The American University in Cairo (AUC) School of Sciences and Engineering - Department of Architecture ARCH 473/3522 - Digital Design Studio and Workshop (Fall 2018) 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 Elsherbiny Student ID: 900143038
Š The American University in Cairo (AUC), December 2018
Salma Elsherbiny Architecture Student
Salma Elsherbiny, senior Architectue student. A person that believes in the impact of architecture on people’s lives. And what are we here for except fot that sole reason of being beneficial humans that would enhance other humans’ lives. Simplicity is all what everything is about, to me. I actually don’t believe in complexity, and I don’t think that in complexity lies the depth of meanings. Depth lies when the message is clear, simple, beautiful, and definitely functional. I strongly believe that form follows beauty, isn’t this what architecture is about? and Isn’t this what 473 is all about? At first, I did not believe that I could be able to understand Rhino, Grasshopper and these “complex” softwares, according to my very own perspective. I always believed in their complexity and that they were designed not for the av-
erage human abilities use. However, it turned out that not only I knew how it works, but also I did models and iterations using it. Surprisingly, those trials and models that were done had concepts and vision behind them. I can now say that this was a turning point in the journey of my years at the university. I always like how we develop as we grow, but this was extremely of a great benefit, It made everything that we thought, could only be visualized mentally, to something that could actually be done and go the extra mile with it. In a mdern world full of the strangest of things, this helped us in coping with them. In my opinion, this course was the beauty that I believed should be existing within architecture. The beauty of the logical thinking throughout the last stages of the course and how the model was being developed from time to another was amazing. And the impact on the users that was maximized everytime throughout, was actually tangible. At this point, where we are actually done with our projects, I can tell that even the final outcome is not satisfactory enough, this is also what architecture is all about as well, I am glad and satisfied with what I have learnt and achieved throughout this course. Everytime in this project was a completely different start with ultimate approaches and tons of thoughts. However, I have to admit, despite how the journey was interesting, it was hectic and disappointing at sometimes. And that is normal, because this course was like playing with magic and we wanted to knew all the tricks im just a short time.
Creating interactive pavilion for AUC students that would enhance the mobility experience and make the walking experience more friendly and inviting.
00 Vision
Give a sense of embracement to the users making This is to be achieved by the twisting and flexibility of the interactive pavilion, and through having different experiences within
01 Materials Inspiration Experimentation
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How does applying water to wood peel chanfe its properties? The twisting of the wood peel adds dynamic feeling to the form and gives directionality. The function could vary accordingly with how the shape is formed The more water, the higher flexibility With water, the rigid wood transforms into flexible that could be shaped easily. After it is dried, it retains its solidity. The form is at its finest when it is dry and hot
Procedures of the experiment: Apply hot water and cold water to separate wood peals (21C & 35C) Shape wood into curvilinear composition Leave to dry held in place More water higher flexibility
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Materials Inspiration
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How does applying contradicting mediums unveil captivating properties? The form was inspired from the organic form of wax and it was shaped when applying different medium (heat and water). The fragility and solidity were present in the form at different parts and this created the dynamic mobility.
Procedures of the experiment: Put Candles (Parafin wax) with a little beeswax Melt in a pan on stove heat Pour slowly into a small flat surface and drag gradually into water tank Leave it settle for a couple of minutes in water Emerge slowly from the water
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Materials Inspiration
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Digital Fabrication
7 Give a sense of embracement to the users by the twisting and flexibility of the interactive pavilion, and through having different experiences within.
02 Digital Fabrication ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2018
Salma Elsherbiny
8 Site: AUC Gardens Why this site? My vision for the project is to enhance user interaction between studnets and the pavilion. Gardens are the gateway for students between classes and after. It is always full of life and people of course. People go to read, sleep, eat, socialize and relax. My pavilion is designed to enhance this interaction between people, and make their experience and saty more comfortable and relaxing. I always see people looking for something to sit on, when they do not want to sit on the grass or when the grass is wet. Chairs are available, but not always enough. Also People taking naps are exposed to what is happening beside them and not getting the chance for a level of privacy. Thus, the interactive pavilion is supposed to solve these minor issues that would impact the users. I wanted to create something functional that people will actually use. The impact is what I was always thinking of while going through the different stages of this course. What are the needs of people? What do I think is missing or needs enhancement? How can this pavilion impact their everday life and make it better? How can people interact with what I am doing? and most importantly, how to make an interesting form while functional at the same time?
