Mahmoud Albassyoni- AUC - ARCH 473/3522

Student Portfolio

Mahmoud Albassyoni

I am aseniorstudent in TheAmericanUniversity in Cairo.Architecture as amajorhasmanybranches, butthiswasthefirsttime to encounterthe “tectonic” language.Structure in buildingshas alwaysbeenafunctionalelement in my designs; however,thiscourseprovided me withnew approaches on how to transformafunctional elementinto an aestheticone.Thiswas my first timeusing “grasshopper” andIwasnotthemost excitedforthisexperiencebecausethesoftware itselflookscomplicated,yetgoingstep by stepand understandingthelogicbehind it makes it userfriendly. It is useful in terms of developing parametricdesignsthatcangeneratenewand

interesting iterations of the same deign element by playing with the different inputs. It is also essential to have a variety of parameters (global and local) to explore the potential of grasshopper to its maximum capabilities. It was also interesting to study tectonic relation with the environmental approach because it gives a sense of modernity.

Gypsum powder

Experiment 2

Aim:Trying to controlsubtraction level in terms of the depthandseethe rigidity of the model

Expectation:The gypsummixture is toolight, so cracks willformandwont takethe composition of the mold

Modelwill be structurally supportedbecause of the thickness,but Iwillfaceproblems removingtheplastic cups

Experiment 3

Aim:Trying to test differenttextures andcreatefull circularsubtraction

Expectation:The modelwillcollapse becausethe mixture,when poured,had differentthicknesses whichwillaffectthe rigidity of it

Cup and Perfume

Wrap to ease removal

Gypsum and water 2:1

Overall mold

Pouring and levelling

Gypsum and water 2:1

Conclusion:

• Experiment2-Thefinalmodelbrokebecause it gotstuck to theplasticcup,butgypsumratiowas better

• Experiment3-Themodelsurvived,butthesubtractionwasnotverysuccessful(notfully subtracted)

Experiment 1

Aim:Trying to add formwork to create decorativeopenings forauniqueshadow experience

Expectation:The modelwillnot be supportedand removingthemini tubeswilldestroyits structuralintegrity

Expectation:The gypsummixture is toolight, so cracks willformandwont takethe composition of the mold

Experiment 2

Aim:Tryingorganic boundariesandcup subtraction to see theirimpact on the finalmodel

Expectation:The modelwillnothold becausesomeparts afterpouredwere so thin,which meansthatthe slightestmovewill breakthem

Concave pot

Wrap to ease removal

Formwork of tubes

Tubular boundary Wrap to ease removal

Cups for voids

Conclusion:

• Experiment1-Thetubesbecametheformworkandwerenoteasy to remove in ordercreatethe intendedsubtraction

• Experiment2-Themodelsurvivedbutsurprisinglythesubtractionturnedintosubmission, so the cupelementwasadded tothe composition as amass

Experiment 3

Aim:Tryingorganic boundariesand check if it willcreate asee-through surface

Expectation:The gypsummixture is toolight, so cracks willformandwont takethe composition of the mold

Expectation:I believe it will be successfulbecauseI pouredthemixture intoaminimal thickness,which couldgivetheseethrougheffect

Experiment 4

Aim:Trying to create additionalelements in thegypsum model to see ifit will work or not

Expectation:The modelwillnotadjust to theadditions becausewhile pouring,themixture keptslidingoffthe aluminiumballs

Tubular boundary

Pour small amount

Smooth surface

Tubular boundary

Smooth back

Formwork and void

Experiment 5

Aim:Tryingorganic boundariesand check if it willcreate asee-through surface

Expectation:I believe it will be successfulbecauseI pouredthemixture intoaminimal thickness,which couldgivetheseethrougheffect

Tubular boundary

Texturized and levelled

Weighted cups

Conclusion: The experiment worked and is the gypsum model I will study further for parametric design

g. h.

Subtract Solids

Expectations

Workflow is clearandcomprehensive; however,thetranslation to grasshopper seemscomplicatedsinceI am notfamiliar withmost of the commands

Conclusion

Moreresearch to haveaparametriccode needs to be done to ensure an easy, efficient,andeditablecodethatwillensure differentpaneliterationseverytime

Grasshopper Code

Controls points along top X-axis randomly

Joins points and merges points along top and bottom into two separate curves

Lofts (joins) top and bottom curves into a surface

Randomised Parameters for points on x and y planes

Create Series

Join curves and create surface

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Grasshopper Code

Relation between curvature of surface and hollow tubes

Reverse subtraction relation between surface which fills the hollow tubes

Relation between randomized points and domain, which connects as a curve

High Attraction relation between 4 parametric points.

