Noha Tolba- AUC - ARCH 473/3522

Student Portfolio

The American University in Cairo (AUC)

School of Sciences and Engineering - Department of Architecture

ARCH 473/3522 - Digital Design Studio and Workshop (Fall 2022)

Student portfolio documenting samples of work submitted along the course, including research, experimentation, 3D modeling, digital fabrication, parametric design and modeling, physical model realisation and analysis.

Student Name: Noha Tolba Student ID: 900191605

© The American University in Cairo (AUC), December 2022

Noha Tolba Architecture Student

My name is Noha Tolba. I am a senior architecture student at the American University in Cairo. Most of the time, I get inspirations from surrounding context or visuals in general, this time it was different. After going through the first few readings, I noticed that there are many different things that we could get inspired from and actually transform it into a real life concept. Moving on from there, I have gained different skills in this course that proved that everything is applcable if a workflow is executed with its algorithm. Adding on to that, I concluded that this applies to almost everything, and not just to softwares.

In the first phase we were mainly focusing on researching the different methods that can be used to ease the application process and increase number of experimntation. The research was focused on finding the different technique of formwork, their designs, and their implementation.

Formwork Finding ResearchDifferent

Pattern FormworkCasting

First step is to find the right stitching methods, and to sketch out the knots. This is achieved by “picking points” which creates ‘creases’ that affect the local patterns.

Next, the fabric is stitched along the lines marked on it. This allows the fabric to hold itself together and form fluid spaces within itself. Thus, a formwork is created.

Lastly, the concrete or gypsum mixture is poured into the formwork, and left to solidify. After the solidificcation stage, the fabric is removed from around the concrete.

ResearchDifferent Iterations

Lozenges Arrow

Pattern:

Pattern:

- Distance between lines.

- Line Size.

- Shape arrangement.

- Distance between lines.

Formwork:

Formwork:

- Wide connections.

- Tight meetings points.

Casting

Casting

- Less precise knots.

- More precise.

- Accurately formed shapes.

An image showing how the smocking technique was implement in the matrial exploration phase.

Trial 01

Trial 02 Trial 03

First trial was mainly trying the effect of smocking and the method of using fabric as a formwork.

Process:

- A mould (using fabric)

- Pouring the gypsum Takeaway:

- Material Ratio - Strength of Formwork.

Second trial was off track as it was not exaclty formwork, it rather was a form of using the fabric itself to be the generated form.

Process: - Creating structural form

- Dipping fabric in gypsum + shaping it

- Removing structural support.

Similar to trial 2, but an external element was used to give the form its shape and stability.

Trial 04

Here, the main concept was to achieve the wavy texture of the first trial fabric composition. Which became the main inspiration later on.

Process: - Fabric was soaked and dryed to be the formwork itself

- Gypsum was placed on the soaked cloth to take its shape.

Trial 05

Trial 06

Complete different material was used. A plastic bag was filled with gypsum and shaped to have a ruffled effect.

Process: - Filling bag with gypsum - Resting it on supports for different heights.

This trial was an attempt to try different variations of factors deduced from trial. Different formwork was used in an attempt to convey a specific message.

Takeaways:

- Structure needs to be rigid & not breakdown easily

- Plasticine perforations were more adjusted.

End of Phase 01

The second phase was purely dedicated to transforming into grasshopper and understanding the logic behind it. Various iteratins were performed until a satisying result was reached.

Simple

1.

- Populate geometry.

- Point charge.

- Spin force.

3. Field Line Initiation:4. Extruded Curves:

Input Command: Input Command:

- Divide curve.

- Field line. - NURBS curve.

Input Command: Input Command:

- Circle - Cap hole extrude. - Pull Point. - NURBS curve - Loft

GrassHopper Algorithm - Iterations

1. Number of Points:

2. Divided Curve:

3. Cap Hole Radius

- Decreasing number of points increases the total area of voids in the panel.

- Dividing the number of curves to create more densified areas.

Grasshopper Code Script - Cluster

- Smaller cap hole cut, allows for better enclosure and dense areas.

4. Curve height:

5. Flow of curve:

6. Graph Type Control

- The highest level a curve would reach from its edges to the center.

- After dividing the curve to multiple points, the curve has different flows.

- Different graphs control the extrusions of the lofted curve to differet height.

Cluster Panel, after running the different possible iterations.

