BEYOND ARCHITECTURE
JOUMANA ABDELKHALEK
2015
DESIGN PORTFOLIO
BEYOND ARCHITECTURE
“My passion and great enjoyment for architecture, and the reason the older I get the more I enjoy it, is because I believe we- architects- can affect the quality of life of the people”- Richard Rogers
Joumana Mohamed Abdulkhalik jabdulkhalik@aucegypt.edu
Architect, Urban Designer, LEED Accredited Professional
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND: BSc. Architectural Engineering, The American University in Cairo 2008-2014 2012-2012 2006-2008
Environmental and Sustainable Design, University of California, Los Angeles, Exchange Semester.
CERTIFICATES: CERTIFICATES LEED Accredited Professional with Neighborhood Development Speciality(LEED AP ND), Green Building Certification Institute (GBCI), December 2014.
IGCSE, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: Architect and Urban Designer in Dar El handasah (Shair and Partners) May 2014- Present
CAPABILITIES: AUTOCAD 2D & 3D REVIT
Student Teaching Assistant in The American University in Cairo
3Ds Max
September 2012- January 2013
Rhino Ecotect
HONORS AND AWARDS: 2011-2013
Dean’s Honors List, The American University in Cairo, Egypt
2011-2013
Achieved highest class grade in final project juries for Design Studios: III, V, VI in the American University in Cairo
2012
Design Studio III Project displayed at the annual American University in Cairo (Architecture Association) Exhibition.
Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator Adobe Indesign Free Hand Sketches Model Making 3D Modeling tools (Lasercutting)
INDEX
Architecture School High tech Design Studio
Media Commercial Complex “Architecture of movement”
Sustainable Design
Re-imagining El warrak Urban Design
Urban RestitchingSociocultural Center Graduation Project
Architecture school Extension
Office Building Computer-Aided Design
Transo-Screen Computer Aided Design
“Constrained by Stress, Bound by Joy”
Elevation Re-design
Library and Research Center
Contextual Design
“Reviving Azbakiya Garden”
Freedom Pavilion
Moshe Safdie Inspired house Form Generation
Contextual Design
Structural Design
A selection of Mood Boards
“25th of Jan Revolution”
Form Generation
Architectural Design Studio V High-Tech Architecture
Project Description:
The following is an extension to an existing science building in the American University in Cairo that will be the new Architectural engineering department:
Project Concept:
The current architecture school in AUC doesn’t have an identity, since it was recently added. The concept of this project is to shape up the identity of the school and make it stand out. The use of such a structure indicates the state of our school. Temporary, imposed, and disoriented. However, the organic design of the building and the fact that it breaks into the existing science building, gives a statement. This statement is that as architecture students we are unique, creative, and have our own character. The complexity of the form aims to signify the struggle that the architecture student goes through during the years of study, and the sculptural design represents creativity. Moreover, the open plan shows the necessity for interaction and freedom between the students and their studio spaces.
Modelling Phases:
Ground Floor Plan:
First Floor Plan:
Air Flow Study Sections:
Circulation Studies
GRADUATION PROJECT URBAN RESTITCHING Master Plan Design Main Monuments on site:
VISION:
The following images show the site before intervention and the vision of the design of the site.
Before
After
Project Description:
Urban Restitching:
The location of Mogamaa El Adyan/ old fustat city was chosen because it was detached from the rest of Cairo, and there was a strong need for it to become a historical district due to the value of the different monuments in the area. A full research was done on the area and its surrounding to develop a master plan that will connect all the different heritage sites together through reviving the lost intangible culture. The master plan was designed by a group of 6, and 6 different projects were proposed, and each individual developed his/her own project later on. The following sections show the vision of the district that was designed:
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1 THESIS A Vibrant Walkable District restitching the fragmented Tangible heritage of Mogamaa el Adyan/old cairo. The District will act as a catalyst STATEMENT: by integrating the surrounding communities to restore the Lost intangible culture of Mogamaa ElAdyan.
MACROSCALE VISION:
MICROSCALE VISION:
Reviving the Historical City of Fustat:
SHREDDING EXPERIMENT:
The first experiment done was the shredding experiment where all the forms and urban fabric was derived from a series of shredded paper creating a rippling effect from the monuments.
