DES NG I STUDENTS ACTIVITIES
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DES NG I AENG 454 FALL ’14
ARCHITECTURE CATALOGUE - VOLUME ONE Students Works for Design Studio IV The American University in Cairo
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CONTENTS PREFACE
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GROUP EXPLORATIONS
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INDIVIDUAL EXPLORATIONS
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PREFACE
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WHY? This studio’s primary objective is to deepen the understanding of students of architecture with an appreciation of the role of structure in giving form to architecture as a process. It focuses on underscoring the inextricable relationship between structural thinking and design thinking very much like the human body cannot be conceived of without the skeleton that it embodies and is shaped by.
HOW? The AENG454 learning experience requires of all participants a full immersion, the staff and the students alike. The two groups are co-authors of the exploration and the emergent understandings. Our process has eight steps that move in sequence occupying varying durations yet all at a rather intense speed. The steps require the coauthors to: Plunge … we dig into the field and research to extract threads and clues. Reflect … we attempt to understand the clues and give them some meaning. Envision … another way of giving meaning and expressing our understanding. Make … yet another mode of translating our understanding by experiencing it. Experiment … then we explore more structural and experiential models of translating our understanding. Think … we expand our conceptual understanding into functions that address the same objectives. Design … the final translation of our understanding is into architecture. Reflect … one more pause to reflect but this time on the whole process.
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GROUP EXPLORATIONS
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Project Challenges First Set of Challenges Understand your client a- Select a client from the various student clubs and groups who regularly make a presence in the AUC plaza. b- Study the club or group in depth to identify: i. mission, vision, values and objectives. ii. unique selling proposition to student body iii. channels and tools of communication, specifically the plaza channel: how is it used and what for. c- Select an inspiring structure/building that reflects, embodies, or speaks to the brand, values, or mission of your client group. d- Present your understanding in a comprehensive and telling presentation, that is also reflective of the client’s identity and the nature of the message you want to make.
Translate your understanding a- Design and build a structure inspired from that choice and attempts to reflect the brand identity of your client while addressing the functional and experiential needs as their channel in the plaza. b- Your clients will be asked to participate in all your presentations to give their response to your research, analysis and proposed solutions. c- During construction and installation phase, you can entice club members to help and support – it would be a testament to your success in engaging your clients.
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Group 1
ASTRONOMY
Hania Ghazal– Nourhan Mohamed– Rana Aref
Even though it’s a new club, it’s building a solid identity for itself. It even won “the best developed club. In this stage, the process of observing, researching and analyzing has really helped to understand how to get the essence of basically anything. Raising questions and always questions the givens is what gave me a deep understanding of the club. FIND A CHARACTER THAT REPRESENTS THE ESSENCE OF THE CLUB. WE NEED A FIGHTER WITH WILL POWER! SOMEONE INTERESTING AND FUN! DEVOTED AND CONFIDENT!
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“BUILDING A SPINE OF STEEL THROUGH PASSION AND DEDICATION”
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Our first experimentations with the material have made us acquainted with its potentials and constraints. Expressing one word of our essence “Passion�, we decided to build something that is smoothly flowing.
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Experimenting with the cardboard made us understand the essence of the material. What it can do and what it cannot. We failed many times but we kept trying until we got it right. Another challenge was trying to translate our essence through cardboard; we struggled in the beginning to get one expression for passion. For example, it can be seen and interpreted differently among us. We managed in the end to unify it to something that’s unpredictable and changing wile dedication is a foundation, something you can depend on to hold and support.
How can we represent Passion? Something flowing smoothly, something that is explosive. MMM.. IT DOESN’T LOOK STRUCTURALLY STABLE. THE DEDICATION IS ALSO NOT SEEN. WE SHALL THINK OF ANOTHER IDEA.
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Since passion is still not seen, we need a path ! Dedication equals consistency, passion equals flow. The levels of passion can be felt from movement of boxes.
THE ARCH WILL FALL !
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Group 2
ENACTUS
Aya Afify – Caroline Sibai - Dina El Husseiny
After researching and analyzing Enactus, we got to the point where we felt we know the essence of Enactus in depth. Enactus portrays two pictures: a clear picture which is what all people see: members dancing and having fun while the hidden picture that the people don’t see is the projects, the conferences and all the effort that are put in the organization.
