Urban Design and Architecture Portfolio & Resume - Haifa Saleh

PORTFOLIO

Haifa W. Saleh

Date of birth: Jan. 23rd. 1989

Nationality: Jordanian

Residence: Belgium

00. TABLE OF CONTENTS

01. RESUME

HAIFA W. SALEH

RESEARCHER, ARCHITECT & URBAN DESIGNER

BIOGRAPHY

An architect, urban designer and tutor specialized in earth architecture and natural construction methods with a passion for cultural performing arts.

Interested in socio-economic, ecological, and culturally conscious projects that tackle these dimentions on interscalar levels, from micro spatial designs to strategic territorial macro scale urbanism with an aim to introduce visions for an equitable and humane future.

Obtained the Advanced Master Degree in Human Settlements from KU Leuven in Belgium in July 2021, with a focus on the revival of conscious collective living as a response to contemporary urban issues and developed design strategies in Ghent - Belgium that tackle climate change adaptation and socio-economic issues.

Worked on several different earth building projects between Palestine, Jordan and Egypt, including research, design, execution and supervision and participated in several earth building workshops.

Worked as a fresh graduate with “Consolidated Consultants Group – Jafar Tukan” a multidisciplinary architectural and engineering consultancy firm in Jordan as part of the Concept Design Unit, and gained valuable experience in analysis, conceptual and architectural design.

A researcher and worker in the field of culture and popular memory and is a member of “Al-Hanouneh” a cultural society with a mission to preserve and protect the cultural heritage of the Levant.

ACADEMIC PROFILE

Mar 2022

–

May 2022

IMSDP - International Module for Spatial Development Planning

Katholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium

March 2022 – May 2022

https://esdp-network.net/the-imsdp-overview

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Mar

–

Urban Designer, Project coordinator. Plusoffice architects

Brussels - Belgium

Sep 2020 –

Jul 2021

Advanced Master of Human Settlements

Katholic University of Leuven (KU Leuven), Leuven, Belgium

September 2020 – July 2021

https://set.kuleuven.be/icou/education/mahs/mahs

Co-led the process for developing a BKP 'beeldkwaliteitsplan' for the Horizon + project in four municipalities south of brussels, and developed multiscalar analysis and research through design for ecolological, urban and mobility aspects. Coordinated the first phase of analysis for the WestvaartKolonel Begaultlaan project in Leuven, Belgium, in coordination with Suunta a mobility specialists company and with DELVA for ecological studies and design.

Aug 2007 –

Jun 2012

Sep 2006

–

Jun 2007

B.Sc. Degree in Architecture Engineering

University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan

www.ju.edu.jo

Jordanian high school certificate (Scientific stream)

Al-Ra’ed Al-Arabi School-RAS, Amman – Jordan

http://www.ras.edu.jo/

Sep 2004 –

Jun 2005

Exchange student for sophomore year10th Grade

Thomas Jefferson High School, Iowa – USA

Granted a Scholarship as part of the YES- Youth Exchange and Study-Program - Amideast, Amman – Jordan

http://www.cb-schools.org/

Architect, Tutor, & Builder

“The Circle of Ashtar”

Natural Building Workshop and Collective Building

In collaboration with Om-Sleiman CSA Farm, Ramallah – Palestine

Designed a three-day workshop and a 40 day collaboratively built multipurpose space with an aim to spread awareness about the environmental, cultural, and socio-economic value of Levantine vernacular architecture as a viable alternative, through providing an intimate space for living, working and exchanging of knowledge and notions about its role in our narrative and struggle against colonization through a handson building experience that encompasses yet goes beyond the material aspects of building.

Chief Executive Officer

Nemat Al-Tawfiq for Training and

Amman – Jordan

Rehabilitation

NT is a newly founded non-profit organization for the support and rehabilitation of MS patients in Jordan, aiming to empower them to live to their full potential, through providing them and their families with the holistic support and awareness they need to defy their limitations and restore their health and wellness.

As a CEO, I managed and institutionalized the work within NT during start-up, developed a strategy with the owners and consultants. Supervised NT's identity and branding, and its financial system and its digitization. Created partnerships with prestigious healthcare institutions, hospitals and research centers in Jordan and abroad.

Directed the architectural design proposal for NTMSC designed by Tibah Consultants, Arch. Ayman Zuaiter.

Feb 2018

–

Sep 2018

ACS Heritage Committee Coordinator ACS "Arab Cultural Society"

Amman – Jordan

The heritage committee aims to contribute to alleviating poverty and protecting deprived families with a focus on women in Jordan particularly in refugee camps, by providing vocational training and establishing income generating projects that focus of the preservation of traditional handicrafts namely embroidery known in Greater Syria. As the committee coordinator and team supervisor I developed a production plan based on a market study, designed and supervised the execution of Kermaz Showroom in collaboration with ACS Engineers Committee and supervised the branding designs and production of Kermaz.

May 2015

–

Jul 2015

types of earth plasters in the cross vaulted arcade in the station as live experiments.

Desiged "The Autonomous Earth Home" a sustainable productive unit using passive techniques to be adopted in poverty pockets in Jordan.

