Architecture Portfolio | Akmal Zain

Portfolio Akmal Zain

+65 92313042 akmal11zain@gmail.com issuu.com/akmlzn/docs/akmal_zain

Portfolio Info Volume Year Projects Pages

02 2023 6 62

Project List Nexus Civic Library Newtown Apartments Apollo Film Institute Skynest at Dakota Eco House Parametric Design

Architecture

Select Works

AKMAL ZAIN B. Arch, University of New South Wales (UNSW)

This architecture portfolio serves as a collection of select academic works from 2018 - 2022.

1

NEXUS CIVIC LIBRARY WESTMEAD, SYDNEY

4

2

NEWTOWN APARTMENTS NEWTOWN, SYDNEY

14

3

APOLLO FILM INSTITUTE ROCHOR, SINGAPORE

22

4

SKYNEST AT DAKOTA DAKOTA, SINGAPORE

34

5

ECO HOUSE PASIR RIS, SINGAPORE

44

6

PARAMETRIC DESIGN SCRIPTING & FABRICATION

52

NEXUS CIVIC LIBRARY

4

NEXUS CIVIC LIBRARY Type: Civic Location: Westmead, Sydney Year: 2022 Close to the geographic heart of metropolitan Sydney, the library at Westmead will focus on cultural, learning and recreational opportunities, with quiet spaces for study and information-seeking, places to collaborate and create, accessible and highly visible collection displays, and multifunctional spaces for events and programs, exhibitions and lectures.

5

akmal zain

Located at the intersection of Westmead and Parramatta is a library complex that encircles a courtyard.

The entrance plaza from the junction of Alexandra Ave and Hawkesbury Road leads into a nested public space where locals can enter the library lobby, the café area, take a short respite under shade or continue their journey southwards of Grand Ave. On the upper floors, the reading rooms and exhibition spaces open up to views towards Paramatta as well as southwards towards Westmead residences. NEXUS seeks to connect and foster a vibrant community through its presence and character.

6

Enhances circulation for pedestrians coming from all directions and also serves as both a node and thoroughfare.

Allows for a diversified experience as there are opportunities for both inward and outward looking views.

Stepped terraces allow for a variety of experiences from indoor spaces to outdoor spaces with the added benefit of great visual connectivity.

Building footprint creates a nested public space that shields against unwanted sources of noise from street level.

