons.

• Ribbon Thickness: Increasing in the ribbon thickness decreases the number of segments shaping the agent and constrains the bending of the ribbons.

Behavioral Patterns

• Circle Radius: When the radius is at approximately 22cm, excessive slender height to radius ratio causes instability in the agent in the used material.

The purpose here was to design a parametric interior component that could control both light and visibility.Theinitial concept was of a cup that would compress along its central axis and obscure the view. But to allow for higher levels of measurability, the application of pressure was changed and axial pressure replaced torsion.

• Height: When the ratio of height to radius passes a certain point, a third filter is created. In this case the visibility in the inner circle is cut off completely.

Paper was used as the preliminary material to analyze the model in different scales. The final components were composed of laser cut heavy paper (160 gsm) with plexiglass caps to hold the circular form at the ends. The components were placed between two plexiglass walls and the application of pressure was used to interact with the modules.

Form-generating image

responsiVe partition / tehran / iran alGorithmiC wall63 In order to have more control over the various shadow qualities and inbound light rays it was decided to bend some of the ribbons inwards rather than out. Third visibility filter Creation of the third filter

64 type: worKshop (with mahshid moGhaddasi, marJan naraGhi) role: ConCept deVelopment, desiGn proCess, ConstruCtion, presentation year: 2015 Variation in length ratio (Δx) 0.97 0.95 0.93 0.91 0.88 0.86 0.84 0.82 0.8 0.77 Variation in height ratio (Δh) 1.00 1.50 1.80 2.10 2.31 2.50 2.62 2.75 2.87 3.00ribbons12cm Variation in length ratio (Δx) 0.98 0.96 0.94 0.92 0.90 0.88 0.86 0.84 0.82 0.80 Variation in height ratio (Δh) 1.00 1.40 1.76 2.00 2.20 2.47 2.68 2.82 2.94 2.94ribbons10cm

responsiVe partition / tehran / iran alGorithmiC wall65 Planar Isometricviewview Gradual pressure application & opening of the components Resulting in a gradual decrease in light and visibility

66 type: worKshop (with mahshid moGhaddasi, marJan naraGhi) role: ConCept deVelopment, desiGn proCess, ConstruCtion, presentation year: 2015 Envisioned usages: Building envelope Kinetic / media facade Interior responsive shader Interior partitions Interior lighting units Future Development By dividing the enclosing glass walls of the partition, more control can be exerted over the view behind the partition and amount of light passing through it. Final responsive curtain

the end