SHERRY KAHEN PORTFOLIO

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ABOUT My name is Sharareh Kahenassa (Sherry Kahen), and I was born and raised in Iran. I got my associate degree in interior design and graphic design in my country; I moved to the United States in 2014. I graduated from the Woodbury University School of Architecture in May 2023.

Studying architecture’s been my dream since I was 16, and I had a long path to achieve my goal!

SKILLS Revit Trained Rhino AutoCAD Trained V-ray Microsoft Office Expertise Adobe Indesign Bluebeam Adobe Illustrator Graphic Design Adobe Photoshop Interior Design BIM Coordination Navisworks Fast learner Newforma Multitasker Organized Detail-oriented

AWARDS Sue & Bill Gross CTE Scholars Program The David Simon Scholarship Certifications Procore Certified with Procore Technologies Cal/OSHA 10-Hour Construction

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CONTENTS 01 Woman Life Freedom Center

4 - 11

02 Biosvive (Biosphere + Survive)

12 - 21

03 Complexity in Simplicity

22 - 27

04 DTLA Justice Center

28 - 37

05 Pacific Seismographer

38 - 45

06 Internship - Bradco Kitchen & Bath

46 - 49

Instructor: Arron Genslor & Erin Wright / Spring 2023 / WSOA

Instructor: Paulette Singley / Fall 2022 / WSOA

Instructor: Pooyan Roohi / Spring 2022 / WSOA

Instructor: Instructor: Eric Olsen / Fall 2021 / WSOA

Instructor: Stephen Marshall / Spring 2021 / WSOA

Los Angeles, California

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Woman Life Freedom Center

Instructor: Arron Genslor & Erin Wright / Spring 2023 / WSOA

Underground Level/ Main Hall

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The slogan of Zan Zendegi Azadi (Woman, Life, Freedom) is the story of this project.

On September 13, “Mahsa Amini,” age 22, was detained by morality police for “improperly” wearing her hijab. Her relatives and the local media claim that Mahsa Amini was severely beaten. Three days later, while still in police custody, she passed away. This everyday story may happen to all girls and women in Iran.

Women in Iran still fight for their fundamental rights and face discrimination in different aspects, such as mandatory hijab, marriage, inheritance, family law, and custody of children.

Site Location: Iran, Tehran, Azadi (Freedome)Square

Woman Life Freedom Center is the underground educational and awareness center in Iran, Tehran, under the public park next to Azadi (Freedom) Square. This location is one of the most important area and many parades against discriminations have been happening in this square.

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Ground Level 1

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Ground Level 2

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Ground Level 3

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Ground Level 4

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The main point of this design is to show the beauty in the darkness (Underground Level) and the darkness in the beauty. (Ground level)

On the ground level, there is a park with the hidden message of Zan Zendegi Azadi in the form of bushes to cover the ponds in the middle. The ponds are the key to lighting the underground level.

Some buildings around the site have secret access paths to the underground levels.

The building includes five levels divided based on the least to most things that matter to women: Enjoying their coffee in the cafeteria to singing and dancing freely.

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Biosvive (Biosphere + Survive) Instructor: Paulette Singley / Fall 2022 / WSOA

This project is located on the LA River Bridge.

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Imagine the collapsing city of Los Angeles in 3023; life will be different from the one we’ve known! Imagine dry and desiccated Los Angeles rive caused by global warming. There is no vegetation or water in the environment, so a few survivors live in a small man-made biosphere where they can collect water with the fog catcher system, generate electricity, and grow vegetation for living.

This is the story of how humans will survive in such a situation.

My project, “Biosvive,” visually explores the sublime in a drought-stricken landscape. I was inspired by the philosopher Burke’s theory of the sublime, which states that the sublime is a feeling of awe and terror that is provoked by extreme phenomena, such as vastness, height, difficulty, darkness, or light. I wanted to create a contrast between life and death.

I also added a biosphere, a spherical structure that contains a lush and diverse ecosystem, to represent the beauty of nature in the midst of desolation. I animated the biosphere to make it move and rotate, creating a dynamic and interactive experience for the viewer.

