Architecture Portfolio

MUNA EL-TAHA

M uDesign n a E lPortfolio -Taha Design Portfolio

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Muna El-Taha University of Minnesota Twin Cities, College of Design Masters of Architecture Candidate Focus in Metropolitan Design and Public Interest Design Wellesley College Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, Minor in Middle Eastern Studies Artist, designer, creator of space, photographer, maker, community engager

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TA B L E O F CO N T E N TS 4

URBAN VELODROME | 2017 | University of Minnesota | Aaron Amosson

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URBAN VELODROME: THE DETAILS | 2017 | University of Minnesota | Victor Pechaty

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A MODERN AFTERLIFE | 2018 | University of Minnesota | Vahan Misakyan

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THE SEAM, THE SPINE | 2018 | University of Minnesota | Tim Griffin + Derek McCallum

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DEFAMILIARIZING THE FAMILIAR | 2016 | University of Minnesota | Gayla Lindt + Andrew Lucia

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PRODUCTIVE INTERSECTIONS | 2016 | University of Minnesota | Gayla Lindt + Andrew Lucia

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LAKESIDE LINGERING | 2015 | Danish Institute for Study Abroad

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PERMANENT TEMPORALITY | 2019 | University of Minnesota | Vahan Misakyan

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WATER AND INK | 2015 | Wellesley College | Andrew Mowbray

| Rasmus Westergaard Frisk

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URBAN VELODROME Minneapolis's vibrant bicycle culture makes the city a natural location for an Olympic Velodrome. Through analyzing the urban context of the intersection of Lake Street, Nicollet Avenue, and the Midtown Greenway, I attached an additional agenda of creating a public green space and covered plaza.

GRE EN CYCLING

FEDERATION

BIKE ALLIANCE

C R O S S -T R A I N I N G

OFFICES RE L I TOE O M

L O C K E R BICYCLE R O O M S STORAGE

S PA C E

I R CSU EL U M CU BATHROOM

M

GRE EN

S

BICYCLE TECH AREAS

BIKE SHOP

L O C K E R BICYCLE R O O M S STORAGE

SEA TIN

EEN

PLA

BICYCLE TECH AREAS

BICYCLE TECH AREAS

BICYCLE TECH AREAS

CONNECT NICOLLET AND

BIKE SHOP

BIKE SHOP

BIKE SHOP

BICYCLE TECH AREAS

BIKE SHOP

BICYCLE TECH AREAS

BIKE SHOP

G IN AT SE

GREE

SOCIAL SPACE

GREENWAY

GREE

SOCIAL SPACE

GREENWAY

GREE

SOCIAL SPACE

GREENWAY

NWAY

ZA

CONNECT NICOLLET AND

NWAY

N P LAZ A

VELODROME

sectional program investigations 64

GR

V ERLGO DER O M E RE

G IN AT

SE

PUBLIC STREET F R O N T

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OR

PUBLIC REET OS TU F R OT N TD O O

G

64

TDO

SEA TIN

OU

G

G IN AT SE

VV EE LL OO DD RR OO MM EE VELODROME VELODROME VVEELLOODD RROO MM EE

SEA TIN G

FEDERATION

URBAN VELODROME | 2017 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

S PA C E

PA C E E GRE CYCLING X T EN C R O S S -T R A I N I N E G N S PA C D N BIKE E I C R O O M N O A L L I A N C E OFFI C ES O I L G T E L I T E L R A L E P U B L I CE U M E L I T EE T BICYCLE N C L O C K E R BICYCLE IR SS RS P CU EL AUT I OBATHROOM N ACE GR P RCYCLING O G R A M - R LR AOO COCKME ESR STORAGE R O O M S STORAGE S PAC E BATHROOM M E N A M AT E S U R R AC E RS C R O SE S -T RAA NI NDI N G MC I R C U E U S RT O OR A OG E M S BIKE S PAC E A N D STO R P AG E A C E U AT I O N M A L L I A N C E OFFI C ES L U M E L I T E BICYCLE BICYCLE C L O C K E R LOCKER C I R E U BATHROOM R O O M S STORAGE R O O M S STORAGE BATHROOM E XT M U SN E D N I CO LLET P U B L I C E L I T E PE R O G RX A M - R A C E R S O U LATION ST PAC E A N D EI R CT U ED A M AT E U R R AC E RS U MOD C U SN STORAGE OR N I C S PAC E A N D STO R AG E M O G LLET REE P U B L I C E L I T E PUBLIC N P P R O G R A M - R A C E R S S T R E ELTA T I O N LAZ S PAC E A N D F R I OR C NU T U M A A M AT E U R R AC E RS C E STORAGE S S PAC E A N D STO R AG E MU FEDERATION