Architect, Researcher & Builder

Prof. Adel Fahmy

[Cairo, Faiyoum, Alexandria] – Egypt

The Freedom Detoxification and Rehabilitation Center - Wadi Al-Natroun, Alexandria

Jul 2016

–

Nov 2017

Performing Arts Team Leader

Al-Hannouneh Society for Popular Culture

Amman – Jordan

"Al-Hannouneh" founded in 1991, aims to spread awareness and conserve the tangible and intangible cultural heritage and art forms of the Levant. Establishing a cultured, informed and rooted community crosscutting generations. As a performing arts team leader, I managed the the main folkloric dance, children and the music teams, directed and produced in collaboration with professionals the annual performance event "Guardians of The Memory" and other performances including commemorating "Land day" on the 31st of March.

Designed and executed an artistic skills capacity building training program and a ToT for main dance team trainers focused on the history and symbolism of Dabkeh and its role in self and collective awareness and change. Choreographed and trained dances and performed solo and within a group.

Sep 2014

–

Dec 2014

Conducted research and analysis on Bimaristan Arghun al-Kamili in Aleppo which devised distinguished methods in healing based on environmental psychology, playing a role in the wellbeing of its patients. Prepared the working drawings of the design for the center. Participated in testing the local building materials to be used in construction i.e., adobe bricks.

Am-Ahmad Mud-Brick House - Ezbet El- Yuzbashi, AlFaiyoum.

Learnt the adobe blocks field testing and production technologies. Participated in a hands-on learning experience in natural building construction methods. Participated in the execution and supervision of dome and vault design and building techniques. Developed hands-on experience in community engagement, participation and cooperation in design and building.

Teaching Assistant

Design Studio 5 - Jordan University, Dept. of Architecture, Prof. Saleem M. Dahabreh

Amman – Jordan

Feb 2016

–

Jun 2016

Architect & Researcher

Experimental Research on "Earth" as a Building Material

Eng. Ekrimah Gharaibah Agriculture Engineers Association

Al-Karamah, South Shounah – Jordan

Conducted applied research for the analysis and development of earth as a building material as part of "The Training Station for Authentic and Sustainable Agriculture". Produced 13,000 earth bricks based on 4 different mixes. Applied 3

Apr 2013

–

Jul 2014

A teaching apprenticeship with Prof. Dahabreh, tutoring individuals and groups of 3rd year architectural design students with a focus on human scale and environmentally sensitive design.

Lead Project Coordinator Tammey for Human Development

Amman – Jordan

Researcher, and workshop designer of the Dabkah and Art of Life Project, aiming at unleashing the sources of knowledge to ignite self-awareness, reflective and conscious collective change through practicing and understanding traditional art forms.

Mar

Jun

Research Assistant for Cooperatives Study in Ghour Al-Safi, Jordan, Jul 2014.

Developed Intensive and Extensive Mapping of Al-Baqaa Camp as part of the Civic Engagement for Palestinian Youth in Refugee camps project.

Facilitated Cultural Youth Initiatives; “My City and I”, to reconnect youth to their identity and erasing colonial borders by highlighting shared culture and history.

Designed "What if we stayed" exhibition for photographs of Palestine from1900-1948 by the Armenian Photographer Elia Kahvedjian.

Furniture Designer

In cooperation with Straight Curve Wood Consultancy

Amman – Jordan

Developed the initial conceptual and technical design for Ezwity Community-Kitchen; an environmentally conscious and socio-economic community led design providing a cooperative model, where food is provided by local community producers, and shared through invites. Designed environmental furniture for the offices of Tammey for Youth Development and Straight Curve Wood Consultancy.

Architect

CC "Consolidated Consultants – Jafar Tukan Architects"

Amman – Jordan

Worked as a junior architect as part of the Concept Design Unit led by Arch. Shadi Abd Al-Salam on several projects including; the research and conceptual design of the Surda Planning and Development Project – Ramallah, Palestine. Conducted research about the traditional palestinian architectural typologies for morphological inspiration for the design alternatives of Surda Shopping Mall.

Conducted spatial and programmatic analysis and developed schematic designs with the team for the Arab American University/ University Library Concept Design – Jenin, Palestine. Participated in the development of working drawings for the Park Inn Hotel Concept Design (two alternatives) – Riyadh, KSA.

Participated in developing the façade design alternatives and presentation of Al-Ersal Shopping Mall – Al-Bireh, Palestine.

Jun 2010 –

Sep 2010

Architecture Intern

Bilal Hammad Architects

Amman – Jordan

Worked as an intern with a focus on architectural detailing and contemporary use of traditional building materials namely stone and developed skills in housing and commerical building design.

http://bilalhammad.com/cms/

COURSES & WORKSHOPS

Nov 15th -

Nov 19th 2021

"International Design Week (RE)CYCLE LIMBURG"

Organized by SURD - Research Center for Smart Urban Redesign in ZUYD University, it focused on spatial and social issues in critical and probblematic neighbourhoods in Heerlen Noord. The workshop was based on a participatory approach in collaboration with local actors; the municipality of Heerlen, Wooning Limburg and social organizations and resident. In addition to utilizing Tactical Urbanism methods to envision designs focused on exentuating local culture and identity as well as on circularity and playfulness.

Feb 2012

Public Space Design Workshop

"Design Road" Organized by Creative Dialogue Association & Arini" directed by architect and urban planner Christoph Lueder, Amman – Jordan, Feb 2012 Certificate for participating in a three days' workshop learning intensive and extensive urban city mapping methods, followed by participants work exhibition.

Sep 6th -

Sep12th 2019

"Experimenting Natural Building Materials"

Held by Arch Ahmed Abd Elgawad - Handover (Egypt), in Dibeen, Jerash – Jordan.

