Student Portfolio
A R C H 4 7 3 / 3 5 2 2 - D I G I TA L DESIGN STUDIO AND WORKSHOP Mariam Farahat Fall 2021
The American University in Cairo (AUC) School of Sciences and Engineering - Department of Architecture ARCH 473/3522 - Digital Design Studio and Workshop (Fall 2021) 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: Mariam Farahat Student ID: 900181059
© The American University in Cairo (AUC), November 2021
Mariam Farahat Architecture Student
I am an undergraduate student studying architecture engineering at The American University in Cairo, and I am currently in my fourth year. Throughout these years I have gained knowledge and experience in this field and my love for this field have only grown since the first day I entered the university. During my years at University, I have shown my dedication and hard work in my courses as well as my availability and flexibility when working with a group. I am always ready to learn new things from my professors and my colleagues and willing to go above and beyond to meet the expectations. I believe constructive criticism is crucial to my continued development and my mentors and professors of the years have expressed their appreciation for my work and dedication in my
courses. Particularly my research capabilities and my ability to communicate my ideas graphically. What I enjoy the most while studying architecture is the family I found, we had our fun in group projects where we researched and communicated our outcomes, me and my colleagues would do our research, get feedback, and develop our work until we were fully satisfied with the finished result, other than group work, we went through all the ups, downs, times when we were full of energy, and times when we were full of stress and tiredness and the most important thing is that we never left each other’s side. Any opportunities that I come accross I always like to get the most out of it in order to gain more knowledge to strengthen my work ethic continuously and build my confidence in this work environment. One of my many struggles in architecture is time, I am a very active person who always make a million plans, goals, and activities for myself regarding family, studying, university, friends, training. As much as I get too focused in my work, I also love going out with my friends, my perfect study day would be to meet up with my friends to study together and have a good tim. Training is also a big part of my life, I always try to squeeze my trainings into my schedule of the day since I compete in triathlon events with my parents which is another huge aspect of my happiness. All in all my as much as my daily dedication to architecture, family, friends, and trainings leaves no time for me to rest and recharge, all of it is what keeps me going.
My final outcome for this project shown with penetration of lght from the inside
01 Learning from Materiality
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Prototype 1 Trial 1
Portfolio
Ratio Gypsum powder: water 2:1
Materials Used: Cloth Stapler Gypsum Powder
3 Experimenting with cloth and gypsum powder
I had the idea of forming a structure with the red, rubber, textured material as a mold for the gypsum. To form the structure, I folded the material together in a flower shaped form and held it in place with a stapler. Once the structure was formed, I started mixing the gypsum powder with water, using a 2:1 ratio. I used a plastic spoon to mix them togther, but upon reflection, it was not the best mixing tool as it created lumps in the mixture. The gypsum mixture started drying very quickly, so I had to pour it over the sturcture as fast as possible. After pouring the mixture, I notcied two things: the amount was not enough and the material of the rubber did not allow for a smooth application. In conclusion the ratio of the gypsum powder to water was suitable and strong, however, the cloth was suppose to be removed from the gypsum after it dried leaving the shape of the cloth but instead they were stuck together and I was not able to seperate them from each other.
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Mariam Farahat
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Prototype 2 Trial 1
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Ratio Gypsum powder: water 2:1
Materials Used: Plasticine Wooden Sticks Gypsum Powder
5 Experimenting with Plasticine, wooden sticks, and gypsum powder
For my second prototype I used gypsum powder, plasticine, and wooden sticks to form my idea. My idea was to create a perforated gypsum stone that is nearly see through due to the amount of different holes at different locations with multiple radiuses and angles of protrusion. The goal was to shape the mold which was plasticine in an organic open shape and then penetrate through the plasticine with the wooden sticks and different places with different angles and sizes. What went right was the starting form, it was stable and flexible to my wanted shape. The wooden sticks that went through it also kept the form stable and was easy to penetrate. The end result was not what I expected because at the end the gypsum’s mixture became clotted due to the reuse of the same bowl of mixture that had hardened bits of gypsum from the previous trial which played with the ratio which was originally 2:1, due to that the gypsum was more delicate and the corners broke off easily. Also most of the wooden sticks either got stuck or were so hard to get out. The larger sticks with angles nearest to 0 came out easier than the smaller sticks with larger angles which were broken inside, lastly the sticks on the corners broke the gypsum since it was already delicate.
