arham siddiqui
portfolio
“always design a thing by considering it in its next larger context--a chair in a room, a room in a house, a house in an environment, an environment in a city plan� --eliel saarinen
selected works 01 detroit: skyfarm city mixed-use towers
02 cortland collaborative market hall
03 remnants of the past
contemporary crafts center
04 the universal grid
d.c. museology center
05 morphosis
thematic hotel
17
mixed-use towers
DETROIT: SKYFARM CITY team: arham siddiqui, zahida khan design studio spring 2017
the design proposal is based on the fact that the world population will exceed 9 billion people by 2050, which would lead to issues such as rapid urbanization of cities, global warming and many more. but one of the key issue that will require highest degree of attention would be food scarcity and self-sufficiency. this design proposal has been taken forth considering this issue as a challenge. detroit, with a glorified industrial past and the current decaying conditions, provides an example of a city in need of revival. our design vision seeks to revive detroit by allowing it to produce its own food, while processing waste and harnessing green energy.
17
market hall CORTLAND COLLABORATIVE team: arham siddiqui, diana gros, william erickson design studio spring 2016 brother finfer scholarship award
the cortland collaborative market hall is situated on the former finkl steel company site, advantageously located between densely populated lincoln park, wicker park, and bucktown. the finkl steel factories were demolished to give way to new development on the site. part of a larger master plan, the market hall is situated along a proposed large urban farm. the produce that is sold at the mar market hall is grown on the farm next to the market and in the aquaponic farm within the market. the distance that the food travels between where it is grown and the consumer is greatly reduced. Second, the visual connection between the farm, aquaponic greenhouse, and the market increases the consumer’s connection and knowledge about the source of food.
site plan scale to fit
circulation: emphasis on allowing open movement in and through the market
food distribution: food grown in urban farm and aquaponics sold to consumers in market
front vs back: entrance to market is provided from both sides to promote equal use
roof garden: sunlight is utilized to grow food on the roof while harvesting rain water
ground floor plan
scale to fit
5
longitudinal section
scale to fit
rooftop public space: butterfly gardens and flower farms on the roof provide outdoor areas for the general public and residents living in the apartments. above the market, while providing views of the adjacent urban farm and the city
program distribution: public marketplace, coffee shop, and brewery is located on the lowest level, food production occurs on the the mezzanine level of the marker, and the private residences are located on the top most level
cortland collaborative brewery: the brewery, located adjacent to the main street, acts as an anchor for the market, promoting night time activity.
8
physical model
structural detail scale to fit
structural diagram
market hall: the ground floor houses a large market hall providing seating area on the mezzanine level, while food fproudction facilities are located on the second level
contemporary crafts museum
REMNANTS OF THE PAST design studio spring 2013
the focus of the design is the revival of the long gone steel era that once thrived in pittsburgh. once, the allegheny riverside was lined with enormous steel mills, proudly representing the might of the pittsburgh industry. the design calls for a contemporary crafts and entrepreneurial center that reinstates the importance of the steel era in the minds of the general public. representing remains on an old factory, rusted steel trusses line the site, working their way towards the riverside, as a contemporary, glass and steel building hangs from these trusses. while the new building represents comtemporary architecture, the trusses supporting it epitomize the mighty steel industries of the past, shouldering pittsburgh and its economy.
decline of the steel industry at one time the strip district in pittsburgh was home to a flourishing economy due to its industrial development. the industry employed the railroad system as transportation and gained tremendous success. after years of boundless success the steel industry suffered harsh deterioration due to the great depression followed by world war II and ultimately crashed. the massive warehouses from the past renovated into lofts, or the skeleton of railroad tracks that was once the heart of the industry, are the only remnants of the forgotten steel era that struggle to stay alive in the strip district today.
1850-1880
1880-1920
1920-1950
site
pittsburgh steel factories 1920-1950
1950-1980
site grid extension
existing context
sun path
site plan scale to fit
building is placed spanning between existing crafts museum and riverfront
building is extended over the river to create a stronger connection to riverfront
1. entry 2. theater 3. office space 4. exhibition space 5. research space 6. cafe
6 4
3
5 2
2nd floor
4
2 1
3rd floor
4
longitudinal section
next, building is rotated to align to the downtown grid to create views of the city
path is carved in to the site to create a connection between intersection and the new building
plaza creates a public realm promoting relationship between new and old
steel truss system
curtain wall system
interior atrium space
interior volume
concrete slabs
interior atrium space
the interior of the contemporary crafts museum is designed as a three-story atrium space. this space creates a strong, axial relationship between the site, the building, and the allegheny riverfront. in addition to providing a vibrant exhibition space for artwork, this space also serves as an exhibition space for the rusted steel truss system supporting the building. ultimately, this space becomes a means to exhibit, not only contemporary crafts, but the mighty steel industry of the past.
d.c. museology center
THE UNIVERSAL GRID design studio spring 2012
the project called for a “museology center” on the national mall in washington, d.c., which would be used to conduct orientation sessions, courses, research projects, and field training. the client, smithsonian institute, had a vision stating, “sharing our resources with the world”, and viewed internationalism as an important aspect of not only the national mall, but also washington d.c.
sun path
city gird system
site plan scale to fit
wind direction
the grid a grid was adopted as, not only representational of washington, but also as a metaphor to represent the equality of and cooperation between people all over the world. a grid allows one to start with a singular element and manipulate it in all directions to create a structure.
1st floor
2nd floor
longitudinal section
3rd floor
the central spine the grid system works as the structure that supports the building, as it takes its shape formed by the spaces organized around this grid. A central spine is used, not only to seperate individual spaces, but also bring them together under one common entity. the grid is apparent on the interior but also on the exterior, as the window system is based on a grid, allowing light in public spaces by utilizing perforated metal panels and solid panels for private spaces.