Mireille Reyad - AUC - ARCH 473/3522

Student Portfolio Insert photo in the background

ARCH 473/3522 - DIGITAL DESIGN STUDIO AND WORKSHOP Mireille Reyad Fall 2020

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: Mireille Reyad Student ID: 900160809

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

Mireille Reyad Architecture Student

eating, sleeping and everything else that I could end up sitting for 16 hours straight and not getting tired.

An adventure seeker. Most of my decisions involved not taking the easy way out, such as majoring in Architecture. I used to row, hiked till the top Mount Sinai, Dived and jumped off cliffs into the water. All these decision were made out of adrinaline rush. For me architecture is the same, it is all about being creative, doing things last minute turning out to be the brightest ideas.

I enjoy doing sports to keep my mind off things diue to the physical and mental toughness, architecture is the same. When I design or come up with ideas I put my whole heart and mind in it. I have diffuclty sitting in a position in order to study even if it is just for 30 minutes. However, when I have a submission I forget about

Table of Contents

Homeless Shelter

Blank Canvas

The Parametric Facelift

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Butterfly as a living organism is the main inspiration for the form generation of this project.

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5 Viscin threads that fasten the pollen grains together and attached to the butterfly’s body parts which helps in spreading of the pollen grains.

Concept I knew that buuterflies helped in pollination process but what i did not know is that there are sepcific types that could do so.

I felt like non of the group memebers were intrested in the pollination process because there was nothing special about it. However, I felt that it is worth mentioning due to the fact that it helps in reproduction and growth and without it a lot of fruits and vegetables would not be there.

Viscin Threads

The most thing that grabbed my attention when I researched was that there are VISCIN THREADS that helps in fastening the pollen grains together and helping in getting attached to butterfly’s body parts in order to be transfered to anther (male part) of another flower.

Basically, I was inspired by the pattern of the viscin threads and how they are connected and in a heirachy.

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Portfolio

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7 New thought process which needed thinking with curves rather than masses.

Problems Process 1: I did not put in mind how these thin lines could hold up a struture nor to divide a space. The idea was shallow and flawed with poor iagination to how I could have made it look that it had greater potential and intricate model.

Process 2: The first end result was a basic shape (tent). It did not showcase the capabilities that rhino could do. In addition, it did not highlight my main inspration which was the viscin threads Process 3: This process was a turning point because it gave me a head start for the final design. As much as it showed the concept beind viscin threads, it weighted down the flexibility by the slabs that I used.

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Final Model Process Expermenting new forms with Rhino led to intresting outcomes with ease. Unlike other softwares I used form manupilation through curves led to these form.

I used patterns seen in the picture of viscin threads.

This led me to producing spaces and circulation inbetween the spaces created by the threads. Not only did these patterns led to the spaces, but also the intensity of the patterns increased where the facades are at greater exposure to the Sun. 4pm - Sun Analysis

Furthermore, the patterns are loose in the ground floor more than the first floor due to the type of spaces iintended. Ground floor for social interaction and commercial activities while the first floor is for the shelter part.

The curves vary in height due to the intention of shding the open spaces and the roofs of the houses from heating.

12 pm - Sun Analysis

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Digial Fabrication The best solution is dividing the model into planes.

It will decrase amount needed for support for the curved floated plane. In addition to the flat slabs it could be laser cut to save time and material.

Laser cutting will not do because of the curved planes. In addition, the thin lines that are boarder for the glass layer will be a nightmare to put the together.

3D Printing the whole process

Due to the organic shapes in the model 3D Printing would be the best option. As for the stairs it could be done by laser cutting and fixing it in the model.

Dividing it into planes

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Casting a tile that could be used as a module for a building facade

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3D Filament Plastic Formwork

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21 Casting is a process in which a tile design could be fabricated to use for a building facade

Casting Process There are 3 different processes to preform casting which are Casting on site, Precasting and finally 3D printing.

Casting on Site: It is the traditional method. It requires buidling formwork in order to pour the concrete mix and leave it to cure for a specific number of days.

