Mennatallah Elshebli- AUC - ARCH 473/3522

Student 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: Mennatallah Elshebli

Student ID: 900191657

© The American University in Cairo (AUC), December 2022

Mennatallah Elshebli Architecture Student

My name is Mennatallah Elshebli, and I am a senior studying Architectural Engineering. Ever since I was little I imagined myself being an architect- without even knowing why, and later I found myself applying to study architecture. Architecture is most definitely different than what I imagined as a little girl. It has been a very challenging yet eye-opening experience. I learned to enhance my creativity and work towards my goals in full effort, and it has showed me how hard work pays off. Taking this course has really opened my eyes to the endless possibilities of design, and introduced me to the phenomenality of parametric design. This is something I had never imagined myself doing, I never thought I’d use these advanced softwares to create problem-solving design solutions! I am very thankful for the opportunity to learn new technologies and softwares,

and being aware of the different trends and tech updates in the real world. My educational journey is not done yet, and as much as it is a challenging ride, it is a very bright one.

Material exploration using fabric formwork

Fabric Formwork

Background Research

Fabric formwork has been an option for construction using concrete for so long to create efficient architectural elements & structures that are environmentally friendly

This technique has the ability to inherit the shape of its mould only when the concrete is wet, & uses structural membranes as the main facing material.

Fabric formwork can be utilised to create difficult concrete shapes of high costs that could be impossible to make such as curvature elements using traditional formwork.

History and Background

Fabric formwork started as a result of the Industrial Revolution, however, it has been seen before in Roman engineering.

Lilienthal is one of the first people who built using fabric formwork, where he used a type of fabric over the parallel beams, that had on the top wires before pouring the concrete.

It is quite apparent that any creations or additions to fabric formwork were invented in hydraulic engineering.

Different Techniques

Could be used as a concrete-filled tube as an arch form

The use of nylon fibre reinforcement for concrete predating

Having stacked fabric-formed bags that act as low-cost building walls

Materials Used

Woven polypropylene fabrics are sometimes used when there is fabric-formed concrete. Geotextile fabrics are flexible to use & are very strong and can handle heavy loads, they do not break.

Domain of Application

Below are categories grouped by common applications, but these methods have also been called “flexible formwork” instead of “membrane”, “flexible” “textile” or “fabric mould”. These categories are separated into mattresses, sleeves, shuttering & open troughs.

Precedents

Hanil Guest House, Seoul, South Korea (2009), by Byoung Soo Cho architects, Nicholas Locke

Cloud Hidden house, built using pneumatic formwork (2000). Reproduced by the Monolithic Dome Institute

Initial Experimentation Concept

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

Primary Experimentation

Basic Information

Ratio: 1:1.6- Runny Formwork: Plastic Bag

Step 1: Forming an island to know when to stop adding gypsum

Step 2: Mixing any lumps & learning from the previous trial with lumps

Step 3: Arranging the base for the fabric forming with plastic cups creating volume

Step 4: Taking any air off the plastic bag & laying it on top of the cups acting as the mold

Step 5: Pouring the mixture onto the shapes of the cups & the voids in the plastic bag to have a dynamic form

Step 6: Smoothing the mixture out & joining it together to avoid any breakage from happening

Step 7: Removing the form from its surface carefullyvery little and minor amount of breakage was seen

Step 8: Having the wanted form in mind to appear with the plastic textures & ups & downs from the mold

Secondary Experimentation

Basic Information

Ratio: 1:2- Good Workability

Formwork: Spray Cans

Step 1: Started cutting the shapes. Step 2: Prepared the cutout of the fabric pattern. Step 3: Mixed the water with the gypsum with the correct ratio.

Step 4: Prepared gypsum mixture that is not too watery & not too like a paste.

Step 5: Dipped the fabric in the gypsum mixture & then layed it down on the spray cans form.

Step 6: Slowly started removing each spray can.

Step 7: The spray cans were removed successfully without any breakage & the process was easy & smooth to remove.

Step 8: The final result.

Reflection

From the physical interplay of the materials, I learned that fabric is a highly flexible material to work with. It has the ability to move freely with any object, especially with gypsum. I learned that materials can be used to support one another, & that with fabric forming, it is much easierthan using foil for example and other materials because of its texture that allows for the gypssum to adapt to.

