Student Portfolio
ARCH 473/3522 - DIGITAL DESIGN STUDIO AND WORKSHOP Rana Desouky Fall 2021
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: Rana Desouky Student ID: 900181967
© The American University in Cairo (AUC), Fall 2021
Rana Desouky Architecture Student I am Rana Desouky, a senior architecture student at the American University in Cairo. Being in the architecture school for 4 years now, I have developed a love-hate relationship with architecture. The journey is definitely not easy , it requires a lot of effort, hardwork and perseverace but you get to face many breakdowns. However, seeing the outcome of your effort and sleepless nights is always the best part of it; specially when you get
to see the progress you have achieved and how far you have reached. So welcome to my 473 storybook which had so many effort and also frustrations behind this progress. This course was a unique experience that involved exploring different materials and fabrication techniques. Also, creating parametric designs that can fullfill the human needs besides considerig architectural, structural and environmental aspects was challenging.
Exploring different materials and fabrication techniques to device a unit prototype for a building facade.
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THE BLANK FACADE CANVAS
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Researching more about the casting technique to be adopted in the physical model.
WHAT IS CASTING?
TYPES OF CASTING
Casting is a manufacturing process in which a liquid material is usually poured into a mold, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape, and then allowed to solidify. The solidified part is also known as a casting, which is ejected or broken out of the mold to complete the process
CASTING MATERIALS
Clay
Plaster Casting Plaster casting is using a mixture of gypsum, strengthening compound, and water in place of the sand. The plaster pattern is typically coated with an anti-adhesive compound to prevent it from becoming stuck against the mold, and the plaster is capable of filling in any gaps around the mold.
Advantages
Casting materials are usually various time-setting materials that cure after mixing two or more components together.
Metals
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Plaster
Concrete
- Smooth surface finish. - Cast complex shapes with thin walls. - Higher degree of dimensional accuracy than that of sand casting.
Die Casting Die casting is a method of molding materials as non-ferrous metals and alloys, such as zinc, tin, copper, and aluminum. The reusable mold is coated with a lubricant to help regulate the die’s temperature and to assist with component ejection. Molten metal is then injected into the die under high pressure, which remains continuous until the workpiece solidifies. Then, the component is taken out of the die and any scrap material is removed.
Advantages - Close size and shape tolerances. -High component dimensional consistency and uniform design. - reduced need for post-casting machining. ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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WEEK 1 EXPERIMENT 1 Materials - Gypsum - Water - Aggregates - Plastic bag Gypsum to Water Ratio is 2:1
Process 1- Put aggregates between a curved shape mold. 2- Add a plastic bag to be easy while separating the model from the gypsum. 3- Add gypsum and wait for it to solidify.
Reflection - The combination of both aggregates and the plastic bag added an interesting texture. - The different thicknesses and heights were interesting and resulted in creating self-shading. - Overall, the model was succesfful; however the overall shape needed adjustments to be irregular. Portfolio
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EXPERIMENT 2 Materials - Aggregates - Egg container - Plastic bag - Water bottle - Gypsum - Water Gypsum to Water Ratio is 2.5:1
Process 1- Add aggregates to the egg container. 2- Add a water bottle under them to have a curve form. 3- Add a plastic bag at the top to separate the model from the gypsum easily.
Reflection - The combination of both aggregates and the plastic bottle added an interesting curvature.. - The crease texture was extra and needed to be less. - Overall, the model was succesfful; however it was bulky preventing from having different thicknesses.
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WEEK 1 EXPERIMENT 3 Materials - Tree branches - Plastic bag - Gypsum - Water Gypsum to Water Ratio is 2:1
Process 1- Put the branches in a random way. 2- Add a plastic bag to seaparate the model easier from the gypsum. 3- Add the gypsum and wait for it to solidify.