Transforming a single unit panel to perform as a double skin facade system.

Research of Double Skin Facade:

Air and Heat Flow

Chimney Effect: Releasing hot air using density method. Heat release from internal spaces. Buffer zone: Trapping heat inside the cavity to mnimize mechanical heaters.

Responsive Facades Precedants:

SDU KOLDING CAMPUS

Dynamic facade with folding triangular plates.

Main affecting factor is the sunlight movement (as an attractor).

DOHA TOWER, QATAR

Static System facade composed of a steel mesh of specific patterns.

Acts as a cover for the entire glazed facade to block the sunlight.

ORANGE HEADQURTERS

Static System facade that provides passive protection from direct sunlight and incoming heat.

Translation of Panel into DSF

Indoor/Outdoor Relationsihp

Study section showing how the cavity should work with the facade and slabs.

Disecting of the Single Panel

Using the same logic to adapt to the environmental conditions on site.

Tracing lines of the panel to understand the logic.

Rotating specific lines to achieve the transition from vertical to horixontal lines

West Vertical Louvers

Vertical louvers will be formed to protect the facade from the incoming sunlight coming from the West.

South Horizontal Louvers

The louvers start transforming into horizontal louvers on the Southern side.

Initial trials used to intgrate the initial panel into a double skin facade, responding to a specific topic.

Trial 01 -Tween and Pull

Trial 02 - Pinch and Spread

An image of how the facade responded to the sun orientation to protect the building and act as a solution to its exposure to direct sunlight.

Virtual Reality Experience through Facade

The VR experience was extremely important as it allows you to see what cannot be seen through the computer screen.

Shadow effect was achieved, but the double skin facade should be given a higher thickness, to show that would be structurally logical, and improve its environmental performance.

Thickness should be increased.

In addition to the thickness, the point distribution on facade from which the louvers emerge should be more distanced and organized in which a pattern occurs.

Extremely dense areas of no use or function.

Facade Responding to Sun Orientation

Southern side of elevation - Horizontal louvers

This double skin facade is meant to follow the orientation of the sun, to protect the interior zones. Thus, the Western side of the facade was protected by using vertical louvers, while the South was through horizontal louvers.

3D Section

Shots

Solar Radiation Analysis

Solar radiation analysis was run in the summer period to analyze the effect of the sun on the on the building and its functional zones.

Areas with the yellow color show that it is receiving enough light radiated from the context. (Due to have the louvers being slightly vertical in the south).

Blue areas show that he space is protected from the solar radiation that affects the spaces.

Grasshopper Code Script

Fabrication Process of Facade

First run for the fabrication file shows that it would require around 6 hours of operation.

Regarding the material, this way it would require 36g of material (mainly plastic).

After a few optimization attempts, the new layout of the model on the bed would ease the process as it would only need 2 hours of operation.

As for the material, it will only use 19g, as it is using way less supports.

Course Reflection

At first, things were a little bit complicated, as I had to start creating workflows that would match that of a computer. In general, I got to learn new programs and a totally new skill, that mainly affected my way of thinking, as I am now thinking of the main simple steps, and then breaking them down into smaller ones. Grasshopper is main addition that already helped ease the design and form finding process, as you can easily experiment different fields and apply many iterations.

Biblography

• https://www.archdaily.com/922897/how-do-double-skin-facades-work

• https://www.google.com/search?q=double+skin+facade+case+study&tbm=isch&ved=2ahUKEwiEpdGMpYD8AhXSVqQEHa85DNsQ2-cCegQIABAA&oq=double+skin+facade+C&gs_lcp=CgNpbWcQARgAMgUIABCABDIFCAAQgAQyBggAEAgQHjIGCAAQCBAeMgYIABAIEB4yBwgAEIAEEBg6BAgAEENQ7wRYhRRgmSJoAHAAeACAAV-IAZQCkgEBM5gBAKABAaoBC2d3cy13aXotaW1nwAEB&sclient=img&ei=MIWdY4TNMtKtkdUPr_Ow2A0&bih=664&biw=1536&rlz=1C1CHWL_enEG981EG981#imgrc=432ZL3SCcNB_AM

• https://www.semanticscholar.org/paper/Concrete-Form%5Bing%5Dwork%3A-Designing-and-Simulating-Scherer/3921994abdfed7cc914b18da9b3187a0333356f2