Carole El Danaf - Portfolio

PORTFOLIO l CAROLE EL DANAF ARCHITECTURAL ASSOCIATION l AADRL l Postgraduate in Architecture and Urbanism LEBANESE AMERICAN UNIVERSITY l Bachelor of Architecture

PORTFOLIO - CAROLE EL DANAF

CONTENT

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4 l 35 ACADEMIC PROJECTS METAXIS - AADRL THESIS l4 HINTERLAND - FINAL YEAR PROJECT l 18 THE COLONIZED GAP - DESIGN STUDIO VIII l 28

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36 l 55 PROFESSIONAL WORK IT’S IN THE LANDSCAPE - STRANGE WORKS l 36 VILLA 5050 - FREELANCE PROJECT l 46 BEIT EL JABAL - HALA YOUNES OFFICE l 52

03 EMAIL

ADDRESS PHONE UK

l carole.eldanaf@gmail.com l London, UK l 07983525335

56 l 63 EXHIBITIONS l WORKSHOPS l FABRICATION FROM WALL TO BRIDGE COMPETITION FOUNDATION STUDIES EXHIBITION - LAU CNC FABRICATION WORKSHOP - KSU ROBOTIC ARM FABRICATION - AADRL LANDSCAPE WORKSHOP - LAU 200 LINES OF CODE WORKSHOP - AARDL

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PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

METAXIS AADRL POSTGRADUATE COURSE: AADRL Spyropolous Studio Group work YEAR: Feb 2023 - Jan 2024 INSTRUCTOR: Theodore Spyropoulos

DESCRIPTION

“ Now we’ve got the notion of a machine with an underspecified goal, the system that evolves. This is a new notion, nothing like the notion of machines that was current in the Industrial Revolution, absolutely nothing like it. It is, if you like, a much more biological notion, maybe I’m wrong to call such a thing a machine; I gave that label to it because I like to realise things as artifacts, but you might not call the system a machine, you might call it something else.”

-Gordon Pask, 1972

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The project aims to study the collective behavior of the silkworms to build a spatial infrastructure in an existing context, as a multi-scalar system of creating infrastructure in an existing urban setting.

The project will formulate a technique of drawing in space to create a volume.

The use and harnessing of nature as a form of technology are vital to the research and core design methodology. To achieve such lofty goals, the proposal of the project is in the deployment of high populations of machinic agents on-site whose agency is central to the thesis: The real-time building and organization of a line system for purposes of creating a growing and connected infrastructure that caters to the inflating densities in mega-cities.

For such a system, cybernetic concepts became central to the overall integrity of the agenda at hand.

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PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

METAXIS - AADRL STUDIO SPYROPOULOS

LINE AS PHENOMENON

Line As a Progressive Technique

Phenomenon As Technology

Physical Experiments

We examined an elemental phenomena as a form of technology. The research focuses on the Silkworms by trying to understand how they spin their network collectively. Our focus lies within a micro-organism that deposits liquid, which solidifies upon contact with air, creating a line. Upon closer inspection, this line represents the manifestation of two elements: liquid and air.

The phenomenon arises from the interaction of these two elements, and is dictated by the silkworm’s body movements.

The silkworm utilizes the stretchy and sticky behavior of its silk line to construct an enclosed volume for itself. This fascinating phenomenon sparked our curiosity and led us to perceive it as a potential architectural methodology for creating networks.

01 Digital Simulations

02 Line As a Collaborative Network We designed a series of experiments using empty boxes with limited parameters, including length, width, and height.

The objective of these experiments was to gain insight into the complexity of the support network that silkworms create collectively.

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l -01- PHYSICAL EXPERIMENTS: VARIABLE ENVIRONMENT l -02- SIMULATIONS: FROM POINT CLOUD ANCHORS TO VOLUME l 7

PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

METAXIS - AADRL STUDIO SPYROPOULOS

SPRING PARTICLE SYSTEM

TAPE AS A PROXY MATERIAL

Line As an Elastic Material

Line As a Sticky Material

We employed a form-finding spring particle system to understand the behaviour of a lines network formed by an elastic material. This explores geometries’ formal and spatial development through springs’ gradual addition and subtraction. In these experiments, we adopted a modular approach in which the springs that we used had the same properties of rest length and stiffness. Consequently, it was a study that interpreted the use of mono-material in the development of geometries, structures and spaces.