Repulsion relation which creates tubes with randomized solid and void

Conclusion

At this stage, I was able to identify the code’s local parameters and how a change in one can affect the iterations and provide new ideas and approaches for panel designs based on a variety of factors, which include:

• Number of cylinders

• Diameter of cylinders

• Extrusion of cylinders

• Spacing between cylinders

• Solid and void ratio

• Hollow or filled cylinders

• Parameter of panel

• Number of attraction and/or repulsion points

• Controlling the curve that navigates the cylinders

These are extreme parametric values to show how different parameters produce completely different iterations in terms of the form, domain, curvature, solid & void, surface, and attraction points

Global Parameters

Attraction/repulsion control points with parametric magnitude which controls the relation between the tubes (pattern for facades)

The surface controls the behaviour of the tubes in terms of direction, intensity, and form

IterationMahmoud AlbassyoniARCH 473/3522 – Mahmoud AlbassyoniARCH 473/3522 –

M A I N P A N E L S

Variety of cluster composition

This is the main cluster design I will use in “Project 2” because it opens many door for creativity, functionality, and innovation

Conclusion

Architecturally, the idea of “tubular” formsopen up manyoptions. It could act as:

• Shading elementswithuniquelight andshadowexperience

• Structure of thebuildingwhich dedicates the locations of windows.

• An interactivespace wheretubular voidsareusedforclimbing.

• Lightstructure as it doesnotfeel dense due to solidandvoidratios.

Reflection

Personally,thisnewexperience of transforminga reallife experiment (gypsum) to a digitalised version,which is thenused architecturally reallyshows the endlessopportunities to innovation. The documentation processalso represents development.Getting introduced to thelanguage of coding shows technologicaladvancements in architecturalapproaches

It wasalsointeresting to transform codesintoactualarchitecture,andthe factthat AI cancome up withmany alternatives of the initialinput

What is a Double skin façade?

Doubleskinfaçades.Almostaself-explanatorynameforfaçadesystemsconsisting of twolayers, usuallyglass,whereinairflowsthroughtheintermediatecavity. Thisspace(whichcanvaryfrom 20 cm to afewmeters)acts as insulationagainstextremetemperatures,winds,andsound,improving the building'sthermalefficiencyforbothhighandlowtemperatures.

Theairflowthroughtheintermediatecavitycanoccurnaturally or be mechanicallydriven,andthetwo glasslayersmayincludesunprotectiondevices.

While the concept of double-skinfaçades is notnew,there is agrowingtendency forarchitectsandengineers to usethem.

Heat mechanism

Although double façades of the more usual buffer, twin face and extract-air types continue to be built in these regions, unique double façades have been developed that focus solely on the provision of shading as the primary means of heat avoidance. This is usually coupled with relatively high performing glazing in curtain wall skins to further limit heat transfer and solar gain. Many of these shading systems are derived from the tradition of the Islamic mashrabiya which is a wooden lattice screen that is used to allow for some air circulation while blocking significant solar radiation and providing visual privacy. This vernacular based precedent for a second layer can be seen to be naturally extended to create a new type of double façade system.

Types of double skin facade

Open naturalconvection:

In thistype of DSF,airis Circulatedin the middlecavity because of the effect of buoyancy.Theentrance of air is located in the lowerpart of the outerskin oron the lowersurface of it; the exit is located in the upperpart of the outer skin or on itsuppersurface. This method creates a suitable thermal resistance betweenthe innerandouterenvironment of the building,and the heatedair in the middlepartcan be naturallyused by openingwindowson the innerskin

Closed naturalconvection:

Thissystemworks by naturalconvection,butair is trapped in thespace between the twocrusts;because the thermalflows of theinnerandouter crustaredifferent,aircirculatesnaturally in the middlegap.However, natural ventilation doesnothappen in thismethodbecause of theclosedmiddle cavity

Forced convection:

In this method, air heatedin the middlegap is sent tothe room space or buildingentrance with a fan. In thismethod, the systemactsas a preheater for the air

Buffer System:

Thesefaçadesdatebacksome 100 yearsandarestillused.Theypredate insulatingglassandwereinvented to maintaindaylightintobuildingswhile increasinginsulatingandsoundproperties of the wallsystem.Theyusetwo layers of singleglazingspaced 250 to 900 mm apart,sealedandallowingfresh airinto the buildingthroughadditionalcontrolledmeans.

Extract AirSystem:

Thesearecomprised of asecond singlelayer of glazingplaced on theinterior of amainfaçade of double-glazing (thermopileunits).Theairspacebetweenthetwolayers of glazingbecomes part of theHVACsystem.Theheated"used"airbetween the glazinglayers is extractedthrough the cavitywiththeuse of fansandtherebytempers the innerlayer of glazingwhile the outerlayer of insulatingglassminimizesheat transmissionloss.

Twin FaceSystem:

conventionalcurtainwall or thermalmasswallsysteminsideasingleglazed buildingskin.Thisouterglazingmay be safety or laminatedglass or insulating glass.Shadingdevicesmay be included.Thesesystemsmusthave an interior space of at least 500 to 600 mm to permitcleaning.