Participated in a workshop conducted in collaboration with Taghmees and Dibeen Eco-farms to learn earth building types in general and Rammed Earth Building techniques, plaster and Adobe.

Apr 2010

"Green buildings Creative Designs" held by "Jordan Green Building Council" and Jordan University, Amman – Jordan, April 2010

Queen Alia’s Award for Social Responsibility, towards finding innovative solutions for the energy issues and challenges related to the design and use of residential buildings.

Feb 1st

-

Mar 31st 2019

"Om Sleiman CSA - Farming Workshop”

Held by Eng. Mohammed Abu Jayyab - Om Sleiman Farm, Amman – Jordan.

Participated in a workshop conducted in collaboration with "Thikra Initiative" in Jordan to gain practical and theoretical knowledge on organic intensive farming methods and the practical means for the formation of a CSA.

Mar 2010

"Working Together for Sustainability – on Campus

& Beyond" held by "Jordan Green Building Council" at the University of Jordan, Amman – Jordan, March 2010

Certificate for the participation in the course held by Jordan GBC at the University of Jordan for the basic knowledge of Green buildings and Green Practices.

Aug 22nd -

Aug 25th 2018

"Ecological Building Workshop"

Held by Thomas Fernley-Pearson (UK) and Ilham Abbadi (Jordan) in collaboration with Inaya Permaculture and Bayoudha Village, Bayoudha, Salt – Jordan, Aug 22nd – Aug 25th 2018

Participated in a workshop to learn traditional and future building techniques using local and re-used materials.

Jun 2014

Visual Thinking and Info-Graphic Facilitation Workshop

Held by Yorgos Konstantinou in collaboration with "IDARE ACT" and”IMAGISTAN" Amman – Jordan, Jun 2014

Certificate for attending a four days' Infographic Workshop, learning the techniques of creative visual interpretation of data.

EXTRACURRICULAR ACTIVITIES

An active member with Al-Hannouneh Society for Popular Culture; a cultural society registered at the Ministry of Culture.

Amman - Jordan.

Art Director of the traditional dance performance branch within the society.

A dance performer, choreographer, trainer and training designer.

Contributing in spreading awareness about the significance of the conservation of cultural heritage and art forms and music. Participated in several festivals in Jordan (e.g. Jerash Festival) and abroad, including Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Bahrain, USA and different cities in Palestine as well as the Millennium; Festival held in Bethlehem in August 1999.

Apprentice of the CSA Farm team in Jordan, initiated by Eng. Mohammed Abu JayyabOm Sleiman Farm (Palestine).

Amman – Jordan.

A member of the first team to run the CSA farm in Jordan, which aims at providing organic healthy produce directly to the farm community, participating in all natural intensive agricultural processes, from preparing the land, and growing the plants to maintaining and managing the farm.

Rebuilding and renovating Palestinian Refugees homes in Al-Baq'a Refugee Camp.

Amman – Jordan.

The initiator, designer and coordinator of a youth initiative aiming to enhance the living conditions of families in the Baq'a refugee camp, by rebuilding and renovating their homes with the financial, logistical and practical support of the local community.

"Challenging

Amman – Jordan.

A participant in the project, conducted research covering Palestine in terms of history, biographies, humanitarian and political aspects, arts, and culture, to help raise awareness among the young generation.

SKILLS

Design technical skills

2D AutoCAD. Google Sketch-Up 8.1 pro. V-Ray Google Sketch-Up. Adobe Photoshop Cs5. Adobe Illustrator. Adobe InDesign. Model Making.

Computer

Very good use of Microsoft Office Applications; Word Processors (MS Word), MS Excel, PowerPoint.

Language

Arabic: Native tongue.

English: Fluent (Toefl Results 96 - 120).

Dutch: Beginner (NT2 / Dutch niveau 2.1-B1) hoogop geleiden).

Competencies and characteristics

Humanitarian & environmentally conscious. Proactive initiator. Communicative.

A team player & a team leader. Analytical, critical & creative thinker. Experimental & experiential learner. Goal oriented & self-motivated. Micro to Macro attentiveness. Well-structured & organized. Able to perform & deliver under pressure. Able to handle numerous tasks concurrently. Adaptable to new concepts and responsibilities.

the Narratives of Land and Identity" Awareness Project

02. URBAN DESIGN EXPERIENCE

Macro scale analysis

Ecological Green-Blue structure visions

Steenweg analysis en visievorming

Linten analysis en visievorming

Vallei-Linten - Veeweidestraat, Tervuren

Plateau-Linten - Molenweg, Tervuren

K. Begaultlaan public space analysis

Developing a linear park

Desealing gradient

Densification and open space ambitions

Height distribution along the vaart

Road Profiles

02. URBAN DESIGN EXPERIENCE

03. MASTERS OF HUMAN SETTLEMENTS KU LEUVEN

Ruptures & Disconnections ANALYSIS

The Kanaaldorpen - Ghent

The transformations these villages have undergone throughout the years were correlated to water. The settlers of these lands, understood the basic language of the landscape, upon which their settlements, and their agricultural livelihoods were based. Strategically building on the uncultivable sandy hills, that has sufficient elevation to protect their settlements from inundations. They created the waterways and brooks as a man made water management system to infiltrate it in the ground. Throughout the years these water bodies became highly polluted due to the water runoff from the industrial platform and from the agricultural fields using chemical pesticides which cause damaging effects to the biodiversity in the area and pose great health issues on all human and non-human factors dependent on this landscape.

