Ingy Bazan- AUC - ARCH 473/3522

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: Ingy Bazan Student ID: 900191225

© The American University in Cairo (AUC), December 2022

Ingy Bazan Architecture Student

My name is Ingy Bazan. I am a 4th year architecture student. I joined the program as a declared freshman since I was interested in studying architecture since I was still in school. One of the main reasons for this is that I used to travel a lot with my family over the summers and I would get to see and experience architecture in all its forms. It would interest me to see how different groups of people would address architecture in their own way.

As for what I like outside of architecture, I am an animal person and so in my free time, I love spending time with my pets. I have four pets: two dogs and two cats. I also love spending time with friends and family, and as I stated before, I love to travel. One of my favorite

countries I went to was Switzerland due to its amazing scenery and relaxed vibe. I hope that throughout the coming years I will be able to travel to more places and add to my experiences.

I am a mostly social and outgoing person. I love to interact and meet new people. I love to learn about their different perspectives and views on different topics. This helps me in my work as I am usually open to criticism and like to hear what others from an outside perspective have to say.

One of my hobbies is digital art. I like to draw in my free time different types of artwork, whether portraits, eyes, or scenery. It is a stress-relieving activity for me. It also helps in fostering my creativity. I have not been able to practice it as much as I would like lately, but I am hoping I can change that soon.

I hope that as I continue studying for my degree, I am able to learn and experiment with all types of design using a variety of programs that will help me in my future studies/work.

Chosen Trial for Final Submission

Final Panel Clustering Iteration

Project Description:

Today’s computational capabilities introduce an associative and performance-based process that was not available before. Material exploration and digital fabrication in particular is gradually gaining prominence as a fundamental shift in design development and construction. Being able to fulfill “informed manufacturing potentials becomes a principal strategy in realizing innovative contemporary architectural design intentions” – Kolarevic and Klinger, Manufacturing Material Effects: Rethinking Design and Making in Architecture, 2008.

In this experimental project, the objective is to physically explore with different materials and fabrication techniques to devise a unit prototype for a building façade. You are encouraged to investigate several physical /digital techniques and material explorations that can support the process of experimentation with your ideas, including: - Casting - Fabric Forming Working individually, you are asked to fabricate a prototype panel that would fit in a volume of 30cm X 30cm X 15cm (physical box/canvas or hypothetical volume. You are encouraged to research the specific fabrication approach and manually produce a physical model for the desired prototype using the appropriate technique.

First trial using a water bottle as formwork

Pouring

Drying

First trial using a water bottle as formwork

Creating the formwork: The first material that I attempted using was a water bottle to create some sort of a semi-circle. To do so, I cut off the cap and then cut the bottle vertically. Then, I opened it up and glued it down to stay in place.

Pouring: I started mixing the gypsum and water creating a liquid consistency of around 3:1 and mixed it by hand. I then started pouring it over the plastic bottle in a thick layer and left it to dry.

Drying: The gypsum dried in a somewhat weird shape with the excess on the table getting stuck and drying with the rest of the formwork. It took about 15 minutes to dry and when I tried to remove the formwork it easily broke apart.

After drying, this is what my first trial looked like. I thought that the ridges from the water bottle were interesting and wanted to give it another try. I learned from this trial that I need to do multiple layers so that it does not break apart when removing the formwork and that I should not leave the excess on the table connected to the model or it will stick to it.

Second trial using a water bottle as formwork

Pouring Drying

Second trial using a water bottle as formwork

Creating the formwork: I used the same formwork as the first trial in order to attempt to do it without breaking.

Pouring: I started mixing the gypsum and water creating a liquid consistency of around 2:1 and mixed it by hand. I then started pouring it over the plastic bottle in a thick layer and left it to dry. This time however, I added two more layers to make it thicker and ensure that it does not break apart.

Drying: This took longer to dry due to me having multiple layers. It took about 20 minutes as I waited between each layer.

After drying, this is what my second trial looked like. I learned from this trial that the multiple layers do work and allow the model to not break apart when removing the formwork.

Third trial using gloves as formwork

Third trial using gloves as formwork

Creating the formwork: For this trial, I wanted to try something different. I decided to use latex gloves as my formwork by filling them with air and tying them as if they were a balloon. I then positioned them in an interlocking manner together to create a circular shape.

