VA Project Storybook by Salma Shoukry El-Zenouki

TABLE OF CONTENTS

01. Meet the team 02.Introduction 03. Our Site location 04.The Evolution of our Phenomenological Experience on Site 05. The Intervention and its logic 06.Research Phase Outcome 07. Concepts that affect Spirituality 08. Contextual Interventions 09.Exploration of Techtonic Languages 10. The physical Intervention: The convergence between Spirituality and density 11. The Connections 12. The Structure Systems 13. Shots 2

Tasnim El Hadidi “Nap Queen”

Youmna Hafez “Funky”

Salma El Zenouki “Me”

The Phenomenology Expert, yet takes her forever to answer the phone.

Her power nap may last 2 days. NOTHING is more importany than food.

A motivator who needs someone to motivate her, taking with confidence even when we have no idea what we are doing.

The super organized one lately. Overwhelmed 99% of the time, but get things done.

This group was a total surprise for everyone, we got along so easily even we’re totally different mindsets, everything went so smooth even that we never worked together before. We pushed each other to go the extra nuke even we knew nothing about what what we are doing in most submissions. On both group work level and individual work we keep everything going by doing the best we can do. So sad that we found a good team in the last group work course!

MEET THE TEAM

Kareema Hamdy “Karamila”

First part of a vertical design studio sequence. Design adopts an innovative approach and a theoretical position in one of three areas of interest: building design; human and environmental studies; tectonics and computational design; and architecture and urban heritage design. Development of design foundations and theoretical frameworks based on a critical review of works, theories and polemics in architecture, and case studies of buildings, spaces, structures within specific settings. Study of components and drivers of design. Development of a space and functional program. Production of a preliminary schematic design.” - AUC Catalogue, 2019

INTRODUCTION

USING THE PHENOMENOLGICAL APPROACH VIDEO INTERACTIVE MAP

Our site lies between 2 areas Features from Zenhoum: • More organized • 45 degree grid • +10 m above al khalifa street • Identical residental buildings only

Features from Al Khalifa: • Dense • Organic grid • Has lots of monuments • Different heights of buildings and functions

A quick 6 minutes video that we tried to record our experiance in El Khalifa and Zenhoum and the evolution of our phenomenological experiance of the place using our 5 senses.

Here we mapped what we captured from the site, categorising them according to the 5 senses and how they all come together to create the full image and journey. Also we included a timeline for the most dominant senses throughout the day

30.025051704867394, 31.251390060005306

OUR SITE LOCATION

THE SITE FROM OUR LENSE

We first experience the site in relation to what we know, we tend to compare and rush to judgments. The more we experience the site the closer we come to its totality and not only what is striking. Our experience developed throughout the several site visits which provided a more similar yet not totally accurate image. The more we went the more we started to get adapted to what was striking for us at the beginning as it dominated our phenomenological experience. So the longer you experience it the more we start to see the small details that make the difference. The striking elements that lead to an unfavorable judgment for us were: Mainly the 5 senses, noise, the smell of garbage, traffic, too focused on monuments, feeling outcasted from the natives of the place.

The First Impression

After Several Site Visits

To understand more please visit our interactive map and video in slide 4

THE EVOLUTION OF OUR PHENOMENOLOGICAL EXPERIANCE

The Thematic Statement : El Khalifa is a place where spirituality is embodied within the dense everyday life. The problem that is worth addressing 1. The density of El Khalifa: • Al-Khalifa district population size was 105,235, and average street area is 273 people per feddan and an average crowdedness rate of 1.135

The Intervention Statement : Highlighting the density of el khalifa and taking its positive effect and its relation with spirituality to solve the negative traits of the place.

2. High illiteracy rate and drop out: Those who are illiterate, 58.7% are women in al-Khalifa street • Al-Khalifa street area has an average of 10.3% of people who drop outand 25.9% of people who never enrolled in school • The younger generation seemingly “leaving behind” older traditions such as mawlids, older crafts, and even older values such as the vague and subjective category of ‘respect’

The Basic “Why Spirituality” Maslow’s hierarchy of human needs

4. The lack of safety • Unemployment as well as its intersection with other socioeconomic issues such as disability, homelessness, and drug use. • The Arbagiyya have created a sense of lack of safety, with many tuk-tuks not entering the area in al-Khalifa where the family lives.

In the modern world the places we inhabit, be they private or public, are the vessels through which our needs as humans are nurtured and satisfied.

