Maryam Saeed Portfolio of Architecture & Interiors
Skills AutoCAD BIM Revit Grasshopper Rhinoceros + VRAY Google Sketchup Adobe Creative Suite English. Arabic . French
Education
An interdisciplinary interior and architectural designer with over 6 years of industry success creating 5 star hospitality, high end residential and luxury retail experience for international clients. Having collaborated with professionals from across the globe, I have the skills necessary to build strong design teams and ongoing partnerships with peers and clients. My unique contributions to projects include culturally inspired, technologically engaging designs, a resolution oriented approach, advanced computational modeling and successful pitches to teams and clients. My aim is to continue to provide premium design service while taking the initiative to develop myself and my company’s standing in the design spheres.
MFA Interior Design Sheffield Hallam University May 2019 Outstanding Distinction
BSc. Architectural Engineering University of Greenwich July 2012 First Class Honors Contact
07522377580 maryam.am.saeed@gmail.com linkedin.com/in/maryammsaeed/
Computational Design + Future Heritage Researcher Safina Projects August 2018- July 2019
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Interior Architect, Narrative Designer The G.a Group Sept 2018- May 2019
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Parametric Systems and Spatial Designer Zaha Hadid Architects Work Placement -Summer 2019
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Lead Architecture & Interior Designer . 3D Visualizer
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Siryali Studios Jan 2016 - Sept 2018
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Interior Architecture Project Lead
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Soura Madani House of Design - SMHD Feb 2014 - Sept 2016
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Meeting with Project founders to assess and negotiate positive collaboration opportunities. Researching creative ways of re-adapting endangered crafts to attract a new market audience. Creating successful pitches to Stake holders on value of contribution to Heritage Protection Program. Observing, analyzing and breaking down methodology of boat construction. Building Algorithmically Parametric models, enabling exploration of building techniques, boat structure and proportional implications. Adapting algorithms to reconstruct other vernacular construction techniques used by indigenous people Skillfully resolving listed and refurbishment projects by seamlessly integrating the building’s rich heritage with an exciting new vision. Producing mood boards, material palettes, visuals and colored elevations to kick start project design and planning. Creating presentations to clients in international markets that effectively meet project brief, location identity and client aesthetics to design luxury retail, F&B and hospitality spaces. Developing design schemes from entire projects to bespoke joinery that continue to place company at the forefront of the 5* hospitality design industry. Designing and using computational analytics to achieve optimal space planning solutions for multi-million dollar high rise corporate spaces across the world. Creating the co-work’s team F.F&E data base to assist in intelligent space planning solutions in line with the ZHA brand. Using this derived data and previous hospitality experience to create premium co-working spaces for industry leading businesses and professionals. Feeding this data into brand and client conscious presentations. These feed into competition entries for mixed use urban developments with a focus on integrated prime business, residential and commercial projects. Responding to client briefs with market with market research, project branding, design briefs and presentations that led to multiple project wins. Creating mood boards and visualizing 3Ds to develop design vision and communicate ideas effectively to current & potential clients. Directing meetings with the larger project team to resolve issues in construction. Employing all of the above for the creation of architecture, landscape and interior designs that surpass client aspirations in their professional and personal lives. Led teams of 3-24 professionals in preparing design & construction packages of projects including 5 star hospitality, highend residential and luxury retail spaces across the Middle East. Turned around delays in project submissions by negotiating deliverables, effectively distributing team power and positively managing people. Conducted market and product research to respecify FF&E in accordance with evolving client brief/budget. Successfully oversaw the transition of new employees to confident and productive team members, and strategically assigned them to teams for maximum impact.
Selected Projects Computational Residential Installation Retail Hospitality Mixed Use Hospitality
Parametric Heritage ZK Residence The Pursuit of the Beautiful Waldorf Astoria Sanaya Mandarin Oriental Dubai Saraya Al Aqaba St. Regis Amman
Since the Meshhoufs had different angles to their prows, as well as varying sizes, I decided to reconstruct them parametrically. This would reduce drawing time, and enable consultations with the artisans of the right form and level of detail to the different boat parts.
