PORTFOLIO Dina Farah Selected Works 2021-2023 Contact: Tel: +1 416-871-8050 Mail: 20dfarah@gmail.com
ABOUT ME As a student of Palestinian heritage, my global upbringing sparked a passion for architecture and its transformative impact on society and culture. Inspired by the potential to sculpt spaces that tell stories, I embarked on my architectural journey at the University of Toronto. Seeking to enrich my perspective through international experiences, I furthered my education in Sydney, Australia. I contributed to building schools in East Africa and Southeast Asia, seamlessly integrating design with the essence of community life. These endeavors expanded my architectural vision and honed my skills across diverse environments. Now, I aspire to join your esteemed university in Europe to continue evolving as an architect, ready to weave new stories into the fabric of spaces.
Dina Farah
SKILLS Adobe Suits (All) Rhino AutoCAD Sketchup Lumion Enscape V-ray Grasshopper Revit Laser Cutter/3D Printer Woodwork
LANGUAGE Arabic- Advanced English- Advanced French- Proficient Italian- Intermediate
EDUCATION Bachelor’s degree in Architecture/ Minor in Visual Studies University of Toronto/ University of Sydney International Baccalaureate Diploma American School of Doha
EXPERIENCE Architectural Co-designer University of Toronto
Spring 2021
• Redesigned seven student residence rooms into wellness spaces located on each floor at the University of Toronto's Chestnut Residence
Intern Architect
Erga Architectural Firm
Summer 2022
Worked collaboratively with a team on the design of luxury Villas Monitored processes and recommended methods for improvement
Intern Architect
Energy Design and Services
Summer 2023
Assisting the team with creating drawings and renders on programs like Lumion, Rhino, and Revit for Benihana restaurant Research and design for innovative, sustainable construction
Semester Abroad: Australia The University of Sydney
Spring 2023
Participated in a full university course load and passed Successfully completed two final-year studio courses in Sustainable Architecture and Building Architecture
Service Trips: Tanzania + Sri Lanka The American School of Doha
Fall 2018/2019
Used adaptive reuse methods to redesign a primary school-Tanzania Built the primary school with a group of volunteers from the ground up- Tanzania Volunteered to rebuild homes that were destroyed due to floods in Sri Lanka.
Table of Content 01 Pearl Luxury Villas 02 Floodproof Onsen Bath Spa 03 Aboriginal Community Technology Hub 04 RIWAQ Art and Culture Hub-Jerusalem 05 Sketch Drawings 06 Mix Media Works 07 Microcosm Ecosystem Parametric Tower
PEARL VILLA ERGA QATAR| INTERNSHIP| 2022|
SITE PLAN
Luxury Beach House Villa Qatar. I had the opportunity to contribute to a fascinating project in Doha, Qatar, during my internship at Erga Architectural Company. The project involved a client who acquired a plot of land with the vision of developing it into 11 identical beachfront villas. Careful consideration was given to the unique topography and spacing of each individual plot, which guided the adaptation of the typology and landscape design for each villa.
SECTION DRAWING
INDIVIDUAL PLOT OF LAND HOUSE PLAN
FLOODPROOF ONSEN BATH SPA| UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY| 2023|
BUILDING PLAN
Sustainable Passive Building Spa In a high flood zone, this pavilion ingeniously recycles rainwater for its utilities while offering a safe, tranquil public space. Its unique inverted roof channels rain into large, bamboo-clad funnels with inner recycled metal coils. These coils create varying healing frequencies influenced by rainfall intensity and coil thickness. The collected water is purified for the pavilion's baths and plumbing. Additionally, a cantilevered drainage system leads to a thermal-regulated secondary water storage. Elevated on foundations for flood protection, the building also features passive waterproofing and can be disassembled and relocated if necessary, showcasing a blend of environmental sustainability and adaptive design.
35m 11m
11.5m
5.5m
37m
3m 1.3m
1.5m
1.6m
1.6m
1.1m
1.1m
1.1m
1.4m
1.2m
2.8m 1.2m
5.5m
1.4m
11.5m
11m 35m
37m
Materials Selection
FLOODPROOF ONSEN BATH SPA| UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY| 2023|
NORTH-SOUTH ELEVATION
EAST-WEST ELEVATION
35m 28m
3.2m
11.7m
3m
3.2m
9m
5.5m
9.7m
2.3m 2m
1.5m
4.5m
5.5m
6.9m
C O N C E P T
5.7m 5.5m
35m 2.8m
37m
4m 2.3m
10m
14m
What is a passive building design? With passive design, building features such as orientation, thermal mass, insulation and glazing work together to take advantage of natural sources of heating and cooling, such as sun