Salma hamoud - 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: Salma Hamoud Student ID: 900192677

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

Salma Hamoud Architecture Student

Salma Hamoud is a third year architecture student in the American University in Cairo. She chose this major as she felt it was the most creative STEM major that would allow her to explore design in a unique and dedicated approach. The benefits of studying architecture is gaining its distinctive outlook; while understanding the importance of aesthetics, one also gets to implements their knowledge of sustainability and construction. In addition, since this is a client oriented major, Salma got to learn about the priorities of other people, their wants and needs, their target users, and what they will first see / the basic necessities. On the other hand, she also took many courses regarding the importance of sustainability whether through an environmental or economic approach which she wishes to implement in her projects. Therefore, her goal is to create a functional, sustainable design that is actually optimal on the requirements given to her as she unlocks her creativity and knowledge.

WHAT IS FABRIC FORMWORK?

Fabric Formwork revolves around concrete that will be placed/poured into flexible formwork-made moulds. This offers the chance to create unique, curved shapes in a practical manner as it still will be structurally effective as it can form and hold its shape, while looking architecturally stunning.

In the casting process, a liquid substance (Gypsum in this scenario) is typically poured into a mould that has a hollow gap in the desired shape, making it shell like and lighter. Gypsum will be used as it is fast drying, lighter, and easy to mould.

CASTING USING GYPSUM?

EXPERIMENTATION STAGE

Experimenting With Control Points And Fabric Twists /• Bends Understanding The Required Thickness And Stability To Ensure It Doesn’t Distort The Shape To Much Or Completely Break It

EXPERIMENT

EXPERIMENT 4 - COMBINATION METHOD

Salma Hamoud

Salma Hamoud

WORK FLOW MAP

FIRST DIGITAL ATTEMPT (RHINO)

1. Establish Bourandry by Surface and Identify Location of Control Points

2. Push Surface (Distort to Align to Control Points)

3. Twist (Alter for Fabric Effect)

Salma Hamoud

PANEL: TRANSLATION OF WORKFLOW DIAGRAM INTO GRASSHOPPER (FIRST ATTEMPT)

1. Points & Boundaries

2. Contol Point Charges

Outcome:

Too much of an outlier and drop should be more seamless around the boundary

Goal: Achieve the 5 main control points (the centroids) with different random heights and distort fabric like texture to twist around control points

3. Spin Fields 3. Vertical Extrusions

PANEL: TRANSLATION OF WORKFLOW DIAGRAM INTO GRASSHOPPER (CHOSEN)

1. Size (Boundary) and its Control Points

2. The 5 Centroid Attractors

3. Transform using Pull Points for Attraction and Riched Graph Mapper for texture

4. Loft

5. Establish New Surface that is Divided to Vary New Heights and Different Magnitudes around Pull Points

6. Creates Curves and Loft

Goal: Achieve the 5 main control points (the centroids) with different random heights and distort

GRASSHOPPER PANEL VARIATIONS

CLUSTER OF PANELS DESIGN

(ATTEMPT 1)

Influenced by a More Seamless End & Inserting a Pattern

1. Pull Points

CLUSTER OF PANELS DESIGN (CHOSEN)

(Clear Panel & Openings in Inserted in Patterned Cluster with Different Sizes)

1. Establish Panels

2. Insert Partially with Pattern with Subdivider for Different Panel Sizes

GRASSHOPPER CLUSTER VARIATIONS

Differen Iterations of Panels

Partially Shaded Room, Privacy from the Bottom, Natural Light From Top (Office, Classroom)

Complete Covered Room, No Natural Light (Storage / Bathroom)

Wind Manipulation

Gradual Depth Increase

REFLECTION ON PROJECT 1

In this phase, one got to really explore and undertsnad the simplicity of elements required to lead to their desired results. By working manually first, it was an experimental stage of what would work, what would hold, and how theres a set peice of actions that would lead to a certain outcome, but thickness, placement and boundary can all have an impacting chracteristic that reflects on the model and leaves a certain level of uncertainty. Hence, the goal here was to identify as many inputs (parameters) that can exist in this process and understand what elements will only show in the outcomes. Due to this clarifying thought process, it was easy and not completely improssible to imagine an organic model created out of fabric to be produced digitally as we were also taught to translate this simplified input to a parametric language. Overall, this experience really exposed the underlying elements that one can control and produce numerous iterations until the desired product is achieved, as the initial manual experience really highlighted what needs to be set prior with no alterations accesible (an extremely befitial factor whilst working digitally).

WHY USE A DOUBLE SKIN FACADE?

A Construction Method That Consists Of Two Skins, Or Façades, Positioned Such That Air Flows Through The Intermediate Air Cavity:

Insulation Against Extreme Temperature, Wind, And Sound Reduces Hvac- High Energy Performance Less Heat/ Coolness Escapes The Inside

Strength & Durability Withstand Harsh Winds And Rain Without Causing Any Damage To The Exterior

sciencedirect.com

Selected Shading, While allowing for Natural Light Operable Louvers

Slanted Glass to Minimize harshness of Sun

SUITABLE FOR HOT & ARID CLIMATE? CONSIDERATIONS? Every combination of glass and design of Louvers has different benefits in terms of: •energy management •dynamic selectivity •thermal insulation •enhanced comfort *while minimizing potential issues such as condensation