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Creating an arc defined by 3 dynamic points. and a dynamic line The process is repeated, and using a cul pattern, of symmetry to control canoe width. beams are created t support the basel
Creating a bending arc, also defined by 3 dynamic points.
Using the bending arc to bend the boat-base arc, and the line of symmetry to mirror it.
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The curves are scaled around a center point by a dynamic factor Using a series of lofts, cul patterns, offsets and bends the skeleton is modelled with grasshopper. to create the uppper surface curves of the boat base.
Project 01 :
Grasshopper Definitions for the parametric Meshhouf.
Computation + Craft Safina projects + MFA The Marshlands - iRAQ Meshoufs are iconicMesoptamian canoes, with different dimensional variations. They are derived from ancientMesoptamian vessels, and the craft of canoe building is extremely endangered, with some of the boat forms having become extinct due to generational gaps and lack of technical documentation. I became involved with Safina Projects to digitally reconstruct and record the structure of the Meshouf. Grasshopper Definition of the Reed Bundle Boat. The Simpler algorithm reflects the homogenous building technique.
Reconstructing the Meshhouf led to understanding the building logic of Mesoptamian boat builders. This therefore enabled successful reconstructons of other mesoptamian boats, including the cane boat and the bundle boat.
The Guffa Coracle, alfafa bundles and coated with bitumen for water tightness, a Mesoptamian boat.
Project 01 :
Computation + Craft Safina projects + MFA The Marshlands - iRAQ The digital reconstruction of Mesoptamian boats with algorithms went to feed into archival documents and reports required for the development of Safina Projects. They enable conversations with indigenous boat builders, on refining archival drawings and adapting these techniques into eco-friendly ways of making.
Having learned the logic of reed and coracle boat building, the grasshopper algorithms became easily adaptable to digital reconstruction of reed houses and other Mesopotamian construction techniques.
Reed Bundle boats, reconstructed with Rhino + Grasshopper and rescaled to imagine alternative designs for the exterior facade of a reed house.
Spiral weave, parametrically created with Grasshoopper,
Project 01 :
Computation + Craft Safina projects + MFA The Marshlands - iRAQ Since Mesopotamian construction includes weaving, computational design can build upon existing Iraqi architecture to imagine new shapes. It can also be used to adapt prehistoric techniques into modern ways of building and fabrication. .
The mesoptamian Meshouf, reconstructed with grasshopper and digitally visually re-explored
Through the M.F.A. journey, computational design has been successful in reducing my western dominated character as a designer. It gave m the means to mimic, analyze and play with cultural heritage in an-environment that was safe and exciting. This process does not need to replace endangered crafts, but is rather a means of engagement and iteration that opens up new opportunities for collaboration between craftsmen and digital designers.
Mesopotamian Crafts from 5000 B.C. and 20th c used as inspiration points for digital re-explorations.
Original ZK plan @ Facade
Wood clad-beams Highlight New stair added to improve entrance, create charismatic canopy circulation and to even out and tie in facade angles. mass.
TheFloor facade of ZK residence at Project First Shot of Double Volume FoyerStart
Project 02 :
Residential ZK Residence - Amman Siryali Studios
New ZK plan @ Facade Environmental + Aesthetic facade treatment inspired by the Mashrabiya. Triple Height glazing to bring in natural light
ZK residence is shared by three generations of a Jordanian family.
Original facade partially demolished.
Built incrementally, its facade did not meet the resident’s expectations. At siryali studios, we were commissioned to redesign the existing architecture and build a major extension. Here is my approach to reworking the facade.
New Door in new double-height entrance.
Creating Light + temperature control through vernacular inspired screen
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Air Pressure = Air Circulation
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Air Pressure
Conventional Mashrabiya.