nexus civic library

7

4

3 2

5 1

3

1

6

2

4

8 5

7

GROUND FLOOR

1ST STOREY

1 ENTRY PLAZA 2 COURTYARD 3 LOBBY 4 STAFF AREA 5 TICKETING BOOTH 6 THEATRE ENTRANCE 7 CAFE / RETAIL 8 EXHIBITION SPACE 1

1 STAIRCASE TO LIBRARY 2 INFO DESK 3 STAFF AREA 4 EXHIBITION SPACE 2 5 OUTDOOR TERRACE

BELOW: Perspective from Grand Ave

7

akmal zain

1

2

3

3

2 4

4

5

1

7

5 6 6

2ND STOREY

3RD STOREY

1 LOAN DESK 2 CASUAL SEATING 3 GENERAL COLLECTION 4 READING ROOM 5 COMPUTER AREA 6 OUTDOOR TERRACE 7 WALKWAY

1 COPY ROOM 2 STORAGE 3 MEETING ROOM 4 GENERAL COLLECTION 5 READING ROOM 6 OUTDOOR TERRACE

BELOW: Outdoor terrace

8

nexus civic library

EAST ELEVATION

NORTH ELEVATION

SOUTH ELEVATION

9

akmal zain

1

2 1 OUTDOOR TERRACE 2 READING ROOM 3 COMPUTER AREA 4 EXHIBITION SPACE 2 5 EXHIBITION SPACE 1

3 4 5

SECTION A-A

8

4 3

1 ENTRY PLAZA 2 COURTYARD 3 GENERAL COLLECTION 4 READING ROOM 5 WALKWAY 6 CAFE 7 EXHIBITION SPACE 1 8 OUTDOOR TERRACE

8

5

7 1

6

2

SECTION B-B

2

6

8

2 5 1

4

3

SECTION C-C

10

7

1 ENTRY PLAZA 2 READING ROOM 3 THEATRETTE 4 LOBBY 5 INFO DESK 6 GENERAL COLLECTION 7 STAFF AREA 8 STORAGE

nexus civic library

BELOW (TOP TO BOTTOM): Reading room Staircase to library

11

akmal zain

12

nexus civic library

13

NEWTOWN APARTMENTS

14

NEWTOWN APARTMENTS Type: Residential Location: Newtown, Sydney Year: 2022 This multi-unit residential project requires three dwellings and a kiosk on the lot at 53 and 55 Georgina Street, Newtown, in the Sydney City Council area. The task is to develop an integrated project that will support the inhabitants within their own dwelling and thoughtfully shape their interactions with one another and with the physical environment of the surrounding site.

15

akmal zain

Nestled at the edge of Hollis Park at the end of Georgina Street, this housing project seeks to forge a union between residents of multiple dwellings by way of a purposeful centric-focused layout while serving as a node for passersby and residents of the area. Hence, this housing project seeks to foster a sense of community and belonging by affording residents high levels of comfort and autonomy through thoughtful design.

PARK LANE

UNIT 1

Design aims:

UNIT 2

HOLLIS PARK

UNIT 3

1. To provide residents with high levels of autonomy over their experiences within and around their dwelling.

2. To exploit the natural slope of the site to enhance residents’ privacy and comfort.

3. To foster a sense of community through a central shared space.

4. To provide a good amount of natural sunlight and ventilation for dwelling interiors.

BELOW: Garden walk

16

newtown apartments

While each dwelling is unique in its affordances, when brought together, their individual position, orientation and configuration complement one another to create a cohesive layout that physically and visually converge into a central shared space. Each dwelling seeks to afford residents a high level of social control through the provision of individual, household and communal controlled spaces as well as different levels of control for outdoor spaces.

An outdoor kiosk sits at the perimeter, drawing in pedestrians from a footpath connecting Wilson Street and Park Lane. The kiosk and adjacent dwellings cocoon a sunken central courtyard area that is shielded from public view.

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

Together, the three dwellings and kiosk and envelop a private shared space that allows a generous amount of sunlight to bathe the interior spaces and for natural ventilation to take place.

The level changes of the project respond to the natural slope of the site and help to maintain a comfortable level of privacy amongst residents. Each dwelling features a private outdoor space that further exploits a heightened level of privacy afforded by the site’s natural topography.

1ST STOREY PLAN 17

akmal zain

WEST ELEVATION

SOUTH ELEVATION

18

newtown apartments

LONG SECTION

SHORT SECTION

19

akmal zain

Central courtyard Allows for a centralised point of convergence for social interactions to foster a sense of community and belonging for residents by providing a shared intermediary space for circulation.

20

Multiple private outdoor spaces A private outdoor space that overlooks a central shared space heightens the level of autonomy afforded to residents. Residents are able to enjoy the views of a central courtyard from the privacy of their dwellings.

Multiple levels of control Within the site and within the dwelling, communal controlled outdoor spaces, household controlled outdoor spaces, and individual outdoor spaces are afforded to residents.

Sunken central courtyard Provides residents with high levels of comfort, privacy and a sense of being shielded from public view as afforeded by level change which is both thougtful and strategic

Multiple private outdoor spaces A rooftop garden terrace provides an alternative outdoor space and further adds to the multitude of possibilities, control and experience for residents.

Transitory spaces as a light well Residents spend the least amount of time in circulation spaces such as hallways and staircases which makes these spaces ideal for catching natural sunlight for other interior spaces.

newtown apartments

BELOW (TOP TO BOTTOM): Living room Balcony

21

APOLLO FILM INSTITUTE

22

APOLLO FILM INSTITUTE Type: Education Location: Rochor, Singapore Year: 2021 The site is located within Rochor Planning Area, Singapore’s budding arts, culture, and education district. The urban design guidelines focus on preserving the area’s rich architectural and cultural heritage, while facilitating its development into a renowned education and learning hub. Envisioned to be a lively arts, learning and heritage enclave, the site calls for the design of an institute of higher learning that adopts modern learning technologies and challenges pedagogical convention.