Some techniques I learned during my experimentation with the casting fabric form process is that it is essential to be patient with the gypsum & wait for it to dry in order to avoid any sort of breakage with the fabric. Also, I learned how to shape the fabric using the gypsum & understood how much time I should leave the gypsum on the fabric to dry & the fact that I should shape it in a way that takes the form of other things.

Lessons Learned Techniques Learned Variables, Rules, Relationships, and Constraints Developed

Constraints

Wanting to add more gypsum but it dries too quickly, can’t thicken the fabric. forming.

Relationships Rules

I learned that the way to ensure the ratio and relationship between water & gypsum is based on the thing we are doing.

One main rule I have developed is to not put too much water in the gypsum, it won’t ever dry.

Mennatallah Elshebli

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

Translating material exploration into grasshopper

Mennatallah Elshebli

Material Exploration Phase Inspirations for Inputs and Outputs

Pattern: Number of cutouts/ density: affected by number & size- this has an impact on the pattern

X & Y direction of patterns: Output:-Shape, rotation of shape

Spray cans acting as radius

Location: coordinate

Bumps size Angles

Final outcome

Parametric

Design

Strategy: How its Abstracted

Square Grid

Having a surface that is intruded by 2 points

Of the square grid, the single square is manipulated by points on all 4 corners

Parameters Inputs Outputs

Extended X & Y direction Location of points Cell size

Grid Surface Attraction Points Pull points Radius

Shape Patterns (perforations)

The parameters of the surface (X &Y directions) can be manipulated & changed.

The points are then controlled & manipulated as nurb curves

Translation of Workflow Diagram into Definition

Objective Logic and how it is Derived

To create a surface that is intruded by several points with a patterned surface.

Setting up a square grid, controlling its points & curves & giving structure to the form.

Process of Form/ Pattern Generation Broken Down

Setting up the square grid, missing the pinch & spread to control the points & curves & giving structure to the form

Manipulated points

Spreading points

Assigning random points to the pinch & spread command

Lofting the curves to see the surface result

Manipulating the points both vertically and horizontally

Flattening the curves & playing with the points vertically and adding more points to get the type of surface I want

Creating the pattern & extruding the surface I have

Getting the surface to the thickness I want by adjusting the thickness numbers

Mennatallah Elshebli

Different Variations and Possibilities of Single Design Panel

The exploration of several panel iterations

Iteration 1

Curves and loft to create simple form

Attempt at creating curves from the points on the grid

Abstracting the concept of a square grid & using it in a different way & planes.

Parameter controlled: square grid

Curves join and begin to appear

Iteration 2 - Parameter Controlled: Location of coordinates & attraction points

Iteration 3 - Parameter Controlled: Perforations (shape patterns) and thickness

Experimenting & adjusting the patterns to have different iterations, occurring from playing with their different sizes inside on the surface level.

Creating distinctive thicknesses in different planes & having different iterations from it.

Mennatallah Elshebli

Cluster of Panels

Mennatallah Elshebli

Logic/ System of Propogation

Creating a surface that acts as a cluster using panels in the XZ plane & other panels in the YZ plane. Cluster derives from different shapes coming out of the panels.

Local and global parameters: Working planes, thicknesses, intersections, number of panels, distance between panels

Lofting the curves to create surface

Adjusting planes to work on to be ready for the cutting planes

Controlling the number of & distance between cutting planes

Variations of Clusters

Different variations

Single panel to be repeated

Mirroring the double on the x axis

Mirroring on the y-axis

PARAMETERS OF CLUSTER:

Mirroring Repetition Clustered into 4

Cluster Outcome

Selection of Cluster

More dynamic in motion & movement

Works on different planes (XZ & YZ)

Optimised version of the previous symmetrical patterned cluster, allows for more areas of exploration

Several parameters have the potential to be adjusted & act as a facade or a roof

Reflection

Looking back at this project, I can safely say that I have learned a ton from it, starting form the material experimentation stage where I worked with a new material & got to explore its variations teaching me all about what parameters are & actually feeling them on a physical base while working with them, which lead to an even brighter node of learning by parametric design & translating the parameters to actual digital definitions that could come as something real. This was an extremely advantageous project aiding my skills.

Selva Alegre, Leppanen Anker Arquitectura

Petersen Automotive Museum, Los Angeles

Could be used as a curved roof or a parametric facade with different patterns

Mennatallah Elshebli

Project 2: The Parametric Facelift

Project 2: The Parametric Facelift

Classifications and Principles

Basic Principles & Classifications

A facade system involving 2 layers: Mainly glass, whereby the air flows through the intermediate cavity.

