Youssef Zawbaa- AUC - ARCH 473/3522

Portfolio

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: Youssef Zawbaa Student ID: 900192159

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

Youssef Zawbaa Architecture Student

While technology shapes almost every aspect in our life, I still think that physical models and simple geometric shapes are one of the main bases that architects should use in any design to understand it more easily and fluently before turning the project into a digital one.

In this course we are taught that physical models and materials are the basics, then we manipulate the digital model and change the parameters to extremes to explore new ideas and gain the best of both worlds: physical models and digital models.

By doing so I understood the importance of both models and started to learn from each one while adjusting the other.

In this storybook there is the journey of a project that started with a simple physical model and then started to get more interesting and challenging while turning it into a Grasshopper and a Rhino model.

Material Exploration

Trial 1

Primary Formwork

Trial 2

Outcome

I was inspired to do simple casting and take the negative of the cast and make it a more complex digital shape. Using simple geometric shapes I tried to create a block with a hexagon gap in the middle. i figured out that it was hard to create a complex form using this shape only.

It was hard to shape it due to its heavy weight and fluidity, although i reached somehow the shape I wanted to reach. was to create a dynamic structure by filling the case and shape it before it dries.

Trial 3

The model was smooth with minimal details. The sticks was too stuck to be removed. Get the texture of the steel cup and remove the sticks.

Trial 4

I wanted to create a more curvilinear shape so i used the egg carton. I notised that the carton was getting wet and leaking. The outcome was good, but the structure was not rigid due to the deformation of the carton

Final Formwork

Outcome

I used a plastic bag to avoid the deformation of the carton.The final results are really promissing.i really liked the texture of the model.

-Radius of the height between shells

-Radius of the depth of the shells

-Increase the heigh

-Increase or decrease the width to make diffrent shell sizes

In this slide I tried to figure out the parameters that affect my design. I also tried to understand how each parameter will affect the other. For example when changing the height the depth of each unit will increase.

Base Plain

Points

Size of the clus-

Distance between shells Number of shells

Height

Domain range

Description of photo in a couple of lines, including explanation and/or references

The Parametric Facade The blank Facade

Form Generation

Here I explained how I started to put my physicval model into the digital world. i started with really basic steps to try to controle the model as much as possible. I also showed how i did it on grasshopper and divided each part.

In this part I tried to create a circular shape and add a plain in the middle to trim it and reach my shape, however, this technique failed.

Those are the first steps of the unit design. started by creating a simple plain and add ing a grid of points to it. This will allow me then to move the points in random direc tions in the y-axis and then create a curve to connect those points.

This is my final product. I really liked the logic behind it. It is made from simple steps. I have control over the unit in different plains. i can control the height and the smoothness and the number of points that create different curves

Unit Variation

In this part I was assigned to do extreme variations for the unit itself. I really liked the assignment because it showed me a lot of new ideas that could be really beneficial to my overall design. Most importantly i understood my parameters and knew what will the overall shape will look like if i changed a specific parameter.

Changing the domain

Gradual change

Extreme change

In this assignment we had to create different iterations of the unit. Here I started to create really simple iterations that I have tried before, however, what really helped me see different aspects in my unit is that I tried extreme iterations to the unit. First I thought it would not help me discover anything new but I actually used it to develop

Chainging the seed

Changing the seed helped me discover new forms because it randomized the point placement in the x-axis.

Changing Number of Points

Chainging number of points

In this iteration I added too many points and few points to change the smoothness and the repetition of the curves that I have.

Cluster Variation

Here i wanted to understand the parameters of my cluster and how local parametrs will affect my global parameters, here are diffrent variations of my cluster design that really affected how i view my final design

linear array linear array with change in height

Here I made an array in the x-axis and changed the points to show different iterations that could be used to create a facade that is environmentally friendly.

Leanier Array with change in # of Points

When I changed the height of the points it made me realize that I have to lower most of the points in each unit for the facade to be stable.

Polar array with domain change

Polar array with domain change

Project One Reflection

During this phase I understood how a simple physical model could turn into a building facade with a lot of details. I really liked how I tried different materials during this process which helped me understand the scale of the unit and the texture.

The Parametric Facelift The blank Facade

What are double skin facades

What are double skin facades

Intro

Intro

Two layers, often made of glass, make up a double skin facade system, which enables air to pass through the area between the layers. This area, which typically measures between 20 cm and 2 metres, acts as a form of protection against harsh winds, noise, and temperatures. In spite of the temperature, it raises the building's thermal efficiency.

Two layers, often made of glass, make up a double skin facade system, which enables air to pass through the area between the layers. This area, which typically measures between 20 cm and 2 metres, acts as a form of protection against harsh winds, noise, and temperatures. In spite of the temperature, it raises the building's thermal efficiency.

