Architecture | Urban Design
2012 - 2016
Contents
Sea Breeze |Integrated Project III
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Temporary Architecture (Transition Of Spaces)| Integrated Project IV
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MQ's Future (Mobile Housing) |Integrated Project VI
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Wohnen Im Hof | Bachelor Thesis |RWTH Aachen University
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SEA BREEZE Integrated project III | 4th Semester, 2014 Location: Seeb Corniche (Muscat, Oman) Task: Structure for the public. The design was approached from different perspectives; the site, the landscape and the atmosphere.The existing Cornish is an elevated long platform that runs along the shore with palm trees separating the street from the Cornish. Initially, after visiting the site, the first desire was to create something that would look light, dynamic and high, a structure that would act as a getawaz for the people. Thinking of a beach, the first image that would come to mind would be the extremely long palm trees. Therefore, it was decided to integrate these long Palm trees into the design by making the tree trunks columns for the structure, which fit perfectly with the desire of making the structure tremendously elevated. It was decided to make the structure out of materials that go with the sea atmosphere, so it was found that timber would be the most light looking and most appropriate material to use in terms of merging the structure with the existing nature and landscape. 03
Site Plan
1:50 Model Materials: Wooden coffee sticks Thread Glue
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UP
North Elevation
East Elevation
UP
UP
A113 4
Ground Floor
First Floor UP
UP
UP
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A113
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Second Floor 05
Third Floor 06
Interior Perspective view from caffe
Exterior Perspective view from beach side
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TEMPORARY ARCHITECTURE Integrated project IV | Transition Of Spaces | 5th Sem.2014
Location: GUTECH Campus (Oman) Task: Pavilion for exhibiting and socialising Transition of different spatial variations inspired the commencement of this project. One of the main features in this pavilion is the implementation of a diverse relation between the interior and the exterior spaces. The differences in heights and widths within the structure create variations in spaces and adds different lighting affects which will penetrate from the outside natural light allowing one to experience diverse transitions. The light affects along with the form of the structure gives the inside spaces a special mood and atmosphere. The use of threads in gradients of colours creates a contrast between the structure itself and the existing GUtech building making the whole pavilion even more visually appealing. The pavilion is placed on the elevated platform on the corner of the Southern side of the campus, having the entrance of the structure facing the main staircase. While climbing the staircase, parts of the pavilion will start appearing to the perceiver making the individual curious to walk through. The pavilion will also be visible from the express highway road giving it a strong visual distant connection. 09
Horizontal Cut
Top View
Interior Perspective
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Longitudinal Section
Working Models
Elevation
Exterior Perspective
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Final Models
Material:MDF Wood
1:20
Connections:Hinges + Screws 12
MQ'S FUTURE Integrated project VI | Mobile Housing | 7th Semester, 2016
Location: Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos (MQ), Oman Task: Transforming MQ Current situation: Madinat Al Sultan Qaboos is a community that mainly consists of expatriates who are usually in Oman and specifically in Muscat for the availability of good job opportunities and high wages. The reason why most expats are settled in MQ is because of its location which is not only close to different commercial hubs such as Al Qurum and Al Khuwair, but also close to the British School Muscat. However, the disadvantage is that expats are neither allowed to own the house they are living in, nor the land. At some point, these expats will have to leave and settle somewhere else, most probably in the next developing country. Out of this problem derived the idea of mobile housing. Solution, Location and function: The proposed project does not have a specific location within MQ as it is supposed to occupy any empty space or plot. The location is not only limited to Muscat or the Sultanate in general but also to different parts of the world. The project consists of a shell and various cores. The cores are basically the functions that could be found in any house. Instead, in this case, each box is dedicated for a specific function such as a kitchen, a dining area, living space, a bedroom, a work or study space, vertical circu13
-lation and a bathroom/toilet. Each box has a system of panels that can be moved to create an opening as access or for ventilation purposes. The shell acts as a protection from rain, snow and sunlight, as well as elevating the boxes to avoid direct contact to different surfaces. Each box has its individual insulation to be able to adapt to any context.
