ARCHITECTURAL PORTFOLIO

MAHDI NAZERI

Residential and Commercial Design- Problem Solving- Construction Drawing- Artistic Illustration- Architectural research

MAHDI NAZERI 7363 N Winchester Ave, Unit 1w, Chicago, IL, 60626 (312) 785-3060 mm_nazeri@yahoo.com Fully Work Authorized. No Visa Sponsorship Required. M.S in Architecture 2009 University of Shahid Beheshti, Tehran, Iran Third oldest university in Iran, second ranked architectural department by Iran’s ministry of science

Title of Thesis: Design of Sabzevar Central Library B.S in Architecture 2006 University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran The largest university in Iran, first ranked architectural department by Iran’s ministry of science.

Final project: Design of a Rest Area

Key Skills

• Residential and commercial design

• AutoCAD, Revit, 3d studio max, Sketch up,

Chief Architects, Lumion, Photoshop, Microsoft

Office

• Project managment

• Free hand sketch and rendering

• Construction management

• Fluent English and native Persian

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE Architectural Designer February 2016 – October 2016 (Contract)

Airoom Architects, Builders and Remodelers,

Lincolnwood, IL

• Designed several residential remodeling, home additions and new facade projects

Architectural Designer- Manager July 2006 – September 2015 Padiav Architectural Firm, Sabzevar, Iran

• Designed over 100 residential projects • Designed several commercial projects • Supervised 45+ residential building constructions • Participated in several nationwide architectural

competitions • Designed urban furniture

University Instructor September 2006 – February 2010 University of Hakim Sabzevari, Sabzevar, Iran

• Taught Architectural Design, Free Hand Sketching and Rendering and also Architectural drawings to more than 600 students

Single Family Houses

The following are the residential projects I designed and illustrated. They include home additions, remodeling and façade make

over spread all around Illinois Cook County and other neighbor counties. All these projects are designed in American classic house

style which needs a good knowledge of the history and evolution, details and construction methods of American homes. Chief

Architect program is used for creating the model and also for the illustration as well.

280 Unit Residential Complex

The following is a residential complex project located in Mashhad, Iran. It includes 2 and 3 bedroom apartments in several mid-

rise and high-rise buildings. There are also several indoor and outdoor public areas and facilities. The floor plans are drawn in

AutoCAD and 3D modeling is performed in 3D Studio Max using Vray plugin for rendering. To design a residential complex a good

knowledge of people’s cultural and physical needs and also a perfect knowledge of zoning and building codes was required. Design

of the courtyards is inspired of Iranian traditional gardens which implants a sense of both movement and peace at the same time.

Imam Khomeyni Shopping Center

The following is a shopping center located in Mashhad, Iran. This project is placed in a populated commercial zone in

downtown. The Idea was to connect the two adjacent streets and strengthen the back street by the movement that the new

building implements.

The design should respect the location, neighbors and enhance the livelihood of the area by implanting a new and living spirit

in surrounding streets.

Having inconsistent perimeter edges made the projects a big challenge. To have a cohesive shape a strong and prominent

shape was desired. Therefore combination of a long connecting path and a prominent central shape made the mail concept.

The transparency applied to these two main elements make the contrast with the solid body of the building and distinguishes

them also make a connection with outer life.

Popular Art Museum Of Sabzevar

This design is inspired of an Iranian traditional building type shown below. Here is how this complex works. The long and tall wall casts

shadow on some water pool in cold seasons. After the water freezes the ice is transferred to the space under the dome. The dome

keeps the room cold and the ice remains for months. This process takes place every day in cold seasons. Nowadays these buildings have

lost their function and turned to points of interest for tourists.

This building type is one of Sabzevar’s characteristics, that’s why it created the main concept of the museum. In the design domes and

walls are visible which form the galleries and other museum spaces. The circulation made in this forms makes every corner of the

museum a point of discovery and excitement. The long wall shape galleries are also compatible with the long and narrow lot.

The space between the two long wings resembles the local Bazars where people used to sell their craft products. This place is considered

as a Bazar revival gesture where on some occasions local vendors still gather and hold an art show.

Samples type building inspiration of

Mid-rise Residential Buildings

The following are some samples of residential projects located in Sabzevar, Iran. Because of the current economy of Iran almost

all new residential projects are designed and built as mid-rise. Unlike in U.S in Iran buildings sit back only from the south. It means

every buildings is attached to two adjacent one which usually makes buildings have a single elevation exterior unless in corner lots.

The spirit of the today’s Iranian cities are similar to the postmodern period of the west. This soul has a prominent shadow on every

building which is visible in my works.