The tape is a material that can be developed into a larger scale and can be assembled in a very short time, also it is cheap and we can easily get. This has given us a great facility to extend the previous small scale modelling developments to the human scale in order to obtain an actual urban architecture scale observation. Thus we went into the exciting idea of Human as Silkworm.

03 Itiration 1: AADRL Studio

Itiration 2: Bedford Square

01 Itiration 3: The Regent’s Park

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l -01- DIGITAL SIMULATION: GRID SPRING PARTICLE l -02- FORM FINDING SPRING SYSTEM l -03- TAPE STUDY MODELS l

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PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

METAXIS - AADRL STUDIO SPYROPOULOS

HUMAN AS SILKWORM The last iteration was on the AA terrace.

We first explored with small scale models and digital simulations. The simulations were based on the point cloud scan of the terrace. The scan gave us a version of the environment as point cloud data that enabled us to vary and choose anchors.

Picking anchor points from different railings, columns, and stairs, we can vary the spatial configuration of the structure. On the terrace, we can select hinge points with larger height differences which allowed the creation of a space that is large enough to host people.

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l -01- TERRACE POINT CLOUD DATA l -02- PROCESS: FROM STRUCTURAL LINES TO WRAPPING l -03- HUMAN EXPERIENCE l 11

PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

METAXIS - AADRL STUDIO SPYROPOULOS

AGENT-BASED SYSTEM: ORGANIZATION OF PROXY STRUCTURE

MATERIALITY

3D Stress Fields

Hot Glue Deposition Layering and Tensioning

Stigmery Simulation

The proxy surface, serving as an intermediary layer between Stigmergy empowers agents to synchronize their movements, agents and the environment, facilitates the extraction of maintain specific distances, and weave in-between trail lines stress-related information vital for decision-making. we created by their counterparts. We explore the principles delve into the methodologies and practical implications of that underlie the creation of interlocked lines and weaving integrating the 3D Stress Vector System within agent-based behaviors, emphasizing the scalability and adaptability navigation systems.

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We used materials known for their elasticity and The support lines are strategically placed, primarily adhesiveness, such as polycaprolactone (PCL) and hot diagonally, to minimize span distance and enhance stability glue. Through a sequence of experiments on various planar for subsequent layers. This approach ensures a robust grid configurations we began to identify and refine parameters structure resistant to breakage during tensioning. Material and rulesets. These findings are instrumental to achieving a gradation in later layers is based on stress values to optimize sophisticated outcome and facilitate walkability. performance.

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DIGITAL MATERIAL STUDIES

Proof of Printing Control

Digital and Physical Experiments

To strategize the material deposition we automated the process and employed a robotic arm as a proof of printing control. This includes adjusting the many parameters of printing like speed, extrusion, height and process of printing to understand line behaviour on a local scale.

In this experiment, we dealt with spans of 1.4 meters. The rationale behind this substantial scale is our intent to seamless integrate all previous experiments into a unified design.

This iteration incorporates multiple floors and coverings, encapsulating the essence of our diverse explorations

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03 12 l -01- STRESS VECTOR FIELDS l -02- STIGMERGY MICRO LINES WEAVING l -03- CITY MODEL WITH TENSIONED STRUCTURE l

l -04- TENSIONED STRUCTURES l -05- PROOF OF PRINTING: VARIYING PARAMETERS AND LAYERING PROCESS l

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PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

METAXIS - AADRL STUDIO SPYROPOULOS

AGENT BEHAVIOUR

AGENT BEHAVIOUR

Real Time Tracking

Real Time Tracking

The real-time tracking investigation functions as a proof sensors, the printing agent can identify the evolving object of concept demonstrating the agent’s ability to possess as the line is being built. On one side, the camera enables it awareness and adapt its behavior by analyzing the prints it to track the line through object detection, while on the other constructs in real-time. Equipped with cameras and depth side, the depth sensor facilitates analysis.

In this phase, we aimed to investigate the potential The cable-driven printer consists mainly of four stepper of automated robots in aiding our understanding and motor-controlled spools. They are fixed to each of the four implementation of line formation in space. To achieve this, vertices of the frame and are connected together by wires to we developed a small cable-driven printer inspired by the the central nozzle plate for position and pose control. cable cameras commonly employed in large sports stadiums.