TENSION EXPERIMENT:
THE PAPER BENDING EXPERIMENT:
The second experiment done was the tension experiment inspired by the tent structures of old fustat city. The tensile material creates a unified language and forms that all subtly serve the monuments.
The third experiment was the paper experiment. The whole site was treated like one sheet of paper and each project was given a verb that will deform or change the property of the paper to fit the site context. This was the chosen technique.
Conceptual Sketch showing the Macroscale Vision:
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1 The macroscale Vision consists mainly of 2 phases. phase 1 is the development of Mogamaa El Adyan Area, and phase 2 is the extension of the development to reach the nile, Ein el Sira Lake, and Magra el Eyoun monument. The whole concept is to recreate the historical city, make it sustainable, pedestrian friendly, and to respect the heritage site and maintain it. Phase one is illustrated in the microscale vision shown.
The following verbs were given to each project indicated in the master plan model shown above. Each project responds to its context.
1- Deform
2- Fragment
3- Swallow
4- Break
5- Shred
6- Rise
GRADUATION PROJECT BEYOND ARCHITECTURE Sociocultural Center “Inspired by the people, for the people.”
Project Description: The Sociocultural center serves both the community and the cultural visitors of the fustat area. It serves as a medical center, a library, wedding hall, civic service center, and many adjustable spaces for workshops. It also contains specific cultural corners such as “Beit El she’r. It is inspired by the people, for the people. Form Generation Diagram:
Circulation diagram:
The sociocultural center is designed according to its context to respect the heritage and the community.
Progress concept models:
Analysis of skyline:
Environmental Analysis:
The different wall designs inspired by culture and community
-6.0m Level Plan:
Main -3.0m Level Plan:
Ground (0 m) Level Plan:
STRUCTURAL DESIGN EXHIBITION SPACE 1:1 MODEL
Project Description
In a team of 4, we were asked to design an architectural exhibition that represents the architecture school. The model was a scale of 1:1 using only cardboard as a structural element without glue.
Design Concept Before the design was executed, we were asked to capture the feeling in a model. We created the model on the left which represents the stress and struggle of the student (the student being the spring). The student is being pulled by passion and joy. Therefore, the project was given the statement: “Constrained by stress, yet bound by Joy.�
Design Process: Panel Designs:
Bending the panels:
Panel Overlay:
Connections Between Panels
FINAL MODEL:
STRUCTURAL DESIGN ARCHITECTURE DEPARTMENT EXTENSION
Experiential Model
Main Floor Plan:
Project Description “Productivity within creative choas”. An Extension to the existing current department was designed. An experiential model was first designed to convey the experience that will be created in the project. Then the structural system of the cables was chosen, the cables look light and simple. However, they are carrying the load of the building. The building creates an enevelope which what seems to be very simple from the outside but very choatic from the inside.
Structural Models Attempts:
CONTEXTUAL DESIGN KLOT BEIK STREET ANALYSIS Project Description:
With a team of 6, we were assigned a street (Klot Beik Street) in Downtown Cairo to fully analyze. The elevations were drawn and analyzed, a detailed 3D of the street was created and a comrehensive report was submitted showing mainly: the history, the analysis of the skyline, the urban fabric, the different architectural styles, people’s behaviour in the street, and the problems of the street and how it should be enhanced to be more pedestrian friendly and more sustainable.
Gorden Cullen Analysis: (Sketches) The following is a sample of the Gorden Cullen analysis made. Sketches were drawn based on three main things: Architect’s memory, people’s memory, and place’s memory. The Architect’s memory will capture the details, the grids, the patterns. However, the people’s memory will capture the signs, symbols. The place’s memory should capture both, and create the perfect setting for the user to engage with the architecture. Therefore, the place’s memory is the vision that should be done to make the place more vibrant and more user friendly.
SECTIONAL ELEVATIONS (SKETCHES).
ELEVATION REDESIGN: Project Description: After the full analysis of Klot Beik Street, each individual selected a modern elevation which didn’t fit in with the old khedivian architecture of the street and decided to redesign the elevation. Three alternatives were created, one to completely blend with the context, by using the same patterns and proportions. Another to contrast with the existing, however still using the same architectural language and grid. The last was the one that harmonizes with the surrounding by creating something in between the 2 other options. The three elevations were tested and the contrasting one was chosen to be the most appropriate because it fits the culture of today and explains all the layers of history through its unique design.