- Exterior wall provide protection against weather

- Exterior wall provide protection against weather

- Air cavity for ventilation (undivided or divided)

- Air cavity for ventilation (undivided or divided)

- Interior wall consists of single or double thermal insulating glass

- Interior wall consists of single or double thermal insulating glass

Advantages

Advantages

- Reduce energy consumption(especially in hot climate

- Reduce energy consumption(especially in hot climate

- Natural ventilation

- Natural ventilation

- Noise cancellation

- Noise cancellation

-

-

Disadvantages

Disadvantages

- Daylight hindrance.

- Daylight hindrance.

- Higher construction cost.

- Higher construction cost.

- Extra maintenance and operational costs.

- Extra maintenance and operational costs.

- Reduction of occupied space.

- Reduction of occupied space.

Diffrent Approach of Double Skin Facades

Approach 1 Open Natural Convection

- Uses buoyancy for circulation

- Air Exits from the top section

- Air enters from the lower surface

- Opening windows on the inside skin of the building, this technique establishes an appropriate thermal barrier between the interior and outside environments of the structure, allowing the warm air in the middle to be organically utilised.

Approach 2 Closed Natural Convection

- Air trapped between two panels

- Air circulates in the middle

- Does not allow natural ventilation

- Air circulates naturally in the middle gap. However, natural ventilation does not happen in this method because of the closed middle cavity

Diffrent Approach of Double Skin Facades

Approach 3 Forced Convection

- Used in colder climates

- Air is heated in the middle gap

- Move to a space with a fan

- Works as preheater for air

Precedents

Affordance and limitations

Affordance and limitations

Challenges

- High cleaning cost

- High maintenance cost

- High construction cost

Challenges

High cleaning cost

High maintenance cost

High construction cost

Advantages

- Good ROI

- Environmentally friendly

- Reduces energy consumption

- Better experience for user

Advantages

Good ROI

Environmentally friendly Reduces energy consumption Better experience for user

Doha Tower

30 St Mary Ax Building Al Bahar Tower

Winter Sun

Designing The Unit

Facade Fabrication

Model Fabrication

First fabrication trial

First fabrication file did not work because the shape was divided into several small parts

Second fabrication trial

Third fabrication trial

The second file was succesful it was going to take 14 hours to be printed

Finally I tried to change the position of the facade but it will take 16 hours to be printed, so i will go with the second trial.

Plans

Diffrent versions

First trial

Second trial

Third

trial

Fourth trial

Fifth trial

Last trial

VR Experience

After viewing the facade on the VR set I realized that some of the panels were too pointy and unsafe for people to walk by it. I had to make it thinner and smaller to be safe for people

Here I changed the number of the points in each unit to create a more smooth and safe facade. This affected the natural light inside the building so I had to change the distance between each panel to allow more light to enter specially in the southern facade.

The steel frame is connected to the slabs

Steel Frame grid holds the panels

Indoor terrace

As seen from the left hand side, presented was the initial trial of Solar Analysis that resulted in high solar exposure.

The double skin facade cures the sun glare and high radiation on the building by adjusting the fluidity of the panel to allow for more openings and indirect natural light when required, while smoothing out and closing these openings when shade is needed.

Youssef Zawbaa

Biblography

• Klemenc, S. E. (2010, January 7). Using fabric in concrete formwork. Concrete Decor. https://www. concretedecor.net/departments/building-with-concrete/fabric-formwork/

• GoDaddy security. (n.d.). GoDaddy Security - Access Denied. https://www.evolo.us/eco-sustainable-housing-parametric-design/

• https://www.conserveconsultants.com/sustainable-facades

• Debunking myths: 10 myths about parametric architecture. (2021, November 22). RTF | Rethinking The Future. https://www.re-thinkingthefuture.com/architectural-styles/a2832-debunking-myths-10-myths-about-parametric-architecture/

• Fabric forms. (n.d.). joseph. https://www.josephsarafian.com/fabric-formwork

• Fabric-cast concrete method could be the future of construction. (2016, June 2). Dezeen. https:// www.dezeen.com/2016/05/19/ron-culver-joseph-sarafian-fabric-form s-cast-concrete-roboticarms-construction-method-of-the-future/

• Kinetic architecture and kinetic facades. (2022, May 18). Alubuild. https://alubuild.com/en/architecture-kinetic-facades/

• Can wood be dynamic? Cartier’s Osaka facade shows the power of craftsmanship. (n.d.). FRAME

| Interior design and architecture magazine exploring what’s next in spatial design. https://www. frameweb.com/article/retail/can-wood-be-dynamic-cartiers-osaka-facade-shows-the-power-ofcraftsmanship

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