THE INTERVENTION AND ITS LOGIC

• And the sense of transience or emptiness becomes a kind of ecstasy “an overwhelming feeling of great happiness or joyful excitement.”

Wabi-sabi

• Ultimate nature of existence (metaphysics), sacred knowledge (spirituality), emotional well-being (state of mind), behavior (morality), and the look and feel of things (materiality) • The allowance for imperfection and authenticity in the design of places begins to evoke spiritual experiences as users are permitted to relate in a unique, individual, and idiosyncratic way

THE CONCEPTS THAT AFFECT SPIRITUALITY

• Pahnke’s mythical consciousness as to the mind which lets go and moves with the flow of change

• When human reason is seen to be an expression of the same spontaneous balance of yang and yin as the natural universe, man’s action upon his environment is not felt as a conflict • Emphasising the spontaneous, natural, balanced approach to the world

A framework for exploring spirituality in the built environment • To facilitate more meaningful experiences by Humanity (narrative and authenticity) and Sensuality (phenomenology) • Along with the building enviroment architectural, landscape, etc..

The Way (Tao)

Impermanence

• We should come up with questions, produce hypotheses and enunciate solutions, focus on the small details that make the difference • people are amalgamated into spaces by way of processes of perception, imagination, and memory • Including functionalism, everything has a purpose in only its aesthetic considerations, and contextualism • The importance of active, embodied engagement with the world, as the body is a barrier between us and the “outside” world • The Spirit of place and the reactionary conservatism and nostalgia VS the fundamental principles of form, space, and materiality.

• To dwell implies the establishment of a meaningful relationship between man and a given environment . . . and that this relationship consists in an act of identiﬁcation, that is in a sense of belonging to a certain place • The feeling of belonging or alienation and how comfort is achieved, inclusion and exclusion, the material and non-material character • Sustainability is also about sustaining the unique features of this community and keeping the Socio-spatial perspective • Dealing with the way people take control of the space and their everyday lives • Louis Khan’s idea that it is not what a place is that is important, but what it wants to be

RESEARCH PHASE OUTCOMES

The first phase was a research phase, mainly our group was tackling the phenomenological approach and its theories in order to understand our site. There were some key points that we took out of the readings that we did, here are some of them:

“Yo u h tha ts t ave lo h is s epe e pro ts of blem ide rate as, d, i , ts to the and o m proj uch ect ”

Fun Fact(s) about this Model: At first I thought this model was a total fail. But the truth is those are the ideas that I ended up presenting in my final model. (The idea of modular buildings, shell structure, and rectilinear forms too). The problem here was that I had too much ideas for each space as I was still doing my research and I did not stick to something yet.

s u c o f n a c m r u o f o y he e t b y r “Ma idea fo one with it” play

on and

This was what got me the idea of my next model. Which got me the idea of the one after,etc.. so thank you Nouran! This problem kept coming back throughout my whole journey in this course, I either think about a crazy idea or think about each space individually, then tell my self I’ll figure the connection later.. And that was never a good Idea, dont be like me.

CONTEXTUAL MODEL ONE

Features that I want to keep:

CONTEXTUAL MODEL TWO

• Having a journey and a link inbetween spaces. • Having a clear direction • Different levels • The density in the project Ideas I’ll enhance further: Think about • Scale • Constructability of the forms • To take the topography to our benefit

Feedback: Problems with: • So conseptual • Wrong topography • Problem of scale compared • to surroundings

Keywords: • An Interconnected web Layered • Dense • Fused with Surroundings • Safe • Controlled • Authentic • Prime Mover

The Idea Behind It and where it came from: This time I focused on Planar compositions and lines, I can start a basic form to show the directions that I want each activity to take, also how they come together and its relationships with 90 and 45 degrees grids.

Potential from: • High level of experimentation • Simple forms, endless possiblities, with varity of vertical, horizontal planes, shading elements, barriers, etc. • Have a specific direction as an intervention • Usage of different axis

FINALLYY! WE HAVE SOMETHING TO DISSCUSS AND GIVE FEEDBACK ON!

Inspiration(s): This model was mainly inspired from graphic compositions using planar compositions and lines.

Keywords: • Layered • Centered Where it Came from: Starting to understand the topography and making use of the context by doing the different zones according to the feelings

Feedback: Problems with: • Scale of masses is huge • Not using the levels correctly • Symmetric • Different structural systems, not clarified Potential from: • Playing with topography to create different heights to enhance the journey. • Use of different enternaces, centeral courtyard. • The idea of having the multipurpose area as a shell structure started here to highlight its importance.