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GRE EN

V E L O D R O MBATHROOME

AT I O N

CONNECT NICOLLET AND

NWAY

nicollet becomes the new spine of the city with a large public gathering space at its intersection with the midtown greenway

MIDTOWN GREENWAY

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NICOLLET AVE

BLAISDELL AVE

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LAKE STREET

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4 1

circulation pedestrians cyclists public transit drivers

roof 1 green roof 2 etfe roof 3 street car and bike lane

level 2 1 office space

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ground level 1 green roof 2 bathrooms 3 bike parking 4 ticketing 5 cafe 6 bike shop 7 museum 8 velodrome 9 nice ride station

greenway -1 1 concessions & bar 2 bathrooms 3 bike storage 4 amateur locker rooms 5 athlete entrance 6 exercise equipment 7 running track 8 velodrome 9 seating 10 parking

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greenway -2 1 cross training room 2 bike storage 3 amateur locker rooms 4 athlete entrance

URBAN VELODROME | 2017 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

2

5

URBAN VELODROME | 2017 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

nicollet elevation

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section from greenway to lake street, showing gradual change in grade

lake st elevation

URBAN VELODROME | 2017 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

section showing the roof as it wraps around the velodrome

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2_ the top

1 1

2

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6 6

4 24

3

2 7 8 9

23 21 19 22 18

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12 10 3

4

8

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1_ the base

URBAN VELODROME | 2017 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

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8

3

2

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typical section at vestibule

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

typical section at vestibule etfe membrane glue laminated column_2’ x 2’ built out space for electrical/mech. lvl ring beam lvl beam_1’ x 8’ lvl beam_1 x 6’ glass fins_3/4” x 16” double glazed curtain wall

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glass fin splice place green roof vestibule railing

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

1_base glue lam column base plate glass fin base connector curtain wall rail radiant heating exterior drain 2_top steel brace vapor barrier

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bent steel plate rigid insulation _6” thick plywood_3/4” thick gutter membrane etfe clip flashing fin to curtain wall connector glass fin head connector

URBAN VELODROME | 2017 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

under the roof is a new corridor for passing or staying

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A MODERN AFTERLIFE Who are we when we die? We are just memories formed by others' impressions of us. What if we could control how we are remembered in the way that we manipulate our image through social media?

6%

Based on Anthropogenic Islands, a theoretical text by Peter Sloterdijk, my partner and I asked the question of how we live today in preparation for the afterlife. Modern technology can change how we interface with the divine, the afterlife, and those we leave behind. By utilizing the data center as the host for the deceased, the interface room keeps the "digital soul" alive. Our chosen site is the Humbolt Sink in Nevada, a lake bed that oscillates between a salt flat and a body of water on an eighty year cycle.

m diu

lt sink bo tope oto data an/

er

hu m

th ea

sca n

pe to

bir th/ d

tha na to

A MODERN AFTERLIFE | 2018 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

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of all the people who have ever existed in the history of the world, 6% are currently alive today. what happens to the memory of those who have passed?

ss ne s iou sc

hum

hu ma nc on

Shifting the conversation beyond the physical realm but towards how a proposed architectural intervention can be entangled in its site context while following a speculative present, a speculative now.

singularity

much of our existence occurs in loops, cyclicality, and time.

diagram of systems around our chosen site, the humbolt sink in nevada

local irrigation grid extends through site

second ring of burial mounds

humbolt sink fills

third ring of burial mounds

humbolt sink floods

A MODERN AFTERLIFE | 2018 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

first ring of burial mounds emerge

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A MODERN AFTERLIFE | 2018 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