Reflection - The composition of the tree branches was interesting and created different thicknessed and heights resulting in self shading and negative spaces - However, the model was unsuccessul because of the negative spaces between the branches
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WEEK 2 EXPERIMENT 1 Materials - Foil - Plastic Bag - Gypsum - Water Gypsum to Water Ratio is 2:1
Process 1- Wrap the foil to create a form. 2- Add a plastic bag on top to be easier to separate the model from the gypsum when it solidifie. 3- Pour the gypsum on top of the plastic bag and wait for the gypsum to solidify.
Reflection -Thickness variation of the foil should be considered and understood to avoid cracks. - The different heights and nodes should be studied and analyzed. - It needs perfortaions. - Overall, the model was successful.
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EXPERIMENT 2 Materials - Black Paper - Aggregates - Gypsum - Water Gypsum to Water Ratio is 2.5:1
Process 1- Use several papers to increase the thickness and create a form. 2- Paint the paper using oil as a lubricant to facilitate the separation process of the gypsum and model. 3- Add aggregates under the paper in the negative spaces as a support. 4- Pour the gypsum and wait for it to solidify.
Reflection - The folding parts can be more intense. - It needs more playing in heights and openings should be integrated. - The gypsum to water ratio could be decreasedto avoid having very thick edges. - Overall, the model was successful.
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WEEK 2 EXPERIMENT 3 Materials - foil - Plastic Bag - Gypsum - Water
Gypsum to Water Ratio is 2:1 Process 1- Wrap the foil to make a from and then add openings. 2- Paint the foil using oil as lubricant to separate the separation process of the model and gypsum. 3- Pour the gypsum and remove the foil.
Reflection - Needs more playing wit heights and dimensions of openings. - The texture was interesting yet it was hard to separate the model from the foil. - Overall, the model is successful.
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EXPERIMENT 4 Materials - foil - Plastic Bag - Gypsum - Water Gypsum to Water Ratio is 2:1
Process
1- Fold the paper to create a form then create perforations within it. 2- Paint the paper using oil as a lubricant to facilitate the separation process between the gypsum and paper. 3- Aggregates are added under the paper as support. 4- Pour the gypsum then remove the extra within the perforations.
Reflection - The model needed more layers of the folding paper to increase the thickness wnd withstand the gypsum when poured. - Needs more playing with heights and openings. - Overall, the model had potentials yet it was unsuccessful.
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F I N A L Portfolio
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EXPERIMENT 1 Process
Create a mold using Support with aggre- Pour the paste into the Wait for the model to the foil and play with its gates underneath & add moldand remove extra solidify completely and form to generate voids. oil on top as a lubricant. paste within the voids. remove the foil slowly.
Reflection To wrap the foil in a certain way to create a form that has solids and voids within itself helped to generate interesting negative spaces and shadows.
Reflection Materials Used: Foil Gypsum Water
The foil helped in creating creases in the gypsum. The trial was successful in terms of having different heights & thicknesses that helped to create self-shading.
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F I N A L Portfolio
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EXPERIMENT 2 Process
Use a regular- Deconstruct the mold Use aggregated under- Pour the paste and ly-shaped foil as a mold. to create a folding form. neath for support and add wate for it to solidify oil on the foil as a lubricant. and remove it slowly.
Reflection
Materials Used: Foil Gypsum Water Gypsum to Water Ratio is 2:1 ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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The flow of water into and through the glacier is the most important factor in the formation of glacier caves.
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SSE GATEWAY
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GLACIER CAVE
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GLACIER CAVE FORMATION PROCESS
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Vertical Flow of Water Melt water at the surface flows down deeply by the effect of gravity
through
the
reaching
crevasses
the bedieres of the glacier.
Horizontal Flow of Water This water then flows horizontally through the glacier cave carving the cage from inside.
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ABSTRACTION Concept The pavillion is inspired by how the flow of melt water reach the glacier and carve its way through it. This flow is translated to control the flow of users within the pavillion; path to sse entrance, path to the corridor and path to the seating area looking su window. The circulation is controlled by the vertical forms that is inspired by the vertical flow of water by gravity. The deformed voronoi pattern used in the surface is inspired by the crevasses and the appearance of the glacier from outside.
