Student Portfolio
ARCH 473/3522 - DIGITAL DESIGN STUDIO AND WORKSHOP Laila Hany Mostafa Awad Saleh Fall 2021
The American University in Cairo (AUC) School of Sciences and Engineering - Department of Architecture ARCH 473/3522 - Digital Design Studio and Workshop (Spring 2019) 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: Laila Hany Mostafa Awad Saleh Student ID: 900181788
© The American University in Cairo (AUC), May 2019
Laila Hany Saleh Architecture Student
Architecture has been my passion since I was 6 years old. It all started with my love for exploration and looking at different ways to build and design homes for my stuffed kitten and my barbie dolls. I used to play with the couch mattreses and form different kinds of forts and experiment with their stability. Ever since I was a child, I loved to draw and paint, I liked to experiment with different materials and shapes. As I grew older, I started redecorating my room, and researching more about the field. At the age of 14, I started my first internship in interior design, I started becoming more familiar with artworks and mood boards, broadening my horizon with different compositions and concepts. Whenever I traveled with my family or friends, I always observed the different cultures through their Architec-
ture. What is old, what is new, the street and buildings connection, the environment, and the overall scenery. I would reach a point that I would learn my way through the streets once after walking in them just because I identified them with the surrounding buildings. Architecture has always been my passion. To me, it is not just a building, it is a message, a statement, a way of life. As I started University, I knew this was the only major that I would be able to succeed in. Throughout my projects, I have always thought outside the box, not limiting myself to any constraints. This course has had a major impact on my experience and knowledge of architecture. I learned a knew program, I explored and went deeper into what I can do and actually implement in real life. It allowed me even more flexibility than I could ever imagine. It is one of the courses that I truly enjoyed and learned a lot from during this semester.
Just like how gypsum and water flow into a mold and solidify. This Project was inspired by the flexibility and flow of water from liquid to solid. As well as the exotic forms and perforations that are shaped by the solidifying of water in the North Pole.
01 Project 1: Material Exploration ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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Prototype I Concept: Waterflow and Glaciers
Materials Used: Gypsum Water Plastic Cups Fabric Glue Gun
Ratio: Gypsum:Water 2:1
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Material Exploration
Process Documentation
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1) Cut the fabric into the desired piece
3) Poured the gypsum and water mixture
2) Cut the cups and experimented with
4) Was able to create and interesting form
their heights to have create my wave and glued the cups to the fabric ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
on to the fabric
on each side as well as a pattern on the gypsum from the fabric
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Prototype II Concept: Waves and Waterflow
Materials Used: Gypsum Water Cardboard Cups Glue
Ratio: Gypsum:Water 2.25:1
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Material Exploration
Process Documentation
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1) Cut one cardboard cup in half, main-
3) Poured the thick gypsum and water
2) Cut the second cup as well and glued it
4) Was able to create and interesting form
taining a connection between both halves
to the first cup, upside down.
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mixture
with voids, however, it had a few cracks at its weak points Laila Hany Mostafa Awad Saleh
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Prototype III Concept: Frozen Waves in the North Pole
Materials Used: Gypsum Water Wire Mesh Cardboard Box Sticks Plastic Sheet
Ratio: Gypsum:Water 2:1
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Material Exploration
Process Documentation
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1) Cut the wire mesh to fit in the box
3) Glue the wire mesh to the wooden
2) Applying control points with sticks to
4) Cutting wax sticks to create obstruction
keep it stable
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5) Gluing sticks to the wire mesh
7) Refrencing the obstruction to make
6) Getting a plastic sheet to protect the
8) Pouring gypsum mixture into the mold
gypsum from seeping through
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openings
Material Exploration
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9)
Applying a second layer to protect against cracking
11) Removing the mesh, plastic sheet, and
10) Removing the gypsum from the box
12) Was able to create and interesting,
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wax sticks
wave like, form with perforations and an interesting texture. However, it was a bit thick. Laila Hany Mostafa Awad Saleh
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Material Exploration
Learning Outcomes
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The first stage of the course was all about material experimentation in 3D. It helped me in learning how to explore and find the parameters required in order for me to be able to reach my desired outcome. During part I, I was still unsure how gypsum would be like, I experimented a lot with the ratio and different molds before I started. During the first part, I learned that I needed more stability and the use of a fabric that would not stick to the gypsum. Later in stage two, I started experimenting with a different materia, foam cups, to try to create the wave feeling I wanted while giving stability and rigidity to the gypsum. However, it was not as successful as I had hopes, I realized I still had certain week points in my wave that caused it to crack and also the gypsum layer was somewhat thin, so I had to tackle all these issues in the final product. In part three, I was able to create a more stable and rigid form that also looks flowy and water like, it stood on its own without the formwork, however, it was very thick, so maybe that was the only downfall. The final part was my most successful, with the perforations and the interesting texture, I had by know understood my materials and parameters a lot better.
