Randa Mujahed B. Sc Architecture Portfolio 2013
A view of Madaba, multimedia on paper. 2013
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“Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.� -Leonardo da Vinci
Old Gate in Jabal Amman, Jordan August 2013
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As early as 12 years old, I realised that I wanted to become an architect and ever since, I have been fascinated by the bold architecture of buildings around me. Classical and modern structures stand side by side in Bahrain, forming a beautiful combination of old and new. The story that these buildings tell is a story of the region as a whole; the breathtaking designs that were unheard of only a few years ago now take us into the twenty first century. The skilful masters schooled in local traditions, translate these into innovative and alternative
designs and these new mega cities, blend and contrast local identities. I believe that Architecture is not only a science for designing buildings or landmarks but rather an art to create an experience and a long-lasting impression, an art that creates comfortable, appealing, and most importantly indigenous friendly environments. Architecture enhances existing lifestyles and even creates new ones.
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On-site sketch, Aqaba Resort Project - March 2013
Curriculum Vitae
Randa Mujahed Carl-Duisberg-Str. 1 44135, Dortmund +49 157 56199155 randa.mujahed@gmail.com
Educational Career Since 09/2010 Student of Architecture at the German Jordanian University in Amman/Jordan 09/2013 – 09/2014 International Student at TU Dortmund in Dortmund/Germany 09/2004 – 06/2010 St. Christopher’s School in Isa Town/Bahrain with English as the main language. Certificates: GCSE and GCE (British study-plan). 5 full GCE Certificates in Mathematics, Physics, Art and Design, Design and Technology – Graphic Products and Arabic. Also with 9 GCSE Certificates. **A-Level Art and Design: A* Grade. Recipient of St. Christopher’s Top Student Art Award in 2009 and 2010 09/2000 – 06/2004 Bahrain Bayan School in Isa Town/Bahrain 09/1993 – 06/2000 Dhahran Ahliyya Schools in Dhahran, Saudi-Arabia
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Internships and Other Experiences 07/2013 Participant in the Public space workshop “Public Bit” with Columbia University - Studio-X - Amman Lab in Amman/Jordan 06/2013 – 07/2013 Internship at Architect Ammar Khammash Architectural Firm in Amman/Jordan 04/2013 Affiliation with Symbiosis Design ltd in Amman/ Jordan 09/2012 Internship at Al Omrania and Associates Firm (Architectural Firm) in Manama/Bahrain Task: Concept design and schematic planning for the new Bureau of Investigation and Public Prosecution in Riyadh/ Saudi-Arabia
09/2011 German language course - “Deutsch als Fremdsprache” at Universität des Saarlandes 02/2010 Art-Display Workshop in Bahrain with Lance Fung 02/2009 Delegate of Saudi-Arabia at the NAIMUN (North American Invitational Model United Nation) in Washington DC/USA 07/2007 Internship at Architect Ammar Khammash Architectural Firm in Amman/Jordan 2007 Recipient of The Duke of Edinburgh’s AwardBronze Level
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Curriculum Vitae
Randa Mujahed Carl-Duisberg-Str. 1 44135, Dortmund +49 157 56199155 randa.mujahed@gmail.com
Software Knowledge Autodesk Revit, Google Sketchup, Cinema 4D, Adobe Photoshop, Ecotect, Autocad, InDesign, MS Office. Learning: Vector works, ArchiCad, 3Dmax
Languages
Arabic: Mother-tongue English: Excellent Deutsch: Very good - B1 Certificate
Geological Study for Aqaba Getaway
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Architecture Project 1: Architect-Inspired Pavilion May 2013 13 Project 2: Aqaba Resort - Getaway May 2013 21 Project 3: German Jordanian University | Kiosk/Bus Stop/ Module November 2013 39 Project 3.2: German Jordanian University Library
January 2013
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Project 4: Jabal Amman Adraj Centre May 2012 47 Project 5: Residential Design January 2012 63
Art AS-Level Art: Geometric Facades Sanctuary: Airports
September-June 2009 73
A-Level Art: Landscapes: Ruins, Nature, Urbanism
February 2010 77
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Contents
Additional Works Studio X/Columbia University Workshop - “Public Bit”: Public Bit: LocaLights July 2013 81 Project Manifesto: Holes on Hold Competition S.E.L.F April 2012 89 Additional Artwork Amman Collage July 2011 93
Windows in a Downtown House July 2013
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Architecture
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Public Design
Architect-Inspired Pavilion May 2013
This project was an extra project (2 weeks) set by our professor in order for us to experiment with foreign styles. Each student was to choose an internationally-recognised architect, or an architectural firm, and design a pavilion in the heart of Amman, which serves as an exhibition and a small store that sells souvenirs and such.
