Merna Moussa- 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 (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: Merna Moussa Student ID: 900191237

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

Merna Moussa Architecture Student

I am a Senior student, studying Architectural Engineering - and have been in the program for 3.5 years now. I was always very eager to study architecture and love & ambition towards design and architecture.

Continuing on the first digital course I took in my second semester in university - which basically taught us the basics of digital design - and simple BIM techniques. 473 is a more advanced version of the previous course - it started to make us experiment with parametric design - and also different grasshopper & rhino techniques. It was very challenging in the beginning as I didn’t comprehend the concepts properly in the beginning as it was my very first time dealing with grasshopper.

Throughout the course all the feedback given was very constructive and with the help of Dr Sherif & all his TA’s all my concepts and ideas were able to become a reality.

This course was very eye-opening and challenges your mind to help with an innovative & logic outcome.

THE BLANK FACADE CANVAS

In this stage we were required to start exploring with materials - and start presenting our research of different approaches which can be used - whether it be casting or fabric forming. Looking back at its history and background - and different precedents.

What I was most engaged with was how I can portray different voids using negative and positive spaces - while using different textures and forms.

After looking at the different parameters it helped me engage with my ideas more - and see the different outcomes which I can reach.

To begin my experimentation I tried out the gypsum first to see how it works and if it needs different additions and the ratios needed. Then proceeded to experiement with different forms.

In this experimental project, the objective is to physically explore with different materials and fabrication techniques to devise a unit prototype for a building façade. You are encouraged to investigate several physical /digital techniques and material explorations that can support the process of experimentation with your ideas, including: Casting & Fabric forming

In this stage, you are each asked to individually present your research of the specific fabrication approach you will be adopting with regards to casting or fabric forming, including history and background, different techniques, materials used, domain of application, and precedents.

Using that background knowledge, you are asked to develop a physical model of the required volume using a selected technique (casting or fabric forming) and a selected material (for ease and practicality, you can work with gypsum and water, unless you have access to other materials).

VOIDS

PANEL DESIGN

In this phase we were required to begin to develop a logic of propagation for the building block into a network, cluster or system, demonstrating the main driver and logic for such propagation, the global parameters involved in the process of propagation, the propagation rules, and how these are tied to the local building block parameters.

Your submission should include documentation of your process, ruleset logic, all possible iterations generated using your propagation logic, and the native Grasshopper model.

FIRST TRIAL

FIRST TRIAL - GH DEFINITION

FINAL - GH DEFINITION

SINGLE PANEL DESIGN

PROGRESS

PROGRESS

At this stage, we should be extracting data from our parametric system/cluster for fabrication using the appropriate additive/subtractive manufacturing techniques and tools. We will continue this preparation through the actual physical fabrication of your model till the final submission.

FINAL CLUSTER DESIGN

FIRST TRIAL - GH DEFINITION

DIFFERENT ITERATIONS

FINAL - GH DEFINITION

THE BLANK FACADE CANVAS

In this project we were to explore and understand how a parametric facade is done - and research the different aspects to it.

We were required to design a parametric facade prototype - while keeping the environmental and spatial aspects in consideration.

In this project, the objective is to explore and parametrically generate a prototype for a building façade skin that takes into consideration issues of environmental comfort, spatial relations and human aspects using a passive approach.

You are required to develop a parametrically driven building skin for the building shown below (National Bank of Egypt Branch, South Teseen Rd, New Cairo). The main façade of the building is in a South/ Southwest orientation, and so you are required to devise an appropriate envelope that provides adequate shading and sun protection.

DOUBLE SKIN FACADE RESEARCH

The double-skin façade is a system of building consisting of two skins, or façades, placed in such a way that air flows in the intermediate cavity. The ventilation of the cavity can be natural, fan supported or mechanical.

HOW THEY WORK?

Double skin façades. Almost a self-explanatory name for façade systems consisting of two layers, usually glass, wherein air flows through the intermediate cavity. This space (which can vary from 20 cm to a few meters) acts as insulation against extreme temperatures, winds, and sound, improving the building’s thermal efficiency for both high and low temperatures.

FOR COLD WEATHER

In cold climates, the air buffer works as a barrier to heat loss. Sun-heated air contained in the cavity can heat spaces outside the glass, reducing the demand for indoor heating systems.

FOR HOT WEATHER

In hot climates, the cavity can be vented outside the building to mitigate solar gain and decrease the cooling load. Excess heat is drained through a process known as the chimney effect, where differences in air density create a circular motion that causes warmer air to escape. As the air temperature in the cavity rises, it is pushed out, bringing a slight breeze to the surroundings while isolating against heat gain.

