Portfolio Tahseen Abou ElFoutouh
Tahseen’s passion for the visual arts started as a young boy when he discovered his love for drawing. His talented hands took him by the eyes and gripped his soul, as he was mesmerized by the details of the world around him. Growing up in the ancient, bustling city of Cairo, there was no shortage of historical sites to visit and beautiful views to draw. From the famous Al Hussein district, to Al Muizz Street and Old Cairo, the young, eager boy who was fortunate enought to live in the City of a Thousand Minarets quickly fell in love with architecture. As he entered architecture school his drive grew, and a year before graduating from university he started an architecture studio with a fresh grad partner. Feeling the limitation of opportunity in the already over-crowded city, Tahseen set his sights on another bustling city Dubai, the jewel of the Middle East. He moved to Dubai in 2006, aspiring to create high-end architectural masterpieces. He joined Dimensions as a young architect, and eight years later he had risen to the top and become Deputy Head of Design, right under the principal architect Hesham Abdel Ghani. His love for drawing led him to a new discovery - photography. Through the camera lens, Tahseen found he could capture scenes, emotions and landscapes in new and interesting ways. The limitations of different types of lenses and cameras, and the capturing of light when it was scarce, pushed his understanding of the visual world further, and he interpreted this new-found knowledge into his field in the mastering of the production of photo-realistic renderings of his designs. Through the exploration of drones, his perspective changed yet again due to the discovery of the new vantage point they offered. Seeing the world we live in from above, and at such a smaller scale, provided him with yet another view of life and human scale. There is no telling where his love of exploration and creative eye will take him next, but one thing is for sure - it will only be forward.
1983
1989
1995
20
Born in Cairo, Egypt, the third of a total of five children.
Entered Saint Fatima School, which I attended till I graduated.
Joined Basketball Under-14s team at local club.
Was Arc dre
1997
20
Was taken into Egyptian Under16s National Basketball team.
Coarch my
1992 Discovered a passion for drawing, started sketching friends and classmates.
20
Gra
20
Left Dub dre Join jun
000
2011
s accepted into chitecture school - my eam.
Married my partner. Growing in ranks and proving myself in Dimensions.
004
-founded my first hitecture studio in y final year in school.
005
aduated with BArch.
006
t home and moved to bai to pursue of my eam career. ned Dimensions as a nior architect.
2012 Co-founded my visualization firm, 4D Graphics.
2014 Promoted to Deputy Head of Design at Dimensions.
2016 Young Architect of the Year ???
Looking Forward Start my own architecture studio in Dubai. Make a mark on the world with my designs.
These outstanding people, in one way or another, have had an impact on my goals, my dreams and my behaviours. Inspirational through their work ethic, their design sense, their motivation and dedication and most of all through their largerthan-life accomplishments, they are true role models.
_Inspirations
Rasem Badran
Ahmad Al Shugairi
Iwan Baan
Steve Jobs
Zaha Hadid
Norman Foster
_Selected Works
TowerforRefugees 24HourCompetition Honorable Mention
THE TOWER
Ideas Forward 24H Competition_ 9th Edition The purpose of this unique competition by Ideas Forward is to give designers a challenge to implement innovative ideas in a short time and to represent in a compelling manner. The topic for this edition was “Syria - A Tower for Refugees�.
Step 01
HANGING GARDENS
Step 02
Step 03
Step 04
Step 05
The old and traditional areas in Arab cities are characterized by their complex urban fabric, which is a result of a cumulative process of activities over time. In order to understand what shaped this complex fabric, it is important to associate it with the notions of culture (a framework that recognizes social and historical dimensions of urban life), identity (specific characteristics of place), and authenticity.
Human Scale Identity Intimacy
Interaction Social ties Sense of belonging Where People Used to Live - The City
THE TOWER
A Tower for Refugees - Dubai
DUBAI , WHERE EAST MEETS WEST THE LAND OF TOLERANCE, COEXISTENCE AND OPPORTUNITIES 85%
EXPATS
NEGLIGIBLE CRIME RATE
0%
TAXES
RELIGIOUS OPENNESS
20%
WORLD CRANES
365
SUNNY DAYS A YEAR
CONFLICT
urban life), identity (specific characteristics of place), and authenticity.
