Student Portfolio
ARCH 473/3522 - DIGITAL DESIGN STUDIO AND WORKSHOP Reem Shahin 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: Reem Shahin Student ID: 900172213
Š The American University in Cairo (AUC), May 2019
Reem Shahin Architecture Student
Digital Design Studio has been a journey full of learning and applying skills learned in a creative and meaningful manner. I am impressed with the amount of skills I gain while progressing from one project to the next. It also changed my perception towards parametric tools. Those tools are not just platforms for application , but they are also thinking tools. My designs on Rhino and Grasshopper have evolved from just a sketch up until multiple iterations on softwares till i reached the final product.
Im a senior Architectural Engineering student at the American University in Cairo. I am a believer in the role of passion in learning . My passion for architecture and design for the people has been my motivating factor in learning throughout the years. Design is not just a beautiful facade , but it is a process that has meaning and makes difference in peoples lives.Its really amazing where life can take you. The last thing I expected was to come back study in Egypt. However; it happened in a blink of an eye. Ihave to be honest I didn’t think I was going to end up insisting on studying n Egypt; but I did . I am actually learning new things everyday; my perception in architecture keeps developing and changing . I have a different vision throughout the process.
The Nature of Parametric design is a combination between manual trials and digital iterations that work together hand in hand to produce a meaningful product. Each project that was created in this course had two outputs skills gained and a product that was informed by a full process. On the long run I plan on using all the skills , tools , and thinking process i acquired in this course to help inform my designs in the future. My experience was rich in the course ; the amount of skills i gained are going to beenfit me on the long run. Along with the two projects I have taken different channels of exploration , and it took alot of trials and errors to produce the final outcome. I am glad with the accomplishment of the process just as much as the outcome with all its successes and faliures . I have enjoyed each exploration with its own flavor , and im ready to explore more.
Table of Contents
01
Mobile Shelter for the Homeless
02
The Blank Facade Canvas
03
Parametric Facelift
Designing a mobile shelter for the homeless inspired by the turtles shell. The shell is not just a protective organ , but its an organ that senses , adapts , and expands.
01 Mobile Shelter for the Homeless
2
Site : El-Minya, Egypt It is located in Upper Egypt. Al-Minyā is linked to Cairo (140 miles [225 km] north-northeast). The governorate is considered one of Egypt’s agricultural governorates. The average annual maximum temperature is: 29.0° Celsius The average annual minimum temperature is: 14.0° Celsius. The average annual percentage of humidity is: 38.0%. On average, the most wind is seen in July. On average, the least wind is seen in January
Average minimum and maximum
Average Humidity
Average Wind Speed
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3 Scutes are small haxagonal units that cover up the turtle shell .
Inspiration:Turtle’s Shell
Looking at a turtles shell , the general perception i ganed was that it served to protect the underlying organs. However, the shell is composed of deeper elements . Those multiple elements are called scutes which are hexagonal keratine rings that cover the entire shell . Scutes do not just exist on their own there are layers underneath it that potect it and help it grow on the surface . As well as , the sizes of the scutes vary. I had to dig deeper in research to understand the growth levels on the surface of the shell . I found out that the reason why the scute sizes vary is because the growth rates are different in the center and the periphery . The scutes start to growth in the center ; covering up the entire shell in the center , and continues to grow till it reaches the periphery . Therefore, the growth levels are less on the periphery. Each Scute produces concentric rings with varying centers. Just like the middle photo there is no one center point that governs the growth of the whole shell .
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4 Through layers of research, I found out depper information about the growth cycle of the shell. The shell contains two sifferent types of skins ; leathery and hard skin. Leathery skin composed of keratinocytes and hard skin fomed by the concentric scutes. The turtles growth journey starts from being a newborn composed of leathery skin . Where certain location are appointed to expand the growth of the keratinocytes. As the trutle progresses in growth the keratunocytes layers expand and intertwine. The turtle then starts to grow further and the presence of the hard scutes starts to take over on the center of the shell. The scutes then expand until they reach the periphery. The relation between the leathery and hard skin is quite strong . There is always tension of dominance and overempowerment at different stages . However, in the end the hard skin dominates and the leathery skin goes under the hard skin.