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Learning From Nature
13 The SSE pavilion was inspired by the site’s dynamic experience in relation to a snake’s flexibility and dynamic structure. Just like a snake emerges from the the ground, SSE students’ creativity grows and extends to no limit, hence the exaggeration in the pavilion.
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Project III: Learning From Nature ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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Research
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Learning From Nature
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Learning From Nature
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Learning From Nature
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Part 1
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Learning From Nature
Form Inspiration
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The Pavilion is inspired by the dynamic atmosphere of the SSE building. How students and faculty move from one place to another and how the building is accessible from all sides. Juse like snakes, the SSE building is flexible and active, creating a creative and innovative environment
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Code
1) Created a curve using the spiral tool. copied it, and widened them
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2) Divided both curves using points and connected the points with arcs
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3) Lofted both curves and created a surface to start working on the triangular pattern
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4) created a triangular surface mesh, adjusted the parameters to have this pattern, and gave it a thickness
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Code
1) Copied one of the spirals, changed its direction and width, then divided it with points.
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2) Created planes to create polygons from the center or each point
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3) Adjusted and scaled down the polygons
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4) Rotated, exploded, and filleted the polygons
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3D Views
Dynamic
Asymmetrical
Accessible from all sides
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Learning From Nature
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Part 2
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Code
1) Created a curve using the spiral tool. copied it, and widened them
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2) Rotated the curves to omake the model more vertical
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3) Connected the curves with arches to have the snake like shape then lofted them to create a surface
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4) Connected the surface with the triangular grid and gave it a thickness to create the snake skin pattern
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Code
1) Copied one of the spirals, changed its direction and width
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2) Created planes to create polygons from the center of each point
3) Scaled down the p
Learning From Nature
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polygons
4) Rotated. exploded, and filleted the polygons
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5) Created pipes out of the segments
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3D Views
Dynamic
Asymmetrical
Functional from all sides
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Learning From Nature
Circulation and Function
Rotated to the side to provide a unique entrance and exit to the side opening
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Provides a socializing area with extra seating
Grand Entrance and Exit
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The Exotic Snake Experience
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Acts as a light and creative gateway to SSE
A symbol of Flexibility, rigidity, and growth
The sun hits the snake skin and provides a light and patterned effect on the surrounding of the pavilion
Different colors and gradients to represent the snakes’ variety
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Learning Outcomes
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Working with grasshopper for the first time was somewhat confusing, still getting used to all the commands. However, the project was very exciting, it taught me how digital and visual coding can help me create extraordinary forms, how extremely flexibile it is was truly and eye opener for me. Being able to play with forms and curves while still having parameters that make it realistic. In the first trial, the biggest challenge was staying within the allowable area, still not fully understanding how to control the dimensions of the elements in the form. However, as I went on to the second phase,with some help from our TA, the internet, and experimentation, I was able to fully control my form, changing its dimensions, rotation, everything. This project helped me understand how using digital applications can actually inspire me and help me break all boundaries to create something that is completely different.
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The Parametric Facelift
37 This project tends to combine everything I have learned all together. How to design using parameters, while still breaking the boundaries. This project was inspired by the magic of origami and digital design combined together to form a parametric facelift for Blom Bank.
