mohamed ismail
masters of architecture university of virginia
portfolio selected works 2013-2016
001
education university of virginia, charlottesville va masters of architecture gpa: 3.75/4.0
may 2016 [expected]
duke university, durham nc may 2013 bachelors of science in civil engineering, structural track certificate: architectural engineering
proficiency
name contact
autocad revit rhino sketchup maxwell render v-ray grasshopper
Mohamed Ismail mohamed.abdel.ismail @gmail.com 919-998-6644
photoshop illustrator indesign after effects premier pro sketchbook pro gimp
www.mohismail.com
matlab maple excel microsoft office gnu octave ftp web design
002
languages english arabic
interests drawing and painting guitar and music travel community activism
work experience uva school of architecture, design teaching fellow june 2015 to present developed visualization curriculum for second-year undergraduate architecture students and provided continuous assistance and supplementary material for studio work gensler, houston tx, summer intern june to august 2015 prepared presentation elevations and proof-read and corrected construction documents for clarity and code assessment diagrammed and developed a narrative of a large-scale campus project for publication with the architects involved duda paine architects, durham nc, week-long intern january 2014 constructed presentation model for competition entry with a team of architectural interns and input from the principal architects uva school of architecture, research assistant for jeana ripple june 2014 to present studied the potential applications for nonlinear structural analysis software in the architectural design phase, applying parametric tools and instantaneous analysis to catalyze the latent role of structural principles in design uva structures courses, teaching assistant for dr. kirk martini january 2014 to may 2015 and benjamin hays assisted students on homework problems during office hours and scheduled tutorials, focusing on process of problem solving duke sustainability office, students for sustainable living october 2010 to august 2012 aided in the university’s progress towards sustainability through campus-wide project development duke sustainability office, campus sustainability fellows september 2012 to may 2013 cooperated with administration of the fuqua school of business in the assessment and reduction of their negative environmental impacts aligning with the goals of the campus sustainability committee discover life in america, smoky mountains national park, media and public relations intern june to august 2012 composed publicity materials for discover life in america for use with publicizing events and fundraising, including press releases, a promotional video, newsletters, and online webinars international rice research institute, philippines, communications and publication services, graphic design intern june to august 2010 assisted students on homework problems during office hours and scheduled tutorials, focusing on process of problem solving
003
selected projects
004
005
006
fall 2015 | 10 weeks
won’t you be my neighbor? critic | Robin Dripps
With the rise of gentrification in cities worldwide due to continual development, this proposal was an experiment in a new type of urban neighboorhood that could provide for the needs of occupants with flexibility and responsiveness. The pieces consist of a programmable, continuous ramp, residential units distributed in a flexible structural frame, and a mesh enclosing public space, juxtaposed against the horizontal while responding to circulation and use. new york, new york
street-level entrance 007
cross-circulation through site
highline as a “pedestrian highway”
primary access from east manhattan
view sheds of hudson river and manhattan
residential spaces on periphery
introduce “new peripheries”
varied path types
aggregation of program around circulation
circulation connects public and private
residents on periphery, public space always accessible
site potentials and siteplan
008
009
2
3
1
northeast aerial
010
Beginning with the question: “what makes the ideal neighboorhood?”, the design begins with research into the necessary program pieces to make an urban neighboorhood successful. These informed the overlaps in public space and the spatial characteristics for both routine and destination spaces. Superimposed upon all of this was a structural grid that responded to a “random” distribution of residential clusters, each with a character informed by its proximity to public space.
