Afnan Al-Rashid
Bio
I am an M.Arch graduate from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor in Architectural Science from TMU. My architectural education is technicalfocused and humanities-influenced; we can talk about mass timber wall sections and Bachelor’s wood cottages and abodes. My architectural education shaped my design approach, which involves a written story of the foreseen dweller of my building, then the design of the circulation and flow, then the design of structure and system (are the details going to be hidden or revealed?).
I worked in various architectural offices, where I developed 3D models, construction documents, and permit sets for residential and commercial projects. I enjoyed creating floor plans; they are like maps of a dwelling story, and I enjoyed 3D modeling and rendering; the spaces and details were essential to be modeled as they would be built, so the render could tell it as it is. I also enjoyed drawing wall sections and nerd out with the senior architect over building science Instagram pages. In my work, I primarily use AutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, Enscape, Photoshop, and InDesign.
In my master’s thesis, I decided to temporarily break away from all the technical and architectural design. I wrote and sketched stories of my childhood home, and I explored architecture in a way where the user was at the front and the architecture was in the background, woven with narration and drawings. I currently live in Toronto, specifically North York. This place made me curious about the narratives of community living and made me fall in love with concrete and Brutalism.
*Images are hyperlinks to projects.
Co-House
M.Arch Comprehensive Design Studio
Interstitial Wall
M.Arch Urban Design Studio
Architecture & Innovation Center
Undergraduate Timber Studio
Home Renovation
DS Studio Inc
Envelope Retrofit
DS Studio Inc
Co-House
M.Arch Comprehensive Design Studio
The project is an exploration of communal placemaking strategies within the neighborhood of Galt in Cambridge, Ontario.
The neighborhood is within downtown Cambridge, where small communities of seniors, students, small business owners, and young families live in proximity. The diversity of these small communities inspired communal placemaking practiced by the residents and the surrounding neighbors of the site and proposed co-house.
The proposal is influenced by my personal experience of living in a typical mid-century Modern apartment building in Ontario. As residents of the same building, we have small chats in the lobby, the elevator, and the laundry room, and no further spaces are provided for communal interaction. The design of the co-house is perceived as an opportunity to innovate a typical apartment building design into a communal living co-house.
The implemented communal program within the proposed co-house is of active placemaking activity, that is, collaborative food-growing. The proposed program includes a community garden, germination spaces, produce distribution spaces, community kitchens, and a dining hall. The program stretches from the site into the residential unit floors. The co-house is envisioned to be an incubator of active placemaking through the communal activity of food growing.
Idea Exchange: Library
Senior Home
Small Businesses: Cheese Store & Chiropractor Office
Student-Rented Residence
Anglican Church: Sundays’ Soup Kitchen
GRAND AVE. N.
GRAND RIVER
Identifying Surrounding Context
The first design move is creating enough space on the side facing the street to attract the surrounding communities to its open public space. The massing follows a similar massing of a typical apartment building in Ontario, and it stretches as one narrow block along the site to allow for the display of communal programs from site to the building co-house.
Site & Massing Concept
The activities of food-growing are designed within the site and the front facade of the proposed building to show the active communal practice to the surrounding communities and the passers-by on the street.
