Hani Dahman Portfolio (Selected Works 2020-2022)

Hani Dahman

CONTACT

Hani Dahman

dahman.hani@outlook.com

Hani Dahman

Design Architect with years of professional experience in diverse projects including large-scale facilities and high-end residential units. Experienced in managing and undertaking design projects from start to finish, defining project requirements through project briefs, and translating clients' visions into comprehensive design proposals.

Skilled in communication and negotiation, able to effectively coordinate with suppliers, and work collaboratively with cross-functional teams (including engineers, contractors, other disciplines).

Constantly seeking to further my growth by joining meaningful design firms where I can continue learning from, practicing impactful architecture, and building on the momentum gained early in my career.

professional residential through visions negotiation, suppliers, cross-functional and by can impactful momentum

This portfolio demonstrates my architectural

through a selection of projects I’ve done collaboratively in both academic field and professional practice. comprehensively picked to reflect my flexibility program, and problem solving.

experience and versatility collaboratively and independently, practice. Projects are flexibility in the design language, through the Projects List

RBF Studio Earth

RBF Studio

Al-Jalaa Facility Mixed Use

Al-Qoura Resort Hospitality

PROJECT 01

The Unfinished Sanctuary. The graduation project addresses the state of incompleteness of a certain unfinished building, Mövenpick Hotel, by exploring its potential urban typology that can rapidly respond to the contextual demands of the local communities.

Incomplete or abandoned structures have become a widespread phenomenon in the city of Damascus and its countryside due to current local and global crises. Many highly valuable areas that had been planned to be built as commercial buildings have become long-term incomplete structures, and most of their investors/owners and stakeholders have gone bankrupt, moved outside the country, or even passed away.

As of yet, no legislation has been passed regarding this kind of built environment, which makes taking action in order to determine the fate of those structures challenging.

Project Location on Google Maps

This project aims to reconsider the structure's state of incompleteness and re-frame it as an opportunity to preserve the pre-consumed embodied energy, at a time when resources to realize new projects in the middle of the city hardly exist.

The proposal explores a new potential urban typology that can rapidly respond to the contextual demands, and determines to what extent these types of structures can meet the needs of the local community within the current Syrian post-war reconstruction movement.

* This graduation project was supervised in 2021 by Prof. Natalia Atfeh, Ex Dean of High Institute of Regional Planning and Professor in faculty of Architecture at Damascus University.

The project was selected as one of the top 20 graduation projects to be exhibited at the 6th ReBuild Syria Exhibition in 2021.

2nd Floor | Panoramic views of the surroundings (Facing northwest)

2nd Floor | Panoramic views of the surroundings (Facing north)

2nd Floor | Panoramic views of the surroundings (Facing east)

MIXED USE MÖVENPICK HOTEL BUILDING REUSE

The unfinished structure this project focuses on is located in Kafar Sousah, Damascus. The structure directly adjoins at the middle of a main road that connects 4 commercial/residential towns (Al Mezzeh,

12 years ago, the structure was originally meant to be a mixed-use building, consisting of a 5-star hotel and a shopping mall, all placed on a land of 9500m2, close to the two already-established shopping malls within a range of less than 1 km, all located in a high-class residential area, affecting the surrounding properties’ tangible and intangible values significantly.

Kafar-Sousah, Marota City, and Al Baramka).

1. Damascus University Campus

2. Presidency of the Council of Ministers

3. Shopping Malls

4. Governmental Buildings

5. Marota City (Under Construction)

Site Plan Radius of 0.5km

MÖVENPICK HOTEL BUILDING REUSE

The existing structure consists of four stories of reinforced concrete-based structural frame with a total height of 25m, in addition to a 4-story basement.

MÖVENPICK HOTEL BUILDING REUSE

Adopting small-scale insertions and applying dry-construction methods are where the design is sustainably oriented. The reuse is defined by a sequence of interventions proposed for each floor plan individually.

Ground Floor has a total area of 9500m2. Due to the current reached state of construction where no facades were installed, in addition to the direct relationship with the surroundings, the ground floor is publicly accessible from all sides and serves as a public space, therefore, the proposal optimizes the street-level engagement with the structure and intensifies and enriches the connection with the city that was held for 12 years.