011
multi “family” house storage
residential cluster
communal kitchen
single “family” homes
dining work/shop
multi “family” homes
living room bedrooms
pharmacy/clinic
garden/yard baths
park/play space
childcare garden/yard
work/shop
living room
storagemaster bedroom single “family” house
convenience retail
dining kitchen
baths
bedrooms
“deaggregation” office space This design experiment was based on the needs of the residential unit. Programmatic de-aggregation provided a framework for the spatial needs and overlaps of an urban neighborhood serving as both residence and destination
retail/dining residence clusters
mass transit cultural/gathering spaces 012
park/recreation
hospital
school
office spaces retail dining
auditorium
park
hospital
destination
routine
multi-purpose hall
library
classes
cafeteria insertion of cores in places of significant overlap
de
st
ina
tio
blocking large program with consideration to relations
interconnected floor planes through ramping cl
din
l
ita
sp
ho
ry
ra
routine 013
ll
s te
fe
ca
ria
rp
e os
pu
mu
l
ti-
m
riu
ito
d au
as
lib
ail
et
/r ing
es
fic
of
n
ha
longitudinal section
014
015
The ideal neighborhood serves both the needs of its residents and behaves as a destination for its visitors. With the site bisected by the highline, this spatial experiment proposes a new form of urban fabric in a mesh enclosing a vertical street that weaves between private and public life.
highline entrance 016
017
siteplan 018
fall 2013 | 10 weeks
convergence critic | Esther Lorenz
Prompted to design Charlottesville’s third Center, UVA and the historic downtown mall serving as the existing two, the studio began with an in-depth analysis of the city’s history, demographics and economy. What was found was that Charlottesville’s population was severely divided along socio-economic lines propogated by the bisecting West Main Street. charlottesvile, virginia
019
Convergence was my proposal to bridge that gap, providing a new public space that encourages pedestrian movement from above, and fulfills the need for improved public transportation, a new art space and an urban park with room for retail, dining and private offices below.
020
central plaza
sculpture garden
ampitheatre
021
first floor plan
longitudinal section 022
an
directions of desired connections
potential vehicular pathways
buildings of historical significance
potential pedestrian pathways
volume created by artificial terrain
023
potential planes and artificial topography
potential vehicular pathways
moment of convergence
A
The resultant design proposal reaches into neighborhoods historically cut off from the rest of Charlottesville by the railroad and West Main Street. The two new paths meet in a new urban center.
C
southeast aerial
024
C
B
B
A
025
final model | south aerial 026
spring 2014 | 5 weeks
culinary institute critic | Peter Waldman
A culinary institute in Udaipur India, facing the significant Bagore-ki-Haveli. This design was an exploration in Duality, with the newly built, culinary institute servicing a tea room and grand dining room located in a re-purposed traditional masonry gate (pol) to the human-made lake to the east. udaipur, india
027
existing conditions | historical significance
site aerial
028
floor plans | third floor
029
north-south section | lake pichola pol
030
east-west section | street elevation
031
032
This design exercise explored how a range of experiences could be provided to different characters. These included the culinary masters- the butcher, the baker and the candlestick maker- with their apartments on the top, each with a view to a different vista. The cullinary students, occupying the kitchen levels always had a view to the nearest floors, with cut-outs in the floor and ceiling allowing for visual, aural and olfactory connectivity. And finally the visitors, with three spaces designed only for them: a chai bar, tea room and grand dining room.
033
The Chai bar on the street level welcomes them. The tea room in the ancient masonry tower serves them when the grand dining room is not in use. Here they view the heavy staircase made of the remaining stones from reconstruction, juxtaposed by the lighter metal-framed stairs taking them up to the dining room. Finally they cross a circular bridge, marking the shifting grid between the street-facing buildings and the lake-side pol, into the dining room overlooking Lake Pichola.
final model | circulation 034
035
036
spring 2014 | 5 weeks
eco-shade critic | John Quale with | Eric Der, Thomas Bliska
Designed as an alternative to the crampled and decaying deck of Mrs. Washington, Eco-Shade was a design-build exploration in contextual construction. Responding to the needs of our 86-yeear old client, the new deck was designed to provid adequate shading in the summer with a surplus of room for family gatherings and an open view into the large yard behind her home. Construction took place over the course of 2 weeks with a rotating group of five volunteers. charlottesville, virginia in partnership with the Albemarle Housing Improvement Program final construction 037
038
preexisting conditions The process began with a site visit, taking note of therelevant concerns of drainage, electrical systems and storage needs. Our final design needed to respond to the client’s needs while not harming the existing property and its infrastructure.