My take on things:
Why not show the true meaning of architecture, respect the land, the community, and solve the needs of the society with a mature piece of architecture, rather than have some fun with paper-architecture?
Sketchbook Sample
Herzog & de Meuron’s Architectural Pavilion Centre of Excellence in Architecture and Design Amman, Jordan
Sketchbook Sample
A’
The HdeM Centre includes flexible facilities than can transform into indoor and outdoor zones. The centre includes studios, offices, a flexible display area, screening zone, souvenir shop, and most importantly a large public space. With a sustainable element, emphasising the authenticity of its location, old building stones from the surround neighborhood would clad the interior corridor. The main reason as to why it’s shaped this way is because it balances the movement out of two very important streets in Amman. The centre is placed in the opposing far corner, and appears to be sunken into the ground, and is almost invisible - thus attracting more people to the public space. Trying to solve the community’s problems and not add more to them.
B
Plan A
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B’
Architecture
Site plan with one option of landscaping
Rendered Shot of Flexible In/Out Exhibition Space
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Architecture
Section A-A’
Section B-B’
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Touristic Design
Aqaba Resort - Getaway May 2013
On an undeveloped land in Aqaba Bay, lies the location of this getaway. The style of which the other hotels and resorts were built with is outdated, and supposedly neo-islamic/ “vernacular�.
This time, I decided to use the existing 21-meter-high topography, to create an invisible, yet sharp getaway. The theme:
Brutal Honesty
Conceptual Zoning Plans
Two pieces of literature (The Catcher in the Rye - J.D. Salinger 1951 & Goodnight Mister Tom Michelle Magorian, 1981) that could argue two sides of the current world we live in, and could be interpreted as the misuse of land, topography, and context; especially land
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reclamation which has become somewhat a new fad. This concept wants to defy what is the new, or modern way of thinking, and not reclaim the sea, but to use everything on the site to create a new type of ‘conflict’ and one way, is ‘BRUTAL HONESTY’. Geology.
Architecture
Concept Sketch
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Architecture
On Site & Concept Sketches Theme/Concept Visualisation Shots
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Ground Floor Plan/Site Plan Resort Entrance, Parking, Business Lobby and General Offices Commercial, recreational facilities, service spine Rooms, recreational facilities, service spine
Rooms, recreational facilities, service spine Rooms, recreational facilities, service spine
Rooms, recreational facilities, service spine
Exterior pedestrian circulation Rooms, recreational facilities, service spine
Ring road and vehicular circulation Bungalows
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Basement - Level 2
Basement - Level 3
Basement - Level 4
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Architecture
Initial 3D Visualisation
Main Elevation - Entrance - South
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Sustainable Design
Kiosk/Bus Stop/Module November 2013
Starting the new academic year in a new undeveloped campus in the suburbs of Amman was quite the experience. A much needed bus stop was to be the warm-up project of the term. We were
asked to design a modular system that could serve as a busstop, a kiosk, or any light construction.
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Frontal Arm Angular Placement in Winter
Frontal Arm Angular Placement in Summer
Concept Sketch of Seating Device
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Architecture
The module was inspired by the human spine. The flexibility, the adaptation, and the beautiful repetition of its anatomy. The carefully calculated balances of the module would adapted to all seasons and
the sun angles automatically, along with collecting storm water and shielding from wind at the same time. The blind blades are topped with flexible photo-voltaic cells that power the entire project.
Winter
Spring/Summer
Summer
Blade Angles during difference Seasons
Concept Sketch
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Located on a vital social circulation node withing the German Jordanian University’s new campus in Madaba, Jordan, the location is a poorly designed bus stop. The module is highly flexible, with built in solar panels on the top sun blades to protect from direct sun light and at the same time collect and store energy that powers the automatic system without the need of external electricity cables or generators. Sufficient amounts of flexible photo-voltaic cells were calculated withing the overall surface area. Along with being sun-friendly, the project also allows easy storm-water distribution and collection, gently sloping its platform towards a calculated angle.
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Shrubs used as wind buffers Kiosk Flexible Shading System Green grass patches WiFi Hub Stationary/Copy kiosk Important existing social/circulation node
Simple tree benches Sloped platforms that allow storm-water collection
Plan
Project’s main elevation
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Sustainable Design
German Jordanian University Library January 2012
With the Bus Stop and kiosk warm-up project just done, we were to design a library for the new GJU campus in Madaba, Jordan. The design should be inspired from the module we created earlier, and should tackle one of the three aspects of Sustainability. With hun-
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dreds of mind-maps and diagrammes that should fully analyse all the forms of the book-sorting, and student distribution. I chose to focus on Social Sustainability and Environmental Sustainability.
