ARCHITECTURAL PORTFOLIO
SOMER GALAL
Fort Tyron This design is a proposal for a museum and information gallery situated in a park in Hudson Heights,NY. The museum will pay tribute to the Battle of Fort Washington which took place during the American Revolutionary War. When adressing the site great attention was paid to the geography surronding it. Because the museum will be informing and educating the public about Fort Tyron Park and the battels fought, I thought it best to keep the natural elements in place. A large rock was that was present on the site was utilized as a design element to draw people into the building. It is an indicator of circulation. Because the site has so many lovely views of the Hudson and Harlem Rivers I was sure to design a glass walk way from the gallery spaces to the library and public node of the building. Other aspects of the site determined factors in the design of the building. For example the angle of the subway, placement of trees, volley ball courts, apartment buildings, side walk, and rock. The side yard is an important element to capture due to the fact that many pedestrians walk through this area. The different areas of circulation all meet up at this pivitol area in the site.
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MODELS
HAND CUT ELEMENTS
ACRYLIC LASER CUTTING
ORBITAL LEARNING The proposal for the new Charter Elementary School (K-5) is Located in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, New York on a rectangular site of 100x200 feet. The proposal takes into account the steep expected increase of 25% enrollment. The classrooms are flexible , fun multi-purpose spaces that can accommodate over 300 students. Quality of light and outdoor space is pivitol to a learning environment thus its is integral to the design. Program is distributed according to quality of light, size and height of each sphere. The form of the building, a sphere, was chosen because it is the most nurturing, and natural form, ideal for children. In nature all creatures come into the world from a sphere. For example; mammals, birds, fish and reptiles are all born from their mothers in a spherical atmosphere like an amniotic sac, or an egg or nest. Because this shape is so safe and provides the maximum surface area with minumum use of material it is the ideal shape for an Elementary School. It speaks to an audience of teachers and parents that are fed up with the lack of nurture and originality in the built environment of our educational system. Children should not dread going to school and teachers should not have to struggle with banal environments where social interactions are deterred by stone walls and back of the class conditions. As designers it is our responsibility to respond to this demand and create buildings that connect biologically, promote sociability and create moments of joy through light and clear circulation.
BUS DROP OFF VIEW This entry is treated as a friendly greenspace that the children would be dropped off and picked up at for school. The louvers on the facade not only provide shade for those inside the classes but also a shelterfor the children waiting for their parents to lounge under.
AUDITORIUM VIEW The shape of the orb is ideal for an acoustic ally successful auditorium. The stairs are situated along the interior of the orb and there is a upper indoor balcony that looks down on the space. A seperate orb is attached towards the back that serves as a dress or rehersal studio.
ART CLASS ROOM VIEW As two orbs intersect a light tunnel is the resultant. This condition is utilized for the art class room. It provides a quality of light that would not otherwise be possible. The space created is one of openess and delicacy which is ideal for excited young artists.
FRANKLIN STREET
DUPONT STREET
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
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20’
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STUDY MODELS
3D PRINTING
PERI-LINK This design was a proposal for an art gallery exhibition space, and studio for up and coming artist in Long Island City, Queens, New York. Peri-Link, short for Perimeter Link, is about creating a connection between the existing Community and the Artists. By maintaining a porous perimeter edge, users inhabit the unfolded spaces, the community is empowered to participate and occupy outdoor public plaza. Link’s are further reinforced with the us of light, program, and views. Light is filtered through water, as reflecting pools link spaces in the program while simultaneously dictating a path of circulation. Windows integrated within the steel structure allow direct and indirect light to fill the space throughout the day in addition to functioning as integrated furniture. Different views and directions can be experienced as you ascend and descend within the linearly organized link. Program is organized by degrees of privacy which is defined by various slab heights. The views connect all program, both private and public. The Communal painted facade panels are complementry to the art oriented neighborhood, and provide a distinction between the changing community and the artist. Connecting the two encourages simultanious growth.
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46th Avenue
COURT YARD VIEW Under the protection of the annex students, children, and faculty can enjoy lounging in the green spaces that get peanty of light and ventilation due to the high piloties and the porosity of the strcuture.
