STUDENT STORYBOOK
EVOLUTION OF AN ILLUSION ARCH 473/3522 - DIGITAL DESIGN STUDIO AND WORKOmar Adel Fall 2019
The American University in Cairo (AUC) School of Sciences and Engineering - Department of Architecture ARCH 473/3522 - Digital Design Studio and Workshop (Fall 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: Omar AdeL Mostafa Student ID: 900132559
Š The American University in Cairo (AUC), December 2019
Omar Adel Architect to be...
My name is Omar Adel , I am an architecture student at the American University in Cairo. I started out in the university as an undeclared student who had a lot of dreams og a lot of different majors, but I wanted to be an architect from when I was in school. as i decalred architecture i try to balance the archi life with my normal life. this involves my Equestrian training and my studying. At the beginning of my uni life i was a little bit confused of what i wanted to major in as i had in the back of my mind architetcure but when i started uni and saw different majors is started to think again. i thought that i wanted to major in computer science but i really didnt feel that passionate. my architecture declaration wasnt easy as it is one of the highest,if the not the highest, gpa requiring majors in university. after failing to decalre twice because of minor differnces i started to give up, but i said that i would give it one more try as i really dont how to give up. On my final trail i succeded and i declared the Architecture major. if though Architecture may seem easy , but its not. at the same time its one of the most challenging and life altering experinces . as it makes us understand the meaning of balancing stress and life. this makes you understand how to manage your life understressful situations.
1
01
Mobile shelter for the
ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2019
Omar Adel
2
Mobile Shelter for the Homeless Our first project in the semster has the theme of ‘ builidng a mobile home for the homeless’ the at first needed research of understanding the homeless community in egypt at the same time choosing the main place for the shelter. The shelter was to be located at Suez. Suez is a city in cairo which lies beside the red sea. Suez is one of the key or major cities in egypt as it is the entarnce and exit of the suez canal. the suez canal is one of the busiest trading routes in the as it connects the red sea and the mediterranean sea together. This made Suez a major city in Egypt and the world. This also made the aspect of a homeless shelter in Suez somewhat complex. this was the fact as it was a landmark infront of the world so the shelters needed to look different ,attarctive and modern infront the world. This lead us to research the number of homeless which was about 1,700,000 people. This would to the research and developing of the TRANSFORMING SHELTER.
Storybook: Evolution of an illusion
Stage 1: homeless shelter
3
ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2019
Omar Adel
4
Finding an Inspiration The Second task in the project was to find an inspiration for the shelter. this was made in teams of 4 . while looking for inspirations we wanted something that different something magical on earth. This gave us the idea of having our inspiration from the OCTOPUS.. We chose the octopus because it is a starnge creature with magical abilites. after researching and understanding the octopus. we found that it had a number of special abilites. the first aspect of the octopuses abilites is that is had about 3 hearts each one has a different job and each has a specfic aspect for pumping blood. Another intriguing aspect in the octopus is that it had nine brains. a central brain and eight for each of its tentacles. eventhoug these are fascinanting facts , but want really inspired me is the octopuses ability to shape shift and mimic other creatures and objects. this gave me the idea of a shelter that would transform into different forms depending on the area and number of families it needs to occupy. as OCTOPUSES ARE MASTERS OF ILLUSION
Storybook: Evolution of an illusion
Stage 1: homeless shelter
5
ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2019
Omar Adel
6
Development and Modelling After being inspired by the octopus. i needed to experiment with the modelling of the shelter this lead to different trails which gave me the inspiration of connecting the inspirations of the octopus with ORGAMI. As orgami is the art of folding paper which changes and transforms as desired.
Storybook: Evolution of an illusion
Stage 1: homeless shelter
7
ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2019
Omar Adel
8
THE TRANSFORMING SHELTER AT SUEZ After researching and experimenting with different shapes and inspired by the art of orgami and octopuses ability to shape shift. The end product was a tentacle like building which would change shape and size depending on the area and enviroment while using the aspect of metamaterials to change color depending on the enviroment,plus maxmizing the area in which it could house families in it.