039
client meeting With a limited time frame, a design proposal was prsented to the client almost immediately. Her feedback was largely positive, asking only for increased storage capacity and privacy from neighbors.
040
041
The final step before construction was the preparation of construction ducuments for building permitting. Through our partnership with AHIP and the feedback of our course advisors, we went through an iterative process of self-guided detailing and code review.
042
final axonometric 043
deck framing plan
roof framing plan
044
floor plan 045
storage and bench axonometric 046
elevation 047
construction process
048
049
050
051
052
The resultant design provided protection from the sun when it was too bright, from the rain when it was too wet, and storage for gardening and barbeque supplies. Beyond that, though, it provided Mrs. Washington with a space to spend time outside of her small home, stretch her limbs and enjoy the company of friends and family.
roof detail 053
siteplan 054
summer 2014 | 4 weeks
humayun’s interpretation center critic | Peter Waldman
During daily prayers, once the inside of the mosque is filled, people line up outside in courtyards and streets to join the prayer from without. This transforms what was once a public space for market places, meetings, and general activity, into a space for communal gathering and worship. Once the prayer ends, though, the public space reverts immediately to its original use. This is the power of the “courtyard”: fulfilling multiple functional needs through the passage of time, yet always serving the public through assembly, orientation and exhibition. new delhi, india
055
islamic architecture, history, and communal space The site holds the potential of connecting past and present, making reference to the original seven cities of Delhi. I began my exploration with a mapping exercise, finding a spider’s web of connections between significant sites and Islamic monuments directly near the site and the historic Islamic centers of Delhi’s past.
056
FB
X
FB
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X X
X
X
X
FB
X
FB X
X
X
X
X
491 X
X X
X
486 488
208.50
208.50
208.50
208.50
.50
208
.50
206 SAM
SAM
.50Ø
208.0
AMALTASH
209.0
8.0
209.0
FB
X
FB
X
FB
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
jama masjid, ahmedabad
X
X
X X
X
X
X
FB
.75Ø
.60
K
20
.60
X
X
X
X
X
X
491 X
X X
X
486 488
208.50
50
6.
20
208.50
208.50
208.50
.50
208
.50
206 SAM
SAM
.50Ø
208.0
AMALTASH
209.0
8.0
209.0
FB
X
FB
X
FB
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
jama masjid, fatehpur sikri
X
X
X X
X
X
X
FB
.75Ø
.60
K
20
.60
X
X
X
X
X
X
491 X
X X
486 488
X
Learning from the geometrically-driven architecture of Mughal mosques and their scalar relationships of building mass to open courtyard and the individual, I diagrammed a building formed by perfect squares and overlapping public spaces. To clarify, this design is not meant to serve one religion but to learn from the spaces generated for worship, and bridge between past and present, connecting multiple populations through education and gathering.
50
6.
20
208.50
50
6.
20
208.50
208.50
208.50
.50
208
.50
206 SAM
SAM
.50Ø
208.0
AMALTASH
.60
057
K
20
8.0
.60
.75Ø
209.0
209.0
jama masjid, delhi
composite diagram 058
Reception Meeting Rooms
Auditorium
Store Permanent Exhibition
Food Court Temporary Exhibition Public Amenities
program organization 059
Humayun’s Tomb is among many historic Islamic monuments throughout Delhi: Emperor Humayun himself was a Mughal ruler. Nearby, there is the tomb of Isa Khan, a Mughal Noble. When we step back, Islamic monuments, mosques and cultural centers apear throughout Delhi and beyond.
north-south section 060
061
west-east section 062
To the southwest of the site of the proposed interpretation center one finds the Nizamuddin Basti- a historic neighborhood named after the 13th century Sufi saint. It is also the home to a large Muslim population, and the location for weekly pilgrimages by thousands of people.
