Karin Tawadros- 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: Karin Ayman

Student ID: 900184067

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

Karin Ayman Architecture

Student

I always loved pushing myself in everything I did as a kid. No matter what I was doing—sports, school, or other activities—the process of attempting, failing, and succeeding always made me happy. In actuality, architecture combines all of my favourite things. It pushes my limits, improves the way I think and solve problems, and increases my creativity. Every semester marks a fresh turning point in my development because every course has so much to offer me.

formats and a variety of visual and computational tools. Incorporating physical experimentation while creating its digital translation was quite helpful since it helped us become aware of new relationships, restrictions, and boundaries that captivated our perspective on the world.

Particularly in this course, the design process was approached significantly differently than we generally do. It taught us to test our designs using various

PROJECT 01

Exploring different fabrication methods and materials

What is 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.

What is Fabric Formwork?

Fabric-cast concrete involves casting concrete in forms made with flexible formwork.

History:

Formworks as we know them today were first developed in the 1960s; prior to that, they were made of wax and clay. Architects like Miguel Fisac also began using plastic and texture elements to create textured walls in the 1970s. Later, formworks were utilised for a variety of purposes, including the casting of concrete columns.

Mark West

Tejo Remy & Rene Veenhuizen

Experimenting with various fabrication methods and materials to create a building facade prototype.

Learning from Materiality

MATERIAL EXPLORATION 1

Inspiration:

In addition to being influenced by the phonograph (record player), the final formwork also features a horn in the shape of a flower, which symbolizes nature.

Experiment 1

Ratio:

Method 1 - Casting Trial 1:

This mixture appears firm enough to set and not drip out of the mold, but it is also pourable and easily moldable. The purpose of this was mainly to understand the relation between gypsum & water with texture.

The gypsum layer was to thin at the edges, so it easily broke.

Trial 2:

The leaf’s form and design were effectively moulded into it. It would be exciting to combine many branches to get a single form.

Method II - Soaking Fabric Method

The purpose of this experiment to experiment with different method, which is soaking fabric method.

- I began with taping the ballon to the plastic bowl.

- Soaked the fabric & put it in the bowl.

- The material did not take the plaster well

-The consistency of the mixture should be less consistent than it was.

MATERIAL EXPLORATION 1I

Method I - Pouring Method

- I started by getting a cupcake holder then I poured the gypsum into the mold.

-The gypsum was in a good form without cracking and had a smooth texture.

Method II - Soaking Fabric Method

- Better results were obtained with thinner & softer cloth material, with the right consistency of water to gympsum.

MATERIAL EXPLORATION III

Conclousion

Learning about and exploring two distinct casting techniques was intriguing. I preferred pouring the casting and adding additional supports for stability over soaking the cloth in gypsum. I learned new skills from the readings, such as the method for making a gypsum chair using cloth and thread. I also learned that the water consistency should be a little bit more when soaking, which aided in my growth and really made the process take less time. Also, I found that the height of the wave increase whenthe line spacing increase & vice versa.

The result of different wave height depended on line spacing.

Varying different line spacing

PARAMETERS DEDUCTED

Line Distance

Smooth surface

Height / Depth

Controlled by changing the heights curve poiunts.

Directly Proportion Selected Panel

General unit outline Local panel effect

DIGITAL TRANSLATION

In material exploration phase

Line distance was constant (far from each other) Height results varied ( the more the spacing, the higher the curve)

Input Creating vertical lines with

two different

Height: varying one set y-direction that resulted created the

Input

Output

with points on curve, with different sets. set of curve points in the in the zig-zag effect that the surface.

WORKFLOW DESIGN

SINGLE PANEL DESIGN

What I am after?

-I want to build a panel that can be adjustable enough to enable me play with theheights of each panel with a certain logic, similar to the materialexploration stage.

PANEL DESIGN

SINGLE PANEL VARIATIONS

Varying line distances

Varying panel frame thickness (Structure)

Creating lines varying in distances

Varying line heights

Adding points on curve (2 different sets)

Zig-zag effect formation

Creating a surface

Creating a sub-structure

CLUSTER VARIATION

Varying number of openings creating random voids

Smoothing curve edges & extruding vertical strips

REFLECTION

Changing a physical item into a panel required some effort.The most fascinating aspect was realising how many parameters may alter a basic thing. I think the built cluster's capability can be enhanced for usage in an architectural environment.

PROJECT 02

DOUBLE SKIN FACADE

Basic Principles:

A fçade systems consisting of two layers, usually glass, wherein air flows through the intermediate cavity. This space (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.

Benifits:

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 enivronment.

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).

A critique

of

affordances and limitations of double skin façade systems

High context dependence, which may be problematic if the setting changes in any way

High building costs Space use

A need for maintenance

Dependence on it is hazardous if any environmental aspect changes

DOUBLE SKIN FACADE

Environmentally:

Double-skin façades are adaptable to cooler and warmer weather. Minor modifications, such as opening or closing inlet or outlet fins or activating air circulators, the behavior of the façade is changed.

Double-skin façades depend heavily on external conditions (solar radiation, external temperature, etc.) that directly influence internal comfort and user quality of life.

In cold climates

The air buffer works as a barrier to heat loss. Sun-heated air contained in the cavity can heat spaces outside the glass, reducing the demand for indoor heating systems.