Iranians homes are always designed to have separated public and private spaces, each one splits from the entry door. The one who

visits the public space (living room) shall not see or pass across the private spaces.

Samples of 5, 6, 7 and 8 story buildings. According to the neighborhood different materials are chosen. Stone is the most popular material as exterior veneer in Iran.

The floorplan contains 2 units a floor.

Samples of two residences, a pastry shop and a restaurant/catering facility.

A residential floorplan and a 3 unit per floor commercial floorplan.

The 45 degree walls in floorplans not only breaks the hallways, block the view and create privacy but also reflects the geometry used in traditional Iranian architecture.

The below is a portal I designed as an addition to a university campus. The fluidity which students can achieve by seeking science and knowledge was the main concept.

The floorplan belongs to a residence.

The octagonal shape halls refers to the traditional Iranian entrance halls. This octagonal hall connects several other hallways and divides different parts of the home.

The porch below is an entry addition to a college building.

The floorplan belongs to a commercial complex with 4 units per floor.

Aluminum composite is the second popular material for exteriors in Iran.

The below is a portal I designed as an addition to a university campus. The fluidity which students can achieve by seeking science and knowledge was the main concept.

The floorplan belongs to a residence.

Here is another sample of a mid-rise residence. The owner was interested is

multiple material boxes combining and making a whole façade. The composition

I designed was what made him impressed.

The private and public zone are clearly visible in the floorplan.

A weekend residence in a hillside. The spirit is

distilled from both western and eastern home

styles combining into a unique building which

makes a new and different experience on

weekends.

100 Room Khayam Hotel

.

This project is located in Mashhad, Iran. The hotel Includes 100 rooms and suites and some other spaces which serves both hotel guests and walk in persons such as an amphitheater, a wedding venue and a small Bazar. These facilities are located in the backyard and have access from a parking lot and two back gates.

Bazar Garden of Sabzevar

This project is an incarnation of Iranian traditional bazar revival. In the heart of old city of Sabzevar as a revitalization of the old texture of the city this project seeks to remind people of one of their old building types. Combination of bazar and garden makes this place living and attractive.

Iranian courtyards which exist in the lower level of housed and other building types is one of the characteristics of this design. Using this courtyards along with Iranian Garden geometry and bazar wings have created the general form.

Plaid patterned walkways are one of the charactristics of Iranian Gardens. The centered lanes meet main portals. Pergolas laid on colonades contribute to bazar lanes, define walkways and make coverage as well. Fountains and water stream are other charactristics.

Having the courtyard in the lower level helps with keeping the mist around in arid climates. It also brings light and vent to the lower level spaces and make them nicer while being buried insulates the rooms against the heat and cold.

Adding voids to the floor so the sunlight reaches the lower level where the beams of light encounter water surface is a heavenly image of Iranian architecture

Using arborvitae in Iranian gardens both side of walkways along with the water spring at the center line helps creating a invisible strain to the infinity.

Master’s degree Dissertation Central Library of Sabzevar This project’s goal is to create a place where people besides reading can congregate and perform artistic and educational activities. It’s supposed to be a center of culture and education. Every action should be taken to make it a warm and welcoming place. At the same time a library needs to have a decent security and supervision. Keeping these two aspect in balance was the biggest challenge to overcome. So this building contains spaces ranged from absolutely public to absolutely private and controlled.

The building tends to be similar to the low-rise mass surrounding so it tries to keep a human scale size portion.

The colonnades provide the building with public spaces open to public and also give the elevation a human scaled portion. The open public spaces are intimate places for gathering and relaxing where people can stop by for some moments and observe the life and activities of the main courtyard through the glass walls.

The main concept of the project comes from the traditional courtyards which were popular in the

past. In arid climates the courtyard tends to be in the lower level. It makes the lower level a usable

space and the yard more fertile with more shadows which is desired in these areas.

The courtyard other than the climate has another benefit, it makes privacy and quiet which was

desired for a library. It makes every space opts for watching inside instead of looking at noisy and

populated streets. A colonnade turns all around the yard and connects all the rooms in the lower

level.

This yard is a semi private space where everybody can attend at under the control and use the

semipublic facilities such as amphitheater, children care, reading and studying saloon and magazine

and newspaper section.

In this thesis project I tried hard to focus on construction

portion and solve issues that may appear in a real project. The

mechanical accommodation was considered in the drawings

and the structural plans were included.

Climate study and cultural study were an important part of the

process and feasibility for future changes in technology were

foreseen in the design.