The airflow through the intermediate cavity can occur naturally or be mechanically driven, and the two glass layers may

Environmental Performances in Hot Arid Climates

A facade Hot climates: an opening outside the building to decrease heat and decrease the cooling load. Excess heat is removed through the chimney effect: where differences in air density create a circular motion that causes warmer air to escape.

Properties:

Ventilation Cavity

Window for Ventilation into Cavity Solar Radiation

Transparent façade Thermal and Auditory Comfort Reduced Air Conditioning Costs Elimination of the need for Window-Specific Technologies.

Adaptable to cooler and warmer weather. It is this versatility that makes them very interesting by altering minor changes in inlets & outlets!

Different approaches for the design and operation of relevant double skin façades, solar screens, and responsive façades in terms of parametric form generation, simulation, optimization, and mechanism control strategies

Different approaches for the design and operation of relevant double skin façades

Solar Screens & Responsive Facades

Two types of responsive facades

Form generation: how to begn

Active systems that act in an adaptive manner & in response to the contextual environment through changing buildings facades behaviour, in terms of spatial configurations or characteristics of its external skin.

Design thinking variables

Optimization and Simulation

Solar responsive facades are responsive to the variable amount of solar radiation that buildings are exposed to and can usually be achieved through the control of solar heat, solar light or both.

Wind driven kinetic responsive facades are systems that respond to existing natural air current and wind, in order to enter natural ventilation to the inside of the buildings, as well as controlling water vapour rates, odours and pollutants that usually gathers up inside poorly ventilated indoor spaces.

Skin Motion & Deformation Variables/ Strategies

Relevant Technical Details

The double skin façade system is mainly a duo of glass skins that are separated by an air corridor. The main layer of glass is normally insulating and is extremely similar to a standard curtain wall.

An extra layer of glass is added to the system, and the air space between the two layers acts as an insulating barrier against temperature extremes, noise, and wind. Between the two skins there are at often times sun shading devices.

Different Configurations of DSF System Details:

Affordances and Limitations of Double Skin Façade Systems

Affordances Limitations

Reduced energy consumption Natural Ventilation Acoustic Insulation Occupant Comfort Long-term Economic Benefits Aesthetic Appeal Strength and Durability

Higher construction cost. Fire protection. Reduction of rentable space. Extra maintenance and operational costs. Overheating issues.

Analysis of Site Conditions & Environmental Factors- New Cairo

Direct Normal Solar Radiation is relatively low throughout the whole year.

March to June: temperature is above or within comfort, so shade will help to control the heat gain.

Conclusion: We can use shading devices from June till October. While in November to march passive solar heating and Geothermal can be implemented.

The most efficient passive techniques chosen are natural ventilation cooling and internal heat gain. Shading devices were added to reduce strong sunlight.

November to April: underheated (less than 21°c), passive solar heating like heat gain and thermal mass could be implemented.

Most of the year the prevailing wind direction: NNE Temperature: 20-24 C(comfort)

Proposed Modifications for Interior Spatial Configuration

Sketch of Slab I want to Create

Just like my plan of having a responsive double skin facade is coming to life, I also plan on having a responsive slab edge system that starts from the indoors & ends at the outdoors, whereby the slab will be responsive to the users in terms of protruding the slab to create more shading for the people immersing in activities as well as creating additional activities on the slab exceeding outdoors in the form of a terrace but something that is more dynamic & user friendly.

Choice of operational mechanism of the façade (static/responsive)

Chosen Mechanism: Responsive

Based on a study done in Alanya HEP University, Turkey, the majority of the examples of the responsive facades have active system in which actuators, motors or sensors are used to give a real-time response to the changing environmental conditions. Out of all 23 systems, twelve of the systems complete their movements in seconds and eleven of them in minutes. Since the responsive facades systems are made of modules able to move individually, the elements are free to move and can be individually controlled. 14 of the responsive facades have rotational movement while four systems have folding

Sketches of Proposed Approach

Inspiration from Parameters from Material Exploration Phase

Variety of cavities- Different heights & rotations of openings to control wanted sunlight, can create skylight & courtyard

Mesh patterns created by fabric formwork- could be used in the panels as tensile materials to

