Student Portfolio
ARCH 473/3522 - DIGITAL DESIGN STUDIO AND WORKRita Abdel Messih Fall 2021
The American University in Cairo (AUC) School of Sciences and Engineering - Department of Architecture ARCH 473/3522 - Digital Design Studio and Workshop (Fall 2021) 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: Rita Abdel Messih Student ID: 900181728
© The American University in Cairo (AUC), September 2021
Rita Abdel Messih Architecture Student
taught us to experiment our design using different forms having multiple visualization and computational tools. The incorporation of physical exploration while developing its digital translation was very beneficial as it opened our eyes on different relationships, constraints and parameters that intrigued our way of viewing things.
As a child, I always enjoyed challenging myself in everything I do. Whether it was in sports, school or activities; the journey of trying, stumbling and accomplishing always fulfilled me. In fact, Architecture combines everything that I love. It challenges my capabilities, strengthens my thinking and problem solving, and expands my creativity. Every semester is a new milestone full of growth with each course having so much to teach me. This course in particular approached the design process very differently from what we usually do. It
Table Of Contents: PART 1: LEARNING FROM MATERIALITY MATERIAL EXPLORATION I MATERIAL EXPLORATION II FINAL OUTCOME
PART 2: LEARNING FROM NATURE GROUP CONCEPT INDIVIDUAL GENERATIVE STRATEGY ARCHITECTURAL TRANSLATION USING GRASSHOPPER
PART 3:THE PARAMETRIC FACELIFT DOUBLE SKIN FACADE RESEARCH SITE CONDITION & ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS CONCEPTUAL IDEA PARAMETRIC MODELING PROCESS MODEL VISUALIZATION ANALYSIS AND DOCUMENTATION
Inspired By the blossoming shape of Nature and its infinite flexibility in forms to create fabric formwork
01 Part 1:
“Learning from Materiality”
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CASTING AND FABRIC FORMWORK What is Casting? Casting is a manufacturing process in which a liquid material is usually poured into a mold, which contains a hollow cavity of the desired shape and then allowed to solidify. History: It started with melting metals that are found in nature, such as gold, silver, and copper. During the 1960s formworks has been introduced while before that. they were made from clay and wax. Today, there are more than 10 techniques such Sand casting. Investment casting. Die casting. Low pressure casting. Centrifugal casting. Gravity die casting. Vacuum die casting. Squeezing die casting.
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INSPIRED BY NATURE
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The final formwork is inspired by the blossoming and blooming shapes of nature in terms of its free standing form that holds itself. Not only that, but also the infinite unknown discoveries and details in nature which represents the unexpected shape that will be revealed through the molding by integrating interference of materials, different connections and rough and smooth surfaces Portfolio
MATERIAL EXPLORATION i
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Material inspiration: In this first phase, it was very important to learn from the material we intend to use. I was inspired by nature, therefore all my material were from nature accordingly. I’ve chosen a leaf to get to feel the casting on such a smooth and delicate material taking its form. The choise of molding the loofah was mainly to explore its texture and pattern. Reflection: The leaf was successfully molded to its shape. We get to see all the small infinite details of that leaf including its branching. It would be interesting combining several leaves interlocking to create a combinatino. However, the mold got stuck in the loofah which lead to cracks while removing it. the texture looks interesting while the shape was unsuccessfull
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MATERIAL EXPLORATION ii
Why Mix Nature to form a shape? In nature, we find different textures and surfaces with similar shapes and bending capacity. It will help me evaluate the stability and strength of structures of different forms holding together (rough/smooth, linear/curved, etc). In this process, we are interested to explore these different natural structures consisting of orange, banana and leaf that are very different in terms of shape and texture. The banana will give us a curvi smooth form, while the orange will have a rigid stable form with dotted texture. Putting them all together forming a cup like shape, results have shown that the shapes got indeed molded however unconnected. For future development, it would be better to make sure the forms are well connected together whithout unusual interlocks and instead of molding a static shape, I must create a shape myself
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MATERIAL EXPLORATION iii
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DESIGN PROCESS
For the final casting creation, I kept the same main concept that I’m building up considering using only natural materials to create a form. This time, instead of randomly placing the mold on the material, I have created control points with pins where the structure would change, twist, stand and depend on. I’ve carefullt created the desired abstract form using banana peels to get to integrate rough with smooth surfaces and taking advantage of the bending form the banana has.
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FINAL
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Blossoming Interlocking Curves
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Free Standing Form with Thin Str
RESULT
ructure
Integrating Rough with Smooth Surfaces
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The structure created is special in its dynamic facades. Each side, point, rotation show a unique stable form. At the end, the interlocking of curves created an abstract outcome. The connection of curves also portrays the essence of our experience in nature: smooth vs rough textures. This abstraction is an accurate representation of the unknown and endless discoveries through every point. It would have been more interesting if the scale was enlarged more to see how the strcuture would have stood.
