Majd Michael Soudi Portfolio by Majd Michael Soudi

A r c h i t e c t u r e Po r t f o l i o Majd M ichael Soudi

Table of Contents Narratives of Jerusalem The Wall The Facade Room and Garden 7 Hills Skatepark Competition Warren Kirk Design Competition Study Abroad

Narratives of Jerusalem Duration: 1 Year The current in progress project aims to tell the three intersecting Jewish, Christian and Islamic narratives through a complex on the mount of Olives catered towards the burial processes of the three religions. A series of masses sit independently on the mountain each related to the differeing narratives of the city. A vision based on the coexistance that was once witnessed in the city, devoid of all the political tensions of today.

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Synagogue orientation Synagogue orientation

Church Orientation

Qibla

Lions’ Gate

Church of the Holy Sepulchre Gate of Mercy Gate of Mercy

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Church of the Holy Sepulchre Hurva Synagogue

Hurva Synagogue Dome of the Rock Dome of the Rock Cityof ofDavid David City ChurchofofMary Mary Magdalene Church Magdalene

MountofofOlives Olives Jewish Cemetery Mount Jewish Cemetery Mount MountZion ZionCemetery Cemetery Yeusifiya YeusifiyaCemetery Cemetery

The Chapel The Chapel has a unique relationship to the ground. The building is concealed in part as it engages the harsh topography of the site. The ramp wraps around it to allow visitors to see the altar carved out of the mountain. An olive tree marks the entrance to the space and refers to Gethsemane, the garden in which Jesus was arrested by the Romans. The walls consist of stacked limestone gathered from the quarrying of the mountain. The stacked stone is held up by a steel fram which allows light to filter in between the stone due to their irregular shape.

The Mosque As the ramp ascends towards the Mosque, a washroom carved from the mountain to cleanse within the earth before prayer. As the visitor ascends further up the ramp towards the prayer room, the facade acts a storage cabinet to display the prayer mats to the rest of the complex. The presence or absence of the mats on the facade are linked to the presence or absence of the worshippers. The floor plays an important role in the space. A ramp of pink limestone suggests an area for movement while a slate suggests an area to be stagnant and in prayer. The floor steps down towards a curved qibla wall made of bronze placed in a basin of water to abstract the wall.

The Synagogue The vesica piscis form of the synagogue is sheltered by the massive concrete walls. This exterior shell allows the three different prayer spaces to appear uniform and cohesive. A fig tree marks the entrance to the prayer space, in reference to the tree of life in heaven. The roof extends over the space and over the ramp pointing towards the Old City of Jerusalem. The roof consists of a series of overlayed beams which allow light to penetrate the space. The rusticated stone recieves light in a compelling way and adds depth to the prayer room.

The Wall Duration: 1 semester The Multi-Purpose building is located in downtown Blacksburg. The intent of the building is to house two law firms, a three bedroom dwelling unit for a family of five, and a dwelling unit for one person. A wall built from glass block is used to separate the two law firms from eachother but allow an abstracted visual connection between them. Openings are placed within the walls to comply with the fire code and allow access to both means of egress. Skylights on both sides of the wall allow light to pierce through the building down to the ground floor.

North West Elevation

South West Elevation

North East Elevation

Living Room Kitchen Bedroom Bathroom

Offices Circulation Cores Maintenance Closet Mechanical Room Bathrooms Copyrooms Breakroom Meeting rooms /areas Dwelling Units Rooftop Garden

Parapet Detail The wall is supported by a series of columns and beams. The top of the wall is supported by a cast in wide flange beam that connects back to the roof slab.

D2 Skylight Detail The south side of the facade connects to the wall through a skylight. Columns on both sides of the wall aim to support the skylight and the glass block wall.

Wall to Slab Connection The wall touches the concrete slab and its forces are sent down to it. The slab allows gravel to be placed around the wall.

The Facade Duration: 1 semester Located next to the fourteen squares of downtown Blacksburg, the library aims to bring people of different age groups together under one roof. Being in close proximity to the Virginia Tech campus, the library strives to initiate college- student and Blacksburg local interaction within the space whilst also blending into the urban fabric of its surroundings. The facade facing the main street consists of two layers; the outer layer is a channel glass curtain wall while the second is a white-washed concrete wall with selected square perforations that illuminate at night.

East Elevation

West Elevation

East Elevation

West Elevation

North Elevation

South Elevation

East Elevation

North Elevation

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Second Floor

First Floor

Fourth Floor Mezzanine

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Third Floor

Parapet Detail A topping slab sits on a series of cantilevered steel tubes that help support the slab and the channel glass.

Channel Glass Connection Detail A mullion is connected to a tube that brings the load back to the interior concrete wall. An airspace is left between the wall and the glass, creating a double envelope.