Precedent 1: Publisctudio Double skin

Thechangewasmanly to findapassiveway to cooldownthemachineryinside(tocontrolthefountain) instead of having to createopenings,whichwouldtransfernoiseoutside, so thedouble-sidedfaçade wasawell-plannedmove to ventilate the spacewhilepreservingcalmness tothe garden

Precedent 2: A Low-Tech, Operable Skin

Architectsnowadayshavestartedapplyingtheprinciples of nature to createsmartfaçadesknown as “BiomimeticFaçades” Theparameters of thisfaçadeareair/wind,shadeandtheclimatewhichrelates to thermal andvisualcomfort.Apartfromthese, an energy-efficientfaçade shouldalsotakeintoconsiderationfactorslikesolarradiation,wind speedandhumidity.

Building Plot

In thisproject,theobjective is to exploreandparametricallygenerateaprototypeforabuilding façadeskinthattakesintoconsiderationissues of environmentalcomfort,spatialrelationsand humanaspectsusingapassiveapproach.Youarerequired to developaparametricallydriven buildingskinforthebuildingshownbelow(NationalBank of EgyptBranch,SouthTeseenRd,New Cairo).Themainfaçade of thebuilding isin aSouth/Southwestorientation,and so youarerequired to devise an appropriateenvelopethatprovidesadequateshadingandsunprotection.

Building Analysis

During winter, the prevailing wind is mainly driven from the north-north-east and the secondary is from north-north-west

During summer, the prevailing wind is mainly driven from the north-north-west and the secondary is from north-north-east

Natural ventilation, Direct evaporative cooling, Solar heat gain Are required since almost 85% of the year are not in the comfort zone.

Solarradiation is lowoverall throughout the wholeyear,yet the drybulk is exceedingthe comfortzone.

Building Section

Top View Perspective View

Top view to show how the grasshopper code was not successful to adjust on a curve

SolidandVoidrelationship

Conceptual Section

Sun Path

The sun path analysis shows the direction of the sun path which indicates difference in height between seasons, months, and even time of the day in order to adjust accordingly

Shadow Analysis

Thisshowsvisuallytheeffect of context on the buildingfaçade,withoutinterference of double skinfaçade. As expectedfromthestudies,the partthat is exposed to thesun for morethan8 hrs is thesouthernfaçade,thenfrom6-7hrs will be thewesternandeasternfacades,and finallylessthan5hours is the northernfaçade.

Radiation Analysis

Optimum Radiation

Initialradiationwith no façadedesign in order to studythesolidandvoid relation of the façade.

Conclusion: Southernfaçadehasthe mostradiation, so use horizontaltubes to block the highsunrays.

Added my façadeand it blockedmostradiation fromthesouth;however, notallbecausetheorange region is stillvisible

Conclusion: Controlthesolidandvoid mechanism to ensure optimumradiation,nottoo dark or toobright

Here,theorangereason is almostgonebecauseI increasedtheverticaltubes in westernfacade

Conclusion: Workedwell,butnowall plansareleaningmore towardsthedarkerside, so optimization is stillnot reached

Increasedthevoidtubes aroundentrancebecause of the existingshading element,andincreased circumference on tubes in the middle

Conclusion: Most of theslabsare optimizedwithinthetarget region(124-155 KWh/m2)

Wind Rose

Conclusion: Thisvisualconfirmsthefactthatmain prevailingwindcomesfromthenorth at thehighest speed of 7.86 m/s,however,westernfaçade is used up completely so usingawindcatcherwouldhave notbeenefficient

Fabrication File

1 day 10 hours 168g 56.24m

17 hours 27 minutes 168g 56.24m

1 day 8 hours 301g 101m

20 hours 47 minutes 198g 66.24m

16 hours 25 minutes 155g 99m

Conclusion: In order to decreasethetime,changingthepositionandrotation of thefaçade is the mostefficientbecause it indicatesthenumber of externalsupportsused.Anotherfactor is optimizing the printspeed(butputintoconsiderationthatfastermeanslessquality).

Thecentrepart is madeout of removablesupportsbased on solid or void

VR Shots and

(before)

Add “solid” components for shading

Add “solid” components for shading

VR Shots and Analysis (after)

Added shading element

Interesting shadow experience

Added terraces and outdoor spaces Façade does not obstruct the view

VR Shots and Analysis (after)

Conceptual Shots

Plans

Ground FloorFirst Floor

Second Floor Third Floor

Fourth FloorFifth Floor

Sixth Floor

Seventh Floor

Sections

Sections showing vertical connection and variations of double heights whether defined by walls, or railings

Bibliography

Souza, Eduardo. “How Do Double-Skin Façades Work?” ArchDaily, ArchDaily, 20 Aug. 2019, https://www.archdaily.com/922897/how-do-double-skin-facades-work.

“Double-Skin Facade.” Double-Skin Facade -an Overview | ScienceDirect Topics, https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/double-skin-facade.

Danpal. “Double Skin Façade - Perfect Protection for the Building.” Danpal, 29 Dec. 2021, https://danpal.com/double-skin-curtain-wall/.

International, Gizmodo. “5 Smart Building Skins That Breathe, Farm Energy and Gobble up Toxins.” Gizmodo Australia, 6 Sept. 2013, https://www.gizmodo.com.au/2013/09/5-smart-building-skins-thatbreathe-farm-energy-and-gobble-up-toxins/.