Human social and recreational activities were evident in certain areas, particularly surrounding the Moervaart, many old and young men go there fishing. A culture of leisure boats and Yachts is prevalent connected by bike paths that go through the agricultural lands leading to it. The canal itself even in the industrial area attracted a certain form of social life and fishermen.

The industry and canal Ghent- Terneuzen are not only omnipresent in the background, but also disconnecting the east-west link between the settlements and ruptured the landscape elements impacting the whole ecological system, reinforcing the effects of climate change. In the heavily drained landscape, both man made and natural ecosystems require more and more water, leading to increased droughts. The large sealed surface as well as the loss of the natural wetland increase the vulnerability to flooding, that threatens the agricultural lands and accordingly people's livelihoods.

Beyond the rupture, the site is articulated upon a duality of man made and natural systems which give it its form and identity. The rivers, the marshlands, the sandy hills and soil types identified the historical ways of habitation, while the canal the water brooks and the industry have brought forth other layers of challenges and opportunities.

Challenges & Opportunities

Longitudenal section through the site - situation 2021.

The section portrays the clear rupture the industrial platform imposes upon droughts. It also shows clearly the monofunctional and segemented nature

Kanaaldorpen 2021

Manmade versus natural systems.

© De Pauw, Hendlisz, Saleh, & Wulteputte 2021

Koppelingsgebied Residential Dries

© De Pauw, Hendlisz, Saleh, & Wulteputte 2021

the landscape, creating a large sealed surface that causes major ecological issues such as heat-island effect, flooding risks and of the site.

A group was formed to put together an overall vision for Ghent combining the landscape strategies represented in each site. All visions provided innovative ways for climate adaptation and tackled the inevitable urban growth. Risks converted into opportunities and envisioned contextually various ways that create an equilibrium between the natural landscape elements and the future of

Three main systems were introduced; a blue system following the natural logics and integrated into the existing and proposed urban systems mitigating issues of flooding and drought. As a response to the heat-island effect a green system of new wet and dry forests to increase the canopy cover, remediate the soil, cool off the city, and make room for natural biotas and habitats. The urbanization strategies were directed towards communal productive neighbourhoods, mixed-use densifications in response to contemporary issues and to promote soft-mobility and cyclical logics.

The Kanaaldorpen 2100 Vision - City Scale

LANDSCAPE URBANISM VISION

The landscape design strategies came as a response to main socio-economic and ecological challenges.

- The monofunctional, inaccessible, poorly serviced, and low dense residential zones.

- The ruptured hydrological system, endangering ecological assests such as the Moervaart valley due to pollution from heavy, and agricultural pesticides

- The increased climatic and environmental threats such as flooding, droughts, heat island effect due to the large sealed surface which sacrific the canal system itself as a transport water-way

- Air, soil, and sensory pollution creating a concern for the inhabitants, the ecological system and biodiversity.

The design vision introduces a blue-green mesh interconnected with the newly proposed urban fabric, in response to these challenges in an aim to reinvision ways of living with the industry and foreseeing radical changes in the year 2100, that bring forth notions of cyclical ways of living and producing.

Kanaaldorpen 2100 vision

© De Pauw, Hendlisz, Saleh, & Wulteputte

Strategies | Water System

Strategies | Green System

Strategies | Urban Transformation

Orchastrated by the stream

A multi-layered water system orchestrated the design in response to the challenge.

- Waste Water Treatment Plants (WWTP) to treat the industrial water runnoff in addition to blackwater from the Donks, linked to a natural water treatement pond that form green blue public spaces.

- Rainwater Harvesting System linked to bioswales that feed into a mesh of channels and ponds used for the gardens and provide remediated water for the irrigation of fields.

- Water reservoir and infiltration ponds located strategically to mitigate flooding and in relation to soil types.

Natural green responses

Following water, wind, sun and soil, a mulitifunction green system is proposed.

- Man-made green barriers: inspired by the kopplingsgebeiden, sheilding urban areas and fields from the industry.

- Phytoremediation: trees and plants such as willows & poplars are used to purify the highly polluted desealed areas in the industry, the large water channels polluted by pesticides, alfalfa used for small streams, and reeds for ponds.

- Expanding river floodplains in the Moervaarvallie, and creating a riparian buffer to protect the marshland native habitats as a major ecological asset on site.

- Agroforestry: maintaining the productive character of the landscape & increasing canopy cover to cool-off the area, combat desertification, & boost biodiversity.

Urban self-sufficiency

The current urban ribbon development logics were transformed into collective and productive neighbourhoods that function on two main scales:

The Donks: envisioned to host the main largescale services for the area, the donks are reinterpreted as cyclical communal neighbourhoods reweaved into the natural system while it exchanges resources with the industry.

The Archipelagos: on a smaller scale, these islands, are to form the new self-sufficient communities in the Kanaaldorpen, by producing their own foods, energy and use rain collected water, creating a microcosm connected to adjacent neighbourhoods through a cycling route following the water ways.

Future Transformatios

Gradual and strategic transformations are envisioned to transform the industry centered Kanaaldorpen, to a climate resilient, biodiverse, and self-suffiecient zone, embracing productive healing modes of living.

2100 Vision

© De Pauw, Hendlisz, Saleh, & Wulteputte 2021

Future Transformation Sections

© Haifa Saleh 2021

Climatic Systemic Section

Collective donks development

Agroforestry pockets Archipelago ecosystem

Renaturalized Moervaart floodplain

URBAN TISSUE

Reinterpreting ways of habitation in the Kanaaldorpen.

