Karen Y. Ibrahim - AUC - ARCH 473/3522

Student Portfolio Insert photo in the background

ARCH 473/3522 - DIGITAL DESIGN STUDIO AND WORKSHOP Karen Youssef - 900160538 Fall 2019

The American University in Cairo (AUC) School of Sciences and Engineering - Department of Architecture ARCH 473/3522 - Digital Design Studio and Workshop (Spring 2019) Student portfolio documenting samples of work submitted along the course, including research, experimentation, 3D modeling, digital fabrication, parametric design and modeling, physical model realisation and analysis.

Student name: Karen Youssef Student ID: 900160538

Š The American University in Cairo (AUC), May 2019

Karen Youssef Architecture Student A senior student in the American university in cairo.

TABLE OF CONTENTS 1 - Course Outline 2 - Project 1 3 - Project 2 4 - Project 3

A Portable and Foldable Shelter Located In Giza and Inspired By Sand Dunes

01 Project 1

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NATURAL INSPIRATION Sand Dunes

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Location: Giza

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- Giza hosts a notable percentage of the homeless population in Egypt.

- Giza is representative of most of the Egyptian climate.

What Are Sand Dunes?

- They are hills of loose sand formed by the movement of wind or water.

-Sand dunes are dynamic in both nature and location, constantly being moved and shaped by the wind.

-They are formed by the tendancy for sand particles to stick together if hit.

-The shape of the dune is entirely dependent on the direction of wind hitting it, making them ideal inspirations for shelters as they are shaped by their environments.

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Why Sand Dunes?

-It is a common element in the Giza desert.

-It is a dynamic phenomenon shaped by its environment.

-Dune patterns could be used to formulate different iterations of the shelter.

-Sand dunes consist of micro patterns that come together to form macro patterns.

Types of Sand Dunes Barchan Dunes

Parabolic Dunes

Nabkha Dunes

Star Shaped Dunes

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Precedents Materials

ETFE as a material has various benefits: - Multiple movable layers.

-Incorporate flexible photovoltaic cells.

-Facilitates transmission of natural light.

-Flexible.

-Self cleansing.

-Chemical and radiation resistant.

-High corrosion resistance.

ARCH 473/3522 - Spring 2019

Precedents

Architect: Damian Granoisk The flattened structure is designed to be packed into a box only as wide as the building footprint. Built with a load bearing helium balloon.

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Personal Inspiration The main inspiration of this shelter is the idea of settlement and sedimentation as wind blows and creates piles of sand and crescent shapes.

As settlement occurs over time pockets will be formed at the edges of the building providing an outdoor shelter for activities.

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Digital Experimentation

Connected frames increasing for future expansion

Metalwires mechanism to be deflated and inflated

Perforated doubleskin for shading and ventillation ARCH 473/3522 - Spring 2019

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Form Generation

Single shelter unit

Both concepts of settlement and exterior shelter forming an outdoor spacewithin the building are present in the final form developed.

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Different Scenarios

Single shelter unit

Multiple shelter units connected together

All connected units will always have two sides of the building free of any connections for proper ventillation of the unit at all times.

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Render Shots

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Render Shots

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Technical Drawings

Plan

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Section

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PROJECT 1 REFLECTION

In project 1, we chose a natural inspiration as a group then we applied it individually on our separate buildings. The project was interesting as this was our first exposure to rhino and organic buildings in general.

In this project we were encouraged to experiment digitally and phsyically to come up with an interesting and dynamic form to suit the function.

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A Module Design For A Facade

02 Project 2

Idea Introduction The idea is to create a module that is:

Responsive to the environment

Simple

Passive

Thermal Bi-Metals

It consists of two metals with different coefficients of linear thermal expansion following the equations of:

k= Curvature E= Young’s Modulus

h= Thickness T= Current - Reference Temp.

Fixing the two metals together leads to the metal curving

Material Properties Steel

Iteration 1

Brass

Iteration 2

Iteration 3

Iteration 4

The curvature of the material is dependent upon the proportion of steel to brass. this could be used to control the material’s range in motion.

Form Experimentation 1)

Expanding Vs Contracting Form

Greater difference in area within the contracting form compared to the expanding form.

2)

Number of Vertices

Area difference decreases as the number of vertices increases

Form Evolution 1)

2)

This form consisted of a module that was compacted then expanded radially with fabric in between. However,was considered too two dimensional.

This form consisted mainly of a repeated square module where the thermal bi-metals expanded and contracted according to heat exposure. However, the form was too rigid.

3)

This form consisted mainly of triangular modules where the thermal bi-metals expanded and contracted according to heat exposure levels. However, the form was also too rigid.

4)

This form consists of a framework of 8 iterations of 2 different sized pyramids. Some areas were left exposed, some covered in bi-metal sheets and some covered in perforated sheets.

Material Experimentation Experiment 1 Using aluminium foil and parchment paper. Two strips of aluminium foil are added to the oven at 130 C, one control strip and a strip with parchment paper glued to the back using UHU.

A very slight curve towards the paper size was seen in the experiment strip when left in the oven.

The control strip remained unchanged.

When removed from the oven, the experiment strip gradually curved towards the foil side while cooling

Experiment 2 Using aluminium foil and canson.

Two strips of aluminium foil are added to the oven at 130 C, one control strip and a strip with canson glued to the back using UHU.

Before heating the canson and aluminium were exactly the same size and well bonded.

After heating, curvature was observed and the metal expanded beyond the canson.

Experiment 3 Thick material with canson

Thin material with canson

Using aluminium sheets of two different thicknesses and canson. Two strips of aluminium are added to the oven at 130C, one control strip and a strip with canson glued to the back using UHU.

Thick material didn’t respond to temperature change, slight change in curvature.

Thick material didn’t respond to temperature change, deeper change in curvature.

Experiment 4 Thick material with Parchment

Thin material with parchment

Using aluminium sheets of two different thicknesses and parchment. Two strips of aluminium are added to the oven at 130C, one control strip and a strip with canson glued to the back using UHU.

Thick material didn’t respond to temperature change. Thin material was quicker to respond, greatest curvature.

Thick material curved more when cooled overnight.

Facade Face Lift

03 Project 3

Facade Face Lift Project Overview Concept

A facade that is of different materials such as metals and greenery. The facade is kinetic and responsive to the sun’s movement. Balconies protrude to provide a unique user experience.

Glass

Metal

Greenery

Materials

The facade is composed of bi-metal sheets incase of the small modules. The large modules are made of metal frames with integrated greenery. The panels utilize sensors equipped with IOT.

IOT Sensors

the internet of things is a computing device that doesn’t require human to human or human to computer interaction.

Digital Fabrication Grasshopper Definition

Mechanism Large Module

As the sun becomes less intense, the IOT sensors close the window of the balcony and vice versa

Small Module

The bi-metal sheets open as the sun becomes less intense and vice versa

Iterations Varying ratio betweenn the large and small modules

Randomized

Fabrication Process Using Cura Software

A software to aid in and visualize the 3D printing process

Model Fabrication

Environmental Analysis Radiation Analysis

This diagram illustrated the radiation analysis using ladybug software when conducted on the building

Render Shots

PROJECT 2 REFLCTION

In project 2, we developed upon the panel produced as a group in project 2. Each one of us had his on unique take on it. I for instance focused my variable parameters mainly on the scale of the unit, the movability of the bi-metals sheets, and the movability of the glass in the balconies using sensors. In this project we were exposed to grasshopper and we learnt how to make a functional kinetic unit using it.

In addition, we learnt how to extract the three dimensional unit and render it using other softwares such as lumion.