Community Food-Growing Activities: From Germination to Farming to Produce Distribution to Community Kitchen Massing and Site Development: Integration of Community Food-Growing Activities with the Co-House
East Section: Community Kitchens Throughout the Floors
East Section: Germination and Produce Distribution Spaces
GRAND AVE. N. 1 Dining Hall 2 Community Kitchen 3 Gym 4 Loading Space/Seating Space 5 New Building:Community Garden Bazaar/Storage Spaces 6 Renovated: Community Clinic 7 Existing Building: Small Businesses 8 Common Kitchen 9 Co-House Shared Spaces: Study Space, Living Room, and Small Library 10 Produce Distribution Space 11 Germination Space 12 Common Corridor and Benches 13 Herbs Pots 1 UP 2 3 4 UP UP 6 5 7 8 UP 10 9 11 12 13 UP UP UP Ground Floor Plan Typical Residential Floor Plan
Produce Distribution Space
Common Corridor
Community Kitchen
Accessible Senior Unit
Bachelor Unit
Studio Unit: Student Unit Wall Section Through the Workspaces Inside the Units
12MM GYPSUM BOARD ATTACHED TO SELF-ADHESIVE WB IN 12MM AIR GAP 138MM ROCKWOOL COMFORTBATT R-22 ATTACHED TO CLT W/ PERFORATED
EXT WALL IN TO EX: • 12MM GPYSUM STUD WALL • 139MM CLT • SELF-ADHESIVE • 12MM PLYWOOD • SELF-ADHESIVE
138MM ROCKWOOL ATTACHED TO STUD PERFORATED FASTENERS • DRAINAGE MATT • METAL MESH & • ACCOYA WOOD
•
Dining Hall
Interstitial Wall
M.Arch Urban Design Studio
The project was a collaboration with my teammate Alifiyah Merchant, where we researched the urban and industrial history of the Spanish city of Ferrol. The city is located in Galicia, a province with a coastline on the North Atlantic Ocean. It is one of the cities that bears Galicia’s industrial heritage in fishing and shipbuilding. Both industries were perceived to be attractive cultural and historical nodes for the city, but our research revealed otherwise.
Ferrol experiences a population decline due to the lack of job opportunities within its industries that face competition from international and Spanish coastal cities. We realized the economic revitalization of the city is not within our set of skills and talent, but we continued wondering how a city with such industrial heritage and history is not attracting tourists; it’s not even attracting its own population. The main factor remained to be the economy, but we observed an architectural element in the city’s urban that was contributing to the disconnection.
It was Ferrol’s historical coastal Wall that stretched along the industrial sites and gradually separated the city’s industrial heritage from its civic and cultural. We studied the industry’s historical and cultural presence within the city of Ferrol, and we identified the vital cultural, industrial, and commercial sites on both sides of the Wall. We perceived the Wall to be a heritage body with the potential for hosting interstitial spaces that can strategically connect the city on both sides.
Drawing by Alifiyah Merchant: Identifying Cultural, Commercial, and Industrial Sites
Mercado Hub and
La Pescaderia Fishmonger’s Market
Ferrol Youth Center
Arsenal Carpentry Museum
Alameda del Carbon Park
Canton de Molins City Park
Naval Museum
Puetra del Dique Historical Gate
Shipbuilding Site
Teatro Jofre Auditorium
Shipbuilding Display
Cathedral of San Xulian
Mercado Food and Market
Creating Interstitial Spaces
Open Theatre Open Shipbuilding Workshop Entry to the Proposed Public Culinary
Culinary School Public Art
Entry to the Proposed Metal Workshop Place
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The Metal Workshop Place
1 Ramp 2 Front Court: View of Shipbuilding 3 Reception/Staff Space 4 Seminar Space 5 Loading Space 6 Metal Workshop 7 Common Corridor 8 Metal Sculpture Yard 8
Entry to the Metal Workshop Place
Architecture & Innovation Center
Undergraduate Timber Studio
the current architecture building of Toronto Metropolitan university (TMU) is perceived to be limiting in its spaces to the evolving education in architectural innovation and technology. The School of Architecture began the conversation with the planning and development board to propose a new architectural building, and the Timber Studio was created to give space to the architecture students at TMU to propose their visions and aspirations for a new architectural building. The proposed building is envisioned to be a center for architecture and innovation to reflect the architectural identity of TMU in building science and technology. Timber was the focus and the central architectural element that was researched and implemented to reflect the innovative identity of TMU. The proposed building is also envisioned to be a host for the general public who are interested in learning and exploring architecture within studios and maker spaces. The challenge of the project was creating a densely programmed center within the dense urban context of the TMU campus, Downtown Toronto. The design process involved the simultaneous iteration of program spaces, form, and timber structure. The goal was to create energetic surroundings that inspire innovation and technology to students, architects, and the public.