Features that I want to keep: • Having a journey and a link inbetween spaces. • Seperating the different users journeys however here I tried to create nodes for them to meet Ideas I’ll enhance further: • The same idea of scale • Reduce the symmetry as the different activities will have different forms so it would actually delivers my massage. New Idea that I thought about after this: • Having more levels to balance both sides together. • Play with the topography But the problem with that was that I would affect the side next to Al Ashraf street negatively of I made the project higher.

Concept: spirituality affect their sense of belonging and psychologically which again was affected due to their lifestyle and economical state which why I wanted to integrated in all activities.

Inspiration(s): This model was mainly inspired from some features from the context, like the patterns in sayeda Nafisa Mosque, having a shade to confine an area with a certain activity like their informal shops for instance, So i decided to use it in the multipurpose hall.

CONTEXTUAL MODEL THREE

The Idea Behind It: Started to think about the activities I am having and the reasons why I need those activites. In addition to that I started to think about the feeling that I want the users to get inside and the interaction that is going to happen and how to do all of that.

FRAMES

Why we are doing that phase:

What I learned throughout the process:

• To understand what are the structural systems • To understand how we can use them as a design tool

• how to connect different members together (the planes itself and the rigid, and pinned connections)

What was required in that phase:

What I learned from the feedback:

• Build different physical structural models using cardboard with no adhesive material

Things to take care of: • No. 1 needs different designs for the compression than the tension connections • No. 2 Needs bracing to prevent buckling in the vertical members

Material(s) we were using and the rules: • Cardboard and we added cables in one model • The direction we cut the cardboard as the load should be parallel to the corrugation • Its not a very strong material so we could not create very long members without bracing. • Its better to use a folded square section than planes, it gives it more strength • The cables needed to be always in tension

How I added this to my project: • I almost used all of the different structures that we have done here over my techtonic trials and final outcome • Understood how to put them together without over designing the project

EXPLORATION OF TECHTONIC LANGUAGES CARDBOARD EDITION

TRUSSES

• Now we understand what the material is capable of doing • The models now have a caracter, as Dr. Amr said “How it says something, it has a message” • We introduced an additional material to the cardboard, which is the cables. Yet, we had some problems with this model.

EXPLORATION OF TECHTONIC LANGUAGES CARDBOARD EDITION

How is was related to previous phases: • Now we are capable of integrating phenomenology with the structrual model • For the arches we went back to the idea of the evolution of our phenomenological experiance • How spirituality intersects with their everyday life. • 1The idea of layering from one of my contextual models • How we wanted to represent the spirituality by the play of light from the openings inbetween the different units in the main arch

CABLES & ARCH

Where to concept of the intersection of arches came from: • Here is where the idea of the embodied spirituality in the everyday life started • We figured that a single arch would not be enough to represent the spirituality • We needed different units to represent this The feedback: • They could actually see what we were talking about • We need to come up with a one sentence thematic statment that conclude our ideas for us to use in the upcoming phases • We needed it to be more of a structural model not an art Things we need to figure for the final model: • Start to connect them together at the top and distribute the load • We need: footing, tie beams, and to add something for it to be an actual journey explaining the whole experiance

INTERSECTION OF ARCHES PRT. I

Things to take care of: • It is actually a diagrid structure not cables. • The arch needs bracing, tie beams, and the slits to be angled so it would be stronger.

How these models have different ideas than the previous ones:

EXPLORATION OF TECHTONIC LANGUAGES CARDBOARD EDITION

INTERSECTION OF ARCHES PRT. II FINAL GROUP STRUCTURAL MODEL

It was a long/messy Proccess

One of the most important things from this course is that we were working as a firm. And as the time was limited we did not have the time to really explore all the connections, and different ways of expression, so it was really benefical that we learn from each other and get more ideas. We also learned from each others failed attempts and how the models should not only look good but has to play its role in our message and of course be structurally correct

With lots of failed attempts When things started to get real and we started relating these models to our phenomenological approach was where it started becoming more challenging but with a lot of experimentations and with the help from the doctors and TAs we were able to get the maximum out of the experiance and learn much more about the structural systems more than just the theortical part that Dr. Sherif gave us information about throughout our years in architecture.