Prototype 1

01 Anchor Detection

02 Collision Detection

We developed an anchor detection system using OpenCV We often faced situations where the agent unintentionally machine vision for object and color detection. This will provide collided with the previously constructed structure, causing it the agent with a level of awareness of its surroundings and to detach from its anchor. Thus, we conducted an experiment enable it to construct a context-dependent structures. to mimic the agent’s printing process. This method allows the agent to recognize its previous prints and prevent collisions.

03 Prototype 2

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04 14 l -01- KINECT SENSOR WITH GRASSHOPPER ANALYSIS l -02- LAYERS OF PRINTING ANALYSIS l -03- REFLECTIVE SENSOR l

l -03- PRINTER PROTOTYPE 1: MOTION AND PRINTING EXERCISES l -04- PRINTER PROTOTYPE 2: AT 1:1 SCALE l

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PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

METAXIS - AADRL STUDIO SPYROPOULOS

SUCTION CABLE PRINTER

Cable Printer Installation Coordinates

Prototype 3 The Cable-driven Printing system is highly lightweight and adaptable. With the implementation of a gear system to enhance stepper motor torque, we’ve been able to customize the print head to regulate extruding speed and temperature, making it adaptable to various types of filament. Furthermore, enhancements in system anchoring ensure adaptability to different environments. Consequently, the Printing system achieves a more realistic real-time 1:1 construction capability.

03 The Printer Head/ Nozzle

04 Cable Printer 1:1 Scale Printing

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l -01- PRINTER IN ACTION l -02- PRINTING TEST: PROCESS OF LINE EXTRUSION l

05 l -03- SUCTION CUP AND SPOOL DETAIL l -04- NOZZLE DETAIL l -05- BARREL VAULT PRINTER INSTALLATION l

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PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

RETRIEVING THE PRODUCTIVE IDENTITY OF THE HINTERLAND COURSE: Final Year Project - LAU Individual work YEAR: Fall 2019/Spring 2020 INSTRUCTOR: Hala Younes LOCATION: Aarbanieh - Mount Lebanon PROGRAM: Agricultural Network Exhibited in DAID 2020 Online Exhibition.

DESCRIPTION

“ Can we consider a future for the mountain within which it reclaims an autonomous productive identity… is the landscape in the twenty-first century to become only an image, a “natural” background to the staging of an “authentic” lifestyle, a consumable site for the new archaic?”

-Yasmina El Chami- The Place Beyond the Coast.

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Like Beirut, the hinterland is connected to the global world through different media, when this connection is unbalanced, the countryside is deprived from its wealth and means of living. As a response I decided to retrieve the productive identity of the hinterland through a balanced global connection. Aarbaniyeh has an agricultural potential lying in the rich layers of the landscape: man-made, cultural and natural, that deserve to be revived and protected (terraces, land divisions, irrigation features, cultivated lands, old village, silk factory etc…). During the ongoing economic crisis, returning to the land and agriculture might be a solution that paves the path toward the self-sufficiency of the region and put forward the agricultural potential of the rich land into the global market. This would include a homogeneous agricultural network connected by a promenade.

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PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

RITRIEVING THE PRODUCTIVE IDENTITY OF THE HINTERLAND - FINAL YEAR PROJECT

THE AGRICULTURAL STRIP A comprehensive mapping of the agricultural zone in Aarbaniyeh, a rural village nestled in Lebanon’s hinterland, reveals a landscape characterized by cultivated terraces and fields, paved pathways, and areas left fallow. The mapping delineates the various types of plantations and trees, and the

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water sources for irrigation. The wasted lands could then be transformed into interventions on site meanwhile the pathways can be maintained to form the pedestrian spine that connects the whole project.. The section shown displays the correlation between the information mapped and elevation/the river level.

l THE POTENTIAL OF AARBANIEH: THE AGRICULTURAL STRIP l

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PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

RITRIEVING THE PRODUCTIVE IDENTITY OF THE HINTERLAND - FINAL YEAR PROJECT

THE MASTERPLAN OF THE AGRICULTURAL NETWORK A network of agricultural connections including market, educational centre, agrotourism hotel, and agri production.

Those functions are linked with a spine that is a pedestrian and bicucle friendly promenade.

