Hussein Al-Sawafi
01 Vision of Hope
My vision is to create a sustainable and inclusive community for immigrants who have faced immense hardships in their quest for a better life. Through a green building, I will provide shelter while empowering them to grow their own food in urban allotments. My primary school will ensure that immigrant children receive education conveniently, eliminating long commutes.
I strive to build a sanctuary that blends sustainability with our cultural heritage. Urban allotments will enable immigrant families to cultivate their own crops, offering nourishment and a connection to nature.
My sustainable building will harmonize modern design with eco-friendly practices. By leveraging renewable energy, waste reduction strategies, and innovative materials, I minimize our impact on the planet while inspiring others to do the same.
This manifesto calls for unity and support from compassionate individuals, communities, and organizations. Together, we can create a brighter future for immigrants, celebrating their strengths and dreams. Let us forge a sustainable and inclusive world where their resilience is honored and opportunities abound.
AutoCAD + Sketch up 3D + V-Ray for 3Ds Max + Corona + Photoshop
Design Development
Architectural design development incorporates a deep understanding of archeology to create harmonious structures that honor the past. Drawing inspiration from the layers of history, I meticulously examined archaeological findings to inform my design choices. By integrating these discoveries into the building’s concept, I aimed to elevate the structure, not just physically but also culturally.
My approach involved raising the building above ground level, allowing the archeological remains to be exposed and showcased as an integral part of the design. This innovative solution ensured the preservation of the artifacts while offering a unique experience for visitors, immersing them in the tangible history of the site.
ASYLUM
Conceptual Diagrams
Studio Apartment
• In-Suite bathroom
• Kitchen + Living room
• Balcony with garden space
One Bedroom Apartment
• 1 Bedroom
• 1 - 2 people
• Sharing bathroom
• Balcony with garden space
Family Apartment
• 2 Bedrooms
• 3 - 5 people
• In Suite bathroom
• 1 Single Bed
• 1 Person
• Kitchen + Living room
• Sharing bathroom
• Kitchen + Living room
• Balcony with garden space
Section
Section B-B*
Section C-C*
Section D-D*
Structural Strategy
Environmental Strategy
WALLS, DOORS, WINDOWS & STAIRS
FLOORS, ROOFS AND RAILINGS
BASE, COLUMNS , AND BRIDGES
Structural Gridline
East Elevation
This architectural thesis explores the creation of a sustainable and inclusive community for asylum seekers in Athens. The design emphasises a green building idea that encourages community involvement, healthy lives, and self-sufficiency. The objective is to improve the well-being and quality of life for both children and adults through the integration of a multipurpose garden-market area, sports facilities, and a playground.
Immigrants leave their homes, families, and everything familiar to start a new life in a foreign land. They carry with their hopes and dreams of a better future, only to face more struggle, starvation and homelessness. In
Athens many immigrants end up jobless and homeless hard to be part of that community.
The goal is to provide hope for these people by giving them a place to live in. encourage productivity by building urban allotments so they could grow their own food as well as sell what is above their daily needs.
Building an educational centre will help educating immigrants on different aspects of life in Athens and bringing forth a productive and healthy people that contributes to the lands.
02 Domain Apartment
Residential Building / Manhal Habobi ConsultantsDubai, United Arab Emirates.
During my time at the practice, I worked on this project alongside the MHC team. The project heavily relied on my contributions as I reported to a senior architect for feedback and made the necessary changes based on their guidance. The project began with numerous quick sketches that I created.
After presenting these ideas to the senior architect, we collectively decided to pursue the most reasonable and likely option to achieve the desired outcome. Subsequently, I began transferring these sketches into detailed plans using Revit. Once I completed both the 2D and 3D drawings of the building, we moved on to the third phase: producing photorealistic images to effectively present the concept.
As the design manager overseeing renovations at the Tesla Centre in Chester, I took the lead in modernizing the older building to better suit its functions for sales, service, and delivery. Following a thorough site inspection and gathering feedback on necessary adjustments, I meticulously drafted a comprehensive brief before proceeding with the renovations. The renovations encompassed optimizing office space to accommodate on-site workers and refining the facade to align with Tesla’s corporate image. I managed the project through the concept stages, collaborating closely with a project manager and addressing client requirements promptly and effectively.
Al Zahia Mall Retail Store
I worked at the Tesla retail store in Al Zahia Mall, located in Al Sharjah. It was the first of five retail stores I worked on during my time at Tesla. The store features a showroom, two customer meeting rooms, an IT room, a small office space, and a cozy break room. I was proud to be the first person at Tesla to bring to life the new Tesla retail store design, showcased prominently on the section cut walls.
05 Castlemead Offices
AutoCAD + Sketch UP + V-Ray + Photoshop
Office & Workplace / UWE Bristol - Bristol, United Kingdom.
In terms of context the urban is full of green spaces as well as public areas near the Castlemead tower there are lots of restaurants, city Centre, Moles and shopping Centre. in front of the building there is a two sided road and a park. a car park is connected to the Tower, which solves the problem of parking.
Pollution-eating façades are highly significant as they function like a group of trees in the heart of densely polluted and crowded cities, contributing to a healthier and more sustainable environment. My research focuses on discovering and developing more efficient techniques and technologies that absorb greater amounts of carbon dioxide, further enhancing their environmental benefits.