“Yalla aho l matl3 aw nash mohn desee ntl3 n n agree n”

With lots and lots learning opportunities from a lot of sources

With lots of things to learn about structure systems and cardboard

CARDBOARD PROCESS AND LEARNING OURCOMES

h s e hd a” a !” y n m r a ob ah war l k l la l sh ar a 3 l w 3 t “ kh ma a yen a da alm S a d E “

The feedback: • It is all over the place, looks like different projects • they are seperated • Its not a structural model (Looks like shear walls) What I wanted to keep from this model: • The zoning and locations of the different activities.

What is Common between both : • Started off by designing the pathways, first I was using different axes from the whole Hay El Khalifa then I reduced it to only 2 axes as in my first contextual model. The Inspiration:

The Concept and idea of this model: Started to experiment more with the form • Open (Can be used in both private and public zones) • Spontaneous, Shows unity, Simple • Can play with different layers,ree of blocks , a prime mover • Shows density and authenticity in an contemporary way • Can use all features and capacities of surrounding context • Can give some of the richness of experience that monuments give The feedback: • Need to check the constructability of the form • The acute angles might waste a lot of space inside the forms • It does not belong to the context by any way (looks odd) What I wanted to keep from this model: • Having an attraction point towards the monuments • Connected slabs from different buildings creating a journey. • Experimenting with complex structure 17

TECHTONIC MODEL ONE & TWO The Concept and idea of this model: • That was the first techtonic model so I started by thinking about what structural system will be sutable for each activity seperately so they did not come together in the best way.

The feedback:

• Need to check the constructability of the form • The acute angles might waste a lot of space inside the forms • It does not belong to the context by any way (looks odd)

• Over designed • lost the idea that I started to have in the last model of the unity and identity of my project • The use of different complex structures is not economically justified • The idea of the shell and how it connects together is good (It was an upgrade for the idea I had in my second contextual model)

The different structural systems used and locations: • Frame Structure • For the Vocational (larger Span) workshops and storage • Diagrid System • For the hospital and educational building • Hyperbolic Shell • For the outdoor ampitheatre • Cables • Connecting different points of the project to create attraction points • Shell Structure • Multipurpose area and the main pathways to it

Ideas I got after this model • Different sizes of openings • To feel the density to freedom • Create a different experience through it • Try to make an accessible roof • Divide it into multiple ones for isolation • Maybe integrate overlapped arches to redirect people

What I wanted to keep from this model: • Having the shell structure as the main feature of the project, but with simpler structural system for the rest of the project • Having multiple courtyards seperating the different activities • The idea also from my first contextual model of the directions of the forms and how they affect the journey and my story.

TECTONIC MODEL THREE The Concept and idea of this model:

DIFFERENT IDEAS THAT I HAD BUT DID NOT INTEGRATE YET INCLUDING ARCHES COMPLETE MODULARITY RECORRIDOS

TENSEGRITY

The Thematic Statement : El Khalifa is a place where spirituality is embodied within the dense everyday life. Where it came from:

The Intervention Statement : Highlighting the density of el khalifa and taking its positive effect and its relation with spirituality to solve the negative traits of the place.

How it is translated into the model: By using two different structural systems overlaying one another showing how the spirituality is the centeral element in their day to day lives. Symbolizing the dome to highlight the main feature of the project which is the multipurpose area.

How it is translated into the model: By responding to the density on El Khalifa street to match the prorities of the volumes. The first line is super dense and busy, however, as you go inside towards the center the narrow pathways and alleyways gets opens up to a more open space. In addition to that density is relating to the context well yet what was missing was for them to ‘Breath’ and by creating scattered open courtyards for different functions we can use the in between spaces. Other spaces gives them the freedom to see how they shape the space, yet not the total freedom for it to be overused.

THE CONVERGENCE BETWEEN SPITIUALITY AND DENSITY

Hay El Khalifa El Sayeda Zeinab

THE CONENCTIONS

El Khalifa and Zenhoum

Thats an Example of how cells can be joined horizontally or vertically.

Around our site el khalifa street grid is organic, yet has a straight main street and zenhoum is 45 degrees. Yet, I was inspired from a zoomed out area in Hay El khalifa. As in my opinion modularity helps to organize the space without limitations, can merge multiple together.

Surrounding and Different Elements • Courtyards are designed spread around the project as nodes between different activities, some have specific usergroups, some are public use.

• All elements are as equally important. • Each has unqiue features. • Linking the different buildings together with different alleyways and functions.