1

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1 view from the highway

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2

2 salt flats on the site reflect the dome

3 entering the dome

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6

5 the interface room

6 existing through a gatway past the burial mounds

A MODERN AFTERLIFE | 2018 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

4 in to the mist

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THE SEAM

THE SEAM | 2018 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

At its core, the proposal for the Creative Enterprise Zone (CEZ) is about connections - connecting ideas, connecting people, connecting technology, and connecting the urban fabric. This project uses green and blue infrastructure, as well as various targeted interventions to stimulate the creation and expansion of various levels.

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cognitive map collages

SITE BEFORE

explore

energy

CREATIVE ENTERPRISE ZONE

district 3

connect

make travel district 2

play eat

GREEN WAY WATER SYSTEM PUBLIC PLAZAS

PATHS TREES URBAN AGRICULTURE

BLUE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE

NEW STREET EXISTING STREET HYPERLOOP SIDEWALKS

MOVEMENT

RAIL SPURS PARCEL LINES GREEN MEDIAN

EXISTING

BUILDINGS

NEW

OUR BUILDING

CEZ EAST | DISTRICT DIAGRAM

THE SEAM | 2018 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

live

move

district 1

learn

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CEZ EAST DISTRICT MASTER PLAN

PENNOCK AVE

HEWITT AVE

BUILDINGS 1 - PUBLIC MARKET 2 - MIXED USE RESIDENTIAL 3 - ENTREPRENEURIAL MAKER CAMPUS 4 - NUCLEAR FACILITY 5 - VOCATIONAL CENTER 6 - RESTORATIVE ECO CENTER 7 - ADRIANCE LEARNING CARS

W TAYLOR AVE

W PIERCE BUTLER ROUTE

N HOWELL STV

1

6

5

1

PUBLIC REALM 1 - GREEN WAY 2 - ELEVATED STREET 3 - CENTRAL PLAZA 4 - STAGE 5 - WETLAND CAPP HISTORIC DISTRICT

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4 TRANSIT 1 - HYPER LOOP STATION AND HOTEL 2 - LIGHT RAIL STOP/TRANSIT MUSEUM 3 - BIKE/PED TRAILS 4 - DRONE CENTER

NEW ROAD

3

ELLIS AVE

1

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NEW ROAD

VANDALIA AVENUE

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NEW ROAD

NEW ROAD

THE SEAM | 2018 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

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L RD

4 RS ITY

IVE AV E

AV E

3

VANDALIA ST UN

RLE S

CH A

W MINNEHAHA AVE

DB

LVD LAN

NEW ROAD

CLE VE

ITOR IA

1

2

7 ITY

RS

IVE

UN

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THE SEAM | 2018 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

TERR

AV EN

UE

4

2

5

1

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PRIOR AVE

W MINNEHAHA AVE

W CHELTON AVE

THE SPINE

NEW ROAD

2

HEWITT AVE

d

NEW ROAD

Y RA TO D TH O PA HO R AN O RI B ST GH DE EI PE N

The Spine is an elevated pedestrian and bike path that connects the residents to the core of the CEZ. It is elevated to 30 feet above the ground, aligning to the 30 foot maker base ground level that is proposed for all new structures on the site. This also allows for new builds to connect directly to the Spine, adding to the layered transit networks across the CEZ.

4 2

b

3

M

ELLIS AVE

O D

N

3

2

1

c

3

PENNOCK AVE

2 NEW ROAD

ITOR

IAL R

D

a

RESIDENTIAL

THE SPINE | 2018 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

1

W CHELTON AVE

4 CEZ CORE

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PRIOR AVE

TERR

VANDALIA ST

NEW ROAD

5

RESIDENTIAL

2

1

5 W MINNEHAHA AVE

W MINNEHAHA AVE

concept diagram

site plan

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ADJACENT BUILDINGS 1 - CANCAN WONDERLAND 2 - HYPERLOOP STATION 3 - ENTREPRENEURIAL MAKER CAMPUS 4 - PERFORMANCE CENTER AND STAGE 5 - PUBLIC MARKET