Purpose and mobility: The idea of mobile housing is not only limited to the ability of its mobility but it is also adaptable, smart and affordable. The whole idea is to allow the individual to own and transport the core units that one might find most personal such as the living room, the kitchen or/and the bedroom. As these units get transported, they are placed into the shell and then rearranged and attached onto each other allowing them to open on one another. The dimensions of most of the boxes are 3.2x2.2x2.5 meters. These are the minimum standard dimensions of a container. The shell, vertical circulation, storage room and the WC would be available for the user upon request. Target group:
Concept Diagram
As mentioned earlier, expats usually settle for a short period of time until they move to the next destination. Therefore, the proposed project is meant to cater for a small number of people and individuals comprised of not only different groups but also different classes. This mainly includes a small family of four or employees, workers and/or students.
Red areas indicating empty plots
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Arrangement I
Ground Floor
Section AA 15
First Floor
Section BB
South Elevation
East Elevation 16
Arrangement II
Arrangement III
Ground Floor
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Ground Floor
Section BB
Section AA
Section CC First Floor
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Section AA
Front Elevation 19
Living space
Kitchen
Dining space
Working space
Bedroom
WC
Storage space
Vertical circulation 20
Design implementation within the context
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Exterior rendering | Arrangement I
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WOHNEN IM HOF Bachelor Thesis Project | RWTH Aachen University | 8th Semester,2016
Location: Jakobshof, Aachen (Germany) Task: Urban design, working, living and commercial uses.
Additionally, various aspects were taken into consideration along with several guidelines that shape the overall design.
Former Jakobshof was a place for events and parties where the youth often visited. However, due to its location within a residential neighbourhood, it was closed down and destructed for noise reasonsThe demolition of Jakobshof resulted in leaving remnants of the past in a form of a walled property. This created a strong contrast between the history of Jakobshof and its current situation giving the place a sense of character and identity. These elements were the main drive for the concept of the project; maintaining the character and atmosphere of the place.
I. Creating a variety of heights yet not exceeding three floors (10.2 meters above ground level) in order to create a contrast between the surrounding buildings as well as not dominating the context.
To achieve the desired atmosphere and character, various aspects were taken into consideration along with several guidelines that shape the design. The project consists of ten buildings over all, where eight of them are residential, one office building and one coffeeshop/bookshop.
III. The footprint of the implemented buildings highlights the open spaces create a series of public and semipublic outdoor areas. The volumes are situated in a way that the central access going from the East to the West would run right through the plot.This access allows the inhabitants of the neighbouring buildings of the block to have access to the coffee shop.
The main focus lies on the residential buildings, making them more of exclusive single houses for either a family or a couple. The exclusivity is created by the architectural and spatial elements. Such as, integrating the remnants of the former wall into the houses, adding skylights and terraces looking out to the open spaces while avoiding looking into the neighboring house. Spatially, all the houses have open floorplans where most of the functions of every floor open on each other, allowing free and flexible movements and arrangements. 25
Another function is a one floor office building that lies on the East side of the plot looking out to its own open space that is used for dining purposes highlighted by long linear trees. materials and users.
Conceptual Plan
II. Creating a sequence of open spaces starting from the entrance to the plot from the West into a narrow path, reaching to larger open spaces. This generates a coherent transition between one space to the other. These voids are not only defined by the volumes, but also by the urban furniture and infrastructure.
IV. The main function of the proposal is to provide residential buildings. However, in the Baulucke(building gap), a coffee and book shop lie on the ground level with an outdoor seating area. This commercial level aims to serve the residents of the block as well as the inhabitants of the whole quarter. 26
Access
Entrances
Public
Semi-Public
Private
Figure - Ground Plan 27
Views
Cafe + Book shop
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Residential
Wall
Office 28
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= 96 m2
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= 80 m2
= 253 m2
= 232 m2
= 152 m2
= 155 m2
= 73 m2
= 130 m2
Commercial(Cafe/Bookshop)
Horizontal Circulation
Private Space (Bedrooms)
Private Terrace
Vertical Circulation
Living Space
Service Spaces (WC/Kitchen/Storage)
Work Space
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C
A
A
B
C
B
Ground Floor Plan 31
First Floor Plan 32
Section AA
+ 3.4 + 3.4 + 3.4 + 4.4
+ 6.2
Development of interiors
Section BB
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Section CC
Front Elevation
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Interior Perspective
Exterior Perspectives Showing the connection between exterior and interior spaces through urban arrangement and the architecture.
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View from a residential unit,showing the integration of the existing wall with the new development.
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Rawan Bassett | Academic Portfolio 2012 - 2016