Architecture Portfolio by Amira Abdel-Rahman

Table of Contents Graduate Undergraduate Competitions Professional

Architecture Urban Interior Skin Design Structure Computer Science

Computational Design Material Computation Robotics Digital Fabrication Environmental Design

01 Real-Time Interactive Structural Analysis 02 Y Chair 03 Allometric Sake 04 Passive Heliotropism 05 Augmented Robotic-Interaction 06 Heat Actuated Auxetic Facades 07 Bulaq...The Evolution 08 S-c-r-e-e-n 09 Cassia North Coast 10 Heritage Gallery 11

Parametric Furniture

GRADUATE 5

PROJECTOR

KINECT SENSOR

Professor: Panagiotis Michalatos Course: Introduction to Computational Design The aim of this project is to enhance the ability of designers to visualize and compute structural analysis of surfaces and shell structures. As a real time interactive tool, its intention is to familiarize people with everyday shell structures as well as assist in early stage form finding.

KINECT HEIGHT 0.7 m

REAL-TIME INTERACTIVE STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS

ANALYSIS GRID

SHELL DETECTION REGION

SUPPORTS OPTIONS TABS OPTIONS TABS

Tools Used: Microsoft Visual Studio Kinect Millipede/Sawapan

Harvard GSD | Fall 2015 | Group of 4

Edit Mode

Quad Vis.

Deflection

Stress Vector

Optimization

Deflection STRUCTURAL ANALYSIS FINAL SETUP Using an algorithm for color detection, red colored objects were used to add support nodes and green ones to remove them only in the edit mode. A square of 20 cm by 20 cm is the assigned area for detection and visualization.

Optimization

Edit Mode

Quad Vis.

Deflection

Stress Vector

Optimization

Deflection

Optimization

PROJECTOR

KINECT SENSOR

ANALYSIS GRID

SHELL DETECTION REGION

OBJECT TO ANALYSIS. TENSION COMPRESSION GRAPH PROJECTED ON THE SURFACE

HYPAR OPTIMAL SURFACE SUGGESTION MODE

FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS IS USED TO CALCULATE THE STRESS USING THE PREDIFINED SUPOORT AND LOAD CONDITIONS

DEFLECTION COLOR VISUALIZATION

Y CHAIR Professor: Volkan Alkanoglu Course: Hybrid Formations - Interdisciplinary Design Inspired by techniques of the aviation and automobile industry, he challenge of the seminar is to design and fabricate a structure that is light, paper-thin but still maintains its structural integrity. Optimizing the structural performance of the chair was the driving force behind the design. A parametric model of the chair was developed and tested under different load case scenarios and then the design was optimized for ease and automation of fabrication. Manufactured out of extremely lightweight, aluminum panels, the Y-chair is CNC/waterjet cut and the the robotic arm was used to form the aluminum sheets. A custom end tool for the robot was fabricated using english wheel rollers to form the sheets using custom CNC milled wood forms.

Harvard GSD | Fall 2016 | Group of 2

Y CHAIR FABRICATION The fabrication process explores an alternative to the fabrication process of the automobile industry, which uses high power presses and enormous amounts of space to shape aluminum. Previous to the metal shaping, the aluminum sheets are cut with a water jet. Afterwards, the metal is shaped by imitating the movement of the English wheel with a robotic arm; implementing pressure to the metal sheet that sit between a mold and the force of the machine. A custom end tool for the robot was fabricated using English wheel rollers to form the sheets using custom CNC milled wood forms.

ALLOMETRIC SAKE Professor: Salmaan Craig Course: The Thermal Allometry of Massive, Breathing Buildings This project was awarded third place in the Dencity competition by shelter global. The competition aims to improve the living conditions in the slums and informal settlements. We have developed software that provides strategies that most affect natural ventilation by changing the following parameters: A* (Openings): The value refers to the amount, geometry and distribution of openings that a building has to the exterior and interior network. These openings usually are windows, doors, chimneys, etc. The variation of this value will help to define the amount of fresh air coming into the building. H (Height): This parameter refers to the height of a building. Hot air is driven to the upper part of a building due to its decrease in density, and vice versa when cold. This phenomenon creates differences in pressure, generating the opportunity to drive passive ventilation with the control of this parameter. S (Interior surface): The interior surface area mostly affects to the amount of energy that a material can absorb and release. Changing this parameter will allow us to control the temperature of an interior according to current adaptive comfort models.