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5
Preliminary Skecthes
Studying the center and composition of scute unit
The flexible and interchangeable layers of the shell
Different layers that compose the surface and beneath the scute surface
Progression of growth of the scutes in different size
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7
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8 Physical
Models
The model shows the idea of expansion
This is a depiction of the layering under the skin Portfolio
The model shows the idea of in between spaces
The behaviour of the leathery skin through expansion
This is a depiction of the abstracted triangulations
The intertwining of leathery and hard skin together Chapter name
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Digital Iterations
First Digital Iteration was drawing iso- curves similar to the sketch
Second Iteration was the attempt to create loft surfaces from different curves
Third Iteration was created piped curves to represent leathery skin
Fourth Iteration is the creation of full lofted surfaces ready to form triangulations on grasshopper
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11
Digital Form Strings
Representation of the leathery skin by controlling the thickness and density in different parts of the journey
A representation of the hard skin by conroling the height of the triangulations and their randomness
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Triangulations
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Grasshopper Definition
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The Shelter is a representation of a Journey through the shell where it starts by having the leathery skin with high densities at the begining of the shelter forming extension spaces . As growth increases the appearance of the triangulations begins as a representation of an environmnetal shading device that adapts just like the shell. The triangulations increase and peak overpowering the leathery skin and creating shaded spaces in the shelter.
Increased Density of stringis
Decreased density under hard skin
Strings and Triangulations Shading device with triangulations create a structure ARCH 473/3552 - Spring 2020
Reem Shahin
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Fabrication Inorder to fabricate the model , I had to manilpulate the thicknesses and certain parameters , so that it fits the 3D printer requirments. THerefore inorder to do so , i increased the thickness to 0.15 mm in both the strings and triangulations . As shown the model looks thicker than the previous . When i imported it to cura i experiement with different supports to see which support would take less time , and the differences were not huge. Therefore, i chose the triangular infill support sinc eit took the least time and it would be easily removed .
ARCH 473/3552 - Spring 2020
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Experimenting different ways casting and fabrick formwork can be used to create facade modules
02
The Blank Facade Canvas ARCH 473/3552 - Spring 2020
Reem Shahin
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Using Cotton as a main base for fabric formwork under the theory of thermal bonding where gypsum is poured over for casting.
Fabric formwork is a building technology that involves the use of structural membranes as the main facing material for concrete molds. In 1884 woven fabric made from any fiber, is stretched over a timber frame which was inspiring. Cotton is a soft, fluffy staple fiber that grows in a boll, or protective case, around the seeds of the cotton plants. It has specific properties which include: Wrinkling due to the concentric concentration of fibers around the center , Its breatheable allowing air to flow easily , and its strong due to the good alignment of the polymers.
ARCH 473/3552 - Spring 2020
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thermal bonding requires a component to be present in the form of a fibre, powder‌. In practice, heat is applied until the thermoplastic component becomes viscous or melts. by surface tension and capillary action to fibre-to fibre crossover points where bonding regions are formed. Cotton fibers were immediately attracted together To their bonding point. A process in which a web consisting of thermoplastic and non-thermoplastic fibres was made and then heated to the melting or softening temperature of the constituent thermoplastic fibres followed by cooling to solidify the bonding area. A web from a blend of base fibre and binder fibre was produced and hot calendared followed by cooling to solidify and bond the web structure. The resulting thin, strong and relatively dense product was more akin to a paper product than a textile material
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Preliminary Skecthes
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Reem Shahin
Experimentation
White cotton or dyed cotton
Add heat +energy
Hollowed out cotton
Cracks filled with cotton fiber
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The Process produced hollowed out forms as expected , and there was no difference in the binding rate between the colored and white cotton
Besides hollowed forms it also produced cracked forms filled with cotton , and flexible and movable forms were produced too ARCH 473/3552 - Spring 2020
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Further Experimentations
Experimenting further , i managed to define parameters like the shape and amount of cotton
As well as, altering the consistency o fthe gypsum using the mixing ratio , and type of application Portfolio