063
This proposal is a space of communion for locals and tourists alike, interpreting the past and present in a rapidly expanding urban context. It provides refuge from the speed and noise of the city and protection from the heat and humidity. It suggests respect for the past while inviting the future with a folly overlooking the Yamuna River and the Seven Cities of Delhi.
064
street entrance
subterranean gallery 065
066
summer 2014 | 2 weeks
nka mud hut competition: aya house with | Ben Burghart
The aya house is a response to the climate, natural resources, and culture of ghana’s ashanti region. The sample site is a 90’ x 154’ lot about 7.5 Miles northeast of kumasi. The walls are orientated parallel to the region’s predominant wind pattern coming, on average, from the west. This condition works with solar orientation as well, as the shorter ends of the rectangular building face east and west and the roof slopes from north to south.
aerial
ashanti region, uganda
067
Celebrating the strength and durability of rammed earth construction, the central zone contains a wall twice as thick as any other. The kitchen is a break from the rectilinearity of the rammed earth wall; the exterior wall is an arc briefly parting from the rest of the structure. The Ashanti cooking tradition requires room for an open fire without smoke entering the interior spaces.
floorplan 068
transverse section 069
longitudinal section 070
The floor level shifts throughout the house, responding to programmatic needs and the environment. The highest levels belong to the bedrooms and kitchen. The dining space is one step lower, followed by the living room and bathroom at ground level. Raising the floor level provides protection from water and pests. As with most buildings and roads in rural Ghana, a 2-foot gutter surrounds the building footprint, mitigating the damage of flash floods during the rainy season.
071
working model | light study 072
spring 2015 | 10 weeks
design development: wood and masonry critic | Charlie Menefee
Sequential sections through the building show vertical shifts in both the ceilings and floors; square rooms alternate between compression and expansion. Sectional changes invite movement through the building drawing occupant inwards, where the light is dim and warm with a materiality of brick and wood. charlottesville, virginia
073
floorplan 074
concept diagram 075
Exterior wall corner - horizontal section single-whythe standard brick reinforced at 30” O.c. 2” air space moisture barrier double-whythe load-bearing brick reinforced at 30” O.C. vapor barrier 2” rigid insulation 3” air space for conduit single-whythe standard brick reinforced at 30” O.c.
masonry column - horizontal section 8”x8”x8” cmu core reinforced vertically, grout-filled ring reinforcement at 16” O.C. in horizontal joints standard brick
column and corner details 076
tall window - vertical section water-resistive barrier sill flashing stone sill supported by load-bearing brick double-pane glazing frosted glazing held up by 3/4� rods at corners
tall window - horizontal section stone jamb double-pane glazing frosted glazing held up by 3/4� rods at corners
horizontal window - vertical section outward-slanted double-pane glazing water-resistive barrier sill flashing stone sill supported by load-bearing brick
window details 077
vaulting - vertical section double layer of guastavino tile compacted fill vapor barrier 6� rigid insulation moisture barrier
parapet - vertical section double-whythe load-bearing brick reinforced at 30� O.C. moisture barrier semi-rigid moisture barrier metal counterflashing embedded in mortar joint capping stone metal flashing nailed to structural brick
exterior wall section | detail call-outs
078
Exterior wall - vertical section single-whythe standard brick reinforced at 30” O.c. vertically tied to structural brick at 16” o.c. 2” air space moisture barrier double-whythe load-bearing brick reinforced at 30” O.C. vapor barrier 2” rigid insulation 3” air space for conduit single-whythe standard brick reinforced at 30” O.c.