Harvard GSD | Spring 2016 | Group of 3

ANALYSIS PROCESS

CASE STUDY: CAIRO

Determination of the needs for intervention

16-2282

Morpgological and climatology study of Cairo’s slums

Concrete Structure

PROJECT SCOPE We are using Cairo (Egypt) as the location of our project. Cairo is located in a hot arid climate where cooling is needed most of the year to achieve thermal comfort.

Although Greater Cairo (Cairo and Giza) have historically witnessed a large range of passive architecture innovations to address the hot dry climate, in the era of globalization, modern architects choose to ignore these techniques. Instead of using wind catchers for ventilation, roof lanterns and Mashrabiyas for indirect lighting and thermal mass and appropriate material selection to regulate the internal temperature, nowadays everything is substituted by the HVAC systems. The residential building industry is responsible for the 43% of the total energy consumption of Egypt, which greatly increased in the last five years. This caused the government to cut the electricity out of all districts of Greater Cairo in an average of 2 hours a day in summer and half an hour a day in winter in the last two years.

ANALYSIS PROCESS

gies

Determination of the needs for intervention

MORPHOLOGICAL & CLIMATE ANALYSIS OF THE SITE

t relate to paces. Inof space, cost and fit from a

Pidgeon Tower Now, their openings are done intuitively. The appliance of our software “Allometric SAKE” could help Cairo’s inhabitants to provide an exact measure to their openings.

CASE STUDY: CAIRO

16-2282

Morpgological and climatology study of Cairo’s slums

Concrete Structure Concrete

PROJECT SCOPE

2100

Wind catcher

nditioning

The narrowness of the streets caused by the density of the settlements provide shadow to for the harsh climate, however it disables a proper public ventilation, causing the accumulation of hazardous molecules.

th less re-

MATHEMATICAL RELATIONSHIPS

n that its

s the geoese values

Variable

Units

Explanation

1/K

Thermal expansion coefficient for air

m/s2

Acceleration due to gravity

g ρcair

geometry the extewindows, elp to de-

J/kg·m3 W/m2 · K

Wind catcher

MATHEMATICAL RELATIONSHIPS

Volumetric heat capacity for air

Surface convection heat transfer coefficient

Units

Explanation

1/K

Thermal expansion air We are coefficient choosingforthe

m/s

informal settlements in Cairo in particular fordue a context Acceleration to gravity for our study, mainly for the alarming growth rate or these settlements, which is clearly out of the government’s Volumetriccontrol. heat capacity forEgyptian air The Ministry of housing estimates that 40% of Greater Cairo’scoefficient population are living in informal settlements. Surface convection heat transfer

∆T

ºC

Maximum temperature difference |exterior-interior|

Total height of building

Total effective opening area (network)

ea mostly bsorb and us to cont adaptive

Interior surface area of buoyancy ventilation mass

m2/s

t our sofcted from n rate (Fn) lding has. gh, if this

(%)

Percentual lag between the surface temperature and the bulk mass temperature

–

relationsr data co” or aerial ewer”, we d provide tegies for

Rate of exchange between the heat capacity of the air stream, and the convecFn tion across the enitre surface of the mass

a lot ofbetween problems, the of problem we are Rate of exchange the heatbut capacity the air stream, andaddressing the convec- particularly tion acrosshow the enitre surface of the mass the lack of ventilation/thermal comfort to passively solve

ΩL

–

Resonance of the thermal mass. A quantification of the building's mass

ΩL

–

Resonance of the thermal mass. A quantification of the building's mass

θe

–

Exterior air temperature

θe

–

Exterior air temperature

θi

–

Interior air temperature

θi

–

Interior air temperature

θs

–

Mass surface temperature

θm

–

Mass bulk temperature 35

CURRENT GEOMETRIC VALUES

ρcair h ∆T

ºC

Thermal diffusivity of mass (Varies with material of choice)