23

akmal zain Singapore, despite excelling in the academic sciences, has an arguably lacklustre arts scene, more specifically in the discipline of filmmaking and lacks concrete, institutional support to imbibe a dynamic and inquisitive mind in the arts.

At the intersection of Selegie, Middle Road and Prinsep Street, the site is a culmination of multiple influences and institutions such as art, cultural and commercial, with arts being the strongest undertone within the district. The proposed school is a film institute that fosters one’s passion and the skills required in the discipline including filmmaking, screenwriting, cinematography, animation and visual effects.

The school complements the fabric of the site due to its rich history of arts and culture. The discipline of filmmaking naturally fits the context of the surrounding area. The main driver is the importance of revitalizing the film and culture scene in Singapore as it does not have a dedicated film school, or even a film centre for that matter. The idea is to create a conducive environment to facilitate creative expression, and by extension fostering a cultural stronghold within the district and beyond.

As such, in time it is hoped that people and students of Singapore are able to find their voice through a universally powerful medium – storytelling.

Consolidation of programmes

PRIVATE

Cinema Administration office Studios Labs Lecture Hall Classroom & collaboration Library

PUBLIC

Cinema Screening room Library Administration office Sound stage Motion capture studio Computer lab Animation lab Workshop Lecture hall Classrooms Collaboration spaces Lounge Film archive Café Amphitheatre Reception 1st Floor AGUs Parking

Café Arrival Parking

Shuffling of programmes Cinema Administration office Studios Labs Lecture Hall Classroom & collaboration Library Café

Studios Labs Library Lecture Hall Classroom & collaboration Cinema Café Administration Office

Arrival

Arrival

Parking

Parking

Studios Labs Library Lecture Hall Classroom & collaboration Cinema Café Administration Office Arrival Parking

24

‘Unstable’ zones

apollo film institute

Zoning

Administration Studios Labs Lecture Hall Classrooms & collaboration Café & Retail Foyer & Amphitheatre Others

Light well

Air well

Bioclimatic response

25

akmal zain

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

1ST STOREY PLAN

2ND STOREY PLAN

26

apollo film institute

3RD STOREY PLAN

4TH STOREY PLAN

5TH STOREY PLAN

27

akmal zain

SELEGIE ROAD ELEVATION

PRINSEP STREET ELEVATION

LONG SECTION

28

apollo film institute

BELOW (TOP TO BOTTOM): Event space lounge Amphitheatre

29

akmal zain

C

B

10

11

12

9

A

6

4

2

7

8

D

5

3

1

SECTIONAL PERSPECTIVE 1 BASEMENT CARPARK 2 BIN CENTRE 3 PLAZA 4 COLLABORATION SPACE 5 WORKSHOP 6 OUTDOOR TERRACE

7 ANIMATION LAB 8 LOUNGE 9 LIBRARY 10 SOUND STAGE 11 EVENT SPACE 12 OUTDOOR LOUNGE

Section detail (opposite): A DRYWALL PARTITION B UNITISED CURTAIN WALL & RAISED FLOOR C SKYLIGHT D SUSPENDED CEILING & LIGHTWEIGHT METAL ROOF

Perforated facade system Perforated metal offers a unique, modern rhythmic aesthetic to compliment any building. With virtually endless options in hole shapes, sizes, geometric patterns & finishes available, perforated metal makes it a perfect material to achieve a specific look.

Materials which make up perforated metal are versatile. They are easily bent & configured to a specific design.

Perforated metal has a structural strength many other materials do not have.

They can withstand harsh weather environments, with the ability to control or equalize pressure due to its high strength-to-weight ratio.