Overall, double-skin façades depend heavily on external conditions (solar radiation, external temperature, etc.) that directly influence internal comfort and user quality of life. Therefore, careful design is essential for each case, requiring detailed knowledge of solar orientation, context, local radiation, temperature conditions, building occupancy.

BENEFITS

- Reduce cooling and heating demand;

- Allow clear views and natural light;

- Improve insulation, whether thermal and acoustic;

- Allow natural ventilation and air renewal, creating a healthier enivronment.

DISADVANTAGES

- Much higher initial cost of construction;

- Space consumption;

- Maintenance demand;

- It may fail to function properly if the context changes significantly (shading by other buildings, for example).

DOUBLE SKIN FACADE DIAGRAMS (Souza, 2019)

Beijing National Aquatics Center - WATERCUBE

HOW THEY WORK?

The structural solution was based on the formation of soap bubbles. Due to its complexity (the structure consists of 22,000 steel members and 12,000 nodes), the entire building was modelled in four dimensions.

WHAT IS IT MADE OF?

Besides the traditional culture, the Water Cube is built by modern science and technology. It is made of 100,000 m² of ethylene tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) membranes which are resistant to fire and severe heat, and possess ductility and crushing resistance. Each membrane contains thousands of bubble-like formations.

ENERGY To maximize energy efficiency, the Water Cube acts as a greenhouse. The ETFE cushions allow high levels of natural daylight into the building and harness the sun to passively heat the building and pool water. This sustainable concept reduces the energy consumption of the leisure pool hall by an estimated 30 percent.

For my parametric facade - i developed further on my Project 1 outcome. I continued with the main idea of playing with densities as my main parameter - and related it to the environmental aspects and spatial aspects.

The main parametric idea goes behind making the plans follow different densities based on function. and the outer skin facade follows densities based on the environmental aspects

VOID OPEN AIR AREA

SCHEMATIC PLANS

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

FIRST FLOOR PLAN SECOND FLOOR PLAN

THIRD FLOOR PLAN FOURTH FLOOR PLAN FIFTH FLOOR PLAN

SCHEMATIC SECTIONS

SECTION A-A

STRUCTURAL INSPIRATION

A building envelope has three standard functions: keep cold air out in winter, keep cool air in summer, and meeting the specified U-value requirements. However, not all solutions are created equal, especially when considering the aesthetic appearance of the structure. When the structure needs to be eye-catching, a façade or building envelope comprised of two or more layer ETFE cushions has become established as an attractive, flexible solution.

ETFE cushions consist of two or more layers of film that are welded together at the edge. The cushions may vary in shapes and sizes, depending on weather loads (snow, wind, rain) and building geometry. The edge is clamped with a keder, which is a cord welded into a narrow pocket. A multi-part aluminum frame profile makes the connection to the supporting structure. Here, an extruded aluminum profile receives the keder in a groove and is then hooked into a base profile that is connected to the supporting structure.

ETFE PANEL STRUCTURE SYSTEM (Satch1986, 2022)

CUSHION TUBES TRANSPARENT TUBE DUCT WORK INFLATION UNIT

STRUCTURAL SYSTEM

USING THE DELAUNAY TRIANGULATION FUNCTION - PIPES WERE CREATED AS A CONNECTION BETWEEN THE ETFE PANELS AS THE MAIN STRUCTURAL CONNECTION BETWEEN THE DOUBLE SKIN FACADE AND THE SLABS

PREVIOUS DESIGN TRIALS

TRIAL 1 TRIAL 2

TAKEAWAYS

- Make sure the openings are aligned

- Make the randomize more logical

- Apply Environmental analysis to logic

OPTIMUM DESIGN

As our projects progressed - we had the chance to visit the VR room in the mechanical department. Personally, I found it very useful as it made me have a feel of the building and the facade - and helped me understand what I needed to add - to enhance my design.

TAKEAWAYS

- Add lighting

- Make sure the openings are aligned

- Add structure

SOLAR RADIATION ANALYSIS

BEFORE

AFTER OPTIMIZATION

Through the Solar Radiation analysis - I tend to make the density of the geometry more dense wherever the solarradiation is high to help reduce the sun exposure.

FINAL - GH DEFINITION

Biblography

• Souza, E. (2019, August 20). How do double-skin façades work? ArchDaily. Retrieved December 17, 2022, from https://www.archdaily.com/922897/how-do-double-skin-facades-work

• Satch1986. (2022, April 18). Our experts explain how ETFE cushions work. PFEIFER Structures. Retrieved December 17, 2022, from https://pfeifer-structures.com/our-experts-explain-how-etfecushions-work/

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