Movement Type Inspiration: Hybrid Rotation

Partial plan

Partial Elevation

Perforations close up

Volumes of spray cans creating different variations in skin scales/ protrusions

The derived parameters, rules and relationships from the previous experimentation:

Spaces Configuration Parameters

Extended X & Y direction

Location of points

Size of Opening Shape Patterns (perforations)

Extended X & Y direction- size of slabs protrusions

Location of points- location of panel that opens up Size of Opening- amount of sun exposure

Shape- shape of opening Patterns- the pattern of the opening

Grid- grid for locating where the openings are Surface- base surface for the facade

Pull points- to manipulate protrusions of openings

Radius- radius of circular opening

variation and complexity- Western Part

Activity based ideas/ scenarios of use:

Responding to specific ideas: Climatic Functional Spatial

Skin becomes the profile that changes in section & caters for different scenarios in facades varying to create different aspects as letting in daylight/ sun exposure.

Unit: Opens in the southern orientation to avoid entrance of direct harsh sunlight

. Parameters work in order to do something that is compact in the south part & then opens up in the west

How it is intended to address the conceptual goals and achieve

Parametric Modeling Progress

How it is intended to address the conceptual goals and achieve variation and complexity- Southern Part

.

Parameters are tied with whatever is happening in terms of activity + orientation idea:

Horizontal Shading How masses work together

Creating different densities

How they create intricate solid/ void ratios & percentages

Inclined plane: creating different scenarios

. .

Same element creates a variation; catering the fact that its not only a plane that exists outside but there’s a space creating a three dimensional aspect with people making it become vibrant.

.

A simple unit that can go widely in terms of variation, about how the setting is provided for that to happen.

Each space has a specific need & something that can cater for it through the skin

Experimenting with Circular Panels

Problematic- no relation to initilaly experimented patterns/ panels

Inspirations

Inspiration from previous cluster experimentation

Horizontal and vertical panels act as the main drivers

Panels arrangement

100 11th Avenue- Jean Nouvel

Mennatallah Elshebli

Navigating through the VR experience using the remote controls

Panel is not connected to the end of the wall

Gap space between the panel and the wall

Mennatallah Elshebli

Shadow Evaluation throughout the Day

More Exterior Shots

Mennatallah Elshebli

Action in Response to Feedback from VR

Slabs completely protruding facade

Solution?

Slabs modified to still protrude yet not PROTRUDE the actual facade

Curtain wall merges into facade and glitches

Solution? Curtain wall brought backwards at the curve of the columns

Mennatallah Elshebli

More vertical panels upwards: located at the private areas and offices for ultimate shading

Bent areas at the facade for self-shading and allowing more room at the bottom for activities to arise

Less vertical panels downwards and more horizontal panels: for outdoora activities and more open areas requiring more engagement and sunlight

South is the most self shaded by the context and requires the least shading from panels, therefore little horizontal and vertical panels are added

Grasshopper Definition and Plans

Slabs concept: Protrusion as one goes higher: more private and less outdoors

Mennatallah Elshebli

Sections and Environmental Analysis

Solar Path

Solar Radiation Analysis

Solar Radiation Plan View

Mennatallah Elshebli

Solar Radiation Analysis to be taken in Response to Analysis

Need to consider which activities need more sun and adjust accordingly

Need to consider which parts need most shading, as well as horizontal and vertical shading

Need to consider which parts need to be more dense in relation to the sun

Use perforations in the panels for more interesting shadows

3D Shots

Mennatallah Elshebli

Fabrication - Before

Printing time: 9h19min

Fabrication - After

Printing time: 2h52min

After the model was rotated to face downwards, this was a solution to decrease the printing time by 6 hours.

Grasshopper Definition

Course Reflection

This course has genuinely taught me a lot in terms of parametric model making. Each project, each research phase, and each exploration and experimentation phase whether it be physically with materials or digitally with softwares has added an element of growth to my overall process of learning. I have never been the type of person who would be very engaged with digital tools because I thought my skills weren’t the best, however, the teaching cohort and the project’s contents have been massively effective in aiding my strength in digital model making. This course has taught me how to think with parameters, and how they are the beginning of almost everything design related. This course has not only helped me comprehend distinctive concepts, but it has also helped me naturally apply these concepts and tools to other courses, which to me, is a very enriching capability; merging courses together and seeing that interconnection and overlap actually come to life. I am very thankful for being able to take this course because I know for a fact it will massively help me in the future, since I can already see now how it’s already helping me with other courses.