Modularity and Axes

THE FUNCTIONAL PROGRAM

DETAILED SPACE PRGRAM

This space program is designed to benefit all users, respecting the function of the space also their culture and traditions. Some activities are interconnected together which will appear in the circulation diagrams later. In addition to some areas are used for multiple activities at different timing of the day and year. For instance, the most important time of the year in El Khalifa is El Mouled and for this the multipurpose area will all be dedicated to this function.

THE CHOICE OF STRUCTURAL SYSTEM IN RELATION TO THE USER EXPERIANCE • The column and beam blends with the context, making the building familiar somehow to the users. It also surves the modularity and highlights the main element which is the other structural system.

• The Play of form, being much more spontaneous, play of light and penetrations as you go this complex structure, feeling the spirituality , which has different concepts that should reach the users.

• Straight lines gives the feeling of organization, less spontanous than what they are used to. That takes us to the good thing that the residence of Zenhoum said that they felt a good change after things were more organized on their side.

• Creating a welcoming, controlled, self sufficent environment for multiple activites in the multipurpose area

• Some areas like the isolated mental health area is meant to be seperated than other areas, yet can watch whats happening from a hidden spot. Which should make feel more safe, seperated somehow and relaxed.

• The whole project is meant to be fused with the world, even the shell is pulled from multiple sides which makes it more flowy, powerful and acts as a prime mover. Which can totally help users in almost all activities in the project be empowered and from being the attraction center point in the area.

THE STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

3 different structural systems are used , Simple column & beam for most buildings, 2D truss for vocational learning for bigger spams and 3D Shell structure for the multipurpose hall as it represents ‘Spirituality’.

3 different structural systems are used , Simple column & beam for most buildings, 2D truss for vocational learning for bigger spams and Grid-Shell structure for the multipurpose hall as it represents ‘Spirituality’, which is the most important for us to know its proprities.

THE GRID-SHELL • Open (Can be used in both private and public zones) • Spontaneous • Shows unity • Can play with different layers • Free of blocks • Simple • Shows density and authenticity in an contemporary way • Can use all features and capacities of surrounding context • Can be a prime mover • Can give some of the richness of experience that monuments give The evolution of the shell: The shell structure was changed over time for it to reach the end result that I needed from its function to the opennings that i needed to achieve spirituality.

How it started:

Simple patterned shell that started as an arch at the main pathways and ended at the multipurpose As a 3D space frame:

Why Grid-Shell:

Joints:

• Grid pattern replaces the shell material which enables the overall structure to benefit from the combined action of • Intersetion of 4 members, with shell and arches and thus to pinned connection to allow the achieve unique shapes. rotation movement • Same structural behavior • Increased member size also as shells, gain their stability increase in the the initial from their geometric shape bending stress Flat to curve: • Internal forces are carried by members and therefore have to follow a restricted number of paths.

Bulky, over designed as the roof • A plain, continuous shell can resist normal and shear forces is not accessible while the lattice shell can only How it ended as a Grid-Shell: resist forces in the direction of the lath i.e. axial forces.

Simpler, lighter, more opened, spontaneous and grounded.

Diagonals are used to strengthen the structure.

The grid-shell starts as a flat surface then pulled by points to create this shape, which increases the bending force, which its joints are designed for.

THE STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

Keywords I want to achieve:

THE PROPRETIES OF THE CHOSEN STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

Simple column and beam with respect to the topography levels

STRUCTURE CLOSEUPS

The Vocational Workshops 2D Truss (For Larger Spams)

Simple 4*4 shops with a modular shading device

Grid-Shell Multipurpose area

Simple Column and beam structure

Connection of Space truss

Simple column and beam Elevated gallery with socializing space on top

THE DIFFERENT STRUCTURAL SYSTEMS

GRASSHOPPER DEFINITION FOR THE SHELL

The Question here is.. How do we move.. To the Site • The site is both accessible from Zenhoum and El Khalifa. By either walking or vehicles, and there is a parking lot dedicated to the emergancy medical center.

Into the Site • Multiple enterances are designed from different areas and for different uses and activities.

Around the Site • The journey inside the project will be a loop, depending on the activities and almost all activities are connected by pathways (some are narrow, some are wide) to make the circulation easier around.

THE CIRCULATION

ZONES

LAYOUT

PRESPECTIVE

SHOTS

SHOTS

VA Project Storybook

Articles inside

Shots

The Structure Systems

Exploration of Techtonic Languages

The Connections

Research Phase Outcome

Contextual Interventions

Meet the team

The Intervention and its logic

Our Site location

Concepts that affect Spirituality

The Evolution of our Phenomenological Experience on Site

Introduction