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PLAN & PERSPECTIVE
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FORM GENERATION
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GRASSHOPPER DEFINITION
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Magnetic Filed Lines
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PARAMETRIC FACELIFT
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BLOM BANK EGYPT
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CONTEXT
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Location: South 90 Road, New Cairo, Egypt. Views: The main southern glazed facade is overlooking the main 90 road while the northern facade is towards an empty area used for parking. ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
Wind Rose Chart
Psychrometric Chart
Sun Shading Chart Portfolio
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Solar Analysis
Bank Layout
Environmental Analysis Conclusions: - Prevailing Wind: North West - Secondary Wind: North - The main southern curtain wall facade is exposed to high direct solar radiation increasing the temperature inside the bank to more than 27 degrees which creates an uncomfort working environment; thus, shading is needed to achieve a comfort within the interior spaces. ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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DESIGN APPROACH The design is inspired from previous experimentations that were designed based on attraction points that control
the
circula-
tion/capacity of people within the space besides designing a form that creates solids and voids within itslef serving specific functions. It was also inspired by the magnetic field lines that
combine
both
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PRELIMINARY SKETCHES
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DESIGN PROCESS
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DESIGN PROCESS
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VIRTUAL REALITY REFLECTION
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- High line density in the southern part of the facade blocking any view and thus creating discomfort in the interior spaces. -All slabs have the same outline creating a disconnection between the activities in different floors; no interesting spaces. ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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POST VR ADJUSTMENTS
Adjusting the de southern part of
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ensity of lines in the f the facade
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Changing the outlines of the slabs & creating double heights in the social nodes
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PRE-FABRICATION ADJUSTMENTS
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FABRICATION PROCESS
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- THE SKIN BORDERS ADJUSTED TO FIT THE PRINTER TRAY. - ROTATED TO HAVE LESS SUPPORTS AND TO DECREASE THE NUMBER OF HOURS FOR PRINTING. - SUPPORTS GENERATED ON MESH MIXER - MODEL IS THEN IMPORTED ON CURA ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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FINAL MODEL PARAMETERS
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Field Points: - Act as social nodes where employees gather.
Line Density: - Functionally, density increases in private spaces. - Environmentally, it increases towards the south orientation.
Louvers Orientation: - Louvers are horizontal in the southern part and becomes vertical towards the west.
Louvers Extrusion: - Louvers extrusion varry according to the sun vector.
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SPATIAL CONFIGURATION
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Terrace
First Floor Plan ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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Terrace
Second Floor
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Terrace
Third Floor Plan
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Fourth Floor
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Fifth Floor Plan
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SECTION 1
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SECTION 2
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SECTION 3
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SOCIAL NODE (TERRACE) - 20 TH JUNE
8 AM Portfolio
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1 PM ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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PUBLIC SPACE (OFFICE) - 20 TH JUNE
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1 PM ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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PRIVATE SPACE (HIGH BOARD OFFICE) - 20 TH JUNE
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Biblography
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https://www.thomasnet.com/articles/custom-manufacturing-fabricating/types-of-casting-processes/ https://vietnamcastiron.com/different-types-casting/ http://www.eniscuola.net/wp-content/uploads/2013/11/migrazione/assets/7029/pdf_cryosphere_3.pdf https://www.researchgate.net/publication/313073794_Glacier_caves_and_glacier_pseudokarst https://pubs.usgs.gov/gip/7000072/report.pdf https://www.researchgate.net/publication/293333056_Classification_of_Double_Skin_Facade_ and_Their_Function_to_Reduce_Energy_Consumption_and_create_sustainability_in_Buildings https://core.ac.uk/download/pdf/147122722.pdf https://www.researchgate.net/publication/287328803_Case_study_of_double_skin_facade_in_ hot_climates
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