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ARCHITECTURE TO ME: When I was five, I told my parents that I would become an “inventor” when I grew up. As a diplomatic translator and computing manager, they must have been worried about how I would turn out, but I was confused as to why “inventor” was not a more popular career choice. I was continually observing problems that existed in my world, and always searching for ways I could fix them.
Though I didn’t fully understand it at the time, when I said that I wanted to be an “in-ventor,” I was actually telling my parents that someday I would become a designer.
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biomorphism
film archive + urban continuity
TABLE OF CONTENTS:
03body motion
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LH13LH14
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LF1
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LF5
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LF9LF10
LF11
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LF13
LF14
hands
feet
above water
submergedthumb
pointer finger
middle finger
ring finger
pinkystreamline position
underwater pull
recovery
re-entry
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DESIGN CHALLENGE: Research a subject in the natural world and translate aspects of the organism into a functional design.
This project explores the insulation patternings and wing geometries of a snowy owl. The owl has four layers of feathers that grow thicker as they get closer to the body of the animal. In my translation from my studies into a functional seating area, I preserved the notions of movement and insulation, creating a dynamic seating area that would to the bodies of people sit-ting in various different positions.
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BIOMORPHISMUniversity of Pennsylvania Core Studio II | Instructor: Halee BouchehrianFall 2014 | Tools: Rhino, Photoshop, Illustrator
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SNOWY OWL | BUBO SCANDICUS The snowy owl (Bubo Scandiacus) is a beautiful and majestic creature, rarely seen by even the most experienced bird-watchers. It lives very far north, where the climate is extremely cold and frigid; it’s home is typically regarded as the Arctic Tundra. Snowy owls (also known as Snowies, Great White Owls, Ghost Owls, or Arctic Owls) have sleek, thick white feathers to help defend themselves in their natural environment. This white coloration hides them from predators amidst the snow, and the thick-ness of their feather coat (weighing approximately four pounds!) keeps them warm and insulated in ever-declining temperatures. The snowy owl’s wings are one of the most prominent features of the bird. When expanded to their full length, female snowies’ wingspans can reach up to �ve and half feet, while male snowies grow to approximately 90% of this size. In addition to size di�erences, females also have more color-ation on their wings - their feathers display an black, white, and brown spotted pattern. Meanwhile, male snowies display an almost pure white coloration. The bird‘s large wings are composed of four dis-tinctive layers of feathering that grow thicker and thicker closer to the center of the bird, creating a high amount of insulation in the owl’s main body. Typically, snowy owls are known for their silent, majestic �ight and elegance in the wild. However, their beautiful exterior and mysterious allure continually compel new scientists and researchers to con-tinue learning more about the snowy owls of the Tundra.
Animals Time. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Sept. 2014. <http://animalstime.com/snowy-owl-facts-for-kids-amazing -snowy-owl-behavior-diet-habitat-and-reproduction/>. Defenders of Wildlife. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Sept. 2014. <http://www.defenders.org/snowy-owl/basic-facts>. Enchanted Learning. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Sept. 2014. <http://www.enchantedlearning.com/subjects/birds/printouts/Snowyowlprintout.shtml>. National Geographic. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Sept. 2014. <http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2014/01/140122- snowy-owl-south-united-states-irruption-migration-photos-science/>. The Owl Pages. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Sept. 2014. <http://www.owlpages.com/image.php?image=species-Bubo-scandiacus-2>. Owl Worlds. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Sept. 2014. <http://www.owlworlds.com/snowy-owl/>. Potapov, Eugene, and Richard Sale. The Snowy Owl. London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2012. Print. Snowy Owl. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Sept. 2014. <http://www.owling.com/Snowy_nh.htm>. Wildscreen Arkive. N.p., n.d. Web. 1 Sept. 2014. <http://www.arkive.org/snowy-owl/bubo-scandiaca/image-G59495.html>.
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DESIGN CHALLENGE: Integrate the medium of film (via creation of a film archive) into a bustling, historic site at Boston’s Union Square.
In order to activate and engage with the site, the concept of my project focused on the creation of a central hub, wrapped on all sides by a structure that would facilitate integration into the sur-rounding environment. The structure highlights site elevation (by gradually building in height, to peak at corresponding points in the natural topography), and color (by matching hues on either side of the site via overhead walkways across the central courtyard).
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FILM ARCHIVE + URBAN CONTINUITYHarvard GSD Career Discovery | Instructors: Taraneh Meshkani & James YamadaSummer 2014 | Tools Used: Maya, Photoshop, Chipboard, PVC, balsa wood
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BODY MOTIONUniversity of Pennsylvania Core Studio III | Instructor: Halee BouchehrianSpring 2015 | Tools Used: Digital Image, Photoshop, Illustrator, Rhino03
DESIGN CHALLENGE: Analyze, track, and map the body in a specialized series of movements.
My study centered around the butterfly stroke in competitve swimming. In particular, my mappings tracked the hands, arms, and feet through a swim-mer’s projected range of motion as the stroke is being performed.
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LH1
LH3
LH4
LH5
LH6LH7
LH8 LH9
LH10LH11
LH12
LH13LH14
LH2
LF1
LF2
LF3 LF4
LF5
LF6
LF7
LF8
LF9LF10
LF11
LF12
LF13
LF14
hands
feet
above water
submergedthumb
pointer finger
middle finger
ring finger
pinkystreamline position
underwater pull
recovery
re-entry
9
8
9
5
4 3
2
46
8
27
53
1 67
1
2-7
8
9
17
LH1
LH3
LH4
LH5
LH6LH7
LH8 LH9
LH10LH11
LH12
LH13LH14
LH2
LF1
LF2
LF3 LF4
LF5
LF6
LF7
LF8
LF9LF10
LF11
LF12
LF13
LF14
hands
feet
above water
submergedthumb
pointer finger
middle finger
ring finger
pinkystreamline position
underwater pull
recovery
re-entry
9
8
9
5
4 3
2
46
8
27
53
1 67
1
2-7
8
9