TITANIUM DIOXIDE
Taqa Educational Centre
AutoCAD + Rhinoceros 3D + V-Ray for 3Ds Max + Photoshop
When contemplating an arid landscape like the desert, one cannot help but ponder the potential for harnessing its natural elements to generate clean energy. Whether it be electricity, heating and cooling systems, or even water production, numerous possibilities exist. The utilization of solar energy and wind power to generate clean energy has been widely explored. However, amidst the vast array of intriguing options, one particular phenomenon has captivated my attention—the Namib Desert beetle, an extraordinary creature that has evolved to procure freshwater in the midst of a barren desert.
Emerging from the depths of its dwelling during the night, the Namib beetle embarks on its quest. It skillfully ascends to the pinnacle of a mound, its dark exoskeleton and relatively light weight enabling it to absorb the night’s coolness from the surrounding atmosphere (Chakrabarti et al., 2019, p.59). As the gentle sea breeze carries moisture from the ocean, minuscule droplets begin to condense on the beetle’s shell. Patiently awaiting the dawn’s arrival, the beetle allows the water to accumulate and trickle down, quenching its thirst as the refreshing liquid finds its way into its mouth. Satisfied, it retreats into seclusion for the remainder of the day.
Such a remarkable process inspires me greatly. I am inclined to embark on research centered around this awe-inspiring beetle, striving to discover innovative methods for generating fresh water in desert-like environments. The implications of such a breakthrough could be monumental, potentially resolving the pressing issue of water scarcity in arid regions. However, my research extends beyond this singular goal. It is my fervent aspiration to tackle the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change, landfill proliferation, and pollution.
In summary, the desert, with its harsh and seemingly inhospitable conditions, holds within its domain a myriad of opportunities for leveraging its natural resources to foster clean energy. The Namib Desert beetle serves as a testament to nature’s ingenuity, showcasing the incredible adaptations that can arise in the face of adversity. By drawing inspiration from such marvels and channeling my research towards innovative solutions, I hope to not only address the water scarcity predicament but also contribute to the larger battle against climate change, the proliferation of landfills, and environmental pollution.
Castle Hill
AutoCAD + Revit + V-Ray + Photoshop
Community Centre / Private Client - Huddersfield, United Kingdom.
The project is a thoughtfully designed community center situated on Castle Hill in Huddersfield. Utilizing advanced architectural tools such as AutoCAD and Revit, I have developed comprehensive floor plans and constructed a detailed 3D model. To bring the design to life, V-Ray was employed
create high-quality visualizations. Key Features of the Community Centre, Rest Areas Includes restaurants and cafes, Foyer, event Spaces Versatile areas designed to host a variety of events, exhibition Spaces. The architectural design is inspired by the geometric simplicity and elegance of three interlocking cubes, forming a cohesive and dynamic structure known as the forum. This concept not only ensures a visually appealing aesthetic but but also promotes functional spatial organization, enhancing the user experience.
Conceptual Diagrams
The Room
SketchUP + V-Ray + Photoshop
Pottery Studio / Anne Butler - Southport, United Kingdom.
In this project, I will be designing a ceramic pottery studio for Anne Butler. This studio will serve not only as an exhibition space but also as a functional pottery-making workshop. Additionally, Anne has requested a designated area to host and provide classes for clients. While the studio will
primarily be used by Anne, it will also accommodate classes, seminars, and exhibitions for attendees to appreciate and purchase her work.
Anne’s vision is to create a dream studio within budget constraints, demonstrating to young artists that it is possible to establish a professional studio even in a backyard setting.
Al-Saffar Apartments
Residential Flats / AL_SAFFAR_&_CO - Manchester, United Kingdom.
Al Saffar is the landlord of a residential building in Manchester, United Kingdom. He purchased the building with the intention of transforming it into a residential project, and enlisted my brother and me to oversee the conversion. The project included commercial units on the ground floor, which we
refurbished to enhance their appeal and modernize the front elevation. Additionally, two flats were situated at the rear of the ground floor. The second and third floors each comprised four flats. We took responsibility for planning and ensuring compliance with building regulations, ultimately obtaining government approval. Our involvement spanned RIBA stages 0 to 4, focusing on initial concept development through to detailed design. However, we were not involved in the project’s execution and management beyond these stages
10 Meta Fluid Studio
Maya + Rhinoceros 3D + Unreal Engine
FIRST PLACE WINNER
This studio was Run by Mariana Cabugueira a design lead in Zaha Hadid architects. This studio explores the quality and power of fluid design to conceive cyber-urban environment in virtual cities. The goal is the creation of a free-standing virtual city designed by 30 different designers teamed up in 3s. I had to design the city by myself using Maya by following the teachings of Mariana and later I was put in a team with two others to come up with a design for one of the assigned plots using Maya. After many zoom meetings and many shared ideas, we agreed on the mixture of few ideas to create one final and complete idea on the plot. Afterwards, we have got few lessons on how to use unreal engine to render our ideas. Moving on we were able to achieve good results as we were placed as number one in the studio as our design was the most successful out of all other design.
Notable Mentions
11
Notable Mentions
Architecture Portfolio