I
AM
SYRIAN
Human Scale - Identity - Intimacy - Interaction - Social ties - Sense of belonging
WHERE PEOPLE USED TO LIVE - THE CITY
THE TOWER
Exiled, in and out of my homeland, and on knife blades with swollen feet I walk. I am Syrian: Shiite, Druze, Kurd,Christian, and I am Alawite, Sunni, and Circassian. Syria is my land. Syria is my identity. My COURTYARD HOUSES
CONFLICT
sect is the scent of my homeland,
the soil after the rain, and my Syria is my only identity.
THE TOWER
BRINGING THE VALUES TO THE PRESENT - THE TOWER
Courtyard Houses
HANGING GARDENS
Environmental, Social, and Economic Step 01 Step 02 Step 03 StepCultural 04 Step 05 Sustainability ENVIRONMENTAL , SOCIAL , CULTURAL , & ECONOMIC SUSTAINABILITY
LaCascade360
ParisSkyPoolCompetition Third Place Winner A Competition by Super Skyscrapers
LA CASCADE SHIFTING CONTINUITY IN TIME AND SPACE
360
“All that can be found anywh - Victor Hugo, 1881
The aligned streetfronts, dis stone� buildings and tree-lined of Paris are a visual reflectio formal Parisian society.
The classically elegant, simple the central district of Paris a contemporary and heritage lan
The vertical urban plaza, La C sits harmoniously within the c refined structure and transpar itself characterized by its unde
He who contemplates the dep vertigo. Nothing is more fantas
here can be found in Paris�
stinctive cream-grey “Paris d boulevards within the city on of the sophisticated and
form structures that occupy are punctuated by famous ndmarks - the City of Art.
Cascade Trois Cent Soixante central Paris district with its rent facade, a monument in erstated elegance.
pths of Paris is seized with stic.
PalmHills
CityScape 2008 Shortlisted - Residential Project of the Year The concept of this project was to re-create a suburban lifestyle vertically: to design family homes with all possible facilities such as a private pool and garden brought into an apartment building. The design approach was to use a modular cell, through diffeerent combinations of solid vs. void, to create opportunities in the mass for private open areas.
BamiyanCultureCenter UNESCOCompetition
The design approach to this project puts the local environment at the center of the dynamic, and recognizes the vital role of their interaction and response in optimizing the richness of places over time. In Bamiyan, nature has played a dominant role in forming its urban fabric - it is clear that the valley going towards the cliff had a strong influence of the tissue of the city, forming both its linear and central forces. This urban fabric mixture, which was considered as the DNA of the city, is used as the base point for the design concept. Using these lines in the design will enhance the traditional and the sensational identity of the city, to create a project that blends with its context and becomes a lasting legacy for Bamiyan.
TH ntre
SITE PLAN SCALE 1:1000
URBAN CONNECTORS .......... THE CONTEXTUAL APPROACH THE MAIN DESIGN APPROACH WAS BASED ON RECONNECTING THE SITE WITH THE SURROUNDING CONTEXT. WITH UNDERSTANDING THAT THE CONTEXT REFLECTS THE CULTURAL, NATURAL, SOCIAL, AND BUILT ENVIRONMENT
DESIGN PILLARS
CULTURAL
NATURAL
PRIVATE
SOCIAL
BUILT ENVIRONMENT
that fits into
THE MAIN DE CONNECTING CONTEXT. WITH UNDER FLECTS THE AND BUILT E
BAMIYAN IDENTITY
Searches for the spirit of the place as embodied by the social order which defines the types of relationships and behavior patterns that are influenced by acquired and inherited customs. These are also formed by environmental, climatic and geographic factors.
ARCHITECTURE CHARACTER
WORLD HERITAGE PROTECTION ZONE POTENTIAL VIEWS
SITE ACCESSIBILITY
PROGRAM ANALYSIS CARVED SPACES BAMIYAN IDENTITY
Searches for the spirit of the place as embodied by the social order which defines the types of relationships and behavior patterns that are influenced by acquired and inherited customs. These are also formed by environmental, climatic and geographic factors.
PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION BY DEPARTMENTS
THE COURTYARD & LANDSCAPING
ARCHITECTURE CHARACTER
OVER ALL PROGRAM
POTENTIAL VIEWS
SITE ACCESSIBILITY SEMI
PROGRAM ANALYSIS PUBLIC
PUBLIC
PRIVATE
CARVED SPACES
PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION BY DEPARTMENTS
THE COURTYARD & LANDSCAPING
OVER ALL PROGRAM
ple at the f their inces over nt role in towards ming both hich was e design raditional at fits into
THE CO
WORLD HERITAGE PROTECTION ZONE
SEMI
PUBLIC
PUBLIC
PRIVATE
RasAlNasa
DesignCompetition Second PlaceWinner When luxury unites with tradition in design, the result is architectural elegance.
1. Main Lobby 2. Reception and Administration 3. Terrace Restaurant & Cafe
East Wing 4. Hotel rooms & 1-bedroom suites 5. Luxury Rooms
West Wing 6. Multipurpose & Conference Halls 7. Hotel rooms 8. Souq (retail) 9. Seafood Restaurant & Terrace 10. Restaurant & Cafe 11. Spa, Health club & Pool 12. Fountain 13. Service Block 14. Beach
Main Entrance Side Entrance VIP Parking (underground)
Doha, Qatar
This project is comprised of 3 elements: a boutique hotel with 150 rooms, luxury suites, villas and palaces for families, a marina, and a retail and banquet hall area, which includes specialty restaurants that serve hotel residents as well as outside guests.
The vernacular design of this hotel earned 2nd prize in its competition. The axial layout of the different elements maximizes use of the site and provides each of the facilities with its desired level of privacy. There are several entrance points around the site. The business facilities are located streetside, while the residential and hotel accommodations lie on internal gardens to add a level of privacy and segregation from the general public while still providing them with views of lush gardens, the pool and the sea.
ZafranaSouq
DesignCompetition First Place Winner “A nation without a past is a nation without a present or a future. Thanks to God, our nation has a flourishing civilization, deep-rooted in this land for many centuries”. Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan Al Nahyan The Zafrana ‘Souq’ - or traditional marketplace - provides an architecturally stimulating opportunity for the play of solid vs void, covered vs open space, sidewalk vs stream vs greenery, all the while adorned by the sand-colored facades and the linear elements of the region’s vernacular architecture.
SoukWaqef Doha, Qatar
The aim of this project is to expand the hugely popular social gathering place, Souk Waqef, to include a new hotel, spa, bank, and housing. The proposal emphasizes the importance of the connection to the existing Souk and its traditional theme, uniting the two phases seamlessly.
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5 12
6
3
11
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13
7 8 4
1
10. Main lobby and hotel reception 11. Spa & Health club 12. Existing mosque 13. Existing house 14. Existing Souq
9
2
1. Hotel 2. Bank 3. Housing 4. Multi-purpose Hall 5. Souk (retail area) 6. Restaurants 7. Museum & Galleries 8. Recreation zone 9. Main plaza
Hotel Building Bank Building Housing Zone Restaurant Area Multipurpose Hall Commercial Zone Existing Mosque Existing Waqef Souq Green Area Water Feature
The main mosque, which is nearby, is enetered through the souq itself, lending a religious environment to the project linked to the social life inside the project, extending its function and linking it to the proposed retail area from the front side of the project.
Hotel Building Bank Building Housing Zone Restaurant Area Multipurpose Hall Commercial Zone Existing Mosque Main Reception Water Feature
GardenHeights Garden Heights Towers is set to be a new high-rise residential complex accented with crystalline balconies and punctuation with greenery. Designed to be a unique concept in the area, residents of this tower will be able to enjoy a community garden, which occurs every four floors throughout the building.
RoyalHandTower During the concept development stage, the main inspiration came from his Highness Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum and the common gesture of his hands. The project is aimed to be an important landmark in Dubai, reflecting his highness’s visions and thoughts. The study of the hand movement was taken and simplified into a series of lines, and the evolution of the hand movement was taken and manipulated into the structure. The project reflects the determined yet generous hand. With its firm and rigid form, it shows flexibility and movement reflecting back to his Highness’s Royal Hand.
JumaAlMajid AlMuraqqabatResidence The minimalistic modern skin used in this residential design creates a buffer zone between public and private realms. The alternation of solid/mesh/opening adds a dynamic element to the facade.
