Farida Maamoun - AUC - ARCH 473/3522

Student Portfolio Insert photo in the background

ARCH 473/3522 - DIGITAL DESIGN STUDIO AND WORKSHOP Farida Nabil Maamoun Student Name Spring 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: Farida Maamoun Student ID: 900151409

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

Farida Nabil Maamoun Architecture Student

spiring for. This is why I was always looking forward to a course like Digital Design studio.

I am a student majoring in Architecture Engineering and minoring in Islamic Art and Architecture. I have a passion for heritage architecture, travelling, nature and �������������������������������������������������������� ������������������ I have always been facinated by how nature and how all what the human being aspires goes back it it and is related to it. Nature is the most advanced technology human beings will never fully discover. This is why I appreciate architecture that is inspired by nature in anyway. Even though I wouldn’t describe my style in architecture as a parametric lover, I am facinated by how paramtric design and computation can open doors to the most advanced architecture that we are always in-

The Digital Design Studio was much of a great eper����������� �������� ����� �� ����� ��� ������������� �� ����� never been exposed to. It came with its challanges. But it also came with such freedom in imagination and experimentation. The biomimircry focus for this semester added even more challanges and excitment to the project. The experiemntation with nature inspired science experiments, modelling techniques, digital fabrication and presentations helped the process rich and complete. Also the softwares introduced to us during the course helped me alot and added to my skills and will help me throughout the rest of my architecture career.

An aluminium case of Fire Ants Mounds. A form made of vertical channels and different form itterations of chambers distributed along the channels.

01 Learning from Nature

2 Formation Logic and Behaviour Ants are known for their Collective Intelligence used in building mounds. they follow each other’s pattern in building mounds. Simple units forming larger patterns through interaction with one another. They build their mounds to be environmentally responsive. They adapt their shape, volume and density for optimum wind flow and exposure to the sun for every season. They are made of Vertical channels that opens and closes according to the amount of wind flow needed to adjust the temprture of the mound. While these vertical channels are fixed, the way ants build chambers around it differs according to the temprature of the environment.

This inspired me to create a form that is adpatable to the environmental conditions. I experimented with forms and materials that can allow the form to open and close when exposd to solar radiation.

The openable panels needed to be disperced along the form of the buildiing and not consistant through out. Expansion Behviour would either be on the whole building or on the skin layer.

Portfolio

01 Learning From Nature

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ARCH 473/3522 - Spring 2019

4 Form Generation Form generation was first inspired by the approach of expansion and defrmation of the whole building so started experimenting with structures that would allow me this, like folded plates. I started using folded plates with openable panels embedded with them. But I didn’t feel that it translated the lightweight delicate feeling of the mounds. So I shifted the structure to space frames. They gave me certain characteristics that translate the mounds.

Lightweight, unity and connectivity, feeling of staggering, transperncy.

I chose a technique using Shape Memory Polymer inbedded within a traingular plate to allow me to adapt and distribute these panels throughout the form. The openable panels needed to be disperced along the form of the buildiing and not consistant through out.Choosing to work with the Shape Memory Polymer defined for me the kind of structures I can use it with. The space frame gave me the felxibility to change the panels either transparent, solid or openable polymer panel.

Portfolio

01 Learning From Nature

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Portfolio

01 Learning From Nature

7 A close up to the model in wireframe view.

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Form Generation ARCH 473/3522 - Spring 2019

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02 Form Generation

9 mages of the site, Engineering Department Courtyard, AUC

Site Location The American University in Cairo AUC Courtyard between architecture and construction departments.

Opportunitiies: Courtyard is facing north direction so sunlight doesn’t enter its all the time. It can allow for a more transparent building. The site has 3 main entrances/Exits. Circulation was an important part of my model form.

Challanges: Broken angles of the courtyard edges can be restricting. The size of the courtyard is small . Circulation had to be through the building fo it doesn’t block circulation of people and to attract people from outside.

The sharp edges of the site inspired me to make a similar geometry to go with the site. Also the form had to be open from 3 sides so it doesn’t obscure the circulation and to include it inside of it. The form of the building has a staggering effect that leads to the peak of it. It is inspired by the staggering and gradual compacting of the ants mounds. The pattern I chose for the polymer openable facades is very similar to the islamic patterns found in the AUC.

ARCH 473/3522 - Spring 2019

10 Form Generation from Rhino/Grasshopper The form started to properly appear once I finalized the form and shape of the space frames. I formed them with different sizes and orientation to fit: - The views of the place - The orientation to the sun - The form of the courtyard Then I started placing the solid, transparent, and shape shifting panels according to the same criterias.

The shape-shifting form is inspired a mechanism using the shape memory polymor as a connector between solid panels. When this polymor is exposed to solar radiation it bends on itself causing the solid panels to come close to each other. The polymor is transparent so it provides an openess to the panel, so when the solid panels close they give the sense of closeness.

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02 Form Generation

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Grasshopper model Definition

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Shape Shifting Prototype Definition

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02 Form Generation

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03 Final Project

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03 Final Project ARCH 473/3522 - Spring 2019

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Legend 1 Entrance 2 Lobby 3 Study Room 4 Lounge 5 Stationary 6 Main Studios

Ground Floor Plan Portfolio

03 Final Project

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Section A-A ARCH 473/3522 - Spring 2019

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Layout Plan Portfolio

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Elevation ARCH 473/3522 - Spring 2019

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03 Final Project

23 Main Model Shot

I wanted the users of the building to have the same gradual experience going from an open transparent space to a higher and more closed space. The peak of the building has a transparent side that enables the direct visual connection with the outside. Also I took into consideration that the building from the bridge’s side, whats inside the building can be shown. This is why the (solid, glass, polymer) panels is distriputed accordingly. The building however takes into consideration to add transparent plates in sides where sunlight won’t directly hit it to add to the visual experience of the user.

I believe the end result of the building is satesfying to me. I think it has a great experience inside and outside for users. The onl think I could have emphasized on more is the movement of the shape shifting panels to be more dramatic so it can add to the experinece of the users. However, environmentally, it adds an interesting layer on the building.

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03 Final Project

Exterior Model Shot

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Interior Model Shot

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Biblography

• http://studiokimiis.com/shape-memory-polymer-deployable-architecture-2/ • http://materiability.com/portfolio/shape-memory-polymers/ • https://physics.aps.org/articles/v9/121 • https://smartsolution247.com/eth-zurich-researchers-develop4d-printed-load-bearing-polymer-structures-3dprint-com/

ŠAll rights reserved, American University in Cairo (AUC) May 2019