Arman Yaghoubi

Advisor: Mercedes Garcia Holguera
 

Modern building with arched windows and brick exterior, set against a twilight sky. Trees and a passing car create a tranquil urban scene.
Diagram illustrating the carbon cycle. It shows combustion, fossil fuels, and plant and animal assimilation contributing to atmospheric CO2, with pathways into soil and oceans.
Physical model of Carbon Cycle
Split image: left side shows a hand with CO2-themed infographic connecting nature elements like trees and insects; right side has coral anatomy sketch.
Biomimicry research (Coral Reef)
Collage of modern architectural buildings with floating text boxes highlighting key features and years. Red trees and grid background enhance the timeline theme.
Analysis of all precedents related to CO2
A textured white panel with organic shapes and holes stands on a black surface, creating a delicate and intricate pattern. Laboratory equipment is visible in the background.
Physical study of the facade
Six identical square illustrations display a catalyst-coated inner skin layer with intricate, web-like textures. Each labeled "Fig7" on a black background.
Second layer system
Six circular architectural diagrams show urban planning concepts with varying color-coded elements, depicting layouts with roads, buildings, and land use.
Site strategy and environmental orientation
Split image of a brick building; left at dusk with glowing windows and streetlights, right in daylight with a vibrant blue sky. Trees and pedestrians present.
Day life (exterior render)
Architectural model featuring rectangular beige and brown buildings with a unique, stepped red structure. Background shows roads, suggesting urban planning.
Context model

The Role of Biomimicry Architecture in Reducing CO2 Levels in Urban Areas: 
A Residential-Commercial Building in Tehran

One of the major concerns in the world today is the increase in CO2 lev¬els, which significantly contribute to climate change. Human-made CO2 emissions account for about 76% of global greenhouse gases, primarily from electricity generation, transportation, and fuel combustion. The effects of CO2 rise include extreme weather, sea level rise, food inse¬curity, and growing health risks. Iran, and particularly Tehran, has long faced severe air pollution, intensified by fossil fuel use and poor urban airflow due to its surrounding mountains and unplanned developments such as the Chitgar buildings. Tehran’s pollution levels often exceed an Air Quality Index (AQI) of 250, frequently disrupting everyday life.
This project proposes an architectural solution to CO2 pollution through a biomimicry-based system inspired by coral reefs. Just as corals capture and transform CO2 into solid calcium carbonate, this de¬sign integrates CO2-absorbing mechanisms into the facade, ceiling, and wall structures of a mixed-use building in Tehran. Using a combination of DAC fans, HEPA filtration, and catalytic reactions, airborne CO2 is captured, dissolved, and mineralized within building layers. Over time, this process enhances both environmental and thermal performance, turning the building into a long-term carbon sink. Designed for Tehran’s polluted urban context, the project explores how architecture can ac¬tively contribute to cleaner air and a more sustainable urban future.