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THE SPINE 1 - STAGE SEATING AND URBAN STEPS 2 - LOOKOUT TO WATER FEATURE 3 - LOOKOUT POINT ABOVE HYPERLOOP 4 - CAN CAN PLAZA 5 - BIKE/ PED PRIMARY ROAD

1 SITE AMENITIES 1 - CENTRAL ART PLAZA 2 - GREENWAY 3 - RESTORATIVE HYDROLOGY VERTICAL ACCESS POINTS

THE SPINE | 2018 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

a steps by the plaza

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20 THE SPINE | 2018 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

b n/s section by the water

d new plaza by can can wonderland and neighborhood

THE SPINE | 2018 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

c view to downtown minneapolis

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DEFAMILIARIZING THE FAMILIAR After transforming a tomato by burning it, I extracted the salient features- the blister, the burn, and the split- and investigated their interactions at intersection points as they created a void. This concept of intersections and voids was then abstracted into a drawing in which I drew overlapping circles and peeled the paper at points of intersection.

DEFAMILIARIZING THE FAMILIAR | 2014 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

the step by step transformation

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blister

burn

split

the intersection of blister burn split

DEFAMILIARIZING THE FAMILIAR | 2014 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

bursting of intersections overylay of intersections

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PRODUCTIVE INTERSECTIONS

HE

NN

EP IN

AV E

Situated along Central Avenue and intersected by Hennepin Avenue, the two parcels of the site become islands due to the heavy flows of traffic which make them inaccessible to pedestrians. By being mindful of the flows of movement, this new park would create space a moment of pause in the busy city life.

B

CENTRAL AVE PRODUCTIVE INTERSECTIONS | 2016 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

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6TH STREET

A

A

B

site plan

surface manipulation

section collage B

site model

PRODUCTIVE INTERSECTIONS | 2016 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

section collage A

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LAKESIDE LINGERING

LAKESIDE LINGERING | 2015 | DANISH INSTITUTE FOR STUDY ABROAD

The site here is between housing for students and the elderly in a neighborhood in Copenhagen, Denmark. The apartments are at the edge of the lakes which is a popular social spot, but crossed by a bike highway. The goal is to make the area safer for pedestrians and to create a ‘staying’ spot which contributes to the lake culture of Copenhagen.

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Semi-private_Integrated seating and green space lowered in to ground

Public_Curved in new bike lane acts as a ‘speed bump,’ slowing bikers so pedestrians may cross

Semi-Public_The wide steps which provide access to the lake doubles as seating with small green spaces

new courtyard

activate interior

reroute bike lane

reach out to lake

maximize sunlight

semi-public / semi-private

LAKESIDE LINGERING | 2015 | DANISH INSTITUTE FOR STUDY ABROAD

project site

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PERMANENT TEMPORALITY Master's final project, currently in progress

PERMANENT TEMPORAITY | 2019 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

This project is about looking at the intersection of territory, identity, and politics, and the impact that they have on protracted refugee situations, specifically focusing on Palestinian refugees in Ain el Helwa.

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This project is not about improving the refugee camps but questioning what the future is for those people who have most of their lives within confinement. They are trapped in a “psychological and political limbo.� When given the freedom of unobstructed choice? Where do these people go? Who do they live with? What do their homes look like? Their neighborhoods? How does their sense of self evolve?

After Israel’s occupation of Palestine in May 1948, over 750,000 Palestinians were displaced from their homes. The refugee camp of Ain el Helwa was established soon after by the International Committee of the Red Cross in Lebanon. The landscape of the camp transformed at three points, replacing tents with concrete, then rebuilding the demolished shelters twice. Today it is the largest camp in Lebanon in terms of its population and physical size. There are over 54,116 registered refugees living within a 420,000 square meter area, a concentration of 750 people per hectare- five times larger than 1956 projections.

To understand this psychological and political limbo, I have used the lenses of territory, identity, and sovereignty understand my research.