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Down
Library
Down
Upside The Upside
Social Sustainability Environmental Sustainability Circulation Function
Concept Sketch/Perspective
Concept Sective
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Architecture
Hand Render of Ground Floor
Following the Bus stop/Kiosk modular project, we were instructed to find a sustainable solution for the German Jordanian University’s new campus’ library. After extensive social behavior research and multiple existing library system case-studies, the concept slowly evolved into one that would challenge students into accessing the library, making it more exiting to
enter and to explore. Rather than spending their time at the cafeteria or smoking around campus, a student can now enter the library which was built on one of the university’s melting-pot-social-node, see and interact with the social ground floor, then look up and see the massive amount of books and resources. Top to bottom circulation. 42
Sustainability Systems - Air Circulation
South Elevation Main Entrance
East Elevation
Section A-A’
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Architecture
Trees to maintain the air flow
Book Management Facilities
Library Offices and Book Management Facilities
Tripple Volume/Main Entrance Hall 3 Different Levels for intense visual impact Ramps for Wheelchairs - Very big problem in Jordan General Social Study/ Seating Areas
Side entrance, to go straight up to the books
2 Staircases following the contour lines
Ground Floor Plan
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Axonometric
Site and Grid
Proposed Development Location
Project Circulation
Project Circulation and Greenery
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Commercial Design
Jabal Amman Adraj Centre May 2012
Most of the project consists of scaled hand-sketches. The project is located on an important piece of land in the beautiful Jabal Amman (Amman Mountain). It consists of multi-functional
commercial spaces, and focuses of retail, land-use, and circulation. The aim is to create architecture, not a building.
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First Concept Sketch - Interior Courtyard
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Interior Courtyard - Photoshop Enhancement
Section B-B’
South Elevation - Main Entrance
North Elevation - Pedestrian Entrance
Site’s Ground - Jabal Amman
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2nd Level Plan
Site Axonometric 8
Architecture
Adraj* Centre:
Due to the tight parking space, which is a problem in Jabal Amman in General, this project would encourage a lot of walking and exploring. It’s main theme is stairs and pathways which is much like Jabal Amman’s spirit. The project has minimal landscaping features, which will only encourage using staircases even more. The overall look is inspired by the roman ruins which the site overlooks, and also follows The golden ratio in terms of elevation design and sectioning. This project is small arts and shopping haven, with: - Mixed Use Studio Space -Dance Studio -Music Rooms -A variety of shops -Restaurant -Cafe -A space where artists can display their works *Adraj: “Staircases” in Arabic
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3D Model - Foam-board and Card
Cafe logo and menu cover - Multimedia collage
Ground Floor Plan
Section A-A’
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Architecture
Within the Adraj Centre project, the task was to design a small cafe or restaurant interior. Along with its sign, menu, logo, and to-go box. Fanajeen Cafe is a very small three-story-healthy prepackaged-self-servicefast-food cafe. The word “Fanajeen� translates to small coffee or tea serving cups.
Fanajeen Cafe logo
Hand-rendered interior perspective
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Jabal Amman from Jabal Al-Lweibdeh October 2011
Residential Design
The House on the Slope January 2012
The first architectural project that was assigned - a house in the heart of Amman.
Master Plan
South Elevation
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Architecture
Interior Shot of Kitchen
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Kitchen West Elevation
Kitchen East Elevation
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Architecture
3D Interior Models Kitchen and Studio Image Credits: Prof. Dr. Majd Al-Homoud
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Art
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Artwork
AS-Level and A-Level Artwork 2009-2010
Most of the project consists of scaled hand-sketches. The project is located on an important piece of land in the beautiful Jabal Mountain). It consists of multi-functional commercial 71
spaces, and focuses of retail, land-use, and circulation. The aim is to create architecture, not a building.
Artist Research - Lucian Freud Acrylic on Emulsion - 2009
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Art
Geometric Facades AS-Level
September 2009
For my first AS-Level project, I decided to start approaching the architectural world. As a school student i decided to try and analyse high-rise buildings and their geometrical patterns and shapes, colours and glass reflections. The work can be considered as abstract art in terms of the geometry and simplistic shapes.
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Lady in Red Oil on Canvas Approx.700 x 600 (mm)
Girl in White Oil on Canvas Approx.700 x 600 (mm)
Man in Blue Oil on Canvas Approx.700 x 600 (mm)
Art
Sanctuaries: Airports AS-Level: Art & Design 2010
During my trip to Washington DC, I was in transit in a few airports, and for the exam AS-Level project, titled “Sanctuaries� I decided to explore man-made, temporary sanctuaries. The most perfect candidates were people who were sleeping in airports, since they create their own, person-
alised sanctuary once they fall asleep. Most pictures were taken on the spot to strangers that were actually asleep.
