TEHRAGELES

A Little Piece of Tehran

WHY IS IT CALLED TEHRANGELES?

Tehran is the capital of Iran, and combines with Los Angeles into Tehrangeles, also known as Little Persia. It is a Persian community located in Westwood, Los Angeles. Thousands of Iranians flee to the United States after the Islamic Revolution of 1979, in hope to find a new home amidst political uncertainty. Now the estimated population is around 700,000.

WHERE IS TEHRANGELES?

Tehrangeles is located on Westwood Boulevard between Wilshire and Pico, and Persian Square is at the intersection of Westwood Boulevard and Wilkins Avenue. Tehrangeles is home to many Iranian immigrant entrepreneurs who own their own restaurants, bakery, and grocery stores.

This sandwich shop is a daytime-only shop on Westwood Blvd and is also one of the most wellknown places in the neighborhood. Since Attari is the social heart of the Persian community, many friends and families came to enjoy the meal on the patio and listened to Persian music together. Attari is known for its beef tongue sandwich; once you taste it, it is crispy on the outside and tender on the inside. With tomatoes, pickles, onions, cilantro, and garlic sauce, which makes the tongue sandwich is the perfect combination.

Hours: 11AM-5PM

Address: 1357 Westwood Blvd

Guiti Art Gallery was opened in 2010, and ever since then it has been a popular art hub for folks. It is an interactive art studio; you can come here and look at the paintings and sculptures. However, if you want a more hands-on experience, take one of the art classes they offer. The instructor received her drawing and oil painting in Tehran, and she is passionate about art and hopes to inspire creativity within the form of painting.

Hours: closed on Thursday & Friday

Address: 1357 Westwood Blvd

Ketabsara Persian Bookstore Nuka Cafe

This is an independent bookstore that stores a wide variety and selection of Persian artworks and literature. When you walk in, you’ll be greeted by all the phenomenal calligraphy. Don’t worry if you don’t understand Farsi, there are some books in English about Persian culture and art. The store owner is very knowledgeable about Persian art and literature, and he is delighted to share his exciting stories with you! Sometimes you can even catch him writing and painting in Farsi in one corner. Ketabsara bookstore is also a perfect place to buy some thoughtful gifts for your friends & family.

Hours: 1PM-9PM

Address: 1441Westwood Blvd

Tehrangeles also features other cuisines, such as Turkish and Mediterranean. Nuka Cafe offers the delicious Mediterranean and also a variety of desserts and drinks. After a meal in the Attari sandwich shop, you’re probably craving something sweet. Come here for their specialtybaklava (layered pastry filled with chopped nuts and honey) and knafeh (pudding-like pastry topped with cheese). Then finish it off with hot Turkish tea; it’s an afternoon tea you didn’t know you needed. If you’re coming for a meal, the iskender kebab is the ideal choice! Come and enjoy the Turkish hospitality.

Hours: 12PM-9PM

Address: 1510 Westwood Blvd

Wufenpu

Urban revitalization of Wufenpu district in Taipei, Taiwan

April 2021

Course: Graduation Capstone Project

Location: Taipei, Taiwan

Group members: Jennifer Lin, Pin Lin, Yu Hua Yang, and Pearl Liu

Wufenpu is a historically renowned clothing wholesale market located in the Xinyi District of Taipei, Taiwan. It is the largest business hub for clothing retailers. However, due to the decrease in tourism, market recession, and the pandemic’s deterioration, the development of Wufenpu has become very limited. In our graduation capstone project for National Taipei University, we decided to develop a plan that could revitalize the business and the community around Wufenpu. Our goal was to present a future city plan that integrated smart and resilient planning. We brought new concepts into Wufenpu, such as green spaces, an elder-friendly built environment, and new designs that could improve the loading and unloading process of the wholesale marketplace.

I was in charge of the spatial visualization group and transferred our ideas and policies into a video using IMovie (video link: https://youtu.be/cqn3ZvgtM4E) and 3D models. Our group used CityEngine, and Esri software, to run the models of the Wufenpu we had in plan.