Precasting: The tile of the building facade is made in a factory then delivered on site. There are different ways that this process could go.

First: the mold is set in place and the concrete is poured on top of it.

Second: a panel is filled with concrete then the mold is precess on it .

3D Printing: This is the largest building ever made using 3D printing. It does not require any formwork done. Also, the reinforcement is 3D printed. Rebars and metal rod are also used for reinforcement.

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Portfolio

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23 New thought process which needed thinking with curves rather than masses.

Casting Process Equipments: . Mold . Tray . Cement . Water . Spatula Process: . Add water to the cement powder . Addjest water content according to the mixture cohessioness . Mix and make sure there is no bulks . Pour mixture in the mold in the designated areas . Leave for awhile to strengthen . Remove mold

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or

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ns before

3. Adding gypsum power in a container for the producing tile

Problems Experimentation 1: Cement + Water Cardboard Formwork as a base Process: 1. Construct formwork 2. Produce the mixture 3. Pour the mixture in the designated areas 4. Wait till strengthened and remove Experimentation 2: Experimentation 1 - Cement + Water

6. Remove the mold after the mixture strengthen for ďŹ nal result of the tile (due to problem with mixture it cracked)

Clay + Water Cardboard as a base Metal mold Process: 1. Pour mixture on cardboard base 2. Press mold on mixture 3. Remove areas 4. Wait till strengthen Lesson Learned: Carboard suck in water in the mixture until it dries and cracks or sticks and cannot be taken out

3. Failed due + toWater not using a material to Experimentation 2 - Clay separate the tile from the board

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3. Adding gypsum power in a container for the producing tile

1. Using cardboard to produce the tile mold

2. Using cardboard to produce molds for the perforations

5. Pouring the mixtures in the designated areas to produce the tile

4. Mixing powder with water till it is slim

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6. Remove the mold after the mixture strengthen for ďŹ nal result of the tile (due to problem with mixture it cracked)

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Final Tile Casting Learning from previous trials Process: . Use plastic mold/something that does not absorb moisture in the mixture . Paint oil on plastic for the final product to come out easily

Shadow of openings

Important Factors: 1. Depth of the tile 2. Size of openings 3. Number of openings Depth of Tile: should be at least 3 cm thick so it does not crack Size of Openings: should be maximum 2.5 cm Number of Openings: it varies with thickness so 16 openings for 3 cm thick which could be formulated Formula: number of openings = 5.3x (where x is the thickness)

Final panel casted successfully

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Designing a double skin facade for Blom Bank in New Cairo

03 The Parametric Facelift

34 Casting ďŹ nal result of tile

Best angle for comfotable seating 110 for more

Interior Angle degrees

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hexagon

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35 Inspirations from Part 2 to design the double skin facade

Design Inspirations

From previous casting process: The hexagonal patterns The parameters: . The depth of the facade that can withstand the perforations without craking . The size of the perforations in relation to depth of the facade . Inclination of parts of the facade to allow reflection of light

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Precedents These two precedents were inspirational and added knowledge of the fixation, adaptability to environmental analysis and types of materials that could be used in double skin facades.

O-14 Business Building in Business Bay - Dubai

O-14: . Static loadbearing Facade . Variety of sizes of perforations for sunlight penetration . 1 meter gap allows stack effect to cool the interior glass facade

Doha Tower: . Different densities of geometric pattern according to environenmental analysis

Doha tower - Qatar

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Doha Tower, Qatar

O-14, Dubai

Cocrete Loadbearing Static Facade

Fixation

Increase in geometric shapes for the surface most exposed to sunlight.

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Top View

Prespective

Grasshopper Definition

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Aspects of the Design There were different aspects to focus on and to take into account while designing the double skin facade

Social

Environmental

Social: The skin allows a space for people to sit and interact together in an outdoor space.

