01
Abstract experimentation of form leads to usable spaces
Shifting Fields 2004 - 2005 Fourth year Urban Intervention To animate is defined by ‘to rouse or inspire somebody to take action’. People are animated everyday of their lives by the built environment around them. They take action by experiencing and moving through the spaces created by the objects around them. There is a constant ambiguity between the limits set by the built environment and the paths that people take it in it. A device is created to show this contradiction of ‘freedom vs restriction’. Further investigations and experimentation modeling with mixed media introduces a whole new dimension with the idea of shifting fields. The site of Dubai creek, the gold souq and the human movement within that urban context provides a backdrop that generates endless possibilities of creating an urban link, or urban terrain or urban shifts.
02
Reuse | Re.design | Re.invent
3C 2010 - 2011 Architectural design - AAHG Community Center
Client: Al Ahli Holding Group (AAHG), Dubai Budget: US$ 270,000 Size: 8,000 sq ft Type: Design Development After an exhaustive year long research surveying the arts and culture realm within Dubai, I suggested an interim project on our site while the master plan was being developed. The interim project was made up of ten 40ft containers developed into a creative community housing private art studios, a small gallery and communal work spaces. The containers needed to give a sense of a space where creativity could flow freely and it was your own space to use the way you like. The community aspect was signified by the inward looking design with the courtyard and all working spaces surrounding it. The creative containers would be run and managed as a business making it a membership type facility with different tiers giving access to a variety of facilities allowing a range of people with diverse interests to become part of the community.
Community centered design thinking
03 tasmena e.V. 2010 - 2015
Founder Non-profit organization
tasmena- a not for profit associated I co-founded worked to increase the awareness of design as it contributes to daily life, to make design accessible at an individual level and to establish the role of individuals as active contributors to city-making for a sustainable future.
walks
workshops
City walks encouraging new experiences, discovering neighbourhoods and establishing needs through interaction with the community. Travel by foot, bike, metro, or boat.
Interdisciplinary workshops exploring place specific design solutions based on established community needs.
City making and building city spaces is not only the responsibility of city planners, architects, developers, politicians, city stakeholders and real estate agents but that of the city dwellers. The city at its very core is a place for people to live, meet, exchange, enjoy and grow the city in their daily actions. It offers multiple ways of engagement for its inhabitants beyond the conventional architecture and city planning.
04
Urban Sketching