Pouring: I started mixing the gypsum and water creating a consistency of around 3:2 and mixed it by hand. I then started pouring it over the latex gloves in a thick layer and left it to dry.

Second Layer Pouring and Drying: I felt that the formwork as too obvious and so I added two more layers to make it thicker in order to hide the ridges and also ensure that it does not break apart. This took about 20 minutes to dry.

After drying, I removed the formwork by ripping the gloves and letting them deflate, then pulling them out. I felt that it was relatively easy to do so. I liked the different ridges and curves the gloves created, as well as the enclosing feeling. I felt that this trial was the most successful and is what reflected the idea of cave-like forms the best.

Fourth trial using a trash bag as formwork

Project 01 - Material Exploration

Fourth trial using plastic bags as formwork

Creating the formwork: I attempted using trash bag to create an organic, oval-like shape. To do so, I scrunched it together to the desired shape and taped it.

Pouring: I started mixing the gypsum and water creating a liquid consistency of around 3:1 and mixed it by hand. I then started pouring it over the trash bag in a thick layer and left it to dry

Second Layer Pouring and Drying: I added two more layers to make it thicker to ensure that it does not break apart. This took about 20 minutes to dry.

After drying, this is what the model looked like. It made a rock-like shape with organic ridges from the gypsum. I wasn’t able to remove the formwork nicely as it was completely stuck and required force. It caused the model to break apart a little bit.

Fourth trial using paper as formwork

Project 01 - Material Exploration

Fifth trial using paper as formwork

Creating the formwork: I used paper to create some sort of abstract curve by cutting and gluing it together.

Pouring: I started mixing the gypsum and water creating a liquid consistency of around 3:1 and mixed it by hand. I then started pouring it over the paper in a thin layer and left it to dry. The gypsum was too heavy though and started deforming the original formwork.

Second Layer Pouring and Drying: I added one more layers to make it thicker to ensure that it does not break apart. This took about 15 minutes to dry.

After drying, this is what my second trial looked like. I learned from this trial that the paper was not a good idea for formwork as its too thin and absorbs the water from the gypsum.

Sixth trial using plasticine and loofah as formwork

Creating the formwork: For this trial, I wanted to try something different. I decided to use plasticine as my formwork with a loofah net wrapped around it. I used shapes such as spheres and cylinders to create the formwork.

Pouring: I started mixing the gypsum and water creating a consistency of around 3:2 and mixed it by hand. I then started pouring it over the formwork in a thick layer and left it to dry.

Second Layer Pouring and Drying: I felt that the formwork as too obvious and so I added another layer to make it thicker and ensure that it does not break apart. This took about 15 minutes to dry.

After drying, this is what my model looked like. It again resembled the cavelike form, but in a simpler manner. I did not feel like I gained much from this trial, compared to the previous one i did last time.

Fourth trial using loofah as formwork

Project 01 - Material Exploration

Sixth trial using a loofah as formwork

Mixing the Gypsum: For this trial, I wanted to try something different. I decided to use a loofah as my formwork. I mixed the gypsum in a relatively liquid consistency of 3:1 and made sure there were no clumps.

Dipping: I started dipping the loofah into the gypsum and then attempted to shape it into a looped form.

Drying: This took around 20 minutes to dry.

After drying, this is what my model looked like. I was able to create and fulfill my goal of creating a looped form. I found this composition to be extremely interesting; however, it is going in a different direction than the rest of my trials.

Arcs Length / Curvature

Spheres and their intersections create the shape

Stem

Creation of voronoi cells as a result of the intersections from spheres

Cells as a result of intersections

Cave-like on interior

Single Panel Design: DESIGN:

SINGLE PANEL DESIGN:

Trial 01: Trial 02:

Voronoi cells starting to appear within sphere intersections

VORONOI CELLS STARTING TO APPEAR WITHIN SPHERE INTERSECTIONS

TRIAL 2

TRIAL USING THE ATTEMPT UNSUCCESSFUL WANTED

TRIAL 2

USING THE CONCEPT OF THE ATTEMPT TO CREATE A SHAPE. UNSUCCESSFUL TRIAL AND WAS WANTED TO REACH.