03 Project III:The Parametric Facelift ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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Research
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Inspiration and Trial
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The Parametric Facelift
RMIT’s Design School, Melbourne
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The facade has thousands of small circles that are fixated to a central rod Based on humidity and temperature inside the building, these rods pivot automatically to facilitate or block the flow of air through the facade Manipulating Materials: The material used is thermobimetal, a laminate of two different metals. Each side reacts differently to sunlight, expanding and contracting at different rates, creating a curling effect through the tension. When the surface gets hot, the thin panels curl up to allow more air. When it cools down, it uncurls and closes up.
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Al Bahr Towers, Abu Dhabi It is a 25 story tower located at the eastern gateway to the city. The temperature can reach almost 50 degrees celsius The shading screen is computer controlled to respond to optimal solar and light conditions Each panel is connected to a linear actuator which enables it to function in response to the position of the sun, effectively reducing heat gain and glare by 50% while giving islamic vernacular a contemporary presentation
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Heat Gain, Natural Lighting, and Solar Radiation Starting from december to march, the temperature is usually below 20 C and sunlight and heat are required The Temperature rises to 24 C and above and shade is required starting mid march
Starting from june up until the end of october, shade and cooling are required From November until December, sun intensity is within comfort, however, shading is recommended Conclusion: 1) Southern Windows should be shaded 2) Operable and dynamic double skin 3) The use of light colored material ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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Wind Study Wind and cool air mainly come from North/North West orientation
During Summer: 1) Orient windows North/North west 2) wiind catchers 3) Dynamic skin to allow cool air and natural ventilation During Winter: 1) close wind catchers 2) change the orientation of openings to minimize cold air
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Double Skin Concept
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The Ninja star would close and open based on the sun path and different seasons. It would be controlled using a software and sensors to sense the environmental factors and change shape accordingly.
Wall Concept The wall should act as some kind of wind catcher to capture as much air as possible from the opening in the north
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Grasshopper Tutorial
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Unit Trial and Development
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Unit Trial
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Unit Trial Development
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Unit Trial Development
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Unit Trial Development
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Unit Trial Development
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General Zoning
The double skin is divided into 3 panels in order to allow the maximum amount of ventilation
The panels are raised according to the sun direction and orientation. The octagonal units adjust their openings size, rotation, and extrusion according to the sun path ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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Third Unit Trial
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VR Experience The VR experience helped me notice that there was no grid. The extrusions were too dramatic, and the sctructure was not aligned with the units, they seem as two seperate entities Opportunities: 1) Use structure and units to play with the interior experience 2) Double height effect with the double skin
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Fabrication
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The rotated octagonal units with extrusions were too complicated for fabrication, as well as the problems that I faced during the VR experience
For Fabrication, I add certain supports in order to keep my facade stable during 3D printing
For Fabrication, I chose hexagonal units, in order for the facade to hold itself and not have any gaps until I fixed the issue of structure
This was the final step that helped me come up with the final design
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Final Double Skin
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Final Code
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FinalTrial Development
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Kinetic Facade The Octagons’ opening, rotation, and extrusion are all based on the sun’s location and path
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Solar Radiation
Before
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After
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Walls and Slabs Modification
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Plans
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Section 1 Scale 1:100
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Section 2 Scale 1:100
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Elevation Scale 1:100
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Interior Effect
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Lumion Shots
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Learning Outcomes
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This Project was certainly the most challenging. Trying to turn an origami into a facade turned out to provide great oppurtunities to play around. I was able to experience with several units and find a way to combine ideas from each one into my final, avoiding the time consuming complications while designing something that is efficient and an experience within itself. I was able to put almost everything I learned into this project. I was able to connect the structure and the units in a way that they became one, also creating a nice lighting experience in the interior. I was able to criticize my work through the VR experience and fix my files through the fabrication work. Overall, the entire project was a new experience that I really enjoyed and learned a lot from. It is a completely different method of design that really expanded my horizon.
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