ARCH 473/3552 - Spring 2020
Reem Shahin
Heat Application Thick gypsum layer prevented large heat penetration towards the center; as a result most cracks were on the edges and the cotton infill stuck on the edges . With less cotton compaction produced less flexible forms . The adjusted mix allowed for heat penetration towards the center resulting in cracks and infill of spaces with cotton . High compaction of cotton and irregular base allowed for flexible and organic forms
Flexible Forms Hollowed Forms
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Non-Heat Application The thick mix without the application of heat allowed for the casted gypsum to compact the cotton layer underneath with infill of cotton and few cracks. The dense clusters allowed for movable forms The irregular shape created flat form with cracks. The diluted mixture created less hollowed forms and density of cotton underneath was less
Movable / filled Forms Flat Forms
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Experimenting different ways casting and fabrick formwork can be used to create facade modules
03
Parametric Facelift ARCH 473/3552 - Spring 2020
Reem Shahin
Site : Bloom Bank , South Teseen Street SITE
Blom Bank, is located on South of Teseen Street and the faรงade is a southern facade Blom Bank, is located on South of Teseen Street and the LOCATION
SITE
faรงade is a southern facade
it is exposed to the sunlight and heat radiation all Blom Bank, is located South of Teseen it isLOCATION exposed to the sunlight and heat on radiation all Street and the CONDITIONS day long. The facade is totally exposed showing very faรงade is a southern facade solar heat gain. Resulting in unfavorable day long. The facade ishigh totally exposed showing very conditions for the interior high solar heat gain. Resulting in unfavorable it is exposed to the sunlight and heat radiation all conditions CONDITIONSfor the interior the long. wind The speeds are is recorded to be within a good range. day facade totally exposed showing very WIND FLOW
Coming from northwest high solar heatthe gain. Resultingdirection in unfavorable conditions for the interior
the wind speeds are recorded to be within a good range. the wind direction speeds are recorded to be within a good range. WIND FLOW Coming from the northwest Coming from the northwest direction
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The analysis also shows that due to the curved nature of the facade, the inner part is shaded.
TheThe analysis alsoshows shows analysis also that that due todue to the curved nature of the facade, the the inner curved nature of the facade, the part is shaded. inner part is shaded.
1
es
Flexible Particles infilled with cotton that allow for movement without being disassembled
Mix Ratio
Irregular Shape
Compaction
Increased Thickness
Decreased Height
Decrease in solid and void ratio
Layering of solid and semisolid materials
ric on
Solidity on the exterior and opaque on the interior
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Rotation of irregular shapes around datum lines
Increased clustering of parts
Heat
Heat reaches a threshold
Opening and Closing between panels Reem Shahin
Preliminary Skecthes
Clustering Attraction Portfolio
Digital Iterations
First Digital Iteration was drawing curves clustered around a specific point
Second Digital Iteration was expanding the idea of clusters towards panels
Third iteration waz integrating the rotation due to the heat, or sun
Fourth Iteration was based on clustering and gradient of openess
The fifth iteration was integrating the panels along with the clusters creating a variety in scale
The final iteration is developing the paneling to create an integrated rotation and openings
ARCH 473/3552 - Spring 2020
Reem Shahin
Attraction and Clustering CONCEPT The idea is inspired from the concept of thermal bonding’s where the behavior of the materials changed based onThe exposure to heat through layered process of attraction clustering idea is inspired from thea concept of thermal bonding'sand where the behavior of the materials changed based on exposure to heat through a layered process of attraction and
Dynamicclustering movement in the façade based on human activity, Clustering based on attraction , and Gradient of openness created by the wind
ATTRACTION AND CLUSTERING
PUBLIC ACTIVITY SPACES
OPENINGS
+VE AND –VE Protrusions
Wind Direction Human interaction Magnetic field
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ROTATION
Process
Z V
Attraction points along a curve
Connection of magnetic field lines
Multi-facet protrusions
Z V
Openings
ARCH 473/3552 - Spring 2020
Rotation of the panels
Direction of rotation
Reem Shahin
Grasshopper Definition Magnetic Field
Clustering
Human Interaction
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Openings wind
Rotation
Sun Attraction
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Attraction point
Attraction point
Attraction Z V
Magnetic charges
Magnetic charges
Rotation
Rotation
Field Charges
Sun Rotation Human interaction
Z V Human interaction
Clusters
Openings
Human Interaction
The deinition shows the use of MD sliders to pick the attraction points , and useing the magnetic field to alter the charges based on the spaces behind the facade. I also used a wind line to generate the direction of openings , as wellas using different MD sliders to generate the location of human interaction connected to the clusters. As the interaction increases the clusters protrude . Lastly using the sun attractor to generate the rotations of the panels.