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I’ve touched people’s lives in so many ways Every person in this room here knows my name With my positive energy, I entertain But little do you know how much I struggle to gain All you know its that I’m funny and loud Very comfortable performing in front of a crowd Funny as I am; creative and diverse There’s another side of me if you look up close This side of me I reveal every once in a while But all you remember is what makes you smile The end of me is when it was revealed The side of me which I often concealed
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“DUALITY IS WHAT CREATES ME AND IMPACT OTHERS”
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As a start, we portrayed a single word of our essence which is “Duality” in a sculpture which is rough on the outside and smooth on the inside. After that we attempted to add the “Impact” side to the pavilion. So we added a moveable “wall” in the middle creating two pathways. When one would move it to one side in order to walk, it would impact the person walking on the other side.
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By the end of that stage, we realized and wasn’t natural. The idea of impact was kind of superimposed. At this point we decided to create a column with a chair at the base and the whole structure would be fallen.
When someone would sit the structure would stand up and the other person would be able to place the column under it
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Group 3
First Year Experience [FYE] Nadine Mekawy - Omar Mourad - Salma El Rouby - Tarek Amr
FYE is famous between its own members by its joyful and funny yet professional and serious character when needed. Most of the FYE members feel they are unique since they do a job that not any other student does. They are humble leaders, yet they like to feel special. Therefore, adjectives like fun, professional, joyful, developer and helpful can best describe its character.
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“ENJOY INITIATING”
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We started working on building the sculpture. The sculpture was stepped in a manner that reflected the word “Initiating�. This was an experimental phase during which we were able to get familiar with cardboard, know its strengths and weaknesses and how to deal with it. We started building the first wall. The wall, like the sculpture, include openings from which the games appear trying to block your path. The idea is to push the blocks through the openings and initiate your path. We then added the second wall and the problems began...
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We then added a third wall in the middle to create a two-user interactive pavilion. One user will be FYE and help initiate the other user’s path through playing with him.
Structure needed bracing from the shorter direction since it was unstable. Any movement caused the building to sway. Therefore, we worked on locking the joint connections between the boxes.
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Group 4
MODEL UNITED NATIONS [MUN] Ahmed Noureldin - Mai Adel - Toya Afify
The main concept behind creating MUN club is to “VOICE OUT.� The idea of voicing out exists in every MUN member, and conferences are held to gather all opinions and reach to an ultimate solution. Voicing out is what makes you different and helps you to progress. Keywords like diversity, identity, self-expression, progression best reflect the characteristics of the club.
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“The power of voicing out is your best weapon to progress and rejoice�
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For the first built sculpture, we chose the keyword “Progress.” In the model, we repeated the “S” shaped units, then we flipped their directions to show how the shape progresses. However, it wasn’t fully representing the keyword.
Experimenting with cardboard, we came up with different repetitive units and tried connections like wedging or adding connectors as beams.
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We decided to simplify our unit to be just a box so that it can be easier to create different variations to show real progression.
The boxes act like drums which create different rhythms when one strikes them because of their different sizes and filling. It allows each one to create his own rhythm and voice out.
The problem was the structural integrity. The model was so unstable since the connections between the boxes are weak. Therefore, we had to think of a different manipulation for the boxes.
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The different enclosures weren’t implemented correctly since it needed to be more fitting to the user. However, the experience of voicing out different worked because of the variations of the boxes.
We decided to have an interactive structure based on the ground which was a weak point. We played with its form creating enclosures to incorporate different activities for the users.
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INDIVIDUAL EXPLORATIONS
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Project Challenges Second Set of Challenges Expand the problem a- Your clients have grown into a national student organization with branches in nearly all Egyptian Universities, and hence require a headquarters building that shall be built on a plot donated by AUC on its empty land adjacent to the current campus. b- Develop a detailed program for that building based on the organizational structure and functional requirements that you (and your client) can project for it to meet the needs in that growth in scale. Design a building a- Using the analysis and investigations developed in Phase I, design that new structure following the steps below: i. Functional and utilization maps ii. Experiential models iii. Structural models iv. Architectural design
Document your experience a- There are two dimensions to your experience that require documentation: i. Architectural designii. Creative exploration. b- Documentation stage should be approached as a problem in itself. Besides being comprehensive, it should be reflexive: questioning and seeking to understand what actually happened. c- All the stages of development shall be documented in your final outputs which shall include: i. Full set of architectural drawings and models professionally capturing the Architectural Story. ii. Audio-visual presentation capturing the Full Story addressing your clients & general audience. iii. Creative and reflexive Story Book of your Development Story.