ECQ BusinessPark Fluidity. Continuity. Connectivity. These are the words that describe the design approach to this business complex in Energy City, Lusail, Qatar.
HiltonAlMuraqqabat This elegant hotel is designed for Al Wasl to be part of a chain that will be operated by the Hilton Garden Inn. Its unique mashrabiya elevation adds an arabian, traditional and islamic air to its sleek, modern lines. It also serves as a sunbreaker, filtering in light while minimizing heat through its dual-layered design, decreasing the energy consumption of the building.
VillaDesigns Modern home designs for Al Rostamani compound. Bold linear elements were the recurring theme among the villas, where different materials and textures lent the designs an elegant modern feel.
PalmeraCity This new city was planned in partnership with the govenment of Damascus, developed in order to replace the current slum housing in the area, and provide proper housing with basic amenities. It was designed with a high-tech configuration to be the first sustainable project in Syria.
Master Plan Initial Trials and Sketches
Master Plan Design Concept
Function Diagrams
TunisiaEconomicCity Tunisia Economic City is a bold initiative for the future of North Africa. Covering over 90 million square meters, and by combining a variety of mutually reinforcing uses, the creation of self-reinforcing economic clusters will provide a hub for economic activity on an international level. The Free Trade / Logistics / Exhibition cluster provides an international logistics and trade hub. The Tourist and Mixed Use cluster provides an extended stay offering hosting a range of cultural and commercial activity. The Media / Leisure / Entertainment cluster ties in to the Tourist and Mixed use sectors with the ability to extend tourist visits even more, and providing a boost for several important economic activities. The Knowledge / Medical Cluster leverages a variety of educational, research and medical activities providing a self sustaining economic hub for these important economic drivers. This sizable new city will provide a great boost to Tunisia’s international image, create a source of national pride, spark new growth in the local economy and provide new jobs. This will be a bold step forward in Tunisia’s development and will become a touchstone for the country’s bright future.
Enfidha Airport
Takrouna
Enfidha
Chgarnia
Ain Errahma Friguia
Bouficha
G + 120
G+36 - G+50
Highest Land Value
G+26 - G+35
G+20 - G+25
1
G+10 - G+19 G+5 - G+9
2
Lowest Land Value
G+0 - G+4
3 Enfidha Airport
Enfidha Airport
1 2
3
Building Heights Diagram
Land Value Diagram
Takrouna
Takrouna
Enfidha
Enfidha
Chgarnia
Chgarnia
Ain Errahma Friguia
Ain Errahma Friguia
Enfidha Airport
Enfidha Airport
Bouficha
Existing National Railway Line
Railway to Metro Stations
Bus Route
Bus Stations
Site Border
Metro Route
Regional Roads
Water Taxi Route
International Highway
Bouficha
Main Axis - The Boulevard
Metro to Bus Stations
Secondary Axis
Water Taxi Stations
Secondary Road
Primary Road
Site Border
International Highway Railway Line
Regional Roads
Public Transport Diagram
Pedestrian Network Diagram
Zoning Diagram
Logistic Industrial Commercial - (Includes Retail) Residential Hotel Retail and Resorts
Takrouna
Educational Healthcare Entertainment Cultural Water body Public areas
Enfidha
Main Roads Railway
Chgarnia
Ain Errahma Friguia
Enfidha Airport
Bouficha
Public Pedestrian Network
Semi-public Pedestrian Network
Semi-private Pedestrian Network
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_Awards
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06
1- Shortlisted- Cityscape Residential Project of the Year 2008 2- Honorable Mention - 24H Competition 9th Edition 3- 3rd Place - Paris Sky Pool Competition by Super SkyScrapers 4- 2nd Place - Ras Al Nasa Competition 5- 2nd Place - Haram Mataf Expansion 6- 1st Place - Zafrana Souq 2015
_Teamwork
_Architecture Through the Lens
Seeing the world we live in from above, and at such a smaller scale, provides us with yet another view of life and human scale.
_Interests
Being active, enjoying life, challenging yourself, loving family and friends - these are the joys of life.
Dreams of Light Tahseen AbouElFoutouh Amin