Contemporar y Mashrabiya
The New Front Facade treated and strengthened with A Mashrbya Inspired Screen
Seeking 0 Moment
Project 03 ::
Explorations in Beauty Fractals + Moment MFA Project Aim :
The Process :
“To love often leads to attempts at understanding the beloved.� As a lover of beauty, I sought to develop a tactile sense of what made Geometries beautiful.
Playing around with fractal theory, I laser cut and sowed together triangular tubes, their lengths being multiplications of the golden ratio. I then attempted to create random assortments, inspired by frozen icicles.
Theory:
Experiment:
The physical exercise led to the realization that balance ,whether visual or physical, I therefore began to suspend the assortments from a single point, and was detrimental to beauty. Incrementally add fractal elements, which in their increasing complexity, always resulted in 0 moment.
Project 04:
Boutique Retail Waldorf Astoria Sanaya - G.a Group The Waldorf Astoria approached the G.a group to create a luxury and eclectic retail space at the heart of the hotel. Demanding luxury, culturally inspired branding and delightful display space from the facade to the finest detail, G.a selected me for the job. The Hotel’s Chairman is aesthetically allergic to color. I had to create a boutique that spoke to the far east’s appreciation of retail therapy on a shell-inspired color scheme.
Some details developed in the CD phase of the Waldorf ’s retail space.
Although small in plan, the retail space enjoys 5.2 m of retail & storage space. This is accessible y a specialist ladder on a decorative track.
Gentle r i b bi n g , textured carpets & Veined marbles re c re at e the natural appeal of Dubai within a hotel suite .
Project 05 :
Hospitality Mandarin Oriental Dubai - G.a group The Mandarin Oriental Dubai is an ode to the Country’s gently lapping waves, rippling sand dunes and sunsets captured through sky scrapers and desert scapes. The middle and far east celebrate privacy and exclusivity. This idea is reflected through furniture pieces that appear plain but constantly unravel to surprise guests.
Custom metal-work art mural to reflect Emirati scapes.
50 typical duplexes were created on three floors, and serviced by restaurants entertainment and retail on the lower ground floor. This project was a thorough excercise in overseeing a luxury residental + f&B project from concept to implementation
Project 06 :
Mixed USE
Saraya Al Aqaba - Jordan SMHD Saraya el Aqaba is a mixed use resort in the south of Jordan. As lead interior architect, my responsbilities included: • Carve out the interiors within the confinement of the architecture. • Create complete Design + Construction packages for Residential & F.B • Select distinguished materials and furnishings compatible with project brand and local environment.
Saraya el Aqaba a mixed staggering use resort ininthe south of Jordan. As Illustration of is sectional duplexes. lead interior architect, my responsbilities included: • Review Shop Drawings • Resolved arising issues and program changes. • Liase and co-ordinate with larger project team to ensure project implementation adhered to quality and budget.
Sandy themed bedroom at Saraya Al Aqaba reflects on the colors of the beach attraction. F.F Plan of Duplex B
The exterior walls of the chalet were provided by the architect. I twas left to me to create mood boards and floor plans that met Operators’ vision for the project. 2nd F Plan of Duplex B
Project 06 :
Mixed USE
Saraya Al Aqaba - Jordan SMHD Simplicity in design require excellent technical detailing to achieve a high-end resort on a budget. To manage time and resources, I first solved the architecturally atypical Chalets to be identical, which enabled mass production of mill work and custom made pieces.
Project 07 :
Hospitali
St. Regis Amman - Jordan SMHD St Regis Amman is the first 7 star hotel in Jordan. This was my first project with SMHD, and I quickly rose from learning interior construction drawings to becoming a team leader for producing tender drawings and co-ordinating design issues with international partners.
Thank You 07522377580 maryam.am.saeed@gmail.com linkedin.com/in/maryammsaeed Extended Portfolio pinterest.com/siryalii