Student Portfolio
ARCH 473/3522 - DIGITAL DESIGN STUDIO AND WORKSHOP Maria Darwish Saad Fall 2018
The American University in Cairo (AUC) School of Sciences and Engineering - Department of Architecture ARCH 473/3522 - Digital Design Studio and Workshop (Fall 2018) 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: Maria Darwish Saad Student ID: 900141701
Š The American University in Cairo (AUC), December 2018
Maria Darwish Architecture Student
in people. The work in this portfolio is that of an explorative digital course where I learned to utilize digital tools to explore design alternatives and possibilities. With the idea of growth being a prominent driver of my life recently, I have decided to take on the motif of a tree, its growth and majesty, its function as life bringing and shelter. For children promenantely, trees are play houses and hiding spots. My approach is to provide this playful space and shelter for them as they enter our campus by Pepsi gate.
I am a 23 year old senior architecture student with a passion for art, photography and illustration. Over my student years at the American University in Cairo, I have been comissioned by starbucks for a cup design, published 3 illustrated children’s books, created my first mural art design at the Architecture Department, participated in 2 Inktober Exhibitions two years in a row, one being CairoComix, participated in the Tameer water competition and in multiple photography competitions. I am passionate about travel and exploration and have been to the States, Croatia, Germany, Switzerland, Dubai, Canada and France in the past 4 years. This year I’ve become the Marketing Head of the Architecture Association alongside Omar Lotfy. In addition, I use my free time to paint, journal, run and invest
Exploration with melted beeswax put into cold water forms organic freee-flowing shapes
01 Materiality
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Materiality
3 Dreamy form generations of beeswax dropped into cold water: delicate and beautiful
In a group of 4, with Salma El Sherbiny, Engy Taher and Shaza Ali, we explored multiple materials to see what can be learned from them, and how they perform under different kinds of pressure and in different mixtures. This included beeswax, regular wax, heat, cold water, as well as another exploration with gypsum. A mixture of beeswax and regular wax enabled the wax mixture to be more flexible and less breakable. The wax spread upwards and outwards once poured into a sink of cold water. The outcome was dreamy and playful. Organic forms and bursts delicately shaped themselves, with a bulked core that spreads outwards thinner and lighter. This material’s form generation inspired the idea of growth, how the form grew from this external influence of cold water and heat into a tree-like shape. This shape expressed movement and mobility in static form. Although the end result is static, one can see them movement it went through to reach this final form and multifold shape.
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4 How can mixing different materials challenge the properties of the originals? The image on the left shows a mixture of gypsum, cement and water with an adhesive material that is PVA glue put into Nylon Wrap. Materials: 1. 300gm Cement (1kg for 5LE) 2. 150gm Gypsum (1kg for 7.5LE) 3. 0.1 L Water 4. Bonding Material: 175gm PVA Glue (1kg for 30LE) 5. Nylon Wrap The gypsum mixture took the form of the plastic folds; taking an organic shape yet being a hard and solid material. How does applying contradicting mediums unveil captivating properties? 1. Put Candles (Parafin wax) with a little beeswax 2. Melt in a pan on stove heat 3. Pour slowly into a small flat surface and drag gradually into water tank 4. Leave it settle for a couple of minutes in water 5. Emerge slowly from the water The image on the left shows the wax form outcome after the emergence in water. The regular wax gave the beeswax a hint of blue color.
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Materiality
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Form Generation Strategy To create an organically shaped pavilion with a boulder wall for children to play by the kids area in front of the Bassily Building at AUC. Portfolio
Materiality
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Rhino model after exporting to Slicer for fabrication
02 Rhino Modeling
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Rhino Modeling
11 The final Rhino model after extrusion and generation of pavilion functions such as seating at the bottom and shading at the top.
The design explores the lessons learned from the wax material, the organic shape, the movement encapsulated in its generation and the delicacy of its cap with the bulked core. After many iterrations, this model was then exported to slicer to create a physical model with acrylic transparent sheets that are laser cut and glued together to create the model.
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Rhino Modeling
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On the left side one can see modeling stages of the pavilion from a very symmetrical shape to a more organic formation using TsPline until the fabrication process and lasercut pieces. A total of 98 pieces were glued together to create the acrylic model on the right hand side. The model is scaled 1:20. Challenges concerning the fabricated model included its stability ensurance. Several trial would be made to ensure it standing without one side tipping over.
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Rhino Modeling
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Rhino Modeling
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Parametric Model prior to extrusion, exploring with openings and light penetration.
03 Parametric Design
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How can concrete parameters create a flowing organic form? And how can shade and shadow be a driver for for generation? In this phase of the project, I explored possibilities of parametric playfulness. How changing one or two parameters can give me endless design possibilities and iterrations. Keeping the design objectives in mind, I tried to play with the scale, the openings and the twist of the form as well as its proportions.
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Parametric Design
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Design Objectives 1. Enhance passerby and child experience through a playful flow 2. Maximize shade and shadow as well as use it as a factor for playfulness 3.Create a feeling of scale
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22 Shape Formation
Openings Design
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Parametric Design
Grasshopper Definition
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Extrusion
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Parametric steps of Form Generation
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Parametric Design
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Parametric steps of Pattern Generation
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Parametric steps of Form Generation
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Openings Iterrations
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Shape Proportions Iterrations
Logitudunal with moderate proportions
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Short and b
Parametric Design
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Very short, very out of propotion:
broader
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huge topo and very thin core
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33 Chosen form after exploration: free flowing, capturing movement and having proportionate openings and scale.
This design alternative was the most aethetically pleasing and conforming to the originally intended parameters of playfulness, shade and shadow, free flow and organic flow. Its scale allows for proper shading and sheltered feeling of a growing and twisting tree form. The curve lines flow seamlessly upwards and out, as if they’re coming from roots on the ground and growing majestically. A suggestion of protruding boulders on the lower part instead of the openings was made, to create a more interactive base.
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Parametric Design
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The intended material is acrylic sheets that are glazed and reflective, so that with light penetration there is a play of color through reflection and light break.
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Inspiration and References
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TA Ali Magdy and TA Hesham Khaled and TA Ahmed Wael’s expertise and helpfulness Dr. Passaint Massoud and Dr. Sherif Morad