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l THE PROGRAM: THE AGRICULTURAL NETWORK l

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PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

RITRIEVING THE PRODUCTIVE IDENTITY OF THE HINTERLAND - FINAL YEAR PROJECT

AREA A:

MARKETS & EDUCATIONAL CENTRE In this area of the network are situated the markets and educational centre. My project is anchored on the left out/noncultivated terraces of Aarbaniyeh which required a special treatment in design and construction. The markets including enclosed and flea markets are directly connected to the main road of the area. The markets are an ephemeral structure composed of standard ready made platforms that can be easily assembled on site. Meanwhile, the educational centre is a permanent function that require a minimal carving of the land and is treated as continuation of the outdoor terraces through blending exterior and interior especially in the classrooms that require a direct access to the agricultural lands for practice.

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01 Flea market 02 Enclosed market 03 Greenhouse 04 Library 05 Exhibition area 06 Classrooms 07 Student lounge 08 Offices 09 Laboratory 10 Classrooms

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TERRACED LAND

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HORIZONTAL AND TRANSVERSAL CONNECTIONS

CARVED TERRACED AND CONTINUATION

l AXONOMETRIC AREA A: THE MARKET & EDUCATIONAL CENTRE l

LIGHTWOODEN COLUMNS REMINISCENT OF TREES

CREATION OF ENCLOSED SPACES

l -01- AREA A SITE ANALYSIS l -02- DIAGRAMS OF EDUCATIONAL CENTRE: DESIGN STRATEGY l

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PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

RITRIEVING THE PRODUCTIVE IDENTITY OF THE HINTERLAND - FINAL YEAR PROJECT

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02 00 Carved Market 01 Flea Market 02 Library 03 Exhibition 04 Enclosed Market 05 Classrooms 06 Student Lounge 07 Offices

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06 Roof Treatment The spaces are either enclosed, semi-enclosed or open areas and the roof treatment changes according to these configurations.

The slanted roof detail shows the treatment of the roof in a cold wet environment where it snows. This wooden structure requires a moisture treatment and a secure connection to the double glazed insulated windows.

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l -01- SECTION THROUGH FLEA MARKET l -02- SECTION THROUGH ENCLOSED MARKET l-03- TECHNICAL SECTION l

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The spaces are a continuation of the terraces physically and visually. The terraces outside of the enclosed spaces are areas of connectivity and walking public spaces that connect the several funtions. l -04- WALKWAY IN FRONT OF LIBRARY l -05- LIBRARY INTERIOR l -06- LIBRARY ENTRANCE l -07- EXHIBITION WALKWAY l

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PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

THE COLONIZED GAPCHARLES HELOU STATION COURSE: Design Studio VIII

Work with Sara Halaoui YEAR: Spring 2019 INSTRUCTOR: Clayton Strange LOCATION: Beirut Central District PROGRAM: Market, Community centre, Housing, Port Exhibited in DAID End of Year Student Exhibition

DESCRIPTION

Creating an urban dialogue with the port and the city through multiple grounds that allow the integration of the project with the city and its surroundings by merging the monumental scale and utility of Charles Helou and port with the idiosyncratic morphology of the Mark Mikhael district.

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Charles Helou station acts as a gap between the city (Mar Mikhael) and the port that lays at the peripheries. The aim of this project is to allow the station to act as a membrane that colonizes the gap between the city and the port/sea through the application of mat architecture. It will no longer be and edge that prevents the city from growing or interacting with the port, instead it will act as a mediator between the rich urban life and the industrial aspect of the port. This connection is highlighted through the switching of the functions between port and station where the station will act as dry port and host an urban market supplied by low tax imported goods, along with the port hosting the activities of the society, thus engaging the port within the city life.

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PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

THE COLONIZED GAP - DESIGN STUDIO VIII

WATER AND CONSTRUCTION OF THE EDGE

SITE ANALYSIS AND DESIGN STRATEGIES The Gap: Charles Helou Station

This mapping is part of the hydrological study of Beirut and the River Beirut that we conducted. The research shows how water management in Beirut acts as a symbolic edge, either through the mismanagement of drainage systems, and river water, or the lack of public spaces along the Mediterranean shore. This resulted in a barrier that obstructs visual and physical access to the coast, and it will be especially visible in the following analysis of the port/city connection.

BEIRUT PORT

THE GAP CHARLES HELOU STATION

PASTEUR STREET

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Identifying Charles Helou station as an edge and a gap that limits the city’s growth towards the sea and port. The solution is to transform the station into a membrane to colonize the gap.

Switching of functions between the city and the port through this intervention. Thus, the intervention will hold a dry port and the port will host public activities.

The proposal is to design an additional structure hovering over the station that bridges between the city and the port without intervening on the highway and disturbing the traffic flow or redirecting it.