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SHELL STRUCTURE Astronomy - Hania Ghazal The shell structure reflects Astronomy’s flowing passion which shape the project’s spaces. In order to create defined spaces for the different functions, the intertwining of the grid change at some areas as well as the height of the structure. The building shape creates an enclosed outdoor area in which the stargazing function takes place.
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Through my experiential models, I wanted to emphasize on the idea of chain reaction where one event leads to a subsequent one to happen.
“ THE DOMINO EFFECT ”
I decided to choose shell structure to show the similar idea of interdependency as different grids are overlapping [each in different direction] creating one chain.
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The central space is the star-gazing area. It is considered the climax of the project where all activities lead to at the end.
There was a problem concerning the formation of spaces below the shell since shells create universal spaces. Manipulating the grids of the shell, I managed to create slight enclosures for varying activities.
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Plan
Structural Plan 101
Sections
Details 103
SPACE TRUSSES Astronomy - Nourhan Mohamed The idea is to create two journeys that reflect the two committees [Academic and Organizing] of Astronomy club. As one starts his journey, he can sense the hierarchy of the club structure through the arches sizes. Playing with arrangement and sizes of the arches helped in creating different quality of spaces reflecting the varying functions. The end destination of those two journeys is the stargazing area.
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In the first experiential model, the climax was unclear although it’s the most important part.
I highlighted the climax in the second trial. However, the use of wheels didn’t capture the idea of the two journeys with beginning and end but rather the feeling of an endless cycle.
The choice of space trusses is to show the members and how each and everyone is important in forming the building.
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Arches change size from big to small and vice versa to show the hierarchy in the club, but all one family forming the arch and making it stand.
Two sides became clear. The arch size, orientation, height and level represent different spaces, which are all connected to complete and achieve the bigger picture.
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Plan
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
PRODUCED BY AN AUTODESK EDUCATIONAL PRODUCT
Structural Plan 111
Sections
Details 113
TENT STRUCTURE Astronomy - Rana Aref As tensile structures’ shape depends on the stresses lying on them, they are similar to the sense of passion which guides the members in the astronomy club. By connecting different tents together, it created a universal space. Therefore, I played with heights and light to create visual boundaries between spaces as well as creating different quality of spaces. The structure eventually reaches to the climax of the project, the stargazing area.
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My experiential model was simply a ball that in order to reach different spaces it needs to take different routes that require dedication due to the difficulty of manoeuvring the ball into the space.
Tensile structures are different in the sense that the stresses in the structure determine its shape (as passion determines where you will reach in the club and inside my building).
I chose tensile structures since its flexibleness and malleability will grant me the ability to manipulate the quality of space underneath.
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Trying to connect the tents together by making each ending having a beginning of the other tent that follows. This created my climax, which is the stargazing zone. However, spaces were segregated.
I started thinking about combining more than one space under one tent. How would the quality of space change then?
THE ONE BIG TENT VS.SEPARATED TENTS
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Plan
Structural Plan 121
Sections
Details 123
FLAT TRUSSESFOLDED PLATES Enactus - Aya Afify I used folded plates and trusses to represent duality where one would support the other just like in the club: the fundraising fun side supports the serious side. The use of two structures helped in creating contrast between the quality of spaces of the different functions, yet there would be visual unity between them.
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The idea of using nature to visualize the feeling of spaces helped me, but the model had to more abstract and show more specific experiences of spaces.
At first, the folded plates seemed to rigid and I couldn’t enclose them correctly with the trusses which has led me to create a worm-shaped building.
The form later metamorphosed to have logic behind the use of each structural system for specific kind of functions in order to create different quality of spaces.
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Plan
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STEEL ARCHESSLABS & BEAMS Enactus - Caroline EL Sibai The building has a central spine of steel arches which include the lounge area. On its two sides, I integrated columns and beams structure creating a great contrast, however, they are still connected visually by the act of cables. The flat slabs [enclosing the core functions: research and planning units] on both sides look like they are flying out from the steel arches. The steel arches eventually lead to the conference hall which is the end result of the organization.
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The threads of different colors and patterns represents peope of different backgrounds coming into Enactus [white plasticine]. As experimentations, I first used flat trusses which didn’t reflect the concept.
