Ali El Moussawi Portfolio

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Ali El Moussawi

Date of birth: 03/10/2000

Nationality: Lebanese Residency: Piacenza, Italy www.alielmoussawi.com

Education

+39 351 757 1578 ali.elmoussawi@mail.polimi.it ali@alielmoussawi.com Linkedin.com/in/ali-el-moussawi

Politecnico Di Milano 2021 - Present Master of science in Sustainable Architecture and Landscape Design

Lebanese University 2018 - 2021 Bachelor of Architecture

Professional Experience

Archvilla sarl, Lebanon September 2020 - September 2022 Junior Architect, Architectural Visualizing.

Projections Office, remotly December 2021 - February 2022 Architectural Designer/ Visualizing.

UGREEN • Green Building School September 2021

The Best Strategies For Biophilic Design - webinar.

Archvilla sarl, Lebanon July - September 2020 Internship.

Khatib & Alami

Two Months - Internship in the Middle East Airlines Facilities Ofiice building project, Beirut International Airport.

Languages Arabic French English Italian

Native Competent Competent Basics A1

July - August 2019

Profesional Skills

Autocad Sketchup

Lumion Revit

ArchiCad Qgis Photoshop Illustrator

Indesign Lightroom Premier Pro After Effects

Currently pursuing a master’s degree at Politecnico di Milano in Italy after earning a bachelor’s in architecture from Lebanon. Alongside my studies, I work as a professional photographer, filmmaker, and graphic designer. Furthermore, the architectural on site trainings helped in developing my knowledge in construction as well as the ability to turn theoretical concepts into real applicable buildings.

SELECTED WORK

1. Cultural Hub / Mediatheque

Location: Mar Mikhael, Beirut, Lebanon

Lebanese University

Academic Year: 2020 / 2021

This project is located at the interface of two types of Architecture: the first with a cultural heritage character (architecture from the 1940) and the second with a contemporary character. The difficulty of the project lies in how to integrate this project into a mixed architecture environment; In addition, the presence of an already existing building on the site, which will have to be integrated into my project, increases the level of difficulty of the project.

In this project, I tried to preserve the heritage building located in the site, in terms of respect for the fact that it overlooks the sea, and even in terms of the design of the facades.

The idea was to design a sustainable building with a contemporary feel to respect the urban surroundings, so as I mentioned before I used the backyard as a secondary entrance and a meeting place for people in a backyard with green and blue patches.

3. The idea of the building was reflected in the interior spaces by making the building practical for public people through the ease of movement inside it and the formation of spaces to contain the desired function. And glass facades were used to bring in the largest amount of natural light into the building.

4. This project consists of several functions such as: Médiathèque, Games Library for all ages, Expérimental Theater, Reception space, Seminar, conference rooms, Multipurpose room, Administration area, etc...

Facade Sketch

2. REDEO GRID

Location: Piacenza, Italy

Politecnico Di Milano

Msc. Sustainable Architecture and Landscape Design

URBAN AND LANDSCAPE REGENERATION STUDIO

Prof: EMANUELA DENTIS, ROSSANO BOLPAGNI, RAFFAELLA LAVISCIO Group work

Academic Year: 2021 / 2022

In our project, we aim to explore contemporary and innovative theories and methods of renewing the urban, historical and natural fabric of the city with the surrounding rural lands and the river as a way of restoring the model of sustainable growth between the citizens, the FARNESE WALLS and the surrounding area. The project aims to respond to the needs of the Mura Farnese area, renovate and revitalize it, and work with the local stakeholders to respond to their desires, especially since they are emotionally attached to the project location, and to bring new functions and create an appropriate and safe public place while preserving the memory of the place. In addition to providing reconnection to the natural processes and agricultural history of the city through various activities such as Experimental Lab. It varies between recreational, educational, agricultural and cultural activities for all age groups

Our strategy was creating connections with urban acupuncture and mobility actions as encouraging slow mobility systems. Thus, we have started to our first strategical action plan and urban scale master plan. Major element for guiding us was the ancient grid system of Piacenza as a main research topic of our project. However, understanding the grid system was an issue for our first sketches and master plan draft. Project approach is using the “genius loci” as the designing way. Current elements as ancient walls, vacant spaces, tree rows, the ditch, abandoned buildings and community garden guide us to integrate people and site for a lively, productive urban space. Project site is formed by production & consumption areas and a composition of functions from the silence to the vitality.

There are several nodes in the city as Piazza Cavalli, Palazzo Farnese, Porta Borghetto, Station and Piazzales. The connecting strategy from the nodes to the site is urban acupuncture implementations. The reminders, guiders and remarks were placed in created pedestrian axis. Acupuncture components have the same material for a common sense.

Roman

Analysing the territory we decided that the best solution for Mura Farnese park organisation is the historical Roman grid. It devides territory of the city by the same 80m by 80m blocks, what is related to the forming of costro (military camp) process. We geometrically connected the existing grid to our territory and split it twice to reach original dimensions of 20m by 20m grid, corresponding with the sizes of Roman insu/oes.

Rethinking urban space in an integrated development plan creates benefits for different actors. Master plan was improved based on alternative actions as new functions and landscape solutions. Thus, the development plan was created for the community from all ages groups and different back grounds.

Defining the user profiles is important to decision process of flow diagram. It was considered where might people come from and where they want to reach. Upper part of wall was created in a system based on the vitality of each space.

It is a system from calmness to the energetic. Bottom part of the wall is, instead, from production to the consumption. These different urban spaces aim diverse actors on the site.