From mono functional ribbon developments, to heterogenous, diverse, and ecologically interconnected ways of living. The chosen zoom areas, represent two main envisioned types of habitation in the Kanaaldorpen that are enmeshed in the green-blue system which provided the guiding logics for their creation.

The Donks and the Archipelagos act as two different scales within the landscape, that introduce an alternative to the car-centred consumerist culture, promoting a bike based, self-sustaining, cyclical and reciprocal ways of living.

Reinterpretations of the mono functional ribbon developments known in suburban Belgium, the donks are to become heterogeneous places for co-living, co-working and mixed-use neighbourhoods, providing the main services for the surrounding constellation of archipelagos, and exchange resources with the industry.

Strategies of suburban retrofitting of residential developments and the large farm units, in addition to strategies of densification, aim to create a more diverse environment that bring about socio-economic opportunities within the community which also reduce the ecological stress and restrain the urban sprawl on green fields.

By introducing community gardens, a separate natural waste water pond system connected to the farms, in addition to green pockets and water collection ponds, the scattered settlements in the lowlands are transformed into a biodiverse and self- sufficient archipelagos. Injected with small scale social infrastructure and home-based produce, the vision for these communities to become models of small scale, short-chain living with big socio-economic and ecological values.

Mixed-use medium rise buildings, reminiscent to village homes, look on communal pond that serves as a shared resource for both human and non-hu man inhabitants of the archipelago.

© De Pauw, Hendlisz, Saleh, & Wulteputte 2021

Self-sustianing archipelagos

© Camille Hendlisz 2021

to a non-hu-

Hetrogenous living in the Donks

Introducing heterogeneity in the neighbourhood, is meant to bring liveliness and variation while maintaining the rural qualities of these villages which attract those escaping the chaos of the city.

© Camille Hendlisz 2021

Territorial Analysis Urba Analysis Site Analysis

Stakeholder Analysis

Planning assignment:

To understand the challenges of today we first went and explored the challenges of the past.

In the infographic on the left we reviewed the patterns of the human settlements of the area in relation to different historical and cultural shifts, and the influence of these shifts on the fragmentation of the territory of the Ijse valley. Observing the drastic changes that the landscape has undergone throughout history, one cannot oversee the encroachment of capital over the land with different actants at play, as to increase its return value, converting it into a commodified asset. This logic became the business-as-usual sacrificing the ecological, cultural and economic wellbeing , calling for an alternative model to introduce a holistic balance.

In the second diagram we present a catalogue of all the actors present on the territory highlighting specifically the ones that would be most concerned or involved in the realisation of our vision.

© Cordilina, Morales, Saleh & Tran 2021

NECKLACING THE IJSE VALLEY

Landscape Urbanism Vision

Down to the River: Necklacing Ijse Valley Vision for the Future

The proposal aims to reconnect the community to their natural roots, by rebalancing and rewelding urban and ecological systems and fostering resilience through the urban commons. The natural elements support the creation of future new common living practices, strengthening the identity of place through an adaptive movements system.

Strategy I Framing Open Spaces

Creating introverted neighbourhoods towards biodiverse common productive gardens that serve the community and reinforce and reweld the ecological system, connected with pedestrian and cycling routes that reverse the car-oriented culture to a sustainable way of living.

Strategy II Mitigating the

flooding vallies

Digging Keyline ponds is a method of creating water reservoirs based on understanding the natural terrain, it captures water and allows it to be used for watering the common gardens and the agricultural fields, and prevents water run-off and innundation of the valley. While expanding the flood plain and creating amphibious functions in the low areas.

Strategy II

Sequencing forest urbanism

Rewelding the zonian forest through creating neighbourhoods embeded in nature, revolving around productive orchards and forests, bringing forth the concept of living in a natural park.

Strategy IV

Necklacing the Ijse valley

By creating productive neighbourhoods and rewelding the forest and the ecological system, a green-blue necklace is forseen to rejuvinate the Ijse valley and connect it transversally.

OVERIJSE

URBAN FABRIC DESIGN

Urban Fabric

Onwards, we developed our zoom-ins, two in Hoeilaart and two in Overijse, which shows the application of the different strategies according to the specificities of each site.

The selected zoom-ins focus on unique zones of our site, as Hoeilaart and Overijse are both highly privatized towns, they also have a rich agricultural heritage and contemporary practices that needed to be preserved in essence but transformed to accomodate our climate mitigation strategies and reinforcing biodiversity and the ecosystem.

Sequencing Forest Urbanism: Zoom in Hoeilaart

A sequential system of communal polycentric self-sufficient neighbourhoods is proposed following the logics of the terrain, and the openness of land, maintaining the continuity of the natural flows and biodiversity.

The northern steep slopes juxtaposed to the forest designed for permeability are settled by urban agroforestry, the plateaus by communal ecological farms irrigated by the water collection system of keyline ponds and the southern steep slopes by orchard neighbourhoods creating a mesh of openness and density, connected through a meandering soft mobility path following the terrain.Our sequential communal forest urbanism logic aims to strengthen the presence of nature, and restore the collective, contrasting consumption, with communal productive living.

Existing condition

Necklacing the Ijse Valley: Zoom in Hoeilaart

As the maestro, the Ijse river is necklaced with a constellation of amphibious social infrastructure to draw the flows towards it, capturing both people and water, and orchestrating the movement of the natural and cultural elements upon its rhythms.