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Slab Configuration
Private Semi-Private Semi-Public
The slab configuration was altered based on the spatial category and experience . For example , the more public spaces , the slabs would protrude out , and the more private the slabs would protrude inside, so that the facade can respond to the protrusions and extrusions through the porcess of clustering and attraction.
ARCH 473/3552 - Spring 2020
Reem Shahin
Rotation Outside +ve Protrusion
Wind Catching Orientation Portfolio
-ve Protrusion
ROOF TERRACE
OFFICES MEETING ROOMS
Z V
CENTRAL CAFE
RECEPTION
OUTDOOR GATHERING SPACE
ARCH 473/3552 - Spring 2020
Reem Shahin
Elevation The double skin shows the movement based on the spatial experience , human interaction , and slab configuration
Plan
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7am
At each alteration of the facade , different characteristics of the experimentation is portrayed. the panels rotating on the inside and ourside portrays flexibility and layered strength of the solid and semi solid materials. As well as affecting the daylighting and spatial experience on the interior
Layered strength Reception space
ARCH 473/3552 - Spring 2020
Reem Shahin
9 am
This alteration shows an important characteristic known as flexibility in the pervious experiment , which refers to the cracking and opening of the gypsum without completely disassembling . Just like the rotated panels that rotate outwards and inwards without dissassembling
Fexibility Roof Terrace
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12 pm
This time of the day shows the portraying of clustering . Where clusters protrude outward or inward depending on the space. Just like the experiment where the cotton clustered at certain parts underneath the gypsum layer creating hollowed out and proruded parts. Smiliraly , parts of the facade cluster around the attraction points.
Clustering Ground common space
ARCH 473/3552 - Spring 2020
Reem Shahin
3 pm
This time of the day shows the creation of the inbeween spaces where the panels rotate inward creating some sort of transparency towards the interior . Just like the experiment the cotton that burts out of the cracks creates inbetween spaces that are semi-solid fibers of cotton . Therefore, parts of the facade rotate inward to create inbetween spaces.
Cafeteria
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In-Between spaces
Rotation Along the sun path
The diagram portrays the changes in rotation , clustering , and portrusion along the sun path. The parts where the sun rays are directed towards are clustered and rotated outwards to reflect off the direct and intense sun rays . And the parts where indirect sunrays are penetrating rotate outwards with an angle to create subtle daylighting effects.
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Biblography
• • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
https://igsmag.com/features/double-skin-facades-characteristics-and-challenges-for-an-advanced-building-skin/ http://web.b.ebscohost.com.libproxy.aucegypt.edu:2048/ehost/detail/detail?vid=2&sid=d2f 61291-d2e9-4a9e-b181-6bae225e9b7b%40pdc-v-sessmgr05&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWhvc3QtbGl2ZQ%3d%3d#AN=96427619&db=asu https://www.researchgate.net/publication/275310821_A_qualitative_investigation_on_double-skin_facade_fires https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/ba06/3d2c73260c4d7ffc47610069030ba72e568d.pdf?_ ga=2.172869408.2008347752.1586809424-1732254628.1571695084 http://witpress.com/Secure/elibrary/papers/EQ14/EQ14050FU1.pdf http://www.contraster.net/telerik-office-building.html http://www.tboake.com/bio/facadetectonics2014boake-rev.pdf https://www.unstudio.com/en/page/5838/study-twofour54-double-skin-facade http://designportfolios.philau.edu/gallery/40600081/HPBE-Double-Skin-Facade-for-Nike https://www.archdaily.com/922897/how-do-double-skin-facades-work https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128169216000019 https://www.imarabe.org/en/architecture (PDF) Patterns of Scute Development in Turtle Shell: Symmetry and Asymmetry. Available from: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272474845_Patterns_of_Scute_Development_in_Turtle_Shell_Symmetry_and_Asymmetry [accessed May 23 2020]. Alibardi, L. and Thompson, M.B., Morphogenesis of shelland scutes in the turtle Emydura macquarii, Aust. J. Zool.,1999, vol. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/272474845_Patterns_of_Scute_Development_in_Turtle_Shell_Symmetry_and_Asymmetry Kovalenko, E.E., Anomalii pozvonochnika beskhvostykhamfibii (Anomalies of the Vertebral Column in Anura),St. Petersburg: St. Peterb. Gos. Univ., 1992.
ŠAll rights reserved, American University in Cairo (AUC) May 2019