My passion lies in merging design principles with cutting-edge digital tools, constantly exploring the possibilities that advanced technologies present mostly in architectural field. Whether it's computation, fabrication, or concept development, I find myself continuously drawing lines between humans, machines, and more recently, AI.




Publications


BacTerra Architecture : Designing Across Scale - Cambridge University Press
F. Leon, E. Bond, K. Bam Farahnak, C. Leffler, C. Scheepers, M. Ikeda, E. Jones, N. Kalantar, D. Mullins. Cambridge University Journal. Available at: ResearchGate



THE BACTERRA

2023-2024


Won Outstanding Science Award
@Biodesign Challenge Summit
New York, 2023 Energy efficiency in the realm of architecture generally is centered around the performance of building assemblies. The embodied energy of building materials has emerged more recently in the measurement of life cycle assessment (LCA). The BacTerra research project seeks to harness the biological process of calcium carbonate precipitation in the microscopic world to increase the structural performance of building materials at larger scales. The project leverages expertise from the design world and the capabilities of biological researchers to formulate materials which synthesize the abiotic and biotic worlds .

THE CHANDELIER

2022-2023


Advanced Studio Award
Architecture Division Award
San Francisco, 20232
I steped into Additive Manufacturing with this project. An imaginative vision set in the year 2122. The Sanctuary studio was a project that challenged us to explore speculative futures for the western section of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge. Instead of demolishing the obsolete bridge, we investigated its reuse as a social, cultural, and ecological catalyst for the region. Our team explored a generative design method, generating a pattern which was seeded by the shape of “Bay bridge” itself. The physical model was made out of 40 pieces, All pieces got printed in 10 days using desktop 3dprinters (Enderpro-V2).


ADVANCED ARCHITECTURAL STUDIO
SANCTUARY STUDIO - CCA - 2022-2023We reimagined its potential using emerging technologies, robotics, AI, and climate considerations, envisioning a future 100 years ahead where architecture, cities, and landscapes are shaped by these forces. The goal was to envision a not-so-distant future where collective forms of architecture, cities, and landscapes were informed by these emerging forces.

3D-PRINTED CORAL

2022-2023


 Coral reefs play a vital role in supporting marine biodiversity, but they are increasingly endangered, threatening countless species that rely on them for habitat. At the same time, underwater infrastructures, such as pipelines and bridge columns, are at risk from scouring. This project addresses both challenges by creating habitats for diverse marine life while protecting these structures from erosion. The Synthetic Coral Wrap Habitat (SCWH) is a modular, 3D-printed ceramic system, designed with customized gcode at the microscale to create living spaces for small marine species. At the mesoscale, six unique modules are introduced, offering refuge and protection for species that require hiding spots for survival.


ECOLOGICAL TECTONICS
MATERIALITIES OF CARE - CCA - 2022-2023 Throughout the design process, we focused on three key parameters: varying aperture scales to accommodate a wide range of underwater species, modularity for flexible assembly, and adaptability in macro form to wrap around underwater infrastructure. These considerations led to the development of four distinct modules and three unique textures, each responding to these critical design goals.

3D-Nesting Sculpture

Large Scale 3D-Printing

2024-2025

Negar Kalantar
Alireza Borhani
Kimia farahnak
Haneen Othman
Phong Tran This project was developed under the supervision of Negar Kalantar, Co-director of the Digital Craft Lab at California College of the Arts, in collaboration with two of her students. At the time, I served as the subject matter expert (SME) for large-scale 3D printing at Autodesk. My role involved exploring the feasibility of 3D printing the sculpture at a 1:1 scale. The sculpture's full height was 3 meters, while the Big-Meter Modix machine could only print up to 1 meter. Given the risks of a 10-day continuous print, we decided to divide the project into 9 segments. I determined the optimal settings to enhance stability. Scaling up a print introduces complexities, as adjustments don't follow a simple linear path, often revealing additional challenges that require attention. Ultimately, the entire piece was successfully 3D printed over 21 days using Tough PLA.



REGENERATIVE DECONTRUCTION

2022-2023


 Although suburbs house less than half the U.S. population, they contribute to half of all household greenhouse gas emissions. Shifting housing to urban areas raises questions about what happens to the suburban landscape. Demolition and construction already account for 25% of U.S. landfill waste each year, so how can we reduce the environmental impact of demolishing what we’ve built? In this project, we explored whether bio-materials like mycelium could offer a more sustainable approach to demolition

ECOLOGICAL TECTONICS
MATERIALITIES OF CARE - CCA - 2022-2023Curabitur congue accumsan ante, consectetur eleifend purus laoreet in. Ut facilisis tincidunt neque in pharetra. In ut libero ut ex commodo venenatis ac vel ligula. Suspendisse tortor lacus, ultrices at magna in, ullamcorper faucibus sem. Nullam urna urna, dictum at quam vel, aliquet pulvinar risus. Vestibulum nulla felis, venenatis vel ipsum id, ullamcorper efficitur elit. Proin sollicitudin lectus nec eleifend mattis. Integer non sapien elit. Morbi ullamcorper erat ipsum, sed sodales enim elementum in.

Path Craft

Tailoring toolpaths for 3D & Robotic 3D-Printing

2023-2024


 Although Ut volutpat pharetra orci, ac bibendum nunc vulputate in. Praesent porttitor venenatis lacus sed mollis. Nulla varius leo nec porta tempus. Nunc orci enim, bibendum in gravida eu, pretium eu purus. Sed vestibulum quam sed eros malesuada hendrerit. Praesent pellentesque ipsum non commodo congue. Nam et metus malesuada leo aliquet facilisis in in enim. In consequat orci eleifend, feugiat eros eu, lobortis purus. Curabitur facilisis gravida ipsum a tempus. 

Outstanding Science Award Biodesign Challenge Summit
New York, 2023 Architecture Division Award CCA 
San Francisco, 2022 Advanced Studio Award
CCA 
San Francisco, 2022 Finalist, Expo Dubai - Iran Pavilion
Kamran Safamanesh & Associates, Tehran, 2020


KIMIA FARAHNAK PORTFOLIO 2015-2024