I, then, used space trusses to form two sides while using tent structure in between to highlight the middle part and arches as entrance. However, spaces needed stronger connection between them.
I settled on using steel arches along the main axis in the middle with slab and beam structure on both sides.
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Plan
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FOLDED PLATES Enactus – Dina El Husseiny With Enactus’s dual character, I chose folded structure to express this duality. The building basically consists of two different zones; an energetic one which enclose functions like the library, lounge and cafeteria and an more subtle one which contains the administration zone. Folds are much intense in the walls and ceiling of the energetic part and starts to settle down on its way to the auditorium which is considered a mediator between both sides.
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At first, I thought I had to create an overall experience of the building not each space on its own.
I started to create a different experience for each space. I used different materials; for example:ribbons to express playfulness. As for the relations between spaces, I used stepping to stress the idea of hierarchy of importance.
I started thinking about combining more than one space under one tent. How would the quality of space change then?
REFLECTING DUALITY
Choosing folded plates was to reflect the idea of DUALITY found in Enactus. One plate transfer two types of folds. Like Enactus, fun and professionalism are two faces of the same club.
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I, first, chose random plates for spaces that are fun, while regular ones for labs. The folds looked glued one to another, there was no smooth transition.
I sketched on my plans how I wanted my spaces to look structurally then reflected them on my model. For each space, it had different folded plates to personalize its experience.
PLAYING WITH THE FOLDS INTENSITY
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Plan
Elevation/Sections 143
CABLES STRUCTURE FYE – Nadine Mekawy The cable structure reflects FYE’s character. Although it has a high spirit, it has a huge role and importance in the university and what’s really holding all of this is that fun spirit. The building has a main spine which leads to the auditorium, on the left side, there are regular frames where the training rooms are located, while on the right side, the arches are more soft contrasting with the rigid ones.
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The first experiential model didn’t reflect the different experiences, however, in the second, I managed to give personalized experience for each space.
Choosing tensegrity in my first trial, I could feel that the system is unable to create spaces or closed areas.
I chose then the cables structure. Although they are soft and weak, when they are applied in tension, they can withstand huge forces which is the same role of FYE.
The lack of connection between spaces above was treated by reducing the different structures used which created a more clear connectivity between different parts.
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Plan
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FOLDED PLATES FYE – Omar Mourad The building reflects the spirit of FYE members. As you go through a regular entrance, the building starts to break on the right with structure changing into triangular folds, and that’s where the lounge is located. These folds’ intensity increases until you reach the auditorium. On the left side, the ceiling is corrugated showing a more rigid and organized structure under which the training rooms lie.
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The experiential models looked like structural ones. I wanted to create accessible vs. inaccessible zones with a steeping part to reflect a self-developing zone. However, the model looked so architectural.
MISSING CONNECTIONS BETWEEN DIFFERENT ZONES.
Folded plates were used because of variation of angles that show joy and also having sharp angles gives a sense of professionalism.
Maintaining consistency of variation of folds and working on the circulation have created a more connected building.
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Plan
Elevation/Sections 155
SHELL STRUCTURE FYE – Salma El Rouby My idea is to create an open highspirited space that would help bond a crew into a family to be able to prepare an orientation program that initiate students lives in the university. Using a modular shape for the shell, its size and arrangement vary according to the different functions in the project.
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The experiential model combines between the fun part found in the lounge and assembly line and serious part of FYE in the meeting rooms and office.
A COLUMN WOULD OBVIOUSLY PUNCTURE THROUGH THE SHELL !
My choice of shells structure was due to how the loads have playful way to transfer through shells. Besides, the thin clean look of shells give the feeling of precision and accuracy.
Shell forms and spaces were scattered and unlinked. So, I tried to create a specific language and add minor edits to it in order to differentiate the experience.
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Plan
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CABLES STRUCTURE FYE – Tarek Amr As FYE combines between hard work and joy, I wanted to emphasize the joy side as the core of FYE, so I created a lounge as a central part of the project that gathers all people. Surrounding the lounge, there are four main spaces, each has its central column which carries a slab with cables, and the four columns together are carrying the central slab. Each column symbolizes the backbone of the structure just like the joyful spirit of FYE.
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CENTRALIZING THE JOYFUL LOUNGE AREA
The entrance is different depending on the user. The meeting rooms is where the flow of ideas happen. The multimedia is a comfy space for creative thinking. The lounge is the most fun area.