In hot climates

The cavity can be vented outside the building to mitigate solar gain and decrease the cooling load. As the air temperature in the cavity rises, it is pushed out, bringing a slight breeze to the surroundings while isolating against heat gain.

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.

Different Approaches

Chosen Approach - Natural Ventilation

Designing a natural ventilation facade with a high degree of daylight utilization, that makes it energy-efficient, which contributes to the sustainability of the building.

Precedant - Foster+Partners’ 30 St Mary Ax Building, “The Gherkin.”

Is naturally ventilated most of the year through its exterior cladding consisting of triangular- and diamond-shaped glass panels.

The glazing system contains a double-glazed outer layer and a single-glazed inner layer with solar control blinds in the central ventilated cavity.

Fresh air is drawn up through spiraling light wells enclosed by the openable double-glazed panels, which also effectively reduce the need for additional heating and cooling.

The circular tapering shape of the building and the light wells maximize the amount of natural light throughout the building and provide views out across the city from deep inside.

When natural forces cannot provide the required indoor environment conditions, mechanical systems –e.g., fans for increasing ventilation rate and/or heat exchangers for cooling (or heating) at peak summer (or winter) times – can be used to enhance the thermal conditioning and natural ventilation through purposely installed openings in the building envelope.

This is known as a mixed-mode or hybrid ventilation system with pressure sensors and motor-driven dampers used to give control.

5 storey high building located on South Teseen Road. It has a glazed facade oriented towards the S/SW direction. The neighborhood is highly densed.

The National Bank of Egypt, New Cairo

Enviromental Analysis

Sun Path Wind Analysis

Dec-March Sun needed at all times

April-June warm, but sun is needed in the morning June-September warm at all times

September-December warm,but sun is needed before noon.

Wind is coming from the north, northwest, and northeast. Wind coming from the north west are the coldest.

DESIGN TAKEOUTS

Problems & Solutions

Direct sunlight therefore, hot climate

Lack of natural ventilation

Create a parametric facade that would be adaptive to the building’s needs in terms of ventilation & sun’s penetration according to the functional spaces.

DESIGN CONCEPT

FOLDING PARAMETRIC FACADE

In order to adapt to the climatic and functional constraints of the building, the new facade for the national bank seeks complexity in the seemingly straightforward vertical rods and horizontal attachment system. The folding facade aims to provide different spatial experiences for the user, by panel protrusions, creating different shade & shadow effects inside the building. The variation in panel protrusions are designed according to suns position.

Studies have shown that people walking on the Teseen road would not be able to fully see the interior spaces, maybe only the first three. Therefore, it is good placing public spaces in the lower levels as to respect privacy inside the building.

Spatial Experience

I subdivided the surface into lines of varying heights and lengths as a first step. I created a zigzag surface by adjusting the curve’s points in two independent sets with distinct domains.

FEEDBACK:

It is better to divide the surface into individual panels creating negative spaces.

ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS

FEEDBACK:

ENVIRONMENTAL STIMULATION

After analysis, I added more panels to increase the density of panels that will result in extra shading.

GRASSHOPPER DEFINITION

FABRICATION

The facade can be easily constructed, especially after adding the supporters. The time taken is under 30 hours so, this is good.

PLANS

Each floor is occupied by different functions in the bank compatible with the new facade design approach. The ground floor has a lobby area with counter service & an outdoor coworking space. In that space natural direct sunlight is desired.

The first floor is double height occupied by VIP customer lounge & casual meeting rooms. Light is entering the spaces in different angles according to suns position.

The third floor is also double height, occupied by Private offices & quite coworking space. The panels are less extrudded for privacy provinding thin negative spaces for ventilation.

The fifth floor is an open IT Lab space. And finally, the sixth floor is an open social space for people to socialize connected to the terrace. Panels on the roof acting like a shed in certain area where it has the seatings.

VIRTUAL REALITY

After having to experience the new parametric facade, it pushed me to realize how I push my design forward. Firstly, the openings between the panels wasn’t big enough. Moreover, the glass facade would provide a better visual experience if it is supported within the trusses. That way, the slabs would be extended, taking the shape of the wavy facade.

SECTIONAL STUDIES

The new parametric facade is intended to minimise glare in areas where screens and other electronics are needed while yet allowing natural sunshine to enter the structure. The facade’s wavy appearance and horizontal extrusions enable the panels to self-shade against one another.

TECHNICAL DETAILS

Folding Panels Mechanism

I was most confident in Project 2 of the course. I had already mastered enough instructions to freely move around and examine my facade design. The task was to evaluate it on a new level and to reconsider my design method in light of actual life factors like functionality, sun rays, and radiation. The difficulty was, nevertheless, largely enjoyable.

COURSE REFLECTION

When I first learned about computational design at the beginning of this semester, I must admit that I had some worries. I believed that my inability and lack of proficiency with new tools would constrain my design-thinking process and result in a disconnect between what I want to do and what is really accomplished. It really turned out to be the complete opposite, though. I was able to open an entirely new element for this course and other design projects with only a kickoff and a few new commands. I won’t deny that it may be really difficult at times, but I still had fun and was pleased of what I had accomplished.

Biblography

- https://www.concretedecor.net/wp-content/uploads/CD/assets/Image/archives/ CD1001/1001-fabric-formed-planter.png

- https://static.dezeen.com/uploads/2010/03/dzn_Concrete-Chair-by-Tejo-RemyRen%C3%A9-Veenhuizen-1.jpg

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