Mass Timber Structure
A modular grid defined the active spaces to allow for the directed organization of the studio spaces. The reciprocal timber structure was for the long span of the passive spaces of galleries and classrooms. The structure was designed to allow for ease of assembly and disassembly, and it was made apparent in the form of the column to convey the innovative identity of the building.
Mass Timber Joinery
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 7 8 9 10 11 12
1 Building Science Lab 2 Workshop/Robotics Lab 3 Lecture Hall 4 Entry Space/Gathering Space 5 Common Corridors 6 2D Art Gallery/3D Art Gallery 7 3D Art/Model Gallery 8 Staff Offices 9 Public Maker Space 10 Classroom 11 Small Library 12 Master’s/PhD Students Offices
Third Floor
Offices
Typical Floor Plan Layout:
Staff
Common Corridor
Faculty
Pin-Up Spaces
Studio Desks
Offices
Studio Desks
Entry
Space/Central Gathering Space
Home Renovation
DS Studio Inc
DS Studio was delighted to modernize a Victorian house in Downtown Toronto, where The owner reached out to us with spatial visions and needs.
The young couple and their two children were an active family that organized many of its activities outside of the house and within it. They needed a better flow and organization of the space that would allow them to move more conveniently between the living spaces. They also had a vision of modern interiors that contrasted the Victorian form and facade of their house.
DS Studio proposed continuous and open living spaces and further designed millwork that communicates the modernity and openness of the proposed living spaces.
As an architectural designer, I collaborated with the senior architects in designing the floor plan and the preparation of permit sets, renders, and design presentations.
Image by Dina Sarhane
Ground Floor PLan: Proposed Plan
Porch Foyer Living Space Dining Space TV Room Powder Room Front Yard Backyard Kitchen
Foyer
Open Kitchen /Dining Space
Open Living Space
Envelope Retrofit
DS Studio Inc
DS Studio collaborated with an interior design studio to renovate and retrofit an aging building in Ottawa, Ontario. The building is speculated to have been built in the 1960s, and it stood unused until it was purchased by Dr. Kirk for his new dental clinic DS Studio was in charge of retrofitting the envelope and proposing new facade designs that reflect the clinic’s modern interiors and create an attractive streetscape along the building. Under the direction of the senior architect, I developed envelope retrofits where insulation was integrated and protective materials were proposed within the set budget. The retrofit design was developed through iterative drawings of wall sections that evolved through progressive wall inspection and knowledge supplied by the project manager and the structural engineer. Alongside wall section development, I created renders to explore design options for the proposed facades and selected materials. The project was an opportunity to learn teamwork with architects and consultants in developing technical details and facade design.