Using circles to express centralization didn’t reflect well the experience of the project. So, I discarded this idea.
Each space has a central post carrying its slab with cables. All load is transferred through cables to columns then to the ground. The lounge is central space where I created a ring beam connected to all columns.
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Plan
Elevation/Sections 167
SPACE TRUSSES MUN – Ahmed Noureldin In MUN, the act of voicing out is what makes its members distinct and is what brings everyone together. In the project, I have created different zones using linear space trusses. However, in the corridors connecting the different zones, I used space trusses to represent the voicing out of those regular zones. The space trusses also provide guidance to the people throughout the building.
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The experiential model has different stages: at first, there are the offices where the experience is monotonous and universal. Secondly, the training area is where people voice out and experience different emotions. As for the third, it is the conference room where all different opinions are gathered.
I incorporated folded plates to further support my structure at the auditorium which also enhance the functionality of the space.
I chose space trusses because of their flexibility in creating different variations. I created linear space trusses with varying heights for separate functions, however, they all start to break and voice out leading to the circulation that connects them all.
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Plan
Elevation/Sections 173
SPACE FRAMES MUN – Mai Adel Reflecting MUN’s mission, the building has two main important parts: the training zone and the conference zone. These two functions are the most important according to MUN, therefore, they are the most emphasized in the project. For the training zone, it has different space frames which lead to a central zone, that central zone is what eventually leads you to the conference area.
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In my first experiential model, I tried to show the hierarchy of the experience from openness to complete enclosure. It didn’t, however, reflect fully the quality of different spaces. Therefore, in my second one, I managed to express the different experiences felt through the spaces.
Using space frames, I had two equally important areas in the building: the auditorium and the training area. The training area is designed to have a centralized gathering zone connecting the different activities.
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Plan
Elevation/Section 179
SPACE TRUSSES MUN – Toya Afify From the first moment people enter the building, they are delved into that intense feeling of trusses all around them through the walls and the ceiling as well in contrast with the theatre area which is more subtle. At the beginning, I introduced some glass panels to the trusses, however, as you go further, the experience becomes more intense and the glass panels start to fade.
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In the first model, I used threads the experience. However, it didn’t reflect the variation of the experience of the spaces. In the second one, there was a more sequential experience for the user.
I chose space trusses since the unit can express that dual characteristic. In the first model, I tried to create an intense experience from the entrance which later increases as one goes further. On the other hand, the auditorium zone is more subtle and universal.
I wanted to create contrast between the auditorium zone and the rest of the building. Therefore, I decided to change the roof for the auditorium to make it more flat in contrast with the rest of the building’s roof looks more chaotic.
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Plan
Sections 185
FINAL PRESENTATION
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STUDIO TEAM
DR. AMR ABDEL KAWI An educator since 1981 in the schools of architecture of Ain Shams University, the Arab Academy of Science and Technology, and now at the American University in Cairo since 2010. Professionally, he practices architecture and interior design, and now is MD of Rhimal Design Management. Also Editor in Chief of Medina and Magaz, both architecture & design magazines.
AHMED BORHAM An independent urban researcher, practicing architecture and teaching in the Arab Academy for Science and Technology & the AUC. Holds a MSc degree with a thesis on Resilient Rules: Culture & Computation in Traditional Built Environments. Co-founder of Cairo from Below and Madd, initiatives encourage inclusive urbanization in Cairo. Maintains the Drawing Parallels blog drawing comparisons between urban conditions in Cairo and other cities in search for emergent patterns.
MALAK MAHER An architect and artist based in Cairo, with interests in combining art and architecture. Involved with teaching different fields to different age groups: art and sports for children and architecture at university level. Holds a Masters of Architecture titled “Astronomical Space: Experiencing the Beyond Within� from Oxford Brookes University, UK.
KAREEM EL NEMS Kareem Nems is a practicing architect, Teaching assistant and independent researcher. His main research interests are in the area of intersection between architecture as a functioning typology and the city as a set of Images, behaviors and qualities. He also has some trials for what might categorized as a visionary architecture.
HADWA YOUSSEF Hadwa Youssef, an architect and teaching assistant, graduated in Spring 2014 with a Bachelor of Science in Architectural Engineering from The American University in Cairo. She has an interest in digging for the narratives told by decayed architecture and forgotten spaces. She is currently exploring different trials in the field of book-design and editing.
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ŠRhimal Design 2014 Book Design by Hadwa Youssef
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