Chosen Elevation:
BLENDING ELEVATON:
HARMONIZING ELEVATON:
CONTRASTING ELEVATION:
CONTEXTUAL DESIGN RE-DESIGNING AZBAKIYA GARDEN
CONCEPTUAL DIAGRAM FOR AZBAKIYA GARDEN VISION
AZBAKIYA GARDEN OVER TIME:
Project Description: After the analysis of Klot Beik Street, we were asked as a team (6) to analyze the full urban area around the famous azbakiya garden of Cairo. This garden is slowly losing its identity, and therefore we were asked to analyze the surrounding and create a vision to renovate the azbakiya garden. There were 6 different projects to be designed. The Opera house (which was there but was burnt by fire), a museum, a library, a community center, a hotel, and a medical center. The concept of the master plan was to revive the green and maintain it, by creating buildings that are all covered in green accessible roofs. An experiential pathway was created to create cultural landscape. this pathway starts from the statue and ends to the other side of the community. GRID AND URBAN FABRIC ANALYSIS
Master plan Shots:
The area is influence by the broken grid of old cairo and by the radial grid of downtown cairo.
CONTEXTUAL ANALYSIS:
Conceptual section:
THE LIBRARY DESIGN: The library and research center is the transition and link between the community and culture. Therefore it is located between the musuem, opera house and community center.
The grid lines influencing the design:
The project is inspired by “SOUR AL AZBAKIYA� which was a cultural book fair that took place around azbakiya garden. Therefore, the library aimed to revive this book fair and to create a library that is underground. This will allow minimal effect on the garden, The library is not a traditional one to encourage people to visit it.
The Plans:
Form Generation:
Conceptual Elevation:
Conceptual Sections:
ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN “Media Complex� A place to remember
Project Description:
This project aims to tackle the issue of sustainability and create a complex next to the media city which is influenced by it and is accessible to everyone.
Project Concept:
The main drive of this project is the people. You should get a different feeling everytime you experience a building. this will help encourage social sustainability along with environmental sustainability. The complex was designed to contain some buildings that move. the main spine in the center is inspired by the nile and the buildings move to represent 2 scenes, the first is the regular scene and the second represents when the nile floods. The movement mechanism will also have an environmental impact. the buildings move to be selfshading, the sustainable trees open and close when they need to, the photovoltaic panels in the mesh store light energy etc..
Ecotect Analysis:
Final Model Shots:
Main Plan of scene 1:
Example of movement mechanism: The wall slides down turning the theatre from indoor to outdoor
LIVE SECTION:
Advanced Computer Aided Architectural Design Office Tower Design Project Concept: The project was mainly inspired by sailing and the shape of the sail. Therefore, i chose to place it in an island in water. The 2 buildings are in harmony with each other and the design is inspired by the dynamic status associated with sailing.
SAMPLE VASARI ANALYSIS:
Advanced Computer Aided Architectural Design Transo-screen Project Concept:
Transo-screen stands for transferable screens. This means that the screens can adjust and move to give a different combination of shadows everytime. This creates a dynamic interesting space. The shadow ranges that are created are endlless and are user engaging. The fabrication technique for the screens is simple. As the screens will be placed on rollers that could be pushed and pulled easily.
MODEL SHOTS:
INSPIRED BY: MOSHE SAFDIE
The Floor Plans:
Main Elevation
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Habitat ‘67, Moshe Safdie
The main assignment was to create a house that is inspired by the architect Moshe Safdie. I chose habitat ‘67 as a reference because it is the most iconic and unique. The main challenge associated with this project was the vertical circulation which was solved by creating a fixed core.
Pavilion Inspired by the Egyptian Revolution Concept: Struggle for freedom.
Model Progress Shots:
URBAN DESIGN Mixed Use Project in Warrak Island
The Master plan:
Project Description:
The project is located in an island in cairo called al warrak. The concept is to created a mixed use project that emphasizes the importance of form generation. The landscape plays a major role in generating the pedestrian walkways which revive the pedestrian culture along the nile. This also creates social interaction.
Suitability Map:
Roofscaping Diagram
Solid to Void
Hierarchy of heights
Land Uses
SELECTION OF MOOD BOARDS:
THANK YOU
Online Portfolio: http//issuu.com/joumanaa
JOUMANA ABDELKHALEK