Demolished Elevation: North East
Proposed Elevation: North East
Section of Retrofitted Envelope: North East Canopy Wall (White Metal Facade)
EW-5 EXISTING METAL PANEL TO REMAIN AND BE RE-PAINTED EXISTING WINDOW 2 PLY MOD. BIT. ROOF MEMBRANE 1 2" PLYWOOD WOOD CANOPY FRAMINGCANTILEVERED FROM BEAM 1" WOOD SOFFIT METAL FACIA NEW ALUMINUM STOREFRONT EXISTING CONCRETE LANDING AND STEPS TO REMAIN EXISTING CONCRETE SLAB TO REMAIN EXISTING FOUNDATION WALL TO REMAIN EXISTING FLOOR STRUCTURE TO REMAIN NEW T&G SUBFLOOR TO BE INSTALLED THROUGHOUT SECOND LEVEL REFER TO INTERIOR DRAWINGS FOR FLOOR FINISH REFER TO INTERIOR DRAWINGS FOR WALL AND WINDOW SILL FINISH R1 R1 NEW 2 PLY MOD. BIT.ROOF MEMBRANE NEW ROOF INSULATION SLOPED TO DRAINS 6" NEW RIGID INSULATION NEW A/V BARRIER TO EXISTING ROOF EXISTING ROOF STRUCTURE TO REMAIN REFER TO INTERIOR DRAWINGS FOR CEILING FINISH C2 C3 EXISTING FLOOR STRUCTURE TO REMAIN PROVIDE NEW SUBFLOOR AS REQUIRED REFER TO INTERIOR DRAWINGS FOR FLOOR FINISH EW5 EW5 EW2 W-EXIST W-EXIST 9'-0" 1'-0" 7'-10" 11 1/2" 1'-9 1/2" -5'- 11" T/O BASEMENT SLAB 18'-10" U/S ROOF JOISTS 8 McGONIGAL 21'-7" T/O PARAPET 8 McGONIGAL 10'-0" U/S JOISTS 8 McGONIGAL 11'-0" T/O JOISTS 8 McGONIGAL 19'-9" T/O ROOF JOISTS8 McGONIGAL 1'-0" GROUND FLOOR 8 McGONIGAL NEW 2" EXTERIOR INSULATION WITH PROTECTION BOARD - PARGED NEW A/V BARRIER APPLIED TO EXISTING BLOCK WALL - TIE INTO NEW WINDOW Wall
REPAIR EXISTING PARAPET AS REQUIRED THROUGH WALL FLASHING NEW ALUMINUM WINDOWS REPAIR OR REPLACE PARAPET CAP AS NEEDED AND PROVIDE NEW FLASHING NEW CONCRETE SLOPED WALKWAY REFER TO INTERIOR DRAWINGS FOR CEILING FINISH REFER TO INTERIOR DRAWINGS FOR WALL AND WINDOW SILL FINISH EXISTING BLOCK WALL TO REMAIN EXISTING SLAB AND FOUNDATIONS TO REMAIN EW-1/EW-1 SIM. VERTICAL CAP CODE SIDING WOOD STRAPPING NEW 2" EXTERIOR INSULATION NEW A/VB ADHERED TO EXISTING BLOCK WALL OR PARAPET 2 PLY MOD. BIT. ROOF MEMBRANE 1 2 PLYWOOD EXISTING CANOPY FRAMING WOOD SOFFIT R1 NEW 2 PLY MOD. BIT.ROOF MEMBRANE NEW ROOF INSULATION SLOPED TO DRAINS 6" RIGID INSULATION NEW A/V MEMBRANE ON EXISTING ROOF EXISTING ROOF STRUCTURE TO REMAIN LAP 2 PLY MOD. BIT. ROOF MEMBRANE OVER EXISTING PARAPET PROVIDE NEW 2" EXTERIOR INSULATION AND A/V BARRIER NEW 2" EXTERIOR INSULATION WITH PROTECTION BOARD - PARGED METAL FACIA NEW A/V BARRIER APPLIED TO EXISTING BLOCK WALL - TIE INTO NEW WINDOW EW1 R1 EW3 W1 0'-0" GROUND FLOOR 68 DANIEL 14'-1" T/O LOW PARAPET 68 DANIEL 17'-11" T/O HIGH PARAPET 68 DANIEL 11'-7" T/O ROOF 68 DANIEL 10'-10" U/S JOISTS 68 DANIEL 10'-3" U/S BEAMS 68 DANIEL PROVIDE NEW 2" INSULATION AT TOP OF ALL EXISTING EXTERIOR WALLS WHERE CEILING ASSEMBLY HAS BEEN REMOVED TO PROVIDE CONTINUOUS LAYER OF INSULATION TO U/S ROOF 10'-3" 7 1/2" 9 1/2" 2'-5" 3'-10 1/2" Wall
Section of Retrofitted Envelope: South East Canopy Wall (Wood Slat Facade)
Afnan Al-Rashid