A S M A A O L W I
p o r t f o l i o
Asmaa Olwi Asmaa earned a bachelor’s degree in Interior Architecture in Saudi Arabia and a Master’s degree in Architecture from the University of Houston. She has worked in diverse locations and cultures, from an architecture design office in Vienna, to participating in numerous architectural competitions , in addition to 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 A 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 Transition Center Houston, TX The refugee crisis of 2015 has been worst of its kind since the World War II. Although the United States was geographically distant from the crisis zones. Many 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 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.
The full benefit of interaction between refugees and locals is thus diminished, the positive cultural and skill exchange is hindered. Also, this isolation hurts the refugees chances of gaining suitable employment with their varied skills and talents. A prime location in Houston was chosen for this project. The area is well known for its diversity and is well served by commercial and public establisments. The program will include a welcome center, a training and educational center, a market place, office spaces, a worship center, and temporary residential quarters.
Refugees country of destination Refugees country of origin
Refugees country of destination
Food
Residential Offices Commercial
School
Different senarios are tested to occupy the land in respond to conditions in the site and maximaize the integration of pedistrians in the site
N
P
SITE PLAN 10 30 40
100
P
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-
Housing: Reception Living room Recreation room 1 bedroom apartment 2 bedroom apartment 3 bedroom apartment Studio apartment
GROUND FLOOR PLAN 05
10
20
A
B
C
D
A
B
C
D
MAIN SPINE THE MAIN SPINE IS TO CONNECT BETWEEN POTENTIALLY MOST USED POINTS
MAIN STREET THE MAIN SPINE IS BECOMING THE MAIN STREET WHICH THE MAIN PATHWAY IN THE PROJECT THAT GOES THROUGH THE MAIN BUILDINGS
ENTRY POINTS THE PATHWAY IS SQUEEXED IN THE CENTER TO ALLOW FOR MORE SOCIAL INTERACTIONS AS WELL AS OPENING UP AT THE TWO ENDS TO ALLOW FOR MORE PEOPLE TO EITHER ENTER OR EASLY EXIT THE SITE
CULTURAL EXCHANGE THIS STRATEGY IS REPEATED IN SEVERAL AREAS TO ALLOW FOR CULTURAL EXCHANGE AND TO RESPOND TO ADJACENT PROGRAM
Section C-C
Section B-B Section B-B
Section A-A Section A-A
Different plan layout in the worship center depending on the potential user group
Photo credit: http://mustseeplaces.eu
DIS TOR TED BER GEN
A 3D collage made at the begening of the process to analyze the architecture of Bergen. For example; some distorted traditional 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 reflects the vernacular architecture of the region. This cohesive view of the site is visible from across the lake at a specific point 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
Street are not massively wide to encourage provide pedestrian friendly spaces
The masses are derived from the residential scale of Bergen
Program consists of mixed use, residential, and kindergarten
Different functions are given to green spaces to accommodate different groups of people
Parking is provided street level and underground
B
A
Meditation garden Outdoor kitchen
Long table that can be shared by the community
Playground
A
community garden shared by the residents and the kindergarten
Shared space by the community
B N
GROUND FLOOR PLAN 0
50
100
200
SECTION A-A
SECTION B-B
ID EA INC UBA TOR
Idea Incubator
A monumental piece of architecture designed to boost the economy and privide a resoursful connection between two cities at La junta on the Rio Grande, Ojinaga and Presidio. L La Junta has a rich history of making Persidio and Ojinaga as a junction of culture and resources. Currently the economy on both sides of the Rio Grande is suffering from a lack of investment in the area. The Idea Incubator is programmed to provide a place of resources to assist residents from both cities in turning their ideas into a business.
Through the monumental architecture of the Incubator we seek to attract tourism and put La Junta back on the map. The Incubator provides an opportunity for residents to learn about marketing and business development while providing workshops and retail rental space from which they can launch their business. The whole Incubator is designed to inspire a sense of community by providing event spaces accessible from both sides. Arial view
Pedestrian bridge
Retail and workshops Classrooms and resource center
Temporary exhibitions
Permenant exhibitions
SITE PLAN 10 30 40
100
A circulation model was made digitally at the begening of the project. It shows how different prorams and users will work
MEN NIL DRA WING INS TIT UTE
A sketch made at the beginning shows how the whole building scale is broken into small masses to match the scale of the houses in the Menil area
Mastering The Scale And The Grain A Proposal For Menil Drawing Institute Houston, TX The Menil Drawing Institute (MDI) is commissioned by The Menil Foundation to be a center for hosting drawing exhibitions and as a location for scholars to study the growing collection of works on paper. Its proposed location is on the land currently occupied by Richmond Square apartment complex. As per the Menil specifications, the project consists of a flexible gallery, a collection gallery, a study area for researchers and scholars, a conservation lab in addition to offices, and an art handling area with a loading dock. Due to artwork sensitivity, the design insures that only indirect daylight illuminates the exhibition space.
The MDI consists of modular individual spaces connected by a spine that runs through the entire project. The small modules are aligned to cast shadow on one another and thus preventing direct sunlight from entering the interior. To address museum fatigue, at the spine’s midpoint one encounters a tree-shaded resting space allowing visitors time for reflection and anticipation before proceeding. The project’s surroundings are unique within Houston from the scale and character of building structures to the scent of daffodils and aged pine trees. This project preserves this unique identity through its compatible scale with surrounding structures.
The location of the proposed Menil Drawing Institute in relationship to downtown and to major highways and streets
A nolli plan showing that shows the scale of the neighborhood
28°
Parti Development
Shading System
SITE PLAN 0’5’ 20’ 40’
80’
Overhang
Upper Level
Beams
Columns
Lower level
A
Permenant Gallery
Permenant Gallery
LOBBY
B
A
A
Admin
Admin
Flexible Gallery
B
Flexible Gallery Loading Dock
GROUND FLOOR PLAN 0’
10’ 20’
40’
SOUTH ELEVATION
WEST ELEVATION
STUDY AREA
STUDY AREA
STUDY AREA
UTILITY ROOM
STORAGE
GROUND FLOOR PLAN 0’
10’ 20’
40’
STORAGE
CONSERVATION LAB
STORAGE
CONSERVATION LAB
STORAGE
ADMIN
ADMIN
G R A P H I C S K I L L S
Digital Collage
THANK YOU