This level incorporates several public amenities, and mostly operates as a food market that gathers the continuously emerging mobile food vendors. Plus, a public outdoor cinema and the entrance of the business incubator's product exhibition that is located underground.

1. Food Market (Kiosks)

2. Shrine (Existing)

3. Main Elevators (Public)

4.

5. Emergency Staircases

6. Playground

7. Outdoor Cinema

8. Exhibition Public Entrance

1st and 2nd floors have a total area of 4800m2 each, and are dedicated to the business incubator, where a series of small-scale inflatable units are injected between the existing structural columns which define the space requirements of the incubator's program.

The units are made out of ETFE , a highly recyclable and translucent material where free-form volumes can be fabricated as pillow-shaped walls and partitions that outline the indoor and outdoor settings.

By adopting this lightweight sub-structure and materials that can be dryly and quickly assembled, major wet constructions are avoided as well as any kind of modification to the existing structure, leaving a chance for further re-adaptation due to aging and growth over time.

An appropriate ceiling height at each floor is enough to create a semiopen environment where users can also enjoy the vast, incredible panoramic views outside the building in addition to in-between semipublic spaces (Social Platforms).

1. Lobby / Reception

2. Service Room

3. Social Platform

4. Entertainment Room

Business Incubator Floor L1 / +620cm

5. Technical Room

6. Conference Room

7. Management

8. Class Room

9. Class Room (Shared)

10. Isolated Pods

11. Meeting Room

MÖVENPICK HOTEL BUILDING REUSE

MIXED USE

MÖVENPICK HOTEL BUILDING REUSE

MIXED USE

MIXED USE MÖVENPICK HOTEL BUILDING REUSE

PROJECT 02 (WORKSHOP)

Employing low-cost technology, and advancing social and environmental responsibility in the built environment through rammed earth construction—a building technique that utilizes local and natural materials to create energy-efficient structures.

TECHNICAL BUILDING WITH RAMMED EARTH

An architectural workshop hosted by Metmar Initiative on building with rammed earth is a hands-on educational program that teaches participants the principles and techniques of using rammed earth—a sustainable and durable building material, in the construction of homes and other structures.

During the workshop, attendees learnt about the history and benefits of rammed earth construction, as well as the steps involved in designing and building with this natural material. The workshop included lectures, demonstrations, and practical exercises, allowed participants to gain hands-on experience in the rammed earth building process.

BUILDING WITH RAMMED EARTH

Site Preparation

Compacting the soil to create a stable foundation in addition to building a layer of 10-15cm of concrete.

04

Formwork - Step 03

Coating the inner sides of the wooden frame with an oily substance preventing the rammed earth from sticking to the surface.

Formwork Disassembly

Proper disassembly starts with pulling the steel bars and then dragging the two wooden frames vertically and gently.

Formwork - Step 01

constructing the formwork, a temporary wooden frame that will hold the rammed earth in place as it is being built.

05

Ramming - Step 01

Once the soil mixture is prepared, it is shoveled into the formwork and compacted using a rammer.

Next Module - Adjacency 01

The next aligned unit will be constructed using formwork that partially overlaps the previously built unit.

03

Formwork - Step 02

Connecting the two wooden frames by steel bars running through elastic tubes reaching both sides of the frame.

06

Ramming - Step 02

The previous step is repeated layer by layer until the desired height of the unit is reached.

09

Next Module - Adjacency 02

The next unit which is perpendicular to the previously built one will be constructed using cables that interlock the two of them.

BUILDING WITH RAMMED EARTH

BACK TO PROJECTS LIST

TECHNICAL

Soil Filtering | Photographer: Mulham Al-Kharboutli

Soil Testing

Partial View of the Built Rammed Earth Wall | Photographer: Mirma Al-Wareh

PROJECT 03

Al-Jalaa is a 5-star hotel in addition a to full-service mall, designed by RBF Studio in 2021, with a total built area of 95,000m2. A city-wide project located in Mezzeh, in the city of Damascus.

AL-JALAA FACILITY MIXED USE

The hotel is situated on the main road that acts as a gateway to Damascus towards the city center. The building is surrounded by sport city with football court (Al-Jalaa), and a local park nearby, offering stunning views of the surroundings.

