Solomon’s Cathedral

Migrants’ reception Description

The design theme reflects on the drama of the “migrants”, so the best place for the project could only be the island of Lampedusa.

In this first phase of the work, gypsum models of the context were made concerning different scales to frame and understand the territory. In a later phase, the models of the design proposal were made at 5000 scales: a cathedral completely immersed in the island and accessible by canals carved into the rock. It wants to be a spiritual place of arrival and welcome.

Solomon Cathedral is the negative of the traditional idea of a cathedral. It is not a majestic architectural mass, but a majestic cavity. The project highlights three points: the singularity of the island, the singularity of the work, and the singularity of the soul. Gypsum was the best material to express that concept. Function Public Building Location Lampedusa, Sicily Year 2015/2016 (Bcs) Course Design Studio 1 Professor Renato Rizzi Groupmates in collaboration with the whole studio

01. Modelling Phases

Personal pictures representing the process followed for the realisation of the gypsum models.

1. Positive model in cardboard The first thing we need a positive model in cardboard, with a strong solid base and all the curve levels to build up the morphology.

3. Negative model in rubber once the liquid rubber has solidified we obtain a negative shape of our model. This is the bases for the positive model in gypsum. 2. Pouring liquid rubber we create a forwork around the positive model and we put liquid rubber on top of it to obtain a negative shape.

4. Positive model in Gypsum By pouring the gypsum powder mixed with water on top of the negative model we obtain the positive in gypsum.

02. Scale 1:1.000.000, diffuse light

Model representing the complexity of the seabed of the Mediterrenean sea between Italy and Tunisia, where the Island of Lampedusa is located.

03. Scale 1:50.000, diffuse light

Model representing a close-up on the Island and it’s position in the Mediterrenean sea.

04. Scale 1:14.400, diffuse light

Model representing the exact morphology of the island and it’s complexity.

Previously untouched morphology of the island.

After the intervention, the only visible part of the project is an oculus in the ground. All the rest of the cathedral is hidden inside the rock.

The cathedral is reachable through canals excavated in the ground. In this sectioned models it’s possible to see this canals.

Recommendation letters

To whom it concerns

Göteborg 2021-04-26

Letter of recommendation

Maha Sobhy has been a student of mine, attending the Healthcare Studio ARK263 on masters level during Fall 2020.

She has been particularly engaged and structured in learning, very active in discussions and teamwork, collaborated really well with other students and delivered a high-quality project at the end of the course.

I wish her all the best in future endeavors, whether it is professional job or an academic career.

Cristiana Caira

Architect SAR/MSA Artistic Professor, Healthcare Architecture

CHALMERS UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering Division of Construction Management SE - 412 96 Göteborg, SWEDEN Visiting address: Sven Hultins gata 6 Telephone: +46-(0)31 772 54 95 Fax: +46-(0)31 772 19 64 Chalmers tekniska högskola AB, Reg. No: 556479-5598, VAT No. SE556479559801 E-mail: goran.lindahl@chalmers.se

To whom it concern,

The following to make it known that Maha Sobhy worked at our Studio, depaolidefranceschibaldan architetti, from September 2018 to December 2018. During her stay she worked in different project teams collaborating mainly on the following projects:

•Set-up for the exhibition-event District Santa Croce 2018 in collaboration with the artist Ennio Chiggio. Padua; •Interior design for a semi-detached unit. Padua; •Project new construction of a single-family villa. Noventa Padovana; •Interior design for furnishings Studio di Architettura depaolidefranceschibaldan architects. Padua;

We knew Maha from a previous training internship carried out within our Firm in 2017. Aware of her skills and competencies we have renewed the request to have her in our team mainly to entrust her with the management of the annual event organized by our Firm that combines Architecture, Art and Design “Santa Croce District” for the 2018 edition. From the beginning, Maha has carried out all the work with great commitment, awareness, speed, independence, and precision. Thanks to her readiness to carry out the requests and her conscious work competence we have been able to entrust her with tasks with full confidence. All the work followed by Maha Sobhy has fully satisfied us. We are absolutely satisfied with her work both qualitatively and quantitatively. We are confident that she can become an important member in every work environment in which she will be inserted, always contributing to the growth of the team. We wish Maha Sobhy the best of luck, whichever career path she chooses to take.

Padua. January 2019.

OGGETTO: Lettera di referenza per Maha Sobhy

A chi di competenza,

la presente per rendere noto che Maha Sobhy ha lavorato presso il nostro Studio, depaolidefranceschibaldan architetti, da settembre 2018 a dicembre 2018. Durante il suo periodo di permanenza ha lavorato in differenti team di progetto collaborando principalmente ai seguenti progetti:

• Allestimento per la mostra-evento Distretto Santa Croce 2018 in collaborazione con l’artista Ennio Chiggio. Padova; • Progetto di interni per un’unità bifamiliare. Padova; • Progetto nuova costruzione villa unifamiliare. Noventa Padovana; • Progetto di interni per arredi Studio di Architettura depaolidefranceschibaldan architetti. Padova;

Conoscevamo Maha già da un precedente tirocinio formativo svolto all’interno del nostro Studio nel 2017. Consapevoli delle sue capacità e competenze abbiamo rinnovato la richiesta di averla nel nostro team principalmente per affidarle la gestione dell’evento annuale organizzato dal nostro Studio che coniuga Architettura, Arte e Design “Distretto Santa Croce” per l’edizione 2018. Sin dall’inizio Maha ha svolto tutti i lavori con grande impegno, consapevolezza, rapidità, indipendenza e precisione. Grazie alla sua prontezza nel portare a compimento le richieste e alla sua consapevole competenza lavorativa abbiamo potuto affidarle compiti con piena fiducia. Tutti i lavori seguiti da Maha Sobhy ci hanno pienamente soddisfatto. Ci riteniamo assolutamente soddisfatti del suo lavoro sia qualitativamente che quantitativamente.

Tak for din dyrebare tid!

Maha Sobhy

Address: Solbänksgatan 40, Änggården, Gothenburg 413 19 Email: mahasobhy96@gmail.com Phone: +39 3474852222 LinkedIn: @maha-sobhy