Normalized Temperature Values

gulations: onditions ns are too g thermal ng quality

θs

–

Mass surface temperature

θm

–

COMFORT TEMPERATURE Mass bulk temperature

PROPOSED GEOMETRIC VALUES

m2/s

Thermal diffusivity of mass (Varies with material of choice)

it became an urgent ThicknessTherefore, of mass (e.g. Walls, floors, ceilings, etc) matter to study and research the-

(%)

Percentualthe lag between the resources: surface temperature and the bulk mass temperature available the bare minimum. The slums areas have

se slum areas and try to fix the problems on a larger scale with

for people for them to have them a more ‘humane’ life.

At the human scale, things behave in a similar manner. The side graph is plotting the relationship between the temperature and time in a typical day at Cairo. It shows the diurnal swing which is in a form of a sinusoidal wave. Buoyancy ventilation and thermal mass will be used to create a lag in this sinusoidal curve where the interior spaces will be cooler when it is hot in daytime and warm during cooler nights.

Room: -Modify openings - Thermal resonator -Breathig wall -Height of building as a constraint

mfort for oward in-

Building: -Modify openings / staircase -Chimney as implementation

Block: -Opening between buildings -Chimneys as implementation

The structure used serve us as Brick a canvas for intervention. With their structural system used, we can basiThe narrowness of the cally streets propose any kind of opening caused by the density of the system settle- to improve ventilation

Envelope

They use these pidgeon towers to harves pidgeons. The knowledge they have achieved to construct these structures can be used to construct chineys to create presure difference, therefore promote ventilation.

Textile will be used to apply “freeform” techniques of construction. They will drive the air flow and control it due to its porosity.

The structure used serve us as a canvas for intervention. With their structural system used, we can basically propose any kind of opening system to improve ventilation

Even though some of the people choose to turn their back on the problem claiming that these areas should be entirely removed since they were illegally built, on agricultural lands. It became a fact that it is not only impossible to remove the existing informal areas, but also to very hard to control reduce the growth rate of these areas: this is the ugly truth. Therefore, it became an urgent matter to study and research these slum areas and try to fix the problems on a larger scale with the available resources: the bare minimum. The slums areas have a lot of problems, but the problem we are addressing particularly how to passively solve the lack of ventilation/thermal comfort for people for them to have them a more ‘humane’ life.

Ventilation

Resonator

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Cairo_EGY

LOCAL TECHNIQUES

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Temperature

Superblock: -Mass of the blocks to resonate -Chimneys to condition street

CURRENT SLUM CONDITIONS Building population: 10 people per 45m2 Ventilation rate: 0 l/s

Textile will be used to apply “freeform” techniques Textilesof construction. They will drive the air flow and control it due to its porosity.

Interior Temperature

Height INTERACTIVE VISUALIZATION TOOL

SCALES & PERFORMANCE

TARGET VENTILATION CONDITIONS: According to ASHRAE: Ventilation rate: 5l/s per person

Building: -Modify openings / staircase -Chimney as implementation

Concrete Structure

We are choosing the informal settlements in Cairo in particular for a context for our study, mainly for the alarming growth rate or these settlements, which is clearly out of the government’s control. The Egyptian Ministry of housing estimates that 40% of Greater Cairo’s population are living in informal settlements.

Resonator

Cairo_EGY Exterior

Exterior Temperature SCALES & PERFORMANCE

Brick Envelope

Ventilation

LOCAL TECHNIQUES

Interior Temperature

Now, their openings are done intuitively. The appliance of our software “Allometric SAKE” could help Cairo’s inhabitants to provide an exact measure to their openings.

CLIMATE ANALYSIS

Resonator

Surface Temperature

At the human scale, things behave in a similar manner. The side graph is plotting the relationship between the temperature and time in a typical day at Cairo. It shows the diurnal swing which is in a form of a sinusoidal wave. Buoyancy ventilation and thermal mass will be used to create a lag in this sinusoidal curve where the interior spaces will be cooler Surface Temperature when it is hot in daytime and warm during cooler nights.