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The intervention: MAT Architecture

PATHWAYS: PRIMARY/SECONDARY

ASSEMBLY SPACES: GENERAL/INDIVIDUAL

MAT ORGANIZATION

ZONING: FUNCTIONS

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l -01- HYDROLOGICAL RESEARCH OF BEIRUT: BEIRUT RIVER l

l -02- SITE ANALYSIS: PORT/CITY CONNECTION l -03- DESIGN STRATEGY: ELEVATED MEMBRANE l -04- MAT ARCHITECTURE l

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PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

THE COLONIZED GAP - DESIGN STUDIO VIII

HOUSING

FLEA MARKET

FLEA MARKET

LUXURY RETAIL

DRY PORT-STATIONCOMMUNITY HUB- PORT

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Bird eye view from the port looking towards the market and housing towers.

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MONUMENTS: BUILDINGS

l -02- PORT ANALYSIS l -03- MAR MIKHAEL ANALYSIS l

Human eye view from the port towards the intervention showing the luxury retail and the dry port/community hub.

l -01- PHYSICAL MODEL l -02- EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC l -03- RENDERED VIEWS l

The entrance to the market from Pasteur street showing the smooth connection with the city.

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PORTFOLIO - ACADEMIC PROJECTS - CAROLE EL DANAF

THE COLONIZED GAP - DESIGN STUDIO VIII

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FLEA MARKET AND CONNECTIONS

HOUSING INVERTED TOWERS 01 Piazza 1- Flea Market 02 Charles H. Highway 03 Housing Lobby 04 Piazza 2- Flea Market 05 Fabric Workshops 06 Piazza 3- Flea Market 07 Food Courts

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PASTEUR STREET

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The markets directly interfacing with Pasteur Street are the Flea markets. The street-level market is situated at the Charles Helou station level, encompassing bus stops, public piazzas, and the housing lobby. There are ramps on both sides leading down to the luxury market and stairs ascending to the second floor of the flea market, which hovers over the station. The upper flea market houses fabric workshops (due to the abundance of fabric imports from the port), along with food courts and public areas.

We relocated the informal market to Pasteur Street and positioned the expensive high-end retail at the lower level, rather than the typical direct contact with the street frontage. The housing also alternates between low-income and high-income housing, creating a play of terraces and volumes. Consequently, we introduced the concept of the inverted tower, where luxury functions are inverted contrary to the usual, thus prompting questions of social equity in

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CHARLES HELOU STATION

l -01- GENERAL SECTION l -02- PLANS: GROUND & FIRST LEVEL FLEA MARKETS PLANS l

l -03- PLANS AND AXOS: HIGH-END & LOW-INCOME HOUSING l -04- DIAGRAM: INVERTED TOWER l

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PORTFOLIO - PROFESSIONAL WORK - CAROLE EL DANAF

IT’S IN THE LANDSCAPE TRIPOLI OSCAR NIEMEYER COMPETITION TYPE: Internship/Competition

Office/Group work YEAR: 2019 OFFICE: Strange Works Studio LOCATION: Tripoli PROGRAM: Technological hub

DESCRIPTION

Lebanon’s modernist legacy is constituted by a collection of reinforced concrete monuments, strewn upon a complex landscape of historic and sociocultural palimpsests. The simple forms of Niemeyer’s Fairground are emblematic of this legacy; a monolithic site formed by one big idea, flled with abstract monuments echoing Brazilian counterparts and presumed as relevant in Tripoli as in Sao Paulo.

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Our scheme simultaneously acknowledges the transformative primacy of Tripoli’s cultural and physical landscape while respecting its modernist heritage by embedding the proposed Knowledge and Innovation Center below grade. Leaving Niemeyer’s intentions in tact, existing buildings remain as concrete fgures on the ground while new programs are submerged and clad in local stone, forming a feld condition; a connective, interactive landscape between objects and a synthetic ecology of forms and elements. Like Tripoli’s relationship to the Fairground, there is a dialogue at play between the rational and the organic along with a negotiation between one, single organizing principle and the coordination of many small ideas.