Bioclimatic performance By balancing light & ventilation, perforated metal can allow architects to manage interior heat build-up from the sun. By deflecting heat, less energy output is required from HVAC systems, providing a more consistent interior temperature. As a screening element, perforated metal decreases the amount of indoor lighting required.

As the ultimate green material for design and construction, perforated metal minimizes resource depletion due to its recyclability, reduces energy in use and promotes sustainability.

30

apollo film institute

DETAIL A DRYWALL PARTITION SYSTEM

DETAIL B UNITISED CURTAIN WALL & RAISED FLOOR SYSTEM

DETAIL C SKYLIGHT SYSTEM

DETAIL D SUSPENDED CEILING & LIGHTWEIGHT METAL ROOF SYSTEM

31

akmal zain

32

interim model

section study

apollo film institute

33

SKYNEST AT DAKOTA

34

SKYNEST AT DAKOTA Type: Residential Location: Dakota, Singapore Year: 2020 The future of Singapore housing is projected to head into a model of greater urban density as the population is expected to increase to 6.9 million in 2030. The solution to the future of housing for millennials lies in a vertical green urbanism in micro cities that seek to root people to their community. The site at Dakota Crescent enveloped by two adjoining roads and a river calls for a high-rise integrated residential project.

35

akmal zain

D

OA

R RT

PO

AIR

D OL

T

MR

M

O

UN

R

VE

TB

AT

TE

N

A

NG

YL

RO

AD

GE

RI

Singapore has always been looking for ways to make high density living more liveable as the population density increases and there is increasing demand for a city-like lifestyle within the microcosm of a residential building. Green urbanism is the practice of creating communities beneficial to both humans and nature using nature as a mitigating tool against the built environment, which is an important element of a liveable city, and is in line with Singapore’s vision to become a garden city.

The modern green urban model consists of a few principles; connectivity, sustainability and diversity of use.

Conventional high-rise residential block

Two blocks are arranged to complement the profile of the site

Provision of sky terrace and additional communal garden spaces through vertical splitting of blocks

A section of the first block is extended over the other. Doing so results in an express intent to create multiple modes of experience within the open spaces as well as to ‘interlock’ two separate programs

Cantilevered spaces enhance the living experience and further allows for multiple modes of experiencing and appreciating greenery

36

Hence, the design intent in Skynest is to provide a greater sense of home and community amongst nature and flora, for it to be a sustainable model for the long run. In the future, with effective spatial and landscape planning, nature and flora would able to soften and mitigate the hardscape while allowing the creation of a unified residential community brought together by their common desire for respite, thereby inducing a homely sense of belonging.

skynest at dakota

SITE PLAN

TYPICAL STOREY PLAN

SKY TERRACE

9TH STOREY PLAN

1BR

4BR

LOUNGE

9TH STOREY PART PLAN 37

akmal zain

SOUTH ELEVATION

NORTH ELEVATION

BELOW: Sky terrace

38

skynest at dakota

SECTIONAL DETAIL PERSPECTIVE

39

akmal zain

STRUCTURAL FRAME PLAN Structural columns Primary beams Secondary beams

BELOW: Lounge

40

skynest at dakota

PREFABRICATED PREFINISHED VOLUMETRIC CONSTRUCTION Prefabricated Prefinished Volumetric Construction (PPVC) is a construction method that first builds rooms in an off-site facility, and then transports to the construction site to be assembled into a building. PPVC is one of the game-changing technologies that supports Singapore’s Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA), a key pillar of the Construction Industry Transformation Map (ITM). The idea is to significantly speed up construction in a traditionally manpower-intensive industry.

BELOW: Bathroom interior

41

akmal zain

SOLAR SHADING

SOLAR HARVESTING

Facades that are facing the East-West axis are the most susceptible to unwanted excessive heat gain that copromises on user comfort. Vertical timber fins are able to counteract this problem by blocking out most of the direct sunlight while maintaining visual connectivity to the outside.

Solar photovoltaic systems in buildings use solar panels to convert solar energy into electricity. The amount of space needed to meet the building’s energy needs may be substantial, but this method is economically friendly and helps to reduce electrical consumption from the public grid.