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During my trip to Washington DC, I was in transit in a few airports, and for the exam AS-Level project, titled “Sanctuaries� I decided to explore man-made, temporary sanctuaries. The most perfect candidates were people who were sleeping in airports, since they create their own, personalised
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sanctuary once they fall asleep. Most pictures were taken on the spot to strangers that were actually asleep.
Art
Landscapes: Ruins, Nature, Urbanism A-Level
February 2010
This piece is the first image which I thoroughly planned, researched and developed. The original inspiration of this image came whilst I was in Jordan during summer vacation. I had already chosen to experiment with landscapes prior to the holidays, but my specific ideas have hardly taken shape then. After visiting several countries and getting inspired by the beautiful and diverse sceneries, I decided to base my landscape portraits on a combination of three elements: historical ruins, nature, and urbanism. This image portrays the Hercules Temple in Amman, Jordan.
The Temple is located on a mountain top, overlooking four of the seven original mountains (jabals) of Amman, in addition to the city’s downtown area (Wasat Albalad) and its famous Roman amphitheater. When standing atop the mountain (Jabal Al Qalaa), one can enjoy a 360 degree panoramic view of the city. I also chose to apply an urban landscape background to the ruins from Jabal Amman. The Jabal is one of the older parts of Amman, and holds a beautiful combination of modern and old buildings, with natural vegetation amongst the buildings.
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Additional Works
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Studio X/Columbia University Workshop - “Public Bit”
Public Bit - “LocaLights” June 2013
“The Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning and Preservation (GSAPP) held its annual Public Space Workshop for architecture students The Columbia University Graduate School of Architecture, Planning 81
and Preservation (GSAPP) held its annual Public Space Workshop for architecture students. “ -publicbit.org LocaLights Team: Paul Michael Graves Tala Baddar Nezar Abu-Halaweh Randa Mujahed
www.publicbit.org
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Additional Work
What if you can make your own hang-out place a public space?
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localights.com website proposal with how LocaLights works
Site - Untouched
Site with a LocaLight
Site with construction and benches
Site with paving and benches
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Site with paving, benches and plants
Additional Work
Completed site, with removed LocaLight - now an official public space
The aim of the workshop was to come up with solutions to solve the major problem of public space in cities such as Mumbai, Istanbul and Amman, with the use of a “PublicBit” - “PublicBit is a mobile, open hardware unit developed for deployment in public spaces with sensing capabilities that are networked for realtime transmission of city specific data.”
LocaLights are high-tech devices installed at public space renovation projects throughout the city. Passersby are attracted to the LocaLights by reflective mirrors in the day and glowing LEDs at night. Smartphones are directed to the LocaLights.com mobile website. Members participate in an active community of volunteers and fund-raisers.
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Competition
Project Manifesto: Holes on Hold April 2012
“During the past decade, the city of Amman experienced an unprecedented construction boom. The image of Amman was changing! When the economic crises and recession hit the world, that transformation was interrupted. Many projects were paused, some
even before their construction began, leaving the city with huge holes dug in its grounds. Though the pause of these projects has been frustrating in many senses, we see here an opportunity in re-imagining the on Hold state of these Holes� - Project Manifesto 90
S.E.L.F: The Self Empowering Living Field LIMITING is what it has become, rather than LIMITLESS. An increase in crime rate, insects, lack of lighting and the disruption of transportation was its only outcome. “Going for a walk after sundown is no longer optional,” she said, a resident of RasAl-Ain. Nothing good came 91
out of it. Underground water impaired their project, while on the other hand it’s what S.E.L.F relies on. The plan is to design a self powered sustainable park, which uses sustainable energy resources: wind, water and sunlight. S.E.L.F simply depends on ITSELF.
Additional Work
Placing as one of the Top-Ten entries in the competition, with the final work displayed in Darat Al-Funoon, Amman. Team: Dania Abu Rouss and Randa Mujahed 92
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Additional Work
Jabal Amman Collage Visual Communication Course - GJU 2011
During the Visual Communication Course the task was to create a visual of my favorite view - which was the view overlooking downtown Amman. The collage was originally a hard-copy, which was then put onto
Photoshop and edited out to create different themes and atmospheres.
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Two years later, a different type of multimedia collage with the same theme was created, also with snippets of the original.
Multimedia Jabal Amman Collage, 2013
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References: Prof. Amani Malhas Industrial Professor - Architecture at German Jordanian University Malhas Architects & Engineers
amanimalhas@gmail.com
Randa Mujahed
Mobile: +49 157 56199155 Email: randa.mujahed@gmail.com