Zainab A.Mohsen Portfolio

La Domus, Gallery and Residence

Domus is a Latin word for a house for the wealthy classes and it usually consists of a central hall, a reception area, and rooms. La Domus Gallery and Residence is designed and executed for an artistic couple. The design is a raw industrial space that embraces the vertical dimension and uses exposed concrete slabs and beams. The space is an open plan with a strong connection between the interior and exterior spaces through using large foldable doors and sliding windows. It also highlights various playful features such as indoor swings and slides. Electric custom-made furniture and art pieces are used and displayed creating an interactive creative space. Track directional lights to allow flexibility and emphasis on artwork and provide sufficient lighting for indoor plants. The design reflects multiple layers of creativity, materially and embraces the beauty of nature, and reflects it in an art format.

Diyar Al Muharraq Entrance Gate, and Pedestrian Bridge

Diyar Al Muharraq is a development project in northern Bahrain. The entrance feature distinguishes the master development as a unique and progressive project that demonstrates the cultural aesthetic of the Kingdom of Bahrain. The design concept is inspired by sand waves and movements creating mounds and fluid lines. These lines were extracted to create an iconic entrance gate that defines the area and creates a landmark. It also provides pedestrian access to allow connectivity in the urban fabric. The structure is finished using Nurah which is Bahraini limestone plastering that increases the structure’s efficiency and resistance to humid climates. It also integrates planters for local species of plants, bushes, and palm trees. The structure is shaded to protect the users from the harsh sun yet penetrated by mesh openings to allow passive ventilation.

Brief:

“Dilmuni” is a 3D Printed facility for the UNESCO heritage site Dilmun burial mounds, Bahrain. It is a concept store featuring local product designers and craftsmen inspired by the Dilmun era. It is a sustainable store that aims to provide an architectural landmark and a touristic attraction to sell environmentally friendly pottery, and home accessorize, generate economical income, and create a social space for local suppliers and craftsmen. .

Context:

The Store is adjacent to the UNESCO heritage site, the burial mounds in Aali, Bahrain. These mounds were constructed in the period between 2200 and 1750 BCE. Aali is well known for its royal mounds, and pottery craftsmanship workshops. The pottery is made of local clay that is extracted from the shark tooth layer. The structure design creates a harmonic integration with its context by mimicking the form, and material to serve its local community. It provides a human-scale experience in the interior space into the earth, minimizing the sun’s heat, and glare.

Structure:

The structure mimics the royal burial mound, as they are unique in their burial chambers that have alcoves filled with gifts and belongings stored in pottery. The space is a 3D-printed upscaled structure using clay and recycled materials. The curved roof creates a smooth transition from the ground up.

The roof is supported by two load-bearing walls with integrated displayshelving and planting pots. Central support mimicking upscaled pottery with decorative patterns extracted from the Dilmun seals using simplified curved shapes. The railing reflects the craftsman hand rotation and molding. The roof has textured surface shaping mounds and is integrated with cutouts inspired by the Dilmun seals. The structural design integrates architectural design with the interior space functions, and built-in and movable furniture, it creates a comprehensive and human-scale inclusive design.

Climatic response:

The structure uses local materials from the site, combined with local construction recycled waste to reduce the embodied energy of the building resulting from its production and transportation. The building is north facing to minimize the solar gain. The building enclosure has high thermal mass due to the used materials, design, surfaces high width, lattice structure, and minimum openings. The structure is porous which increases the air circulation and reduces the HVAC energy. The building is constructed using solar-powered 3D printers which minimize the construction energy consumption and reduces the construction waste by 90% in comparison to traditional casting techniques The structure has a minimum impact on its surrounding due to the low GHG emissions generated during the building construction and operation.

Water-Springs Structures

Brief:

“Nomow” aims to refurbish the water spring areas in Bahrain, by creating an eco-friendly residential 3D printed neighborhood, that utilizes the site’s earthen material and its remaining water table. The design reduces the heat conductivity and utilizes air humidity to catalyze agricultural activities. The plan includes the central public space featuring the water spring and the surrounding residential dwellings.