Soft mobility paths connect the river both horizontally and transversally linking our green corridors to the valley. A diverse program is proposed alongside both edges igniting ecological collective living and productivity with public parks, community farmers market and elevated pedestrian plateaus, reclaiming land from large parking spaces and industrial buildings back to nature and the community. Foresting the slopes, expanding the canals in compact neighbourhoods and the expansion of the flood plain by designing floodable amphibious public Parks to mitigate floods and to accommodate the changes throughout time.

© Cordilina & Saleh 2021

Green roof, pedestrian platform

Amphibious public park

Forest-orchards Neighbourhoods

Connecting bridge

Elevated farmers market

© Haifa Saleh 2021

“EARTH TURNS INTO GOLD IN THE HANDS OF THE WISE”

JALAL AD-DIN MOHAMMAD RUMI

04. EARTH ARCHITECTURE

EARTH ARCHITECTUR 2019

NATURAL BUILDING W.S IN COLLABORATION WITH OM-SLEIMAN CSA | Ramallah, Palestine

The Cirlce of Ashtar

Completion Date: On goingLocation: Bil’in, Ramallah , Palestine.

Owner: Om – Sleiman Farm

Architect: Haifa Saleh

Project Description:

The Circle as an ancient sacred form, has a powerful symbolic significance in relation to the agricultural history of the land, symbolizing the sun and the moon and the infinite cycle between day and night and life and death, in reference to the ancient Canaanite Mythology, it also is a symbol of the Goddess of fertility Ashtar, hence the name.

“The Circle of Ashtar” is designed as a 60m2 multipurpose space to embrace several functions such as a shared learning space, art performances area as well as a sleeping and a kitchen with rocket stove for cooking and for heating the round-shaped seat/ beds within the space..

Phase I was initiated through co-leading a three-day hands-on interactive workshop with Yara Dowani the farm manager and the local stone builder Ribhi Al-Khatib which was attended by 20 participants from Palestine and several parts of the world, with the aim to spread awareness about the environmental, cultural and socio-economic value of natural building materials and techniques derived from vernacular architecture locally, alongside field testing and identification methods of earth as a building material, as well as reintroducing communal and collaborative learning, working and living ethics.

The workshop was followed by three weeks of construction work during which the first phase of “The Circle” was built, made of natural local materials namely stone and earth, manifesting the principles of sustainable architecture and the local cooperative principle "Al-O'uneh“ where more than 50 people from different backgrounds participated in building it.

Circle of Ashtar - Workshop & construction

EARTH ARCHITECTUR 2016

TRAINING PLANT FOR INDIGENOUS AND SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE | Al-karama, Jordan

Experimental Research on Earth As a Building Materia

Completion Date: 2016

Location: Karama - Jordan

Owner: Union of Agricultural Engineers of Jordan

Supervisor: Arch. Ekrima Gharaibeh

Researcher: Eng. Haifa Saleh

Project Description:

Experimental research to study and develop clay building materials (training plant for indigenous and sustainable agriculture)

The purpose of this research is to study the structural and environmental characteristics of various types of local earth and other traditional building materials that have been used historically in the Levant region. The research included field tests and experimentation on 25 mixes of Adobe bricks and 37 mixes of earth plaster. The research aims to develop clay as a building material and find solutions to some of the challenges that face earth construction to this day, such as resistance to moisture and water, and the time and physical effort required in the preparation, construction and maintenance, and study the socio-economic dimensions of local natural architecture.

The research included a concept design for a productive 160 m2 housing unit which proposed an economical autonomous unit within the villages based on a building system involving the owners, builders and architects confirming the cooperative earth construction method as a significant factor in rebuilding the socioeconomics of communities.

Agricultural Station Earth Experimental Research

Use of local & natural materials

Many traditional and natural materials were tested for the plaster and brick mixtures, in an aim to find a local and affordable alternative to building materials.

Brick experiments

Based on several traditional brick mixes and contemporary modifications, over 25 types of brick mixes were tested.

Plaster Experiments

Over 35 plaster mixes were experimented, with different ratios and for the different stages from the base quote to the finish layer.

For all captions and text use - Avenir Next 12 pt to be used in the building of an autonomous Producing the final four types of bricks

© Haifa Saleh 2016

For all caption/image titles use - Avenir Next Demi Bold 14pt

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EARTH ARCHITECTUR 2015 COMMUNITY BASED EARTH PROJECT |

Al-Fayoum, Eygpt

Am-Ahmad Mud-Brick House

Completion Date: 2015

Location: Fayoum Governorate - Egypt.

Owner: Uncle Ahmed's family

Architect: Dr. Adel Fahmy

Team: Arch. Mohammed Rafiq, Arch. Haifa Saleh, Sculptor Islam El Sharkawy, Master Builder Hajjaj Abdo, Uncle Ahmed's family and neighbors.

Project Description:

In 2015, a development project designed and supervised by Dr. Adel Fahmy started in Ezbet El Yuzbashi, Fayoum Governorate, Egypt, to build Am-Ahmed’s House, an eco-friendly house built of mud bricks using Simple and low-cost construction methods, employing local architectural elements such as domes, vaults and arches.

The strength of the project lies in reviving the community cooperative building system through the involvement of the villagers in the construction process and the use of local knowledge, expertise and resources ranging from participatory design decisions and the implementation of construction processes from A to Z. In addition to the other aspects of supporting the provision of traditional meals and tea to the work team by Am Ahmad’s family members actualizing the role of earth architecture in the rebirth of the socio-economic, environmental, and cultural essence of societies.