gravel fill filter fabric drainage pipe
waterproof membrane metal angle support weep hole metal flashing reinforced concrete footing
floor system - vertical section 1x6 wood decking 2x10 wood joists at 12” O.c. resting on variable height footings moisture barrier 4” concrete slab-on-grade 4” rigid insulation gravel fill
079
full axonometric section 080
working model | daylight studies 081
interior perspective
082
083
084
spring 2015 | 10 weeks
the winter city critic | Matthew Jull and
Manuel Bailo
with | Yushan Du and
Owen Weinstein The Winter City is: A thermally comfortable urban condition, allowing residents and visitors to enjoy Atlantic Avenue all year long. A seasonal event that draws visitors into the city, and provides residents a sense of excitement and pride in their city. Growing the population and civic engagement of Atlantic City through a long term urban and architectural strategy. atlantic city, new jersey
085
siteplan
Atlantic City is a city suffering a downfall at the loss of its economic share of the gaming industry. With legalization of gaming in other cities along the East Coast, Atlantic City is no longer the destination it once was. The primary attractions, the boardwalk and casinos, only see profit in the summertime. This design proposal seeks to re-activate Atlantic City yearlong: revitalizing the city when it suffers most: the winter. 086
urban strategy
The winter city would behave as a catalyst. A new climate-responsive architectural typology that activates the infrastructural center of the city: Atlantic Avenue. By fulfilling the needs of the tourist and the resident, the Winter City serves as the starting point for sustainable growth along the Atlantic Avenue corridor. 087
what makes the winter city?
088
wind solar public space
a
a
prevailing winter winds from northwest
prevailing summer winds from south wind
wind
solar
solar
public space
public space
a
a
wind solar public space wind a
solar public space
Various options were tested for their potential impact upon the comfort levels along Atlantic Avenue yearlong. Intentional steps were taken to reduce wind-chill, increase daylighting and provide activated public spaces.
wind solar public space
a
wind solar
089
090
The resultant design responds to the climate with a wall of protection to the north, a distribution of small buildings and courtyards to the south and a gradient of scales between with cuts and infills for solar gain and daylighting.
091
education and culture residential
commercial
retail and dining
program distribution
092
parking
hotel
parking
offices
parking
artschool
market
culture
tourist
resident nightlife
market
hotel
093
market
nightlife
market
housing
0’
25’ 10’
50’
100’
first floor plan 094
atrium interior
095
transverse section 096
atrium interior
097
expanded lobby and cafe 098
summer 2015 | 2 weeks
stages repertory theatre with | Miranda Dooley, Ashton
Holliday, Yingfei Wang Tasked with the renovation of an existing theater, this short intern project was a collaboration between architecture and interior design students. We developed a proposal responding to the context, opening a new entry way into a more exciting and functional theater space. The program responds to the theater’s needs while opening it up to further uses by the community. houston, texas gensler summer intern project
099
We began by looking at new potential users, and the needs they may have. When the theater is not in use, a new gallery, expanded lobby and catering space opens the theater up to new uses.
local designers and potential users 100
sense of community gathering spaces where can people get together and share?
flexibility what types of spaces can serve multiple purposes and users?
shared experience how do we encourage chance encouters and overlapping experiences?
design intentions 101
historic entrance current entrance 102
existing interior
103
concept sketches 104
The design proposal switches the existing arena and thrust theaters, taking advantage of the existing courtyard as a potential performance space. Then the workshop building is expanded and transformed into a rehearsal space sitting above a gallery at the new entryway.
suggested phasing 105
In order to reduce damage to the existing historic facades, the new program was fit within the existing structural grid with minimum changes to allow for column-free performance areas as requested by the client.
structural diagram 106
floorplans 107
longitudinal section 108
BOX OFFICE
109
BOX OFFICE
transverse section 110
gallery interior
actor’s corridor
new lobby and cafe
111
thrust theater | closed and opened to outside
112
exterior ampitheater | closed and opened to interior
113
historic entrance current entrance The final design celebrates the entrance as the new face of Stages, with a gabion wall constructed from the remains of the former workshop building. As visitors walk by the gallery they are given a glimpse into the inner workings of the theater with views into rehearsal spaces, costume shops and more. new entrance | gabion wall
114
115
116
fall 2015 | 10 weeks
collecting the world critic | Shiqiao Li
In order to understand the world as a complex network of systems, this museum portrays the world as it was, is, and will be. With world maps as an remnant of worldviews, the museum presents artifacts of past conditions and observations of current conditions to encourage an informed discourse on future possibilities. washington, d.c.
southwest aerial 117
All of society’s decisions and developments were informed by the way they viewed the world. As history reminds us, that world-view has constantly shifted as more information is discovered or forgotten. If the current world-view could be informed by the lessons of history and the ongoing observations of today, the ramifications for the future are endless.