From the discourse that I have analyzed so far, just over 50% of the rhetoric surrounding Ain el Helwa is territorial. Borders have defined the lives of these refugees- borders lost, borders forgotten, borders confining, now even a border wall. In its 70th year, the camp houses multiple generations from infants to great-grandparents. The old still have the deeds to their homes in Palestine and adamant about returning to the homeland. Some of the young are jaded and have given up that hope, desperate for any escape from their predicament.

Identity can be divided in many ways- the individual and the collective, self-imposed versus externally imposed, who one is as opposed to who one wants to be.

PERMANENT TEMPORAITY | 2019 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

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51% territorial

28% an tag o

m nis

cy en

61 articles 78798 words total 13734 (17.43%) words categorized

ag people want say work group talk said did come unhcr right made

PERMANENT TEMPORAITY | 2019 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

academic

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war fatah report military kill allow under subject faction condition army civil attack

unrwa right live work service human support agency provide programme social group increase include go interest say how

conflict authority faction against political situation army access

insitutions

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sidon south shelter force way govern live place country official security city against palestine home know house world state beirut

security resident country community world condition measure around through improve host develop population space state life nation wall city event over jordan urban

force school home return state land still country group come civil center territory community remain build public through away view law day move until international

people unrwa support work agency help live include just

us news

israel war israeli fight against police dead military soldier militant army security govern limit

country security return remain home live back street time group new life authority civil state political border international temporary national city

asylum follow decision question play govern allow made share

war fatah clash force army bomb take militant arm fight military policy issue

western news

security army force faction resident sidon home wall house entrance situation around place near over unit state intelligence south city enter neighborhood

work unrwa left still did condition passport remain

clash arrest suspect fight kill took operation authority militant hamas damage dead shot

middle eastern news

group security country live cut resident condition go inside home near move state outside nation around shatila southern

people unrwa agency service leader take decision life become

fatah fight clash faction kill wall force army violence protest hospital dead war against flee fear

al jazeera eng lis h

High Security Lebanese Checkpoint Lebanese Checkpoint Lebanese Army Tower Lebanese Surveillance Camera

UNRWA School UNRWA Medical School Medical

Palestinian Checkpoint Palestinian Surveillance Camera

Mosque Souk / Market Street

topography: 10 m contours Walls Pre-1962 camp perimeter Camp cemetery

Building materials: concrete blocks, rebar, cement, reinforced poured-in-place concrete columns Provided by: UNRWA Or brought in to camp by the home owner Many building materials are not allowed by the Lebanese government to be brought in to the camp

Building materials: concrete blocks, rebar, cement, reinforced poured-in-place concrete columns Provided by: UNRWA Or brought in to camp by the home owner Many building materials are not allowed by the Lebanese government to be brought in to the Constructed by: local Palestinian builders camp Not likely approved by structural engineers

TO L

EB

AN

ON

Structures sometimes rely on neighboring buildings for support

Constructed by: local Palestinian builders Not likely approved by structural engineers Structures sometimes rely on neighboring buildings for support 5.0-8.4 square meter per person Plan is designed around a dar, a central interior courtyard.

Some still have zinc sheet roofing

5.0-8.4 square meter per person Plan is designed around a dar, a central interior courtyard.

Some still have zinc sheet roofing Multi-story construction began to be allowed in 1993 Homes expand vertically as families grow The roof becomes the only access to open space as the camp becomes increasingly crowded

TO C

AM

P

general case

Multi-story construction began to be allowed in 1993 Homes expand vertically as families grow The roof becomes the only access to open space as the camp becomes increasingly crowded EB

AN

ON

Homes aggregate to infill any available land

Homes aggregate to infill any available land TO C

AM

materials out

P

PERMANENT TEMPORAITY | 2019 | UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA

TO L

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WATER AND INK

WATER AND INK | 2015 | WELLESLEY COLLEGE

Using the wind and water on Lake Waban as a partner, I painted a stripe of india ink on the bottom of the paper and let the waves wash over the ink. I followed this procedure over the course of a week to document the changing conditions, beginning with the bottom left image (facing page). Just as the landscape is constantly changing, each image created captures an impression of the moment, but speaks broadly to the creation of landscapes.

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WATER AND INK | 2015 | WELLESLEY COLLEGE

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