Context:

Buri water spring, Bahrain. Bahrain is an archipelago of 33 islands in the gulf peninsula, it is known for the groundwater table that created multiple water springs across the country. Due to the excessive use, high urbanization rate, and land reclamation, most of the water springs are dried, reclaimed, or used as waste dumps.

Structure:

The prototype neighborhood is 3D printed on a depressed excavated platform surrounding the water spring location. The excess sand then will be used to create the building material. As Bahrain’s earth is mainly soil and lacks clay availability, 10% lime will be added in addition to 5% cement to strengthen the mix besides 18% -24% water allows for its printability. The residential units start as a single level that grows vertically in a pyramidal order. The foundations are supported by the earthen excavated site surfaces to increase the strength and stability to allow vertical extensions. The introverted complex consists of the domed patterned pavilion and semicurved units that provide gradual load distribution.

Climatic response:

The depressed neighborhood platform acts as a cool air pool during the night and transfers the breeze to the surrounding units through the patterned air channels. The pyramidal units are overlapping with air channels and cavities to maximize airflow, diffused daylight, and reduce glare and heat.The pavilion structure contains water channels that transfer the water and the humidity to the structure’s components from the air and the water table. The structure mixture contains seeds of climbing hedges such as Lycium Arabicum and Cordia Myxa plants which are heat and drought tolerant. The pavilion openings are designed to catch humidity from the air through condensation to ease the plant’s growth to cover the pavilion with time. The residential units are covered with green roofs to grow crops and reeds while minimizing heat conductivity from the vertical sun rays. Any excess water is directed to drainage pipes in the wall cavities that are connected to the main water spring source. The neighborhood design creates a full ecosystem that is environmentally, socially, and economically friendly.

Water-Springs Structures

Site:

AlSafaheya water spring, AlNabih Saleh, Bahrain

Problem:

The water spring is a protected site, but it’s currently dry and abandoned by the area residents.

Proposal:

The design proposal aims to appropriate the site to be used as a small green pavilion to be enjoyed by the island residents. The key decision aim to eliminate the noise and pollution from the street by creating and a green belt around the site and semi closed structure to promote safety and enclosure. Also, as the water spring is fully dry the design aims to regain a part of the ecosystem that appeared clearly after the spring’s drought which is wild shrubs and greenery. Moreover, the area is adjacent to the Tubli Mangrove habitat, the design suggests linking the two sites together to create a green belt and encourage pedestrian movement and ecosystem richness. Due to the direct sun and heat water evaporation rates increases and human comfort decreases, therefore a shading device is proposed to create shading yet allow passive ventilation and plants exposed to sunlight. The structure is made of limestone and soil which allow plants to grow freely. The Warka mesh is introduced to condense humidity in the air and irrigates the plants.

Water-Springs Structures

Site:

Hoais water spring ,Buri, Bahrain

Proposal:

The design proposal is a stepped water collection tank that collects the water vapor. The droplets get stored in the water surface at the bottom of the well. Instead of reclaiming the water spring location, a couple of platforms divides the levels interconnected with staircases. The materials used are treated earth with limestone which is from the site but paved to ease pedestrian access at the same time create fertile land for reed and bushes growth.

Site:

Sakheer camp, Bahrain

Proposal:

The design proposal is a temporary structure built for camping purposes in the desert area in Bahrain. The pavilion is created for social gatherings and activities during the winter when the breeze is cool, and the sun is moderate. The pavilion is 3D printed using earth from the site using 3Dwasp robotic printers. The structure is domed to distribute the load evenly to the walls and foundations. Sky and wall openings are introduced for cross ventilation and connection with the external environment. The pavilion creates shade and shelter yet mimics the sand dunes and movement.

Al-Barma’ae -The Amphibian- reconnects, joins and reunites the community of Bahrain with their sea (bahar). An intimate relation of a glorious history, a rapport filled with stories, adventures, moments and silent conversations. The barrier of land reclamation has been severely damaging this connection with tons of sand and polished concrete. Fishermen who breathe the sea have lost their air, treasure and their source of income.