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GROUND LEVEL

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FIRST LEVEL

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SECOND LEVEL

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AXION - SECTION

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LATERAL PERSPECTIVE SECTION

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Complexity in Simplicity

Instructor: Pooyan Roohi / Spring 2022 / WSOA

The main focus of this project was to create an object using a simple form, such as a cylinder or a cube, while not giving much attention to the program. The new method involved creating an object with a Boolean component in Rhino and dividing its interior into sections.

The goal of the project was to combine simplicity, represented by the outer shell, with complexity, represented by the interior objects. The concept also incorporated materiality, with the exterior being solid colors for simplicity and the interior being colorful tiles for complexity in the design.

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DTLA Justice Center

Instructor: Instructor: Eric Olsen / FALL 2021 / WSOA

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Justice Center is the place to protect people with special needs. The space to bring people together.

The project site is located at 400 S Central Avenue 90013, Downtown Los Angeles.

My project is inspired by Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership, Kalamazoo. The place focuses on natural light and has public and private space in the middle to the corner of the building.

My design starts with a public entrance located on ground level and public/ private space on the First, Second, and Third levels.

The underground level is a private area with different access.

The materials used for these designs are curtainwall, wood, and concrete.

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Site Location: 400 S Central Avenue 90013, Downtown Los Angeles

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Social and Community Service

Hearing Rooms & Support Functions

Justice Support Offices

Entry, Lobby & Public Spaces

Building Services

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Lateral Perspective Section

Longitudinal Perspective Section

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Diagnal Perspective Section

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Pacific Seismographer

Instructor: Stephen Marshall / Spring 2021 / WSOA Team Member: Kamran Moghbel

Site Location: Ballona Creek Marina Del Rey

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Pacific Seismographer is a center for seismography, both educational and recreational, located on Balona Creek in Marina Del Rey. During an earthquake, strong ground shaking can cause water-saturated sediments to lose their cohesion, making them behave like a liquid. This phenomenon is known as liquefaction and can cause significant damage to buildings, including sinking or tilting.

One option to prevent a structure from being destroyed during an earthquake is the hydraulic column. Additionally, a polycarbonate shell placed on top of it can protect the structure from a tsunami.

HISTORY OF CALIFORNIA

History of the Worst Earthquake: At 4:31 a.m. on January 17, 1994, a hidden fault lurking under the city’s San Fernando Valley neighborhoods unleashed a magnitude 6.7 earthquake, shattered buildings, broke water mains, and ignited fires.

History of the Worst Tsunami: March 11, 2011 – A magnitude 9.0 earthquake in the Tohoku region of Japan produced a moderate amplitude tsunami in California.

Although it did not generate significant flooding in California, strong tsunami currents caused one death and over $100-million in damages to 27 harbors statewide, with the most significant damage occurring in Crescent City and Santa Cruz.

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Water Rasing 2100= Add 1.2 Feet - 2.0 feet 2050= Add 1.2 Feet - 2.0 feet 2030= Add 0.6 Feet- 0.9 feet 2025= Add 0.4 Feet 2021= 29 Feet

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Pacific Seismographer’s Poster

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Hydrolic Column Concept Considering the unique challenges posed by the project site’s location at the center of an earthquake and tsunami-prone area, we developed a innovative solution known as the hydronic column. This concept was devised with the aim of mitigating the potential damage caused by seismic activity and ensuring the structural integrity of the building.

In summary, the implementation of hydronic columns in this project was a proactive measure to address the site’s unique challenges. By harnessing the principles of hydraulics, these columns effectively reduce vibrations during earthquakes, ensuring the structural integrity of the building and enhancing the safety of its occupants.

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Internship - Bradco Kitchen & Bath

I worked for Bardco Kitchens & Baths as a “Design Assistant,” and I was responsible for creating detailed 2D drawings of kitchen, bathroom, and closet projects using AutoCAD, Rhino, and Revit. These drawings played a crucial role in visualizing and planning the layout and design of these spaces.

To provide clients with realistic visualization of their projects, I utilized Vray and Adobe Photoshop to create stunning 3D renderings. These renderings not only helped clients envision the final outcome but also served as a valuable tool for communication and decision-making throughout the design process.

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