TINY KIWI MEDITATION CABIN

COMPETITION:

1st Place Winner

Project Brief

The Tiny Kiwi Meditation Cabin Competition is part of Bee Breeders’ Small Scale Architecture Appreciation Movement showcasing small projects that contain big ideas. Designers were tasked with proposing an ecofriendly cabin located alongside the Hauraki Plains in New Zealand.

The idea of the cabin is to create a minimalistic object that blends with its surroundings yet maintains a distinctive impression when approaching it.

Year: 2021

Area 30 sqm

Location: Hauraki Plains, New Zealand

Services Hospitality

Role: lead Designer Visualisation

Morphology

The cabin consists of three parts: a wooden structure, a series of platforms, and an adjustable semi-translucent fabric that covers the cabin. The form of the cabin and the materials used provide full views of the beautiful sky and landscape while creating an inviting, warm, and relaxing place for the user.

Upper Structural Connection

Wood ceiling with skylight openings

Lower Structural Connection

Fabric Skin

Wood Columns

Flower processing bowl

Hidden Storage unit

Interior space

The interior space holds several interesting features that help create the ultimate meditation experience.

There is a uniquely designed fireplace with a slim chimney hanging from the drop beams. Those drop beams hold LED spotlights powered with solar panels to light up the space during night sessions. In addition, the main platform contains a hidden storage underneath for storing any necessary equipment.

Spatial Journey

The rear part of the cabin holds an open terrace with a set of bowls that can be used for flower essence processing.

The fabric skin helps in diffusing sunlight as it enters the interior space, also the height of it can be adjusted using a pulley to control the amount of sunlight entering the space as well as to cover the meditation area once the session is over.

Nur The Hidden Minaret

COMPETITION:

1st Place Winner

Project Brief

The concept of this design is to create a simple and modern minaret that originates from the original shape of a traditional minaret with the emphasis of Nur (light).

During the day it stands out as a monument and during the night it reveals the hidden minaret within its walls with the use of Nur (light) and transparent concrete.

Year: 2019

Area 30 sqm

Location: Doha Qatar

Services: Architectural Monument (Conceptual )

Role: Lead Designer, Visualisation

Optical Fiber light mesh

The Hidden Minaret Concept

The hidden minaret shape is displayed through a sculpture of negative space, mimicking a traditional minaret. It is made of fiber optic light mesh. The design can be used to display multiple shapes of a minaret with respect to the city’s history and surroundings. The lower body of the minaret will serve as a reading room with spiritual feelings.

Nur :

The word nur, or its derivatives, occurs forty-nine times in the Quran. It is used in reference to God, Muhammad, the Quran, the Book, the Torah, the moon and the faithful men and women. Al-nur is often used in combination with zulumat (darkness) in terms that describe movement from darkness into light, and from ignorance into faith. (Wikipedia)

Glass Chandelier with an Islamic Pattern

Decorative wall mount light with an Islamic Pattern

Reading Room

WOMEN’S HOUSE

COMPETITION:

Finalists

Project Brief

The Women’s House is part of kaira looro competition showcasing small projects that contain equal access to education, medical care, and employment, as well as a presence in decision making processes, will promote a sustainable economy that benefits society and humanity as a whole.

The objective of the architecture competition is the creation of a “Women’s House” within a symbolic and environmentally friendly structure that is inspired by local traditions. A space in which associations and members of society will be able to meet and discuss the topics of equality and human rights, guaranteeing involvement and emancipation of the female community in favour of the region’s social, economic, and political development.

Year 2021

Area: 200 sqm

Location Baghere, Senegal

Services Cultural Center

Role Design & Concept Development

The Concept

Creating a community within a community. This House will be the safe ground for Baghere’s women, creating a supportive community that will bring the village’s women together and allows them to empower one another through sharing their knowledge, experiences, and to offer them all the resources and materials they need to learn, create, and grow into strong and independent women who are ready to take on different tasks in their society or even start their own projects.

Extrusion of the block

Starting with extruding a simple geometrical form on the main plot

Applying the required program

Primary functions are: Administration, a Seminar room, a Multipurpose room, and a Workshop in addition to a Dry Latrine.

Subtraction of the courtyard and entrances

House units are clustered around a shared courtyard which allows Inter-block user connectivity.

Installation of the canopy

The canopy will provide shade for the building units and the courtyard making the courtyard more suitable for social gatherings.

Program

The design was inspired by the village’s clustered urban layout and local architectural language. The design itself is a set of six building units of different functions surrounding a central courtyard with a sunken conversation pit for social gatherings and other events. The house consists of four main primary functions which are: Administration, a Seminar room, a Multipurpose room, and a Workshop in addition to a Dry Latrine. The project has six different entrances to enhance the sense of welcoming into the project from different parts of the village.

Construction

Using local building techniques to make sure it can be easily built with available tools, materials, and human labor. With the use of earth bricks, cement bricks, and clay, the foundation would be established and be ready to be built.

Construction axonometric

Straw roof

Manual brick making machine

Canopy

Horizontal structural bamboo

Vertical structural bamboo

On Site manufactred brick

Perforated brick wall

Canopy Design

For the Canopy, the bamboo trunks are grouped in a grid-like structure and then they are tightened with ropes and then these grids will be stacked on top of each other. To ensure natural lighting and ventilation, perforations were made in the brick walls and the canopy to help in protecting users from direct sunlight, as well as controlling the airflow outside-in.

passive cooling techniques

Foundation with clay bags