Al-Barma’ae bridges the gap, through occupying the sea in a sustainable and environmental friendly manner. It aims to create a platform for fishermen to flourish, meet, contribute and save the marine life prior to consuming it. This project is a reflection of the community needs in a compact physical space. It’s a prototype that may be duplicated or altered to meet future needs and functions. The initial proposal is a floating platform that is a community land trust, owned and managed by that community members, it integrates historical, environmental, educational, social and economic functions that serve for the advantage of the country’s heritage and its community members.

Al-Barma’ae is a realistic concept that was designed to be tested on the actual ground, and real characters from the scenes of life are meant to evaluate the space and improve it to meet their needs. This project may be a narrow step towards the dream that would bring some of Bahrain’s identity back. However, its designed to draw attention to the issue of land reclamation and its severe damages, through its social and educational platform where those issues could be discussed and future plan could be altered to serve for the community advantage. This prototype aims to create a substitute to land reclamation and adversely advantage the environment instead of barring it.

Structure Design Strategy

Section A-A

Section B-B

Selected Site

The houses common courtyard

Energy Strategy

Actual Interior Design Proposals

event design

space design

bahraini style cafe design

garden inspired stage design

autumn inspired stage design

bahraini style cafe design courtyard design (group work)

bahraini style cafe design

Traditional café design

Traditional café design

Wedding reception design

garden inspired stage design

event design

Courtyard design Courtyard design

garden inspired stage design

Wedding reception design- Lace Inspired

femininity concept stage design

Wedding reception design- Garden Inspired

courtyard design (group work)

autumn inspired stage design

autumn inspired stage design bahraini style cafe design

Wedding reception design- Waves Inspired

infinity concept stage design

garden inspired stage design

event design

rustic wedding theme design

ground floor plan

contemporary wedding theme design

Wedding reception design- Rustic Garden Inspired

event design

event design

Contemporary wedding reception design

contemporary wedding theme design

Contemporary Classic Wedding reception design

contemporary wedding theme design

contemporary classic wedding theme design

contemporary classic wedding theme design

zainab abdulmohsen

rotana hotel opening gala dinner design

Rotana Hotel opening ceremony hall design

The Expedition Astronomy Center

The Expedition is a simulation astronomy educational center for kids. It aims to raise knowledge and interest in the scientific study of celestial objects and phenomena. The center design is a sequential array of experiences arranged through transforming the visitors from ordinary individuals to astronauts, scientists and explorers. The transformation is applied through introducing a spaceship crushing into earth, when the kids get on board and transported to the various celestial objects and experienced the vast phenomena. The Centre is also provided with a supportive Nasa training space, and a learning space that is facilitated with plenty of educational resources that supplies the elementary knowledge and skills for future astronauts and scientists.

Ground Floor Plan

the expedition astronomy centre

first floor plan

first floor plan

ground floor plan

category - educational entertaining

category - educational entertaining

first floor plan

First Floor Plan

second floor plan

ground floor plan

second floor plan emphasis area floor

second floor plan emphasis area floor plan

Second Floor Plan

concept - the expedition, is a centre for children to educate them through living a transformation and different phases simulation , from living on earth until reaching the external space and it's components.

concept - the expedition, is a centre for children to educate them through living a transformation and different phases simulation , from living on earth until reaching the external space and it's components.

Emphasis Area Floor Plan

emphasis area floor plan

reception hall kids story telling area

reception hall kids story telling area

Reception Hall Kids Story Telling Area

queuing area view elevator

solar system exhibition hall view moon exhibition

Black Hole passage area

Nasa Training Area

elevator hall view

exhibition hall view

Indian Fashion Conference Center

design - indian fashion conference centre category - commercial educational concept - to transfer the feeling of the indian culture through applying it's artistic and architectural concepts in the iconic building taj mahal.

The Indian fashion conference center has various facilities including clothing and accessorize workshops, event hall, exhibition space, and a restaurant. The space layout is an application of various design principles used in the ancient Indian monuments especially taj mahal. The main color scheme are shades of neutral colors besides red as it’s the most lavish color in the Indian fashion

dcategory - commercial educational concept - to transfer the feeling of the indian cul ture through applying it's artistic and architectural concepts in the iconic building taj mahal.