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Prototype 2 Trial 2
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Ratio Gypsum powder: water 2:1
Materials Used: Plasticine Wooden Sticks Gypsum Powder Plastic Bags
7 Experimenting with Plasticine, plastic bags, and gypsum powder
wooden
sticks,
For the second trial of this prototype, I continued using the same ratio of gypsum powder to water which was 2:1, and the materials used were wooden sticks, plastic bags, plasticine, and gypsum powder. I started by wrapping the wooden sticks with plastic bags so that I could avoid it being stuck inside the gypsum like the last trial. I also made a shorter plasticine structure to make it more stable and less solid, then I cut it through with a smaller number of sticks that had larger diameters at angles close to 0 to make it easier to take out without breaking the gypsum. This time, the gypsum had a more liquid state which made it easier to fill in the small corners of the plasticine and caused it to have a smoother texture after drying. Before the gypsum completely dried out, I poked the surface with sticks with different diameters to create a rocky texture at the end. When the gypsum dried, I took out the plasticine and the sticks which were so much easier to do with the plastic wrap. The form came out strong with many extrusions and inclusions in its outer surface. The top edges of the gypsum curved outwards smoothly and the texture of the surface of the form gave it a feeling on the outside of the holes that are penetrated through on the inside.
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Prototype 3 Trial 1
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Materials Used: Foam Spray Foam Cylinders
9 Experimenting with Foam Spray
For my third prototype, I used foam spray and foam cylinders as the mold. I experimented with the foam spray first to see how it works and how long it takes to dry, then I placed the foam cylinders as a guide to the foam while spraying it around them. The cylinders had different radiuses and heights which made the holes more interesting. While I was spraying the foam, I tried to make a variation in height in some areas to create a 3d coral effect. After I finishedI finished spraying the foam, I took out the cylinders before it completely dried out. The highest point in the foam expanded and filled in the hole that was centered in it which made me that I should have waited for it to dry and expand before taking out the mold. The foam cylinders that supported the edges of the foam made interesting arched shapes on the sides, and the final texture of the form were like blobs that made the entire form interesting.
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Prototype 3 Final
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Materials Used: Foam Spray Foam Cylinders Plastic Wrap
11 Experimenting with Foam Spray and artificial light
For my final trial, I decided to improve on the third prototype with the foam spray and cylinders. I added two more materials which were a large bowl and plastic wrap that was used to wrap around the bowl to not allow the foam spray to stick. By this trial I realized the parameters that I was experimenting with angles, radius, position, and depth. I turned the plastic bowl upside down and concentrated on having places with different densities of foam. I avoided extremely tall points and large depth so that I could avoid any closing of perforations after expansion. I used objects with different heights and radiuses in order to give different types of light penetration effects inside the form also, to make the form more dynamic and random. I varied each hole to have. Different radius, pattern, density, and position. This helped create the dynamic effect with different densities of light. After the foam dried, the lighting feature was placed inside the concave form which gave a natural stone effect, the denser parts of the foam were not as penetrated as the lighter parts. I also tried to pace the light from the outside of the concave, and interesting shadows were shown on the ground inside the concave. There were direct and indirect lights with different angles and dimenyaccordnf to the hole’s density, radius, and position.
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Portfolio
13 Prompt of the project photo: SSE gateway
02 Learning from Nature ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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Snakes Portfolio
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Snakes have evolved from lizards and over the years their length changed, colors changed, and patterns changed. Now, we can see many kinds of snakes with many unique colors and patterns. Over the years, snakes sculps have changed leaving snaked with different looking sculps. Snakes have developed different colors and patterns while trying to scare their preys and to camouflage with their living area.
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The snakes colors act as a defense mechanism. Snakes have multiple colors such as red, pink, yellow, black, grey, brown, green, and blue. Their skin patterns also vary hugely. Their patterns include longitudinal stripes, blotches, reverse spots, spots, and transverse stripes.