Textiles

Rood lantern & Mashrabiya

Normalized Temperature Values CLIMATE ANALYSIS

The thermal resonator concept is inspired by the behaviour of the termite mounds and how, using only thermal mass and openings the structure is able to ‘breathe’ and regulate its temperature in response to the surrounding temperature.

Room: -Modify openings - Thermal resonator -Breathig wall -Height of building as a constraint

choose to turn their back on theof problem Total height building claiming that these areas should be entirely removed since they were illegally built, on agricultural lands. It became a Total effective (network) factopening that it area is not only impossible to remove the existing informal areas,area but to very hardmass to control reduce the growth rate of Interior surface of also buoyancy ventilation these areas: this is the ugly truth.

COMFORT TEMPERATURE

and proprovide a able mor-

MaximumEven temperature difference though some|exterior-interior| of the people

Dry Bulb Temperature (ºC)

Thickness of mass (e.g. Walls, floors, ceilings, etc)

J/kg·m3 W/m2 · K

Dry Bulb Temperature (ºC)

a buiding. ts decreanon creato drive a

worldwide. pplication onments.

Pidgeon Tower

ments provide shadow to for the harsh climate, however it disables a proper public ventilation, causing the accumulation of hazardous molecules.

Rood lantern & Mashrabiya

Variable

Openings

Building Typology

According to ASHRAE:

00,8M

n a simple condition

Structure

We are using Cairo (Egypt) as the location of our project. Cairo is located in a hot arid climate where cooling is needed most of TARGET the year to achieve thermal comfort. VENTILATION CONDITIONS: Although Greater Cairo (Cairo and Giza) have historically witVentilation rate: 5l/s per person nessed a large range of passive architecture innovations to address the hot dry climate, in the era of globalization, modern architects choose to ignore these techniques. InsteadCONDITIONS of using CURRENT SLUM wind catchers for ventilation, roof lanterns and Mashrabiyas for Building population: 10 people per 45m2 indirect lighting and thermal mass and appropriate material seVentilation rate: 0 l/severything lection to regulate the internal temperature, nowadays is substituted by the HVAC systems. The residential building industry is responsible for the 43% of the total energy consumption of Egypt, which greatly increased in the last five years. This caused the government to cut the electricity out of all districts of Greater Cairo in an average of 2 hours a day in summer and half an hour a day in winter in the last two years.

U.N. Forecast

2090

Openings

Building Typology

Wood: In order to breed pidgeons, the inhabitants of Cairo’s slums have developed a technique based on wooden towers. By using this technique we can build towers to ventilate public and Section private spaces. Textile: The usage of textile is deep in egyptian culture. We can benefit from this material thanks to its porosity and flexibility.

Height

In this case study we have decided to construct with local materials in order to enhance local productivity and local empowerment. We will try to avoid the usage of outside techniques that might require a big expense of energy. To do so, we have explored the tecniques used in Cairo slums, having three main streams for work: Ceramics: Red brick represents the main construction material used and has a big impact on its urban landscape. As seen in the graphic below, this material can be found almost in every corner of egypt. Wood: In order to breed pidgeons, the inhabitants of Cairo’s slums have developed a technique based on wooden towers. By using this technique we can build towers to ventilate public and private spaces. Textile: The usage of textile is deep in egyptian culture. We can benefit from this material thanks to its porosity and flexibility. MATERIAL PROPERTIES POSSIBLE CHOICES -Red brick ( clay-bearing soil, sand and lime) -Mud brick (loam, mud, sand and water) -Limestone RED BRICK PROPERTIES Thermal Conductivity Thermal Diffusivity

“WE DO NOT WANT TO BE REMOVED, WE WANT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE UPGRADED”

KS = 0.8 W/(m·K) α=5.2 x 10 -7 m2/s

SOIL MAP FOR MATERIAL RESEARCH

MATERIAL PROPERTIES POSSIBLE CHOICES

Block: -Opening between buildings -Chimneys as implementation

Superblock: -Mass of the blocks to resonate -Chimneys to condition street

Section

-Red brick ( clay-bearing soil, sand and lime) -Mud brick (loam, mud, sand and water) -Limestone RED BRICK PROPERTIES Thermal Conductivity Thermal Diffusivity

