A S M A A O L W I
p o r t f o l i o
Asmaa Olwi Asmaa has earned a bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture in Saudi Arabia and a Master’s degree in Architecture at the University of Houston. She worked in diverse locations and cultures, from an architec-
Arabia, in addition to a number of freelance projects. Asmaa focuses on excellence in her academic and professional work, and has consistently been an honor student and trainee everywhere she worked. She has a robust set of technical, and craftsmanship skills that she applies in her work.
A C D E M I C W O R K
AFT ER BEL ONG ING
A collage made at the begening of the process and used in the coneptual phase
After Belonging Refugee Training and Entertaining Center Houston, TX The refugee crisis of 2015 has been worst of its kind since the world war II, and topped the list of the worst humanitarian crises, including famine and natural disasters. Although the United States was geographically distant from the crisis zone, a large number of refugees ended up on the US air and sea ports. Houston had the largest share of the number of the refugees among US cities. Unfortunatley, in many cases when the refugees settle in a new place they end up living on the edges of cities where rents are cheaper. But this pattern prevents them from fully interacting with the locals, and deepens their social segregation.
between refugees and locals is thus diminished, and the positive cultural and skill exchage is hindered. Also, this isolation hurts the refugees chances of gaining a suitable employment in accordence with their varied skills and talents. A prime location in Houston is chosen for the project. The area is well known for its diverse culture and is well served with number of commercial and public establisments. The program will include a welcome center, a training and educational center, a market place, ter, and a resideential area.
Refugees country of destination Refugees country of origin
Refugees country of destination
Food Residential Commercial School
integration of pedistrians in the site
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SITE PLAN 10 30 40
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Program: Academic and Welcome Center: 1- Reception and help desk 2- Class room 3- Lecture room 4- Study room 5- Workshop 6- Computer area 7- Offices 8- meeting room 9- Multi purpose room 123456-
Worship Center: Worship and prayer rooms Courtyard Library Independant study room Offices Storage
Retail Space: 1- Shops or restaurants 2- Storage 1234567-
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Housing: Reception Living room Recreation room 1 bedroom apartment 2 bedroom apartment 3 bedroom apartment Studio apartment
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MAIN SPINE THE MAIN SPINE IS TO CONNECT BETWEEN
MAIN STREET THE MAIN SPINE IS BECOMING THE MAIN STREET WHICH THE MAIN PATHWAY IN THE PROJECT THAT GOES THROUGH THE MAIN
ENTRY POINTS TO ALLOW FOR MORE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS TO ALLOW FOR MORE PEOPLE TO EITHER ENTER OR EASLY EXIT THE SITE
CULTURAL EXCHANGE AREAS TO ALLOW FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGE
Section C-C
Section B-B Section B-B
Section A-A Section A-A
Photo credit: http://mustseeplaces.eu
DIS TOR TED BER GEN
ditional gableded roofs (A celebration of Bergen’s traditional housing) are being modeled.
Distorted Bergen An Anamorphic Icon Bergen, Norway The concept of the design began by examining the traditional houses of Bergen and the picturesque elevation they create on the Fjord Mountains that surround the area. This phonographic image of the region was then reduced to a simple line drawings of the existing conditions and the project elevation was created from this exploration. The homes on site are distorted versions of the typical housing, but together they create a cohesive elevation that retecture of the region. This cohesive view of the site is visible from across on a pedestrian bridge that
will be connected to a larger network of paths around the area. From this point the distorted houses come together to create a power image that connects the city’s center with the industrial backyard where the site is located both visually and physically through these paths.
Opening up the views towards the bay and the cemetery
Program consists of mixed use, residential, and kindergarten
Street are not massively wide to encourage provide pedestrian friendly spaces
to green spaces to accommodate different groups of people
The masses are derived from the residential scale of Bergen
Parking is provided street level and underground
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A Meditation garden Outdoor kitchen Long table that can be shared by the community
Playground
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community garden shared by the residents and the kindergarten
Shared space by the community
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SECTION A-A
SECTION B-B
G R A P H I C S K I L L S
Digital Collage
Model making
A render that was made for the same project that the model to the left was made for. The challange here was to not just rendert the building, but to actually create a bacground with the river going underneath the building
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