Using a cluster of spheres and then subtracting another cluster from them creates the concept of voronoi cells, but needs development

USING THE CONCEPT OF THE THREE SPHERES IN AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE A SHAPE. THIS WAS AN UNSUCCESSFUL TRIAL AND WAS FAR FROM WHAT I

USING A CLUSTER OF SPHERES AND THEN SUBTRACTING ANOTHER CLUSTER FROM THEM. CREATES THE CONCEPT OF VORONOI CELLS, BUT NEEDS DEVELOPMENT.

USING THE CONCEPT OF THE THREE SPHERES IN AN ATTEMPT TO CREATE A SHAPE. THIS WAS AN UNSUCCESSFUL TRIAL AND WAS FAR FROM WHAT I WANTED TO REACH.

Using the concept of the three spheres in an attempt to create a shape. This was an attempt to create a shape. This was an unsuccessful trial and was for from what I wanted to reach.

TRIAL 3: FORM GENERATION

SUBTRACTING ANOTHER CLUSTER FROM BUT NEEDS DEVELOPMENT.

Cluster:

Using the panels to create a homogenous cluster based on number of points / cells and in relation to an attractor curve.

Global Parameters: - number of points - size of boxes - distance considered for the cells on the attractor surface Local Parameters: - size of panel - number of cells selected / count

Density

of panels in specific areas vs entire shape

Final Iterations:

Changing 3D population / number of points in both boxes

Personal Reflection

This project taught me how to think in a systematic way in order to be able to extract parameters from my original gypsum model and be able to translate that into grasshopper as an architectural element. It allowed me to learn new commands and be able to extract multiple iterations for the same model in order to reach the best possible outcome.

Uses in Architecture:

Enough shading / solid panels

Chosen Iteration

Example projects found...

Smooth transition between cells Interesting overall shape / connections

Can be used as a facade / envelope with the voronoi cells being integrated into the interior as well. It allows for self-shading and limiting sun exposure to the inside.

Grasshopper Definition:

Creating attractor surface

Selecting cells close to surface

Creating curvature on surface Creating smaller box for density difference

3D populate / adding points

3 different panels

Creating singular voronoi panel cells

Creating thickness / pipes for curve

Selecting curves

Creating solid panels based on attractor point (sun)

Creating solid panels based on attractor point (sun)

Facade Iteration

Rendered Shot of Final Facade

Project Description:

In this project, the objective is to explore and parametrically generate a prototype for a building façade skin that takes into consideration issues of environmental comfort, spatial relations and human aspects using a passive approach. You are required to develop a parametrically driven building skin for the building shown below (National Bank of Egypt Branch, South Teseen Rd, New Cairo). The main façade of the building is in a South/Southwest orientation, and so you are required to devise an appropriate envelope that provides adequate shading and sun protection.

Your approach should devise a parametric logic for the design of the façade skin based on environmental, spatial, functional, and/or aesthetic considerations. You are to assume functional and behavioral scenarios and settings during your investigation.

Double Skin Facade:

Affordances and Limitations: Basic Principles:

- Double skin façades are façade systems consisting of two layers, usually glass, wherein air flows through the intermediate cavity.

- The cavity (which can vary from 20 cm to a few meters) acts as insulation against extreme temperatures, winds, and sound, improving the building’s thermal efficiency for both high and low temperatures.

- Double-skin façades are adaptable to cooler and warmer weather.

Double skin facades are classified into three types:

- Open natural convection

- Closed natural convection

- Forced convection

Advantages:

- Reduce cooling and heating demand;

- Allow clear views and natural light;

- Improve insulation, whether thermal and acoustic;

- Allow natural ventilation and air renewal, creating a healthier environment.

Disadvantages:

- Much higher initial cost of construction

- Space consumption

- Maintenance demand

- It may fail to function properly if the context changes significantly (shading by other buildings, for example).

In hot climates, the cavity can be vented outside the building to mitigate solar gain and decrease the cooling load. Excess heat is drained through a process known as the chimney effect, where differences in air density create a circular motion that causes warmer air to escape.

Classification:

By Airflow:

Open Natural Convection:

Air is circulated in the middle cavity because of the effect of buoyancy. The entrance of air is located in the lower part of the outer skin or on the lower surface of it; the exit is located in the upper part of the outer skin or on its upper surface. This method creates a suitable thermal resistance between the inner and outer environment of the building, and the heated air in the middle part can be naturally used by opening windows on the inner skin.