Portfolio
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The snakes concept is form follows function. Firstly the snake has a highly elongated vertebral column, it has no limb girdles associated with the skeleton, has a body and tail vertebra, and each vertebra articulates with its neighbour at five different points. The snake has multiple different crawling styles inlcudes concertina which pulls its body up into bends then straightens up to move forward. Another style is the sidewinding which is when the snake’s head moves forward first then the ody follows moving forward sideways. Serpentine is the third crawling style of a snake which is the thurst motion from side to side and the movement forward in a waved motion. Lastly the caterpillar crawling style is the slow movement where the muscles contract to move forwards in a rippling motion.
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These are examples of different forms of abstraction inspired by the skeleton and movement as well as the different skin textures and colors of a snake.
Portfolio
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These are different buildings and pavillions that are built inspired by the snake. Some of them are inspired by the movement such as Kuwait snake building and the Swatch headquareters, some are inspired by the texture of the snake like the Dragon pavilion andthe twisting snake building, and some are using the snake as a literal inspiration to the building like the Asian cobra tower and the snake sculpture.
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THE TWIST First Trial In this project, I started by analyzing the sse gateway, trying to figur out the best location for the pavilion and taking notes of its surrounding. I cooncluded that I wanted the pavilion to be in the center with an entrance from the plaza’s side and an eother entrance from the building’s side so that people could go in and out . the second thing I did was gathering inspirations using the snake’s different features like its reflected colors of the environment it is in therefore, in this poject the environment is the sse gateway and from that I gathered its colors of green, grey, and brown, but the focal point of the gateway ws the gate which was in bold green.. Another inspiration was the snakes movement which was twisting upwards. My third inspiration was its skin pattern which was the diamond pattern.
Portfolio
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GRASSHOPPER SCRIPT
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THE TWIST Second Trial
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For my final trial, I changed the longitudinal effect where the pattern came out stretched and thin and replicated around when in reality the snake’s pattern has different thicknesses and sizes. I also made to openings in the pavilion so that a person an move in and out from within. The form is taken from the negative space that a snake moves within making the movement of the user the same movement of the snake from the inside. I also changed the centrality of the design to make it more irregular like the snake where it is twisted irregularly and bends its head. The pattern is thicker near the part where the snake bends its head because it is where the snake activates its defense mechanism with his skin’s texture more in reality. Also the different sizes of the patterns is reflected on the reality of the snake where not each part of his skin is the same. The color is inspired by the camouflage that the snake makes in its context where it takes the color of its surroundings. The center and focal point of the SSE gateway is its tall heavily patterned door that is colored in green. Reflecting on this aspect, the pavilion will be the center and focal point of the SSE gateway, therefore the color green is repeated in its form.
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GRASSHOPPER SCRIPT
Portfolio
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Portfolio
29 3D shot of my model
03 The Parametric Facelift ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
Mariam Farahat
30 Blom Bank Facelift
In this project, I parametrically designed a prototype for The Blom Bank’s building facade that suffers from a great amount of sun exposure due to its curtain walls with no shading device with an orientation of South to West which is where the greatest amount of sun radiation accesses the building. In my design I wanted to create a simple structure that does not clash with the bank;s identity as well as its context while creating a dynamic user experience inside the building through different kinds of shading, as well as double and triple height atriums that overlooks from the inside the parametric surface. In terms of reacting with the sun, two paramters were used to interact with the sun in order to create an efficient outcome for an efficient amount of shading while giving access to a sufficient amount of sunlight.
Cairo Climate Analysis
Monthly Durnal Average
Portfolio
Summer Sun Shading Chart
Wind Rose
Blom Bank Analysis and Proposed Modifications
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The use of a static parametric system which interacts with the location of the sun with a small angle at the hottest time of the day would be the most cost and energy efficient. The aim is to maximize daylight and minimize the solar energy consumption of the facade.
Inspiration
100 Eleventh Avenue by Jean Nouvel I was inspired by Jean Nouvel’s 100 Eleventh Avenue buiding because of its simple appearence yet well thought of system and organization. I liked how the parametric facade seems random yet organized in a certain order with varying rotation and unit dimensions clustered together. ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
Mariam Farahat
32 Parametric Design Strategy Parameters
Unit Size
Parameters Inside Grasshopper
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Scale
Protrusion
Rotation
Model Development
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Initial Module Unit Design
For my initial module design, I made the unit dimensions 0.6x0.6m with a protrusion of 0.3m and then I scaled it 0.5 and rotated the scaled panel 45 degrees.