Floor plan

“WE DO NOT WANT TO BE REMOVED, WE WANT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD TO BE UPGRADED”

KS = 0.8 W/(m·K) α=5.2 x 10 -7 m2/s

SOIL MAP FOR MATERIAL RESEARCH

Floor plan

PASSIVE HELIOTROPISM Professor: Skylar Tibbits Course: Active Architecture Inspired by the movement of the sun flower with the sun, this project aims to mimic the movement by only using plastic sheets and water. In the following experiments explored the use of water and phase change â&#x20AC;&#x153;evaporationâ&#x20AC;? as an actuator that could cause movement and translation. A scientific research method was used to understand and control the movement by testing a wide range of geometries, plastics, sealing methods, liquids..

MIT | Fall 2015 | Individual

Speed

Color

+ Heat =

Heat Source Reflectivity Liquid

+ Heat =

++ Heat Heat ==

Plastic/Fabric

Change

S L L S

_Principle 1

L S S L Gradient Diagonal

+ Heat =

Grid

Movement

Directional Heat

++ Heat Heat ==

2 Legs 4 Legs Rotation

_PRINCIPLE 1

_Principle 1

_Principle _Principle 1 1

Heliotropism

_PRINCIPLE 2

_PRINCIPLE 3

_Principle 2

_Principle 3

_Movement

Foil Foil

Black

Magnesium Sulfate

Speed 1 Slow --- Fast 5

Magnesium Sulfate

Black

IR BULB

_PRINCIPLE 4

_Principle 4

_PRINCIPLE 5

_Principle 5

THERMAL EXPERIMENTS A large number of experiments were conducted to understand the speed, change, movement of the pieces. Six main principles were inferred and using these principles. This system has great potential to be used as a passive actuator in many fields like facade design and soft robotics.

_PRINCIPLE 6

AUGMENTED ROBOTIC-INTERACTION Professor: Andrew Witt Course: Mechatronic Optics The objective of the project was to develop creative and interactive tools for designers to view, analyze and fabricate their designs only using simple gesture movements. The software â&#x20AC;&#x153;SketchHandâ&#x20AC;? was developed to act as a link between the gestural movement capture, the design and output analysis, and the robotic control. The hologram was the projection technique. The user is able to not only choose or design a pattern, but also to get its instant stress analysis. The toolpath is automatically calculated and the pattern is woven, ensuring an augmented robotic-interaction. Harvard GSD | Fall 2015 | Group of 2 * https://youtu.be/c2_8JMWXwB8

C a p ture

• Le a p M o tio n • Kine c t

De sig n

• • • •

Po ly-Pixe l Sp ring Pixe l 3d We a ving 2d We a ving

A na lyze

• • • •

We a ving Pa tte rn C ho se n Lo a d a nd Sup p o rts Ind ic a te d V o n M ise s stre ss a nd Princ ip a l Stre sse s' V a lue s a nd V e c to rs C a lc ula te d Stro ng e r a nd Thic ke r Wire s in the d ire c tio n o f hig h stre ss

Pro je c t

• Ho lo g ra m Pro je c tio n • Dire c t Pro je c tio n

Fa b ric a te

• To o lp a th G e ne ra tio n • Inte ra c tive w e a ving • Diffe re nt Thre a d Typ e s

HEAT ACTUATED AUXETIC FACADES Professor: Martin Bechthold Course: Nano Micro Macro: Adaptive Material Laboratory This project is an experimental and computational investigation that focuses on the design and development of highly transformable materials and patterns that can be used as adaptive exterior shading systems. The possibility of reversible transformations were explored using materials with two-way shape memory effects such as shape memory alloys and polymers to couple them with auxetic patterns to control the transformations. The proposed shading system lead to an improved daylighting performance as well as a significant reduction in glare.