Closed Natural Convection:

This system works by natural convection, but air is trapped in the space between the two crusts; because the thermal flows of the inner and outer crust are different, air circulates naturally in the middle gap. However, natural ventilation does not happen in this method because of the closed middle cavity.

Forced Convection:

In this method, air heated in the middle gap is sent to the room space or building entrance with a fan. In this method, the system acts as a preheater for the air.

By Geometry:

Box Window:

The facade is horizontally and vertically subdivided, with entirely transparent envelopes. This type of window is common in areas with high external sound levels and special requirements.

Corridor:

When necessary, divisions occur horizontally along the corridor for fire protection or ventilation reasons. The intake and extract openings are situated near the floor and the ceiling. They are usually staggered to prevent extracted air on the floor from entering the space on the floor immediately above.

Shaft Box:

A set of box-window elements are placed in the facade with continuous vertical shafts that go along a number of stories to create a stack effect. On every story, the vertical shafts are linked with the adjoining box windows by an opening. The stack effect draws the air from the box window into the vertical shafts.

Multi-story:

The cavity is adjoined vertically and horizontally by a number of rooms. Ventilation occurs via large openings near the ground floor and roof. The room behind the DSF should be ventilated mechanically. During summers, the cavity is kept open to exploit cooling buoyancy.

Classification:

By Ventilation:

Buffer system: Buffer systems establish a conditioned air system without an interaction. The air conditioning is realized by natural or mechanical ventilation.

Extract Air System: Extract Air System use the warm exhaust air of the interior space to increase constantly the temperature of the cavity. A mechanical ventilation system is used for the rooms.

Exchange Air System: Exchange Air Systems use natural ventilation within the cavity to guide tempered air into the rooms and extract the used air for a constant exchange process.

Minimizing internal heat gain caused an improvement of 32.2% to the comfort zone. The use of natural ventilation cooling increased the comfort by 21.8%.

Minimal increases were then contributed by using:

- Two-stage evaporative cooling by 10.9%.

- Passive solar direct gain high mass by 12.9%.

- Dehumidification by 6.9%.

- Natural ventilation can be used around 60% of the year during extremities of weather.

- Not much sun in December - July, August, September, October, & November need shading

- Winter months need more sunlight - April, May & June need shade due to the amount of sunlight

Wind Direction:

- Primary: North - North West

- Secondary: North East Speed: - Primary: North - North West

- Secondary: South West

Wind Direction: - Primary: North - North West

- Secondary: North West

Precedents:

Al Bahar Towers:

Aedas Architects have designed a responsive facade which takes cultural cues from the “mashrabiya”, a traditional Islamic lattice shading device.

Using a parametric description for the geometry of the actuated facade panels, the team was able to simulate their operation in response to sun exposure and changing incidence angles during the different days of the year. The screen operates as a curtain wall, sitting two meters outside the buildings’ exterior on an independent frame.  Each triangle is coated with fiberglass and programmed to respond to the movement of the sun as a way to reduce solar gain and glare.  In the evening, all the screens will close.

Precedents:

The Doha Tower is a cylindrical volume that measures 45 m in diameter.  It is crowned by a dome that ends with a light tower at 231.50 m.

The steel and concrete structure follows a diamond shaped grid that bends along the virtual surface of the cylinder. The façade uses a double skin system. The exterior skin is composed of four “butterfly” aluminum elements of different scales and evokes the complexity of the oriental mashrabiya while serving as protection from the sun.

The pattern varies according to the orientation and respective needs for solar protection: 25% towards the north, 40% towards the south, 60% on the east and west.

The internal layer is a slightly reflective glass skin that completes the solar protection. Lastly, a system of roller-blinds can be used if needed.

For maintenance, there is access from the 2m wide walkways located between the two layers, the metal and the glass. These gateways also act in the ventilation of the tower by producing a “chimney effect” between the two layers.

Burj Doha:

Precedents:

The system incorporates several hundred light sensitive diaphragms that regulate the amount of light that is allowed to enter the building. During the various phases of the lens, a shifting geometric pattern is formed and showcased as both light and void. Squares, circles, and octagonal shapes are produced in a fluid motion as light is modulated in parallel. Interior spaces are dramatically modified, along with the exterior appearance.