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PORTFOLIO - PROFESSIONAL WORK - CAROLE EL DANAF

MASS PLAN PROPOSAL

KNOWLEDGE AND INNOVATION CENTRE

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IT’S IN THE LANDSCAPE - STRANGE WORKS STUDIO

Our proposal for a Knowledge and Innovation Center simultaneously acknowledges the transformative primacy of Tripoli’s cultural and physical landscape while respecting its modernist heritage by embedding the proposed Knowledge and Innovation Center below grade. Leaving Niemeyer’s intentions in tact, existing buildings remain as concrete figures on the ground while new programs are submerged and clad in local stone, forming a field condition; a connective, interactive landscape between objects and a synthetic ecology of forms and elements. Each of the proposed buildings is organized around its own distinct logics, while at the same time participating in the overall scheme, echoing the enclave-like organization of many cities in Lebanon.

01 Office Space 02 Visitor Parking 03 Administration 04 Support Facilities 05 Food & Beverage 06 Retail 07 Utilities

08 Data Centre 09 W/C 10 Loading Dock 11 Call Centre 12 Test Lab 13 Housing 14 Existing Canopy

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PORTFOLIO - PROFESSIONAL WORK - CAROLE EL DANAF

IT’S IN THE LANDSCAPE - STRANGE WORKS STUDIO

PROPOSAL DESIGN AND PLANNING Building Types As Prefiguration of the Landscape

HOUSING STRATEGY Phasing development: Program, Edifices, and Areas

Real Time Tracking

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02 01 Lower Level Parking 02 Collective Courtyard 03 Housing Corridor 04 Vehicular Access 05 Unit Access Corridor

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l -01- GENERAL RENDERED VIEW OF THE PROPOSAL l

l -02- HOUSING PLAN & SECTION: CIRCULATION, LIGHT & PRIVACY l -03- HOUSING RENDERED VIEWS l

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PORTFOLIO - PROFESSIONAL WORK - CAROLE EL DANAF

IT’S IN THE LANDSCAPE - STRANGE WORKS STUDIO

OFFICES SECTIONAL STRATEGY Section B

Office space is organized across two levels, with larger leasable spaces situated below for easy access to loading areas, while smaller serviced offices are positioned above. The transverse section is structured with a series of tiered incisions to optimize daylight penetration to the lower levels. The groundlevel roof serves as gardens for the existing Niemeyer edifices, while the middle level extends the use of local stone as an extension of the central hardscape. The lower level gradually dematerializes, revealing layers in the ground through the utilization of grasscrete and glass facades.

Section A

Section C

Offices Plan

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l OFFICES PLAN, SECTIONS & RENDER l

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PORTFOLIO - PROFESSIONAL WORK - CAROLE EL DANAF

IT’S IN THE LANDSCAPE - STRANGE WORKS STUDIO

SUPPORT CENTER/ RETAIL AREA

ADMINISTRATION BUILDINGS

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The Support Center + Retail Building seamlessly integrates into the flow morphologies that shape the overall master plan.

Acting as a crevice cutting through hilly terrain, the access corridor divides the program between retail programs and key support spaces necessary for the proposal’s functioning.

The administration buildings are already existing edifices designed by Niemeyer. We have proposed the refurbishment of these buildings to accommodate spaces for administrative purposes, including flexible office spaces, collaboration clusters, administrative offices, reception, and cafes.

Section A 01

Existing Administrative Edifices PLAN 01 Exhibition 02 Storage 03 Meeting 04 Lecture Room 05 Book Store 06 Cafe 07 Document Processing 08 Convenience Store 09 Bank 10 Loading Dock

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01 Flex Office Space 02 Reception 03 Cafe 04 Collaboration Cluster 05 Administrative Offices

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Section B

01 One becomes keenly aware of the layering strategies at play, with visitor parking tucked beneath the stony pedestrian programmatic zone that cuts through the grassy landscape above.

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Section C 03

l SUPPORT CENTER/ RETAIL PLAN & SECTIONS l

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l ADMINISTRATIVE BUILDINGS REFURBISHMENT l

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PORTFOLIO - PROFESSIONAL WORK - CAROLE EL DANAF

VILLA 5050 - FREELANCE ALEY TYPE: Freelance Project

Work with Sara Halaoui YEAR: 2020 - 2022 CLIENT: Confidential LOCATION: Aley - Mount Lebanon PROGRAM: Residential, Landscape

DESCRIPTION Villa 5050 is a project that aims to be fully integrated into its surroundings. The latter is achieved through the careful handling of the site’s steep slope and drawing inspiration from the surrounding nature— its trees, terraces, and natural stone. The villa invites nature inside through a main courtyard that penetrates the house from the basement up to the roof. The house is terraced to mimic the landscape terracing of the land and to subtly blend into the natural earth while maintaining a luxurious feel as per the client’s demand.