Harvard GSD | Fall 2015 | Group of 3

Besfore actuation of shape memory polymer layer/ larger opening withing the addaptive fritted glazing

After actuation in 30 c / smaller opening due to the heat actuation

Design inspiration: Chuck Hoberman Adaptive fritting After Actuation:

smaller gaps to reduce solar rays entering the space reducing the total heat gain

After actuation in 30 c / smaller opening due to the heat actuation

Temperature increase due to sunlight to 30

After actuation in 30 c / smaller opening due to the heat actuation

Auxetic structure second condition/ heat actuated

Design and production of an adaptive fritted glazing system using state-of-the-art technology: shape memory polymer as a passive actuator and customized auxetic structures and geometries as a unique innovative design. This system will improve the enAfter actuation in 30 cperformance / smaller opening due the ergy and daylight of to spaces by blocking the direct solar heat radiation and creating higher insulation for windows. heat actuation

Auxetic structure second condition/ heat actuated

UNDERGRADUATE 33

AENG 491 - Thesis 2 My bachelor’s graduation project was targeting the main problem of city Bulaq: the big socio-economic gap by highlighting Bulaq’s historical potential present in the UNESCO world heritage site hidden behind the modern Nile strip developments.

Heritage and Interpretation Center

BULAQ... THE EVOLUTION

The center will be a catalyst for socio-economic development in Bulaq which will generate revenue for the conservation of the tangible and intangible heritage of Bulaq. The heritage and interpretation center is part of the urban development plan: “Bulaq...The Evolution” (our Thesis 1 project) to highlight and develop Bulaq’s four potentials: industrial, commercial, historical and cultural.. The main objective of the master-plan was to synchronize the interests in the time of socio-economical dichotomy. AUC | Spring 2014| Individual

Sections and Exterior Shots

Sections and Interior Shots

Walk-through and Layout

Floor Plans and Elevations

3d Sections

Structural Details

S-C-R-E-E-N Skin Competition by TEX-FAB SKIN is a two-stage international design competition established to foster the deeper developments within the field of computational fabrication. SKIN asked designers and researchers to speculate, or if they so choose – to present existing research -on the role of the building envelope by exploring new methods to enable the performative and aesthetic qualities of a façade. My entry was selected to be featured in the TEX-FAB website and in the ACADIA (the Association for Computer Aided Design in Architecture) exhibition in October 2013 and Austin, February 2014.

AUC | Summer 2013| Individual

PROFESSIONAL 51

CASSIA NORTH COAST (UNDER CONSTRUCTION) North Coast - Egypt The design is characteristic of its aesthetically quality and deeply grounded conceptual integration of the surrounding natural environment. The project redefines the concept of coastal residential projects in Egypt and defeats the current obstacles of architectural rigidity, traditionalism and strict client budgets. Inspired by the wind rock erosion process, Cassia project is the first design in the country to approach designing with biomimicry. Expressing the beauty of the desert, the formalistic adaptation of the outlines of nature is consciously reinvented to suit the projectâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s core functional recommendations. An attempt to effectively manage environmental resources and reduce energy use is achieved through providing almost complete shading on the project buildingsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; vertical envelopes by floor coverage of terraces and outer glazing, as well as the use of green roofs as thermal insulators. Dimensions Design | March 2015| Group of 2

Sample Floor Plans

HERITAGE GALLERY | MUSEUM FOR THE SAUDI WILDLIFE AUTHORITY Saudi Arabia This project was a competition to design a conceptual museum and expo for the Saudi wildlife authority. Our offices won the bid by submitting the conceptual design proposal and the design will be furtherer developed. The project form, as required is inspired by the authoritiesâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; main concepts. The form was abstracted from the authority logo as explained in the diagram, The form and plans are mainly circulation driven to provide the best user experience. It is composed of four main components: The main gallery, The zoo, the Aquarium (underground), the lecture hall and the plans exhibition.

Dimensions Designs | October 2014| Group of 2

Renders

FREE FORM INTERIOR Cairo, Egypt At first, the parametric bench and counter were designed as part of the re-branding of the interior of an existing project in Memar el Morshedy. The concept was then expanded to experiment the parametric in a wall for the entrance of Dimensions as a showcase for the clients. The last series of furniture was the design and construction of the interior of Earth for Sustainable Development Sales Office. The designs are digitally fabricated of wood (mdf) and cut using the CNC machine.

Dimensions Designs| March 2015| Individual

Renders

Fabrication Details

using image sampler (dimensionsâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; Logo)

= 63