APPROACH 2: ALUMINUM SHADING & PARAMETRIC DESIGN

Maison A, Hanoi, Vietnam

Triple-Skin Facade That Offers Light, Fresh Air, And A Lovely Flowery Aspect To The Home As It Was Inspired By The Traditional Rural Vernacular

Sculptural Red Exterior Constructed Of Floral Ventilation Bricks • Hollow Innards That Retain Air To Act As A Heat-Insulating Layer, While The Perforated • Areas Let Light And Ventilation Into The Building A Layer Of Vegetation Forms The Second Layer Of The Triple-Skin Facade, Adding To The • Seclusion And Creating A Comfortable Microclimate archdaily.com

NATIONAL BANK OF EGYPT BRANCH, SOUTH TESEEN RD, NEW CAIRO

To maintain indoor thermal comfort against heat losses or gains at building envelopes, particularly at transparent facades where overheating due to solar heat gain and inadequate insulation might easily occur, more than 40% of building energy is used

March - May: Above Comfort Temperature, Address Heat Gain June - October: Long Sunlight Hours and High Temperature, Address Shade and Heat November- Febuary: Less Sunlight and Lower Temperature, Address Under Heating

Average Temperature Exeeds Comfort for 7 Months

Prevailing Wind for North East, Opposite of Building Orientations

ARCH 473/3522 - Spring 2019

Solar Radiation is Low Due to Presence of Clouds Dry Bulb Temperature High (March- October)

Salma Hamoud

Parameters, Rules, and Relationship of Cluster Subdivision of Panel Openings

DSF:

Selected Pattern of Openings Based on Function Subdivision of Panel Size Required Size for Shading Based on Protusion

Gradual Increased Depth Increased Shade and Shadow Depending on Direction of Facade

THE SPECIFIC STATEGY THAT WILL BE ADOPTED FOR YOUR PARAMETRIC AND GENERATIVE EXPLORATION EXERCISE, USING ITERATIONS AND/ OR COMBINATIONS THAT INCLUDE BUT ARE NOT LIMITED TO RECRUSSION, REPITITION, TILING, WEAVING , BRANCHING , FORCE FEILDS, SUBDIVIONS, AND PACKING

Mashrabiya Technique

THE INTENDED APPROACH TO ADDRESS CONCEPTUAL GOALS AND ACHIEVE VARIATION AND COMPLEXITY THROUGH THE SELECTED STRATEGIES

GRASSHOPPER TRANSLATION

GRASSHOPPER SEQUENCE

1. Identify Amount of Control Points for Density (Large Panels)

2. Identify Path for Condensed Control Points (Small Panels)

3. Vertical Extrusions

4. Bends / Panels

5. Surface Morph and Fixing Bends

6. Framing (Thickness Depends on Solar Radiation)

7. Cloding Selected Panels With Glass for Wind Manipulation

DSF ITERATIONS

SOLAR RADIATION IMPACT ON FACADE

After

Solar Radiation Simulation Impacts the Panel’s Frame Thickness Differs on the Depending on Harshness of Glare, Direction of Bend, Ensure An Optimal Flux, And Equalize Between Levels

As Seen in the Before and After (Simulation and Evaluation) the Range Improved from 01356 to 157- 1050 with the Majority of the Facade Falling Comfortable in the Mid Hundreds

FABRICATION

To Optimize on Printing Time, Oriientation of the Facade Improved the Time Around 30%

RECESSIONS AND PROTRUSIONS OF SLABS

SECTIONS

Extrusion

from the Top of the Building to Optimize on the Wind Path and Wind Speeds

Openings In Slabs with Distance From the DSF for Natual Light Accessibility within the Building

VR EXPERIENCE

Salma Hamoud

REFLECTION ON PROJECT 2

With the manual boundary defining the parameter of the first project, in this phase, it was the enviromental strategies one identified to aid with their desired goal of the double skin facade. While the the other phase really taught one how to simply understand the creation of model on computic platforms, this phase allowed for an actual applicable real scenario to be explored with realistic solutions. The code in this scenario started considering scale, visuability, and context. Working during this stage, the manual elements came from sketches designing the desired facade implementing the numerous techniques extracted from the research. To transform these sketches into the cumputic programming, treatments with each zone considering the size and function were the main defining inputs of the code. Adjusting elements further enriched the code with alterations of thickness, orientation, and size came from deepening branches of enviromental simulations and architectural modifications to alter to experience (VR). Overall, although the same programs were used in both projects, each had two different approaches that showed the variety of products that can be produced from these codes and their relevance.

Biblography

• References

• Double skin facade - Perfect protection for the building - Danpal. (2021, December 29). Danpal. https://danpal.com/double-skin-curtain-wall/

• Double-skin facade system: Materials, advantages & examples - Video & lesson transcript | Study.com. (2022, September 19). study.com. https://study. com/academy/lesson/double-skin-fa-ade-system-materials-advantages-examples.html

• Favoino. (n.d.). Double-Skin Facade. sciencedirect. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/double-skin-facade

• How do double-skin facades work? (2019, August 20). ArchDaily. https:// www.archdaily.com/922897/how-do-double-skin-facades-work

• An introduction to the design and application of double skin facades in North American high-rise architecture. (n.d.). Academia.edu - Share research. https://www.academia.edu/26432071/An_introduction_to_the_design_and_application_of_double_skin_facades_in_North_American_high_ rise_architecture

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