Portfolio
Digital Fabrication
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10 At the very first stage, Rhino was used as an easy method to play with the form and create whatever we wanted. It was lots and lots of trials, some trials worked and we thought, yes that’s it, and others were nothing, but a failure. The comment that I used to always had in mind, whether what I was doing is functional or not, this was due to the complete freedom and flexibility of the software. Rhino was a great start of getting us to think more about what we want to do and seeing it infont of us with different different controllable commands that could enhance and improve the model till we reach what we want. We went back and forth several times, but they were all worth it. It started with a form that twists, to a a set of curves that are controllable. The intention was to have three different expeiences within the pavilion. Resting was supposed to be the beginning of the model, moving in to the Reading spot, and lastly to Sleeping zone. The base of the model was to vary with each experience. So does the shell, it had to vary with the level of privacy of each zone. At the earlier stage, it was not very easy to achieve a solid outcome, the curves gets attached to eachother and the form got messed up. But, we moved on. Later on, things became to be more logical and structural when we started using grasshopper. It is all about logic at the end.
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Digital Fabrication
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12 The fluidity of the model was done using Rhino. It was inteded to divide the model into three different experiences Resting.. Reading.. Sleeping The openness of the model shell varied with the level of privacy From its beginning, it is more open that would invite people to come in, rest, and socialize. As it goes, it becomes to be a bit closed. That creates shade for those who want to read. The horizontal space for seating is a bit wider than its beginning. This is intended to create a comfortable space while reading. At the end of the pavilion comes the most enclosed space. The shell goes to the ground for the sake of the model’s stability and complete privacy for the person sleeping inside. Digital Fabrication was created using Slicer from Fusion Interlocked slices using SLICER with a distance x in between. The material used is nasibyan with a thickness of 1.5mm to give the feeling of wood, that is to be implemented in reality.
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Digital Fabrication
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Digital Fabrication
15 Physical Model
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Parametric Modeling
19 Enhance user interaction More user embracement Make the experience more flexible and comfortable Plat with light and air Shade and shadow through openings Form adaptation to external factors
03 Parametric Modeling ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2018
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Variations Used for solid parts.
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Material Used: Plastic, thickness 3cm Procedures: 1-Modeling a free form on Rhino (Rebuilding and editing points) 2-Create a grid with pattern on grasshopper 3-A curve was drawn to set the directionality and size of the circles 4-Link the surface of the Rhino model to the pattern (Surface Morph) 5-Adding a larger than or greater than parameter to the curve that would remove circles from the areas where people sit (Iteration 1 and 2 as shown in the left)
The form satisfied its function to an extent, yet, wasn’t stable or user-friendly. The spaces were very defined, and restricted the use of the people coming in. People were not given the freedom to do what they want. It was either reading or sleeping. The circular pattern allowed air and sun to enter and created a playful shadow inside. The seating area acted like a couch, which was comfortable to an extent because of the material. The sleeping area was shaded more for privacy and comort.
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Parametric Modeling
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Parametric Modeling
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Error when there curves Openings couldn’t
Variations In the front and back shells
Variations In Width
Variations In the Z direction that opens and closes the pat
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Parametric Modeling
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is too many s t be created
Variations In size of the openings
Variations In the spacing between openings (solid parts)
th
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Procedures: 1-Create a set of frames 2-Adjust the end points to open 3-Create a graph map to adjust the motion of the end points in the xy direction 4- extend curve negatively 5-Create a graph map for movement in the z direction 5-Fillet the edges of the frames 6-Select a point and pull it
Rich Graph Mapper adjusts all the curves and lines that were used (It was used here to adjust the extension of the shell, when to be tall and when not, also the curve at the back was adjusted using it)
7-Quad panels applied to the surface 8-Dispatch from surface 9-Larger than or smaller than to adjust the openings The form is intended to be all on grass. This is a kind of adaptation to the users nature and response to the needs that were mentioned earlier, of having more spaces to sit on rather than grass, private space to sleep, rather than being exposed and a shaded area to read beneath.
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Parametric Modeling
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Parametric Modeling
31 Final Model
The final form pattern came as a response to the lanfuage of the cubicals of the Library behind. The model was wide enough to give the users the freedom to use each space the way they want. It is not restricting as it was in the previous trials. It allows for more user interaction, plus the spaces are fluid in a way that is inviting. The openings vary with the level of privacy to an extent of closing some parts with no openings. The pavilion is shaded in spaces and open in others. The mission of the project was achieved with this model. The form can be adapted to external factors, users needs, and climatic issues as well. The openings can be more open or more closed. The shell can touch the ground as well.
ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2018
Salma Elsherbiny
Biblography
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Dunn, N. (2012). Digital Fabrication in Architecture, Laurence King Publishing. Jabi, W. (2013). Parametric Design for Architecture, Laurence King Publishing Iwamoto, L. (2009). Digital Fabrications: Architectural and Material Techniques, Princeton Architectural Press.
ŠAll rights reserved, American University in Cairo (AUC) December 2018