118
classroom | overlooking throughway 119
The site starts as a frame for an abstracted map of the national mall, mapping experiences, pedestrian flow and traffic patterns The museum exhibits artifacts of former worldviews, observations of current conditions, and provides a space for discourse that stitches the two together
artifact discourse obse
rvati
on
Volumes are dispersed as needed by the program and removed to allow for unobstructed pedestrian circulation through the site The exhibitions are striated, the layering of information suggesting continued growth and a framework for the attainment future knowledge
120
The exhibition of artifacts, world maps that mark the radical shifts in the way the world was perceived, would be presented in static and sterile means as befits the collection.
artifacts
how does the technology of reading maps influence the space around them?
observation
discourse
Spaces for the observation of current world conditions require dynamic displays, interactive surfaces and the potential of layering information to generate new forms of knowledge. Classrooms and circulation meet in a seemingly erratic space of discourse with transparent overlapping volumes, looking into the museum and outwards at the surrounding context to encourage communion and informed discussion on the future of global society.
121
122
first floorplan 123
longitudinal section 124
125
transverse section 126
main entrance
blackbox theater
127
128
This is a proposal to change the way we understand the world, through the curation of the immense amount of information readily available but poorly understood. This is an observatory of dynamic systems and correlations that are known to exist but rarely seen.
final model 129
installations
130
131
132
spring 2014 | 2 weeks
counterbalance critic | Jeana Ripple with | Eric Barr
Intrigued by illusionary structures, we approached this project with an immediate counter to the notion of a podium. We developed a design that paired a more obvious compressive base with a subliminal tension system in order to evoke feelings of counterintuition. Seemingly unbalanced, yet with an aim toward minimalism and elegance, Counterbalance hangs a brick over an optimized tripod. charlottesville, virginia
133
To begin, we searched for a design that allowed for a material optimization and 3D-printability. We decided on the “Bird’s Beak� inspired by the classic gravity-defying bird toy. In addition, we envisioned a pyramid-like structure that carried the brick at a calculated angle, using tension members to maintain its balance. To maintain this balance, we placed the center of gravity of the brick and the podium in line with one another. For the material needs of the members we ran an evolutionary optimization script that conducted a structural analysis of the wireframe of the pyramid, altering the members until it found the minimum thickness, yielding a deflection below the ultimate strain.
134
135
136
fall 2014 | 1 week
arachne | outdoor room critic | Melissa Goldman with | Mark Molchany and
Austin Manning This short installation asks what defines a room, and how can the enclosures around us shape our perception of place. Can an outdoor room make the familiar unfamiliar again? How open can a room be before it’s no longer a room? charlottesville, virginia
137
detail
138
139
room
140
141
space 142
143
144
fall 2014 | 1 week
blox | interlocking jacks critic | Melissa Goldman with | Owen Weinstein
This was a study in the design of modular units and possible fabrication strategies. We designed a system of interlocking jacks that define their own space seemingly at random through their connections. Making use of various fabrication techniques, we built a full scale mock-up and tested its viability charlottesville, virginia
145
inspiration 146
experimentation
147
digital fabrication 148
routing
vacuforming
assembly
149
testing
150
151
152
fall 2014 | 1 day
hanging graffiti critic | Melissa Goldman with | Installation Group
A geurilla installation that made a parking structure, a space of mundane daily activity, into a short-term exercise in space-making, directionality and spectacle. Using fabric hung from existing infrastructure, lighting from parked cars and arrangements that directed people from the entrance to the star-lit rooftop, the installation invited people to re-assess the potential experience of a parking structure. charlottesville, virginia
153
existing humdrum parking 154
construction 155
off on
156
hanging graffiti
157
158
personal works
159
160
161
162
163
164
165
166
167
thank you.
168