Am-Ahmad Mud-Brick House

Community Participation

The community participated in the design, testing, brick making & building. Involving homeowners, & the community (men, women & children)

Knowledge Exchange

Vernacular techniques

Environmental & Social Sustainability

The project was Hand built, using natural materials & sustainable passive techniques

With zero to minimum transportation of workers & materials. Involving the local community not only the family, and including Cooperation of local villagers, in a humane & slow pace process.

Architects, artists shared their professional knowledge with the local community and learnt alongside students from the local builders.

Locally sourced materials, using traditional sun dried mud bricks, & built using vernacular techniques such as Domes & Vaults.

HEALING ARCHITECTURE | Wadi En-Natroun, Egypt

The Freedom Detoxification & Rehabilitation Center

Date of project design: 2015

Client: Freedom Center for Addiction Treatment

Architect: Dr. Adel Fahmy

Team: Arch. Mohammed Rafiq, Arch. Haifa Saleh, Sculptor Islam Sharkawi.

Background on the project:

The Freedom Center for Detoxification and Rehabilitation for Addicts was established in 1989 in Wadi El Natroun. It is one of the first centers in Egypt specialized in rehabilitation of addicts by employing the method of therapeutic society.

Project Description:

The Center seeks to develop the methodology of rehabilitation and treatment of addiction by employing humane methods inspired by the bimarestan - a term referring to hospitals in the Islamic world- where the patients were treated humanely through employing music, dance and theater as part of health care in addition to aromatherapy and fomentation.

The detoxification Center was designed as an earth building using traditional building techniques and elements adhering to the climatic conditions and playing a role in positively impacting the human psychology.

Freedom Center

Ground Floor Plan

1st Floor Plan

Traditional environmental control elements

The use of couryards, windtowers and archades are the main techniques used to create a naturally modulated environment in the Freedom Detoxification Center.

Healing spaces inspired by Bimaristan Argun Al-Kamili

05. ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROJECTS

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROJECTS COMMERCIAL BUILDINGS |

Surda, Palestine

Surda Shopping Mall Alt1

+ Alt2

Project Details

Date: January 2012

Location: Ramalah, Palestine.

Client: Amar Group

Architects: “CC” Consolidated Consultants Group

Project Description:

The commercial center is located in Surda area in the Ramallah, at the foot of a mountain, and the plot of land stretches along two main streets. Two architectural design alternatives were presented, and both designs are distinguished by the mergence between the authentic past and the contemporary present, drawing inspiration from the external and internal architectural composition, interacting with the land itself, and inspired by the architectural heritage in Palestine.The program offers various areas of commercial, cultural, sports and recreational stores that serve all ages and groups, mimicking in the design of its spaces the external environment and enhancing the forms of social and cultural interaction of the users.

Alt I - Design methodology inspired by traditional Palestinian architecture

Alternative one:

The first design responds to its general composition of the surrounding environment through an interactive platform that extends longitudinally over the plot of land, capturing its panoramic view with longitudinal openings, simulating the traditional architecture in several respects, such as partial burial of the building, a building method found on the slopes of the mountains in the region allowing multiple entrances on Several levels of land in addition to using the total area of the land and using the roof of the building effectively. As well as the use of deaf walls for functional reasons and because of their environmental benefits that reduce energy consumption in cooling and heating. In addition to the multi-level exterior facades that mimic the arcade designs to allow for the formation of balconies and apparent transparency of the interior spaces, creating a comfortable and intimate atmosphere within the building.

I - Design methodology inspired by traditional Palestinian architecture

Alt II - Design methodology inspired by traditional Palestinian architecture

Alternative two:

The second design provides a different perspective for the surrounding environment and another way of response to it, through segmented configurations that capture the panoramic view as framed scenic pictures, embracing the different functional spaces, forming scenic and interactive bridges. And the balconies within the body of the building open on the outside, simulating the configurations of buildings within ancient cities, so that they create a dynamic nature of movement that allows for multiple entrances for pedestrian movement and connects the different spaces internally and externally.

Alt II - Design methodology inspired by traditional Palestinian architecture

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN PROJECTS COMMUNITY BASED DESIGN | Amman, Jordan

Ezwity Community Kitchen

Project Details

Date: May 2014

Location: Kalha Staircase, Amman Jordan

Client: Mr. Mahmoud Al-Nabulsi

Architect: Haifa Saleh

Project Description:

“Eizwity” a social environmental space, aiming to revive and reinforce some of the principles and values rooted in our culture and traditions, that are disappearing gradually in the midst of the rapid changes facing our society. Eizwitys’ idea is based on “invites”, where by buying a healthy sandwich made of local organic ingredients, you invite a person in-need.

Ezwitys’ design concept is based on creating an environmentally friendly intimate atmosphere reflecting the heart of the home “the kitchen” using recycled wood as its main material to give warmth to the space, as well as card board recycled containers mainly used for the display of local products and storage.

06.01 International Design Week (RE)CYCLE LIMBURG

Date: 2021

Location: Heerlen – Netherlands.

Organizer: SURD - Research Center for Smart Urban Redesign in ZUYD University

Design Team 4: Haifa Saleh as team leader, Fuad Al-Tashi, Soma Sharaf, Job Bruils, Parisa Ghanbarifard.

Workshop Description:

The (re)cycle Limburg workshop organized by SURD was focused on spatial and social issues in critical and probblematic neighbourhoods in Heerlen Noord.