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PORTFOLIO - PROFESSIONAL WORK - CAROLE EL DANAF

VILLA 5050 - FREELANCE PROJECT

THE COURTYARD AS THE SPINE

LANDSCAPE PLANNING

As one walks into the house from the main drop-off entrance, the courtyard is visible, piercing the house from the basement up to the second floor. The courtyard acts as the transparent green spine of the house, interacting with its various functions and providing light and proper air ventilation.

We designed the landscape around the existing terraces and trees, striving to preserve as many trees as possible. We developed a system of connections using pathways, ramps, and stairs, allowing the inhabitants to wander through the landscape up to the house. The landscape also features outdoor activities and seating areas interspersed.

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00 Courtyard 01 Living Room 02 Dining Room 03 Kitchen 04 Guests Bathroom 05 Entrance Hall 06 Private Living Room 07 Office 08 Drop-off Area 09 Car Parking 10 Outdoor Terrace

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HOUSE AS TERRACES EXTENSION The house seamlessly integrates with the terraces on the site, harmonizing with the land’s topography. Its subtle recesses in shape give the impression that it’s an extension of the existing terraced landscape. Additionally, the house welcomes the preserved trees on site through glazed inner courtyards.

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l -01- GROUND FLOOR PLAN l -02- VIEWS TOWARDS THE COURTYARD: SECOND FLOOR & DROP-OFF ENTRANCE l

l -03- LANDSCAPE PLANNING l -04- LANDSCAPE ON-SITE CONSTRUCTION WORK l -05- MASS PLAN l -06- MAIN SECTION l 49

PORTFOLIO - PROFESSIONAL WORK - CAROLE EL DANAF

VILLA 5050 - FREELANCE PROJECT

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Construction Work 01

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l -01- AXONOMETRICS FROM LEFT TO RIGHT: FIRST FLOOR, GROUND FLOOR & BASEMENT l

The images depict the construction progress, showcasing the erection of slabs and columns. The structural skeleton and the initial installation of the main glazing emphasize the transparency and openness of the house.

l -02- GENERAL BIRD EYE VIEW RENDER l -03- RENDERED VIEW: DOUBLE HEIGHT LIVING ROOM l

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PORTFOLIO - PROFESSIONAL WORK - CAROLE EL DANAF

BEIT EL JABALYOUNES OFFICE

HALA

TYPE: Freelance, Office work YEAR: 2021-2022 OFFICE: Hala Younes Architecture and Landscape LOCATION: Douma, Mount Lebanon PROGRAM: Residential, Landscape

DESCRIPTION This house sits in the valley of Douma, having unobstructed views of the surrounding mountains intertwined with a connection to the old village. An old stone house built in the 1930s stands on the site; the intervention aims to bridge the old house and the new extension. The resulting edifice is a subtle regular space housing the bedrooms connected with an extension to the old house that encompasses the living rooms and kitchen. The dining room is a distinct arched space in the middle with a complete connection to the landscape.

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PORTFOLIO - PROFESSIONAL WORK - CAROLE EL DANAF

BEIT EL JABAL - HALA YOUNES OFFICE

LANDSCAPE AND DESIGN 10 09

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INTERIOR DESIGN

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The interior design work involved preserving the original old tiling and painting ofthe old house to maintain the ancient vintage feel, while subtly integrating lighting, cooling and heating systems, and furniture.

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01 Old house 02 Intermediate space 03 New house/extension 04 Pool house 05 Service area 06 Pool 07 Olive tree seating area 08 Chestnut seating area 09 Seating area 10 Aromatic plants terrace 11 Cars parking

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l -01- LANDSCAPE PLANNING AND INTERIOR CONNECTION l -02- CONSTRUCTION SITE: EXISTING OLD BUILDINGS l

06 l -03- PHYSICAL MODEL l -04- RENDERED VIEWS: LANDSCAPE l -05- AXONOMETRIC VIEW l -06- RENDERED VIEW l

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EXHIBITIONS l WORKSHOPS l FABRICATION A couple of design and art exhibitions, along with workshops in the AADRL, Lebanese American University, and Kent State University (USA). These have helped me improve my research, design, computational and fabrication skills.