Environmental: The 1.5 meter gap between the interior facade and the exterior facade allows for stack effect to occur and cool the interior glazing facade. The different in sizes of the perforations allows air flow from northwest to south-east inside the gap for natural ventilation.

Shading and Lighting: The double skin allows to provide protection from harsh weather and exposure to sunlight, in addition, it reflects light inside the buidling which helps in decreasing the capacity load of air conditioning and electricity inside of the building.

Shading and Lighting

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Environmental Aspect . The 1.5 meter gap between the interior facade and the exterior facade allows for stack effect to occur and cool the interior glazing facade . The different in sizes of the perforations allows air flow from north-west to south-east inside the gap for natural ventilation.

Smaller perforations decrease air escape

Large perforations direct wind in the gap between the facades

Size of the Openings - are bigger in the inward curvature to allow air flow in and small toward the south facade to decreas ethe escape of air

Openings Orientation - are directed to where preliminary wind direction (North-West) to allow flow of wind in the space and cool the glaze surface

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Surface Area - tiles allows self shading in corners and decrease surface area that is exposed to direct sunlight which decreases heat transfer to the interior space

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Social Aspect Private

Semi-public

. It activates the use of outdoor space . It helps in creating nodes for people to enjoy their workspace . It allows for visual connectivity between different floors . It provides different aspects and spaces for different prefrences

Public

Social Function - slabs extended to accommodate semi-public spaces for people to interact together using the facade

Individual

Large Group

Social Life - same size of hexagon patterns but different size of seating areas to accommodate different prefrences

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Shading Aspect . Angulation of perforations allows diffused sunlight . This would help decrease of electricity whether for cooling during summer or lighting during the day . The angulation helps in allowing and fending off sunlight during specific time of the year

Direct Sunlight - angulation of the perforations allow diffused sunlight rather than direct sunlight which cause heat gain in the building

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Winter - lower Sun path perforations would allow direct sunlight to heat in space during cooler time of the year

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Summer - direct sunlight is reflected to decrease heat gain while allowing diffused sunlight to decrease electricity usage

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Final Iteration

Top View - showing fixation of static double skin facade using steel bars from the floor slab

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Prespective of final facade

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Space Distribution

Division of facade to change module according to Sun Radiation

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Changes in slab floors to suit function of spaces

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Environmental Aspect

. The 1.5 meter gap between the interior facade and the exterior facade allows for stack effect to occur and cool the interior glazing facade . The different in sizes of the perforations allows air flow from north-west to south-east inside the gap for natural ventilation.

Openings Orientation - are directed to where preliminary wind direction (North-West) to allow flow of wind in the space and cool the glaze surface

Portfolio

Size of the Openings - are bigger in the inward curvature to allow air flow in and small toward the south facade to decreas ethe escape of air

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Social Aspect Access to wasted space for socia interactions in outdoor space Seating areas allows the facade to be more lively

Seating Areas by facade

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Shading Aspect . Angulation of perforations allows diffused sunlight . This would help decrease of electricity whether for cooling during summer or lighting during the day . The angulation helps in allowing and fending off sunlight during specific time of the year

Different densities due to Sun exposure

Direct Sunlight - angulation of the perforations allow diffused sunlight rather than direct sunlight which cause heat gain in the building

Winter - lower Sun path perforations would allow direct sunlight to heat in space during cooler time of the year

3- The Parametric Facelift

Reflection It was a challenging project due to many factors. First of all the new tool we were required to use, Grasshopper. It was difficult to translate what is on my mind but as soon as I got familiar with the commands and different plugins it made alot easier. It was interesting to break free from the restrictions we had in our design studios by designing in an algorithim thining way.

The idea of designing yet respecting different aspects such as envioronmental or social helped in defining a process and purpose to design for. The facade experiment made me realize simple equations that has explanation that never crossed my mind to explore further. Like what happens if the depth in narrower than required and why would it crack.

Overall, The idea to think in a different way not the typical way opened my eyes that architecture is a field filled with explorations.

ŠAll rights reserved, American Unive

ersity in Cairo (AUC) December 2020