The main feature is the advanced responsive metallic brise soleil on the south façade. Nouvel’s proposal for this system was well received for its originality and its reinforcement of an archetypal element of Arabic architecture – the mashrabiyya. He drew inspiration from the traditional lattice work that has been used for centuries in the Middle East to protect the occupants from the sun and provide privacy

Solar gain is easily mitigated by closing or reducing the aperture sizes.

Institut Du Monde Arabe:

Precedents:

The Torre De Especialidades:

The ornate double skin was designed by Prosolve, and it was chosen for its anti-microbial and de-polluting properties that also create a beautiful design statement. Prosolve tiles are coated with superfine titanium dioxide, which fights pollution when activated by ambient daylight. When installed near heavy traffic or on building facades, the tiles help to neutralize emissions and other toxins, stopping them dead in their tracks. A network of the tiles not only helps to clean the air entering their host buildings, but also the air in the urban setting.

Acts as a natural light filtration system and solar gain blocker for the interior of the Hospital Manuel Gea Gonzalez, effectively saving the hospital’s energy bill for climate control and light.

Design Approach:

For my design approach, I was inspired with the concept of integrating the basics and geometry of a mashrabiya, but in a more abstract and modern way.

To start out my thought process, I began with a very simple zoning and then began to sketch conceptually what I think the facade will look like. I began with a sketch outside that illustrates the concept of folding and different sized diamond shaped panels. I then began incorporating that sketch on the building facade itself so that I ca imagine my approach better.

Grasshopper Definition:

Recreating surface

Subdividing surface

Group subdivided surface into two groups

Selecting specified

specified

panels

Creating panel shapes

Creating opening and closing mechanism

Finalized facade

Form Generation:

Original surface as a base

Dividing surface into multiple points

Using riched graph mapper and amplitude to create curvature

Using isotrim to subdivide surface into segments

Panel A:

Using attractor points to select specific parts of the surface

Creating panel shape using referenced geometry

Creating open and closing mechanism using list item, amplitude, and merging data

Panel B: Panel C:

Using attractor points to select specific parts of the surface

Creating panel shape using referenced geometry

Further subdividing the geometry to create smaller panels

Creating open and closing mechanism using list item, amplitude, and merging data

Using attractor points to select specific parts of the surface and creating a panel frame only

Third & final iteration before analysis

Beginning Trials:

Too small and abrupt

Good start, but needs variety in panels

First Iteration

Second Iteration

Environmental Analysis:

Solar Radiation

VR Experience:

During my VR experience, I realized that I needed to create more variety in my slabs by creating double heights, balconies/terraces, etc. This is because I felt that each level seemed similar to one another.

On another note, the variety in panel sizes and rotations created interesting shadows inside the building itself.

No thickness

Needs different ceiling heights

Fabrication Process:

I initially tried to use cura for my fabrication file, but there were multiple errors it could not repair, and so I decided to try snapmaker.

The program did not read my surface correctly since it did not have a thickness and so I had to go back to rhino to fix it.

Even after giving my surface a thickness, the program couldnt read it, and that is when I noticed the surface’s scale itself was small and so I had to rescale the entire facade.

After scaling my surface, it became completely readable. Initially the time was 58 hours and 46 minutes. I felt like that was too much time and so I wanted to investigate ways in which I can reduce it.

I went through the fabrication process again as I wanted to reduce the time. In order to do so I changed the speed to fast instead of medium. This cut down the time signifiantly to 25 hours and 22 minutes, more than half.

Rendered Shot of Final Facade

Course Reflection

Thoughout this course I had many learning outcomes. I started out the course in a creative hands-on approach that allowed me to explore different mediums, concept, and ideas. This forced me to think outside of the box and begin to understand how parametricism works. I created multiple models made out of gypsum and an abundance of formwork.

I also learned a completely new program for me: grasshopper. Although it was challenging, especially in the beginning when I had to switch my physical models into digital ones, I enjoyed learning something new and challenging myself.

As the course progressed, so did my software skills which I will be able to utilize in my future courses and studies.

Overall, I really enjoyed this course and have learned a lot from it.

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