Rita Abdel Messih
Inspired by the Coral Reef Parametric Growth Composition
02 Part II:
“Learning from Nature”
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CORAL REEF
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REEF TYPES AND FORMATION
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Coral reefs are sea animals with ridge or moundlike biogenic structures in tropical seas composed of largely calcium carbonate, built by corals. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in groups. There are 3 Main types of coral reef : Fringing Reef, Barrier Rief and Atoll which all require very specific conditions to develop. Coral reefs begin to form when free-swimming coral larvae attach to a rock or other submerged object on the edges of islands. As the corals grow, over very long periods of time, they form into a reef. The three types of reef represent stages in development of a coral reef over time. The most common type of reef is the fringing reef. This type of reef grows seaward directly from the shore. They form borders along the shoreline and surrounding islands. When a fringing reef continues to grow upward from a volcanic island that has sunk entirely below sea level, an atoll is formed. Atolls are usually circular or oval in shape, with an open lagoon in the center. Barrier reefs are similar to fringing reefs in that they also border a shoreline; however, instead of growing directly out from the shore, they are separated from land by an expanse of water. This creates a lagoon of open, often deep water between the reef and the shore.
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PARAMETRIC C
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One of the most beautiful configurations in nature are the Coral Reefs. In fact, coral reefs grow in infinite patterns that are each unique. Their growth depend on so many factors such as depth, light and wave exposure which influence the fish communities. This leads to infinite iterated replications of the same geometry at a different scale. Coral grow in fractal growth which means that in order to iterate a pavilion with the same language, one must consider using a branching technique, connecting the points together and simulating the growth using attraction points representing the sun or gravity
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CORAL GROWTH
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Lindenmeyer Algorithm: Patterns of tree growth by varying a parameters like branching angle, distance between nodes or branchpoints and number of branches
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SSE SPACE PAVILION
Create a Gateway inspired by Coral Reef’s infinate iterated replications of the same geometry at different scale. Natural Growth and gradience will be the main inspiration attracting people passing by and create an interactive atmosphere triggering the feeling of wanting to discover and experience organic forms of Nature and mechanism. Each branch of the Coral Reef will be having an activity that would be attracting people to check out the pavilion and enjoy the exploration and experience. Portfolio
DESIGN VISUALIZATION
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DESIGN CONFIGURATION In order to create the desired random branching inspired by coral reefs, one must take into account firstly the scale. The first step I had to do was draw my plot with its borders so that it would fit the SSE gateway entry space. Then, I proceeded by drawing the desired branching lines according to the different interactive functions I want them to have. I drew 9 branches, some will act as decoratives that create a nice experience through the voids while others will have mirrors, drums, fan, trash can, and other fun installations EXOSKELETON PLUGGIN
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design steps
1: Draw square box with border limits II: Draw Human scale to imagine experience and consider scale
Feedback Reflection: The design concept itself is very innovative and could be pictured in real life. In fact, the design if successfully implemented will actually attract student and faculty to check it out. The branching itself look random indeed but would be better if it had different opening widths according to the function. Moreover, the blooming effect needs to be more curvilinear and smooth when branching out. And finally, voids must be created at connections instead. ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
III: Sketch lines representing the coral branching
IV: Apply GH configuration on lines Rita Abdel Messih
Inspired by the wavy rippling effect found in nature
03 Part III:
“The Parametric Facelift”
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BLOM BANK NEW CAIRO
T H E PA R A ME T RIC FACE LIFT 5 storey high building located on south Teseen Road. It has a glazed facade oriented towards the S/SW facade. The nieghborhood is highly dense with residential & office buildings.
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LOCATION: Cairo, Egypt Lattitude/longitude: 30, 13N 31, 4E
S O L A R E X P O SU RE
SUN CHART ANALYSIS: SUMMER: June-September Solar exposure above comfort zone ALL DAY FALL/SPRING: oct/nov - march/may Comfortable temperature --> shading can help WINTER: December-Feb 7am-12pm: shading needed
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS
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WIND A N A LYS IS
Wind rose diagram shows that the prevailing wind penetrates from N/NW direction. Barely any wind comes from the southern direction
The glazed facade is completely exposed to direct sunlight leading to internal heat gain inside the building. ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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DESIGN TAKEOUTS PROBLEMS & SOLUTIONS
Create a parametric facelife that would be adaptive and responsive to the building’s needs in terms of ventilation, sun penetration, noise blocking bearing in mind the level of privacy according to the functional space Portfolio
DESIGN CONCEPT
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RIPPLING PARAMETRIC FACADE The new facelift facade for Blom Bank revolves around finding complexity in the simple horizontal louver successive structure responding to the climatic and functional constraints of the building. The intended rippling effect aims to provide different spatial experiences for the users through slab extrusions which will lead to self shading lower floors. The variation in slab frequency and thickness are to be designed according to the sun and heat penetration towards the facade.