Clustered Approach
Reflection I used different unit dimensions which are 1.2x1.2m, 0.6x0.6m, and 0.3x0.3m and designed a cluster that can accommodate different zones on different floor levels. These modules had different protrusions for every unit size and scaled them down 0.5 with an angle of 45 degrees of the smaller panel. When the cluster was repeated along the facade it looked static and unrelated which was not what I had hoped for therefore, I changed the approach to make it seem more random and dynamic yet still organized.
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34 Virtual Reality Reflection
The problems I realized in my double skin facade during the virtual reality exploration were that the surfacewas planar and was not attached to the slab and wall edges of the building, another problem was that the panels were not alligned with the floor slabs, they intersect its edge with the middle of the glass panel. They were also not connected together and were flying far fom the building because there was no structure system. The lower Portion of the facade is not integrated properly with the columns and the lower part of the building. I then began to develop my design based on these problems and thought about some solutions that include making a variation across the facade from south to west through panel extrusions, alligning the slabs with the end points of the rows or changing slab edge, attaching a structure system that holds the facade together with the slabs of the building, and lastly creating a solid and void effect in the lower part of the facade which could be designed to make the entrance more interesting. Portfolio
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Quad Tree First Approach
In this approach, I used the boundaries of my surface and used pop 2d to place points on the boundary. Pop 2d creates outlines around a certain amoun of points or less depending on the number of points in a group. In this approach I used 200 points and the number of points in a group were 2 or less Some modules were left empty which just left the glass facade. The modules were connected together better and does not seem monotoumous. The problem I faced during this trial was that there was not enough variation of sizes similar to my first clustered approach. Another parameter that was not introduced the best was the varying protrusions of the panel. ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
Mariam Farahat
36 Fabrication
Double Skin Facade
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Supports
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Quad Tree Second Approach
Protrusion Parameter
Scale Parameter
Portfolio
For the second trial of the quad tree approach, I introduced the variation in protrusions and glass panels using a sun attractor. The change of the depth is shown from south to west. The minimum extruded depth is 5 cm and the maximum depth is 80 cm. By using a sun attractor, the extusions get larger as it moves toward the south. The change of unit dimensions is also shown from south to west. The minimum extruded depth is 20 cm and the maximum depth is 60 cm. By using a sun attractor, the extusions get larger as it moves toward the south. The variation in sizes was still not existent dramatically and the interior experience was not dynamic.
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Exterior Shot
Interior Shot 1 ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
Interior Shot 2
Radiation Analysis Mariam Farahat
40 Grasshopper Script
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42 Final Approach
Ground Floor
First Floor
Second Floor
Standing and Walking Zone Offices Storage and Services Lounge Co-Working Space Third Floor
Portfolio
Fourth Floor
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Section ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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South Elevation Portfolio
Environmental Analysis
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Radiation Analysis
Sunlight Analysis
ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
I developed my facade by adding multiple unit dimensions to create this random yet organized parametric facade. The panel sizes overall start small and enlarge while going to the west since in the south the sun is stronger and has a higher temperature. The extrusions of the panels also vary by being connected to a sun attractor therefore, increasing its extrusion as it goes south in order to self shade on the facade. The sun attractor is also used for the external glass panels which close and open depending on its position on the facade. This facade can be divided to two parts: the external, and the internal. The external part is what is shown in the elevation and the internal can be seen in the section. Both glass panels on the external and the internal are rotated but in different directions, one in the z and one in the y direction, in order to have a dynamic shading experience inside the building even though from the outside the parametric surface has a simple design. The structure consists of steel frames that are connected horizontally with members to the slab.
Mariam Farahat
46 Three-Dimensional Shots
Main Shot
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48 Grasshopper Script
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Internal Facade Changes
The code for the Internal facade was the same except of the change in the protrusion to make it static at 0.2 m, and the rotation to be on the y-axis instead of the z-axis
External Facade ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
Mariam Farahat