Room and Garden Duration: 1 semester

The room and garden are both elevated from the ground, as a sign of minimal interference with the nature of the imaginary site. To one side of the longitudinal constructed interference is a lake, the other a forest. The walls on the eastern and western side of the room are constructed out of stacked 2â&#x20AC;?x4â&#x20AC;? lumber pieces held down by tension cables and rods, allowing perforations to be present across the walls, creating a starry night effect.

Isometric of wall with stacked lumber pieces held down by tension rods.

Process drawings of perforations and wall design

Isometric of lumber pieces in the walls of the room

Longitudinal Section

Charcoal perspective drawing of light qualities in the room.

Doors Game:

Skatepark:

This game installation will be sponsored by a local art institution which works with reusable material. The game is made to challenge childeren’s creativity through abstract play.

The existing skatepark run by Philadelphia Skateboards, provides an existing casestudy of championing community participation and integration.

Local Kitchen: The park’s kitchen guaranteed by locals in the area. The kitchen serves a homemade dish for economic prices, targetting workers and passersby in the area. This is a daily event.

Performer’s Stage: The stage guaranteed by local event management institutions. The stage gives way for local artists and performers to display their talents within this public realm. This is an occasional event.

Farmers Market: A weekly event guaranteed by local associations. The market gives way for farmers to display their goods for economic prices and sales.

Urban Farms: Calisthenics: This outdoor gym will be designed by local artist Hayyan Maani. These devices will both champion fitness and health as well as asserting artisitic and cultural presence.

The urban farms are guaranteed by local farming institutions. The farm brings into play concepts of urban farming and helps contribute to the farmer’s market.

Urban Park Design Competition: Design by Khamsa: COMMUNITY APPROACH: PROGRAMMATIC

Coffee Stand: A coffee stand guaranteed by a local coffee seller. This stand is around all year round.

AND SOCIAL INTENTION

Freeplay: Two abstract installations in the park aim to challenge child’s creativity through creating spaces of unstructured play and counter the trends of standardised playgrounds. Through abstraction our intention is to leave room for children to define the role of these structures and championing their essential need to explore and learn through play.

Urban Park Design Competition: Design by Khamsa: MASTERPLAN

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Seven Hills Skate park Competition Collaboration with Khamsa Duration: 14 days The competition design was realized by a collaboration of five team members. The approach was based on providing a park for the surrounding immigrant population in Amman, Jordan and a source of economic and social benefits. For the younger audience, the design provides opportunity for the study of play through the reuse of conventional materials to create ‘infinite games.’ Contributed works

J F M AM J J A SO N D

J FM

Decidious Oakforest Pistachia Palaestina

Anthemis Palaestina

Decidious Oakforest

Acanthus Syriacus Ajuga Chia Euphorbia hierosolymitana

Pistachia Palaestina

Pineforest Olea Europaea

Anthemis Palaestina

Ajuga Chia Adonis Microcarpa Cistus Salvifolius

Decidious Oakforest Habitat

Juniper Forest Habitat

Acanthus Syriacus

Juniper Forest Juniperus Phoenicea

Ajuga Chia Euphorbia hierosolymitana

Globularia Arabica Ochradenus Bacctus Sarcopoterium Spinosum

Jordan Valley

Pineforest

Melia Azedarach Echium Judaeum

Olea Europaea

Cichorium Pumilum Chrysanthemum Coronarium

Pineforest Habitat

Riparian Freshwater Ficus Carica

Ajuga Chia Adonis Microcarpa

Nerium Oleander Aloe Vera Crocus Aleppicus

Cistus Salvifolius

Planters

Juniper Forest

Bougainvillea Carisa Macrocarpa

Juniperus Phoenicea

Jasminus Lantana

Globularia Arabica Riparian Freshwater Habitat

Ochradenus Bacctus Jordan Valley Habitat Sarcopoterium Spinosum

Jordan Valley Melia Azedarach Echium Judaeum Cichorium Pumilum Chrysanthemum Coronarium

Riparian Freshwater Ficus Carica Nerium Oleander Aloe Vera Crocus Aleppicus

Planters Bougainvillea Carisa Macrocarpa Jasminus Lantana

Third Year Competition (Co-winner) Collaboration with Julia Hager Duration: 1 week Located in the Back Bay of the city of Boston, the Center for the Preservation of Performance art is a building of open and ambiguous space, similar to the performance art installations placed in it. The building is a steel frame enclosure with a glass curtain wall. The street level is surrounded by a rain screen of bricks turned on their side allowing light to pierce through the facade and enter the lobby. The upper portion of the building is surrounded by perforated corten steel panels. A light-well goes through the heart of the building and illuminates the main performance hall. Contributed works

Fall Travel Study Abroad Program Duration: 1 semester