- From Wall To Bridge: Art Installation & Competition - Foundation Studies: Design Exhibition Installation - CNC Fabrication: Kent State University Workshop - Robotic Arm Fabrication: AADRL Studio Work - Landscape Architecture and The Urban Block: Lebanese American University Workshop - 200 Lines of Code: AADRL Workshop

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EXHIBITIONS

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TYPE: Design Competition/ Exhibition Individual Work YEAR: 2018 ORGANIZER: Johnnie Walker/ Leo Burnett LOCATION: KED Beirut PROJECT: Interactive art installation PRIZE: Top 15 Finalists

Walls: block your vision, your goals and dreams.

Bridges: connect you to your aspirations.

However, it takes a community and cooperation to transform walls into bridges.

Wall to Bridge is an interactive electronic installation that highlights the importance of collaboration to find a way to keep walking and dreaming and raises awareness on the current Lebanese situation through an event organised by Johnnie walker and Leo Burnett.

Shortlisted in the top 15 projects after presenting my project in front of jurors of different fields including Bernard Khoury and Nada El Debs and was presented during a 3 days exhibition.

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FOUNDATION STUDIESDESIGN STUDIO II COURSE: Design Studio II Individual work YEAR: 2015 PROFESSOR: Silia Abou Arbid Exhibited in NAAB End of Year Student Exhibition L’Objet Trouvé | The Found Object A head contraption that aims to de-Temporalize the disposable or the disposed product to release a discursive form to logical functionality, where, mechanical misfits and reversals allow for new poetic orders to emerge.

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l -01- INSTALLATION IN ACTION l -02- INSTALLATION’S PICTURES IN THE EXHIBITION l

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04 l -03- SYNTACTICAL PROCESSING AND REVELATION l -04- THE CONSTRUCT: EUCLEADIAN GEOMETRY DIAGRAM l

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FABRICATION

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CNC FABRICATION WORKSHOP YEAR: Summer 2019 Individual Work INSRUCTOR: William Lucak LOCATION: Kent State University, Ohio

Workshop that focused on the potential to design in parallel with CNC fabrication technologies. RhinoCam allowed me to simulate milling effects in the friendly Rhinoceros environment. I engaged hands-on with a 3-axis CNC router and managed the fabrication of a design entity. I learned about tooling bits, feed settings, material setup on the table, running a file and troubleshooting possible errors. The course also covered custom tool-paths to generate unique surface articulation and flip-mill techniques.

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ROBOTIC ARM FABRICATION - AADRL STUDIO WORK YEAR: LOCATION:

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l -01- HANDLING THE MACHINE l -02- RHINO DRILLING PROPERTIES l -03- DRILLING PROCESS l -04- FINAL MODEL l

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2023 AA Digital Prototyping Lab

I underwent an induction on utilizing the KUKA robotic arm, covering calibration and printing with various materials such as clay, PLA, and Flex Plastic. I scripted appropriate commands in Grasshopper Rhino to input into the KUKA, allowing me to experiment with precision and printing control, including speed, extrusion, and height adjustments, to achieve the desired results.

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l -05- PRINTING PROCESS l -06- GRASSHOPPER SCRIPTED G-CODE l -07- PRINT DETAIL: MATERIAL DIFFERENTIATION l

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WORKSHOPS

LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AND THE URBAN BLOCK WORKSHOP

200 LINES OF CODE - AADRL

YEAR: Spring 2019 Individual Work INSRUCTOR: Clayton Strange LOCATION: Lebanese American University

YEAR: 2023 Group Work INSRUCTOR: Shajay Bhooshan LOCATION: Architectural Association School of Architecture

The workshop concentrated on exploring the convergence of landscape, architecture, and urban design, emphasizing the use of surface modeling as a primary analytical tool. My iterations revolved around examining how landscapes interacted with two intersecting grids, connecting seamlessly between the sea, ground, and sky using tower structures and interconnected ground features.

The “200 Lines of Code” workshop enhanced my computational and fabrication skills. We devised a modular structure with cellular automata rules, scripted through Alice software and Grasshopper. This facilitated the creation of a digital model, later realized through 3D printing with PLA and resin. Weight tests were conducted to assess structural integrity, guiding subsequent design and scripting refinements.

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l -01- COLLECTIVE WORKSHOP MODELS l -02- PROCESS MODELS l -03- COMPONENTS l -04- SECTION l

08 l -05- MODULAR DESIGN l -06- WEIGHT TEST l -07- CELLULAR AUTOMATA l -08- RESIN PRINTS l -09- ALICE CODING l

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