AL-JALAA FACILITY

MIXED USE

The facility is 90m heigh, comprises of 6 underground levels and 22 stories above the ground. The building includes 5-star luxury hotel that overlooks the city of Damascus in addition to a fullservice mall that can perform at the level of the city's scale.

The hotel features range of high-standards twin rooms, king rooms, junior suites, presidential suites, royal suites and flats. Additionally, several high-end amenities, such as fine gourmet restaurants, spa, and fitness center, rooftop pool with a sky lounge and meeting/event spaces for businesses or social gatherings.

Project Location on Google Maps

* The design and drawings of this project are property of RBF Studio, Damascus - Syria

Al-Jalaa Facility was the key project in terms of scale and program. As part of a team of 9 architects and interior designers. we delivered a comprehensive proposal, including floor plans, exterior and interior design.

The task was individually assigned to develop and deliver exterior's aesthetics and facade design, from the initial concepts to the final presentation.

The hotel building facade features a sculptural skin that wraps around the entire structure, it's made out of a series of panels that interlock to create a seamless and continuous surface. The panels are arranged in a geometric pattern that shifts and changes as it wraps around the building, creating a sense of movement and dynamism as the roofline is accentuated with soft angles and curves, adding visual interest and movement to the overall look.

Conceptual Massing. Clay-based visualization, showcasing shadows, edges, sense of fluidity and level of richness.

MIXED USE AL-JALAA FACILITY

As for the terraces over the podium that provide outdoor spaces for guests with multiple dining options, they offer panoramic views of the nearby streetscape. The terraces feature palm trees with range of green elements giving a sense of inviting atmosphere especially for people approaching the building from a distance.

1. Oriental Restaurant

2. All Day Restaurant

3. Kitchen

4. SkyBar

5. Terrace

Banquet Floor L2 / +2490cm

MIXED USE AL-JALAA FACILITY

The proposed mall will be located within the podium starting from the base level reaching 6 levels underground, featuring a wide range of city-wide amenities.

The main grand entrance of the mall consists of 2 large vertical walls with a state-of-the-art chandelier in-between, which acts as a giant lantern during the night and constructs a focal point for people approaching the building, and a landmark on one of the main roads of Damascus.

PROJECT 04

AL-QOURA RESORT

The 30,000m2 resort designed by RBF Studio, focuses on creating spaces that are conducive to relaxation with a sense of tranquility and luxury, located in Damascus’ suburb, Qoura Al-Asad.

AL-QOURA RESORT

The resort includes stylish guests rooms and suites, with a variety of luxurious amenities, including full-service spa (dry and wet), fitness center, multiple dining options including roof-top restaurant with panoramic views, in addition to several swimming pools (indoor and outdoor on the rooftop). There are also several outdoor seating areas, providing guests with a variety of options for relaxation and enjoyment in the created outstanding natural environment.

Project Location on Google Maps

* The design and drawings of this project are property of RBF Studio, Damascus - Syria

Al-Qoura Resort is one of the very first projects in the professional practice, since joining RBF Studio back in 2020. Delivered a complete proposal through a team of 6 from architects and interior designers.

Collaboratively, contributed in the project program research and development in the early stages of the design process, and Individually, developed the overall exterior's design language from conceptual thinking till the ready-to-present outcomes.

AL-QOURA RESORT

HOSPITALITY

From the process' outcomes, the design process stack of layers, vertically intersected through plants an immersive connection with natural elements. and configurations of the exteriority were reflected to achieve the optimum natural resort experience.

process aimed to envision a plants and vegetation, for elements. These characteristics reflected in the indoor spaces experience.

HOSPITALITY AL-QOURA RESORT

The two buildings feature a modern, minimalist, simple yet elegant design characterized by soft and gentle corner degrees, floor-to-ceiling windows that provide direct panoramic views of the surroundings, with abundance of natural light to enter the space, enriched with immersive amount of plants and green elements scattered on the outer edge of the cantilevered balconies of each floor.

1. Open Area

2. Lockers

3. Lounge

Wet Spa Floor Recreational Building, L3 / +1150cm

5. Service

6. Roman Bath

7. Moroccan Bath

8. Laundry/Storage

9. Massage

10. Sauna

11. Turkish Bath

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