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DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS Studies have shown that a person walking on the Teseen Road wouldn’t be able to fully see the building’s interior space. In fact, the probability of an average height person would only get to see the first 2-3 floors according to the line of sight. Therefore, the higher the floor, the less visible it is. This is important during the facade design stage since we will need to consider more coverings for private spaces on the lower floors, while not as much on the upper floors After having to divide the designated spaces, the intended facade louvered facade would create rippling effect through horizontal extended louvers which will shade on the openings as well. The curtain wall will be covered with the new facade while some areas won’t to maximize sunlight in these specific room. The slab will reach the new wall to create extension.
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TRIAL I
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As a first step, I tried to create the rippling effect using Pufferfish component and placing attractor points on specific spaces where i’d want it to be exposed to the sun. I gave the slab a thickness and width of 0.5m. Feedback reflection: A better grasshopper definition should be considered as this one is limited without any variation. I need a more flexible definition that would allow me to create a better rippling effect rather than a simply wavy one. ARCH 473/3522 - Fall 2021
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NEW GRASSHOPPE
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SET CURVE FORMS AND DIRECTION ON RHINO
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ER DEFINITION
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TWEEN BETWEEN CURVES BY SETTING ADEQUATE SPACING AND THICKNESS PARAMETERS
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TRIAL II
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This trial was the first attempt to bring my concept to reality using grasshopper configuration. As a first attempy, it was interesting to see where I’d want to expose the rooms to sunlight and where I’d want to avoid it. The shape of the curves were designed however, there was no structural system holding it. The louvers seemed to be flying and therefore, trusses must be added
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TRIAL III
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This trial was very beneficial since the configuration of the truss system was implemented within the louvered facade. However, some problems within the structure itself are present due to the overlapping between the louvers and pipes.
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PLANS Each floor is occupied by different functions in the bank compatible with the new facelift design approach. The first floor has a lobby area with customer service. In that space, natural direct sunlight is desired and no need for privacy considerations. The Second floor is occupied by a VIP customer lounge that has a balcony overlooking the first floor as well as incoming sunlight in different angles. A consultancy unit is located on the enclosed wall and is shaded from the curtain wall. The third floor has private offices with slab extensions taking the form of the curtain wall. The louvers are more extruded than the lower floor to provide shading on the opening. The fourth floor is an open office space directly open to the facade. The Fifth floor is occupied by a meeting room and has a glass balcony between the double glass curtain wall. The balcony is exposed to natural air flow. Finally, on the rooftop the panel provides a railing element
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AXONOMETRIC PLANS
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After having completed my drawings and visualizing my concept, I can conclude that the facade openings, thicknesses and extrusions depend on the functionality happening inside. The rooms where sunlight isnt desirable due to glare are fixed through the horizontal extrusions while those for resting, lobbying and waiting are exposed to sunlight for vocational and relaxational purposes. Knowing that Egypt has a hot climatic weather most of the year, no need to have kinetic facade.Therefore, the design could be considered and implemented accordingly.
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FACADE DESIGN COMPONENTS
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VIRTUAL REALITY
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After having to experience the new facelift, it pushed me to realize how I push my design forward. Firstly, the slab thickness is too thin. Moreover, the glass facade would provide a better visual experience if it is supported within the trusses. That way, the slabs would be extended, taking the shape of the wavy facade. Also, variation in double heights is recommended. The opening on the first ground floor level should be extended to the second level with a double height space. Finally, the wall need to extrude to the glass facade.
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ELEVATIONS & 3D SHOTS
SOUTHERN elevations showing louver extrusions creating shade from W/SW interior shot showing structure and louver variations
WESTERN elevations showing louver variations Portfolio
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SECTIONAL
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The new parametric horizontal facelift is designed in such a way the would allow natural sunlight to penetrate inside specific spaces in the building while minimizing glare in spaces needed for screens and technology. The wavy effect of the facade with horizontal intrusion and extrusions allows the louver to self shade on the area below while the vertical extrusions on the western facade shades the intruded part from the southern facade with the most incoming heat .
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STUDIES
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TECHNICAL DETAILS
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STRUCTURE & MATERIAL
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FABRICATION FILE PROCESS
INTERIOR SHOTS
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