Total Number of Units: 84 Electrical Consumption: 50, 400kWh Possible energy savings using 122 1.0m x 1.5m solar panels: 32, 040kWh

sunlight

BELOW: Communal garden at sky terrace

42

skynest at dakota

43

ECO HOUSE

44

ECO HOUSE Type: Residential Location: Pasir Ris, Singapore Year: 2019 A young family of three seeks an abode near the beach that serves as a place of peace, warmth, and comfort and is also able to harmoniously consolidate the family’s needs for the present and the foreseeable future. While they wish to house their art collection in a gallery, they also envision a house that is able to capture desirable natural elements of the wind and sea.

Eco house seeks to provide a harmony of art, nature and family.

45

akmal zain

Located just over 200m away from the beach and just across from Pasir Ris Park, the site can be characterized by its reclusiveness and tranquil disposition. While tapping on natural daylighting is imperative, few considerations must be taken into mind.

For one, the art gallery along the corridors is located mostly away from the edges of the building to avoid direct sunlight while transient spaces are relegated to the edges. Breezes from the nearby beach are also capitalized through the provision of vertical louvres and adjustable pivot doors that allow adequate ventilation in the dining and living room during daytime. In the night time, pitched roofs allow the breezes from the opposite direction to ventilate and lower temperatures in the bedrooms, maximising comfort.

In addition, the house recognizes the appropriate levels of privacy needed by different spaces.

The patio, for instance, is located in a semi-private area that allows for unhindered interaction without excessive seclusion.

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

46

1ST STOREY PLAN

eco house

EXTERNAL PERSPECTIVES

47

akmal zain

EAST ELEVATION

WEST ELEVATION

NORTH ELEVATION

SECTION

48

eco house

2nd STOREY PART PLAN

1st STOREY PART PLAN

LIVING ROOM PART PLAN

1st STOREY PART PLANS 1st STOREY PART PLANS

MASTER BEDROOM PART PLAN

GROUND FLOOR PART PLANS

2nd STOREY PART PLANS 2nd STOREY PART PLANS

1ST STOREY DRAINAGE PLANS

49 IC CALCULATION TABLE

akmal zain

A

B

D

C

50

DETAIL A FACADE DETAIL

DETAIL B ROOF DETAIL

DETAIL C GROUND DETAIL

DETAIL D TRELLIS DETAIL

eco house

51

PARAMETRIC DESIGN

PARAMETRIC DESIGN Rationalization of complex geometries through scripting and digital fabrication systems of recursion and optimization, transforming three dimensional structures into a series of buildable and connectable elements.

1. ITERATIVE DESIGN 2. LIVING HINGE 3. ADAPTABLE TEXTILE 4. TRANSLATIONAL SURFACE 5. DYNAMIC ROTATIONAL SHELL 6. WAFFLE STRUCTURE 7. POLYHEDRAL STRUCTURE 8. FRACTAL STRUCTURE

akmal zain

1. ITERATIVE DESIGN Exploration of parametric design in the built environment

54

parametric design

2. LIVING HINGE Exploration of flexible living hinge patterns on rigid materials

55

akmal zain 3. ADAPTABLE TEXTILE Exploration of adaptable textiles through interlocking chainmail modules

56

parametric design 4. TRANSLATIONAL SURFACES Exploration of weave patterns on parametric surfaces

57

akmal zain 5. DYNAMIC ROTATIONAL SHELL Exploration of dynamic patterns on cylindrical surfaces

58

parametric design 6. WAFFLE STRUCTURE Exploration of waffle structure on warped surfaces

59

akmal zain 7. POLYHEDRAL STRUCTURE Exploration of polyhedrons through rods and nodes

60

parametric design 8. FRACTAL STRUCTURE Exploration of three dimensional fractal structures

61

fin.

Architecture

+61 493300395 akmal11zain@gmail.com issuu.com/akmlzn/docs/akmal_zain

Select Works