Storybook: Evolution of an illusion
Stage 1: homeless shelter
9
ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2019
Omar Adel
10
Storybook: Evolution of an illusion
Stage 2: Blank facade canvas
11
02
The Blank Facade Canvas
ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2019
Omar Adel
12
THE OBJECTIVE tHE OBJECTIVE OF THE BLANK CANVAS was to experiment with the different material to achieve a shading device for a building mostly a panel which when i made i was thinking and still inspired by the octopus and its ability to change as the octopus is the master of ILLUSION.
Storybook: Evolution of an illusion
Stage 2: Blank facade canvas
13
ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2019
Omar Adel
14
EXPERMINTATION ONE In the first attempt at the fabrication of a shading panel I started thinking of illusions. i started thinking in a way that the overlayying of layers would create different objects , but the difference here is that the objects arent only shade and shadow , but the shade and shadow would give off a 3D effect from the overlapping of the panels, but that doesnt mean that the panels alone are useless but the opposite each panel alone is sigficant and can work on its own. the problem with the first attempt is the overlapping of different patterns gave the sense of conflict. the difference in patterns made it distrubing to the eye. this posed as a problem as it was back to the blackboard to see a way to make patterns work together. There was no harmony between them as shown in the pictures.
Storybook: Evolution of an illusion
Stage 2: Blank facade canvas
15
ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2019
Omar Adel
16
The PANEL OF ILLUSIONS For the phase of the BLANK FACADE CANVAS stage . i researched and made a pattern that would give the sense of illusion at the same time each panel would be unique on its own. this would depend on a rotating mechanism which would let the devices rotate and stack behind each other depending on the suns location using a sensor. as the sun moves the shading devices move letting more light in while stopping glare. this would lead to a perfectly lit enviroment all day and all year long
Storybook: Evolution of an illusion
Stage 2: Blank facade canvas
17
ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2019
Omar Adel
03
The FACELIFT
THE FACELIFT
In this stage which is the last stage of our project we were required to design an interactive double skin facade for a south orientation builing. the building was located at 90 street in fifth settlement . the building was a bank called Bloom Bank which had a five story curtain that was located directly in the south. this lead to glare and too much sunlight plus heat inside of the building
INSPIRATIONS
After deciding to go with an illusion type facade just like the panels before i started to look for inspirations of how the panel would be used and placed . as shown in the pictures i was inspired by movable objects pplus at the same time as shown in the balcony with white shading device beside it i was also inspired in how to take advantage of the air flow behind the double skin that i would design. this would be achieved as we will see later in the design.
TRIAL 1 FOR THE FACELIFT In the first tial in the bloom bank facelift stage , as mentioned before i wanted to design a facade that is interactive at the same time giving of a pattern illusion as seen in stage two. this meant that instead of the pattern rotating they would overlap over each othe creating an illusion using as stated before the shade and shadow from the sunlight. but at the same time inviting sunlight without glare. also behind the shading device the air could flow easily giving it a nice feeling inside. resulting in higher and better work rate.
TRIAL 2 FOR THE FACELIFT in trial two the change was in the objects or shading panels and how they overlap and move. but at the same time keeping in mind the objectives stated above. but in both trial one and two the panels are still static
The Evolution of an illusion panel for my final design i made an overlapping dual panels which are flipped as they go around the curved facade. the panels them self move in an opening upwards and downwards motion. this is done to satsfiy the needs and shade of the employees inside. as the louvres or panels would be in a horzontial postion when the sun is at its highest . this would protect from over exposure and glare inside of the building. at the same time the movement of the shading devices make them overlapp and the overlapping patterns would result in a different pattern inside of the building giving of an extrvagant experience that is new and exciting.
After a long semster this was the end of my project which was the EVOLUTION OF iLLUSION. the project was made to give off an illusion inside the building resulting in a new and unexpected experience with everychange in the suns path through out the day and throughout the year. this meant that the shade and shadow would always change giving off a new experience everyday also resulting in an enthusastic and shapeshifting building that would have its very own character . thanks to Dr Sherif and Dr Passant, plus the unsung heros in this course our TA’s Hassab , Daniel And youstina for a flourishing and eye opening semster.
ŠAll rights reserved, American University in Cairo (AUC) December 2018