The Piazza in front of the Porta Borghetto is designed in the line with the new project for the near existing buildings. The entrance of the bar became a piazza with interventions such as landscape elements, urban furniture, and urban acupuncture installations. Also, the existing door on the wall is reopened and became an entrance for the other side of the wall. The existing slope became landscape stairs and brought a panoramic terrace to the wall. The new terrace relates to steel stairs on the elevation of the wall to reach the green area with pavilions. The green area is designed as a recreation place that serves the performance area next to it. Traffic circulation, and pedestrian and cyclist relations were reconsidered, and road designs were reviewed according to the new relations.

One of the first impressions of the area was that the atmosphere here needs a stage for people who would like to express their feelings and talent. This idea leads to designing the existing slope between the road and the green area as stairs which also may serve as seating areas for a temporary stage. Also, the existing bridge serves a panoramic view of the performance area and stage and built a visual relationship between different levels of the project. The performance area and activity area are in the energetic part of the park.

At the south part of the wall, the existing community garden is preserved and developed, and buildings near it are utilized as a greenhouse to protect the chain of “from production to consumption”.

On the wall, the existing green area is defined as an open-air museum to create public awareness of the history of the city and the walls. An urban observatory is located at the highest point of the wall to provide a landmark that provides a visual connection with different levels of the city.

North of the wall is designed as an open library with kinetic light structures. It is aimed to provide shadow and shelter for both people and books. It is believed that shared books and urban furniture will help to create a community awareness and atmosphere.

The Book Club area is designed to serve people as a green open space. It was hoped that it would allow families, students, and smart workers to spend time outdoors, together as a community. the help of vegetation and urban furniture was aimed to make the area livelier and more attractive. The slope between the road and the green area designed as pixels seating modules. It is possible to feel the grid system characteristic of the project in the landscape design and pixel modules.

3. The New OUAGA

Location: Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso Politecnico Di Milano

Msc. Sustainable Architecture and Landscape Design

Architectural Design Studio 1 - Metropolitan Architecture

Prof: Antonella Contin, Alessandra Maria Pandolfi Academic Year: 2021 / 2022

In the context of working on Metropolitan projects, the capital of Burkina Faso was chosen to transform it into a metropolitan city. I chose the “University Canal” to find solutions for the area, especially since it is an Educational area in the northern part of it and a residential area in its south. I worked to improve the existing collapsed canal, creating a strong Green Connection between the north of the site and the new center, by working on green and blue infrastructure, and ecological corridors. Moreover, I established a bus route to facilitate transportation for students to reach this area by using public transportation. The Educational area was improved by working on the landscape and the building are linked to each other, adding Dorms to the area, places to study, a green arena for students, interactive spaces, etc... As for the residential area, the abandoned areas were exploited and converted into an urban agriculture areas, a community garden, and a market for agricultural production to raising the economic value of the area as well as food security. This area will be managed by the Local Community to ensure the sustainability of the project.

The project will enhance the sustainable and economic value of the area by linking the green elements , ie: the park in the north of the project and the airport, which will become the new city center in the future , passing through the study area across the canal

OVERLAYING NEW LAYERS ABOVE THE AREA

Walkable tree lined & Shaded pathways Community Bridge with vertical access Bike and Pedestrian road

Local Markets, Urban agricultures Community Gardens

Interacting zones for students and studying areas

University canal Market

One of the advantages of the market location is that it can be accessed from the highway directly, which makes it easy for people to reach it clearly and smoothly.

The market is located very close to the place of cultivation, that is, it has a direct line from the land of urban agriculture, which facilitates the transportation, packing, selling and benefiting of crops in the best possible way.

Zinc roof Wooden trusses

columns Wooden Dooors

Brick

4. Liwan School

Location: Dubai - UAE

Archvilla sarl company

During my work at Archvilla sarl, I was entrusted with the task of designing the Lebanese French School in Dubai under the supervision of the responsible Architect. The challenge was how to implement a contemporary and sustainable project that would provide a good and comfortable academic and psychological atmosphere for children.

My task in this project was to design the facades, make the 3D model, and render it. I received the plans from the execution department and I started designing under the supervision of the responsible senior Architect. After a period of time, we reached the desired result. so It was time to make the 3D model, so I used Sketchup Pro, and then I rendered it using Lumion.

As for the post production touches, I used Adobe Photoshop.

Archvilla sarl company

The challenge in designing this villa was to collect the wishes and requests of the client in an architecturally integrated villa in terms of organization and interior and exterior design. in addition to the dimension of the plot area. The material palette of the project is minimal and understated, with an emphasis on lightness and transparency; glass, wood & white finishes reflects the natural colours and beauty of the surrounding mountains .

5. Charafeddine Villa Location: Taybeh - Lebanon

The main aspect we took into account was housing the private functions on the back facade which also happens to be the side with a view. That way we made sure the private part of the house was not directly on the main street.

View Side

side

6. Architectural Visualizing

In this section of the Portfolio we see some of the projects that I modeled and rendered. Some of them are for selfexperience, and some were during my work in the previous company or as a freelancer.

As for these two projects, they were during my work at Archvilla sarl company, so my task was to model and render them. On the right is a villa in Sierra Leone, and on the left is Mr. Khalifa villa in Lebanon.

For example, Oxfordshire Villa (Right) and Smith House (Left), these two projects are the work of the great architect Richard Meier. To study them, I modeled and rendered both projects.

(Right) is Casa Monterrey by the great architect Tadao Ando. Again for learning, I modeled and rendered it. The left picture is a residential building in Dubai that I modeled and rendered during my work in Arcvilla sarl Company.

My first experience with interior design rendering was during a freelance job with an interior design company in Lebanon (Kit-Design).