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WC LOUNGE
ARTIST STUDIO
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BALCONY
SCULPTURE GARDEN
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PLAZA
METAL WORKING OUTDOOR STUDIO
REFLECTION POND
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COMPUTER LAB VIEW The computer lab is an open space on the third level of th ebuilding and it contains a outdoor enclosed semi translucent stair well to the balcony. This is great because it provides an outlet to the outdoors for those who get tired of sitting infrount of a screen all day. The building is designed to constantly maintain an accesible link the user to the out doors using the perimeters
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WC METAL WORKING INDOOR STUDIO
SECURITY
COMPUTER L
CAFE RECEPTION LOUNGE
CONFERENCE
LOBBY SCULPTURE GARDEN
PLAZA
PLAZA
PLAZA
OFFICE
OFFICE ENTRY
METAL WORKING OUTDOOR STUDIO
ART GALLERY
VERANDA
REFLECTION POND
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ADMINISTRATION VIEW The administration wing is the final space accesible in the building. Because i is a very private area it has its own elevator and access to the court yard bellow and roof top and pond above it. The large windows provide idea; spaces and quality of light inside the offices.
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WC METAL WORKING INDOOR STUDIO
LOUNGE COMPUTER LAB
ARTIST STUDIO
CAFE
LOUNGE
BALCONY
CONFERENCE
SCULPTURE GARDEN
PLAZA
PLAZA
SCULPTURE GARDEN
PLAZA
OFFICE
OFFICE
METAL WORKING OUTDOOR STUDIO
METAL WORKING OUTDOOR STUDIO
ART GALLERY
VERANDA
REFLECTION POND
REFLECTION POND
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Concept Diagrams
13,500 SF
ENTRY
PROGRAM = CIRCULATION PROGRAM = MAX SQUARE FOOTAGE
SITE = PRIVATE + CIRCULATION + MAX SQUARE FOOTAGE CENTER & CORNERS = PUBLIC + ENTRY + LIGHT
PERIMETER = 470 FT OF PROGRAM
Exploded Axon Diagram
Material Diagram
Structure Diagram
Water Barrier
Polycarbon Painted Panels
Community
COMMUNAL PANELS
Artist
Roof Fountain
GREY WATER SYSTEM
Floor Panel
M12x20 Set Screw Hd.
DETAIL PANEL DIAGRAM
FACADE DIAGRA M
Panels
SYSTEM DIAGRAM
Water Utilities
WC SECURITY
WC
SECURITY STAGE
RECEPTION
STAGE
LOUNGE
RECEPTION LOUNGE
CONFERENCE CONFERENCE LOBBY LOBBY PLAZA
PLAZA
PLAZA
AUDITORIUM
PLAZA
PLAZA
PLAZA
AUDITORIUM
OFFICE OFFICE
OFFICE ENTRY
OFFICE
ENTRY
ART GALLERY ART GALLERY
ART STUDIO
LOUNGE
ART STUDIO
METAL STUDIO METAL WORKING STUDIO SCULPTURE GARDEN
GALLERY
VERANDA
ENTRY
LOUNGE
CONFERENCE
LOBBY
LOBBY
PLAZA
AUDITORIUM
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RT STUDIO
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WC
WC METAL WORKING INDOOR STUDIO
LOUNGE
ARTIST STUDIO
COMPUTER LAB
LOCKERS
CAFE
BALCONY
SCULPTURE GARDEN
SCULPTURE GARDEN
SCULPTURE GARDEN
PLAZA
PLAZA
METAL WORKING OUTDOOR STUDIO
METAL WORKING OUTDOOR STUDIO
VERANDA
REFLECTION POND
REFLECTION POND
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WC
LOCKERS
WC LAB
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ART STUDIO
STORAGE
LOUNGE
STORAGE
OFFICE CAFE
GALLERY
INDOOR METAL WORKING STUDIO
METAL WORKING STUDIO
METAL WORKING STUDIO
OFFICE
CONFERENCE LOUNGE
GALLERY
SECURITY
WC
PLAZA
Garden