The workshop was based on a participatory approach in collaboration with local actors; the municipality of Heerlen, Wooning Limburg and social organizations and resident. In addition to utilizing Tactical Urbanism methods to envision designs focused on exentuating local culture and identity as well as on circularity and playfulness.

Conceptual Design

Climatic Analysis

© Al-Tashi, Bruls, Ghanbarifard, Saleh, & Sharaf 2021.

Users & Psycho-social Analysis

Timelessly rising to the light

As a group leader my team and I developed a design that balances ecological and social issues for a critical open park charged with criminal acts of drugs and human traficing as well is alcohol abuse. located next to a youth vocational school, residential apartment sand some local services and commertial buildings. The area evokes conflicting feelings as the great mining history of Heerlen converges with its criminal present.

Our concept is to create an inclusive, safe and entertaining park for all age groups as well as locals and passers-by which substitutes camera with social control and defeats psychosocial problems such as feelings of fear, loneliness and crimes. We proposed a timeless program that serves all age groups within the neighbourhood to occupy the existing buildings as well as activating ground floor levels by proposing a mixed use, and multi age and ethnic group co-living housing programs for the empty surrounding buildings to serve during day and night hours.

While at the same time integrating our social design intervention with ecologically sensitive solutions such as creating an amphebious green blue park to deal with innundation risks and to aid in aleviating heat island effects by increasing canopy trees as well as strengthening biodiversity.

Al-Tashi, Bruls, Ghanbarifard, Saleh, & Sharaf 2021.

Timeless Section

Al-Tashi, Bruls, Ghanbarifard, Saleh, & Sharaf 2021.

Timeless Design

© Abou Aggour, May, Murad, Oudahab, Ploumen, & Shresta 2021.

© Al-Tashi, Bruls, Ghanbarifard, Saleh, & Sharaf 2021.

06.02 Public Space Mapping

Date: 2012

Location: Amman – Jordan.

Instructor: Christoph Lueder

Workshop Description:

The Public Space workshop as part of Design Roads Amman 2012 engages interstitial spaces between buildings. We recorded formal and informal activities, emergent programs and uses of space in an urban sample extending from Rainbow Street to Al Husseini Mosque. A distinction drawn by Manuel Delanda between extensive and intensive space, between space that is delineated by physical boundaries, walls, etc. and space that is characterized by differentials in intensity, served as a point of departure for the Urban Mapping workshop.

Intensive space can be generated by environmental parameters; its most conspicuous form of notation is the weather map, but it also is evident in diverse patterns of human inhabitation. And points of intensity defined by human activities. We propose that rather than adopting an European or North American model of public space, Amman may look to informal programs and everyday, ordinary and infra-ordinary activities of its inhabitants, to inform new strategies seeking to strengthen its connective tissue and public spaces.

06.03 Earth Discovery Workshop BC materials

Date: Nov. 22nd 2021

Location: Brussels – Belgium.

Organizer: BC materials.

Workshop Description:

The workshop given by Jasper Van der Linden provided a general theoretical background and hands-on experience for circular construction techniques with unfired earth.

Learnt about the different potentialities of rammed earth and compressed earth blocks. Made experiments of rammed earth blocks and earth plasters by testing different local and imported types of soils and materials.

06.04 Experimenting Natural Building Materials

Completion Date: 2019

Location: Dibeen Eco-Farms, Jerash – Jordan.

Owner: Dibeen Eco-Farms

Instructor: Arch. Ahmad Al-Rifa’i

Workshop Description:

Participated in a 7 day hands-on workshop conducted by Arch. Ahmad Al-Rifa’i from Handover – Egypt, in collaboration with Taghmees and Dibeen Eco-farms to build an outdoor bench using rammed earth in the farm house the workshop was not only about experimenting with natural building materials but also about experiencing different lifestyles that encourage the participants to connect to themselves and others to respond to nature sustainably and adapt to responsible behavior towards it through engaging fully with the nature around us, also become aware of our consumption patterns and the waste we produce.

The technical part focused on identifying soil types and learning earth building techniques in general with a focus on Rammed Earth in addition to earth plaster, adobe and earth flooring finishes, which was enriched with sessions by guest speakers sharing their academic and practical experience in earth architecture and responsible behavior towards the environment, including Henna al khalili, Abla abu al Haj and Dania aburous, as well as rich discussions between the participants.

Handover

© Haifa Saleh 2021

06.05 Ecological Building Workshop

Completion Date: 2018

Location: Bayoudah, Salt – Jordan.

Owner: Ilham Abbadi

Instructor: Thomas Fernley-Pearson & Ilham Abbadi

Workshop Description:

Participated in a 3 day theoretical and hands-on workshop led by Thomas Fernley-Pearson (UK) & ilham Abbadi (Jordan) to learn local, international and future building techniques using local and re-used materials.

The workshop covered several building techniques and materials from super adobe, straw-bale, glass bottles and car tiers, as well as wall finishes and water proofing methods. The theoretical sessions focused on the history of natural buildings in the region, it also touched upon several international techniques through a series of documentaries and films screened in the evenings.

06.06 Om-Sleiman CSA - Farming Workshop

Completion Date: March 2019

Location: Amman Jordan

Instructor: Eng. Mohammad Abu-Jayyab

Workshop Description:

Participated in a two months workshop conducted in collaboration with "Thikra Initiative" in Jordan to gain practical and theoretical knowledge on organic and intensive farming methods and the practical means for the formation of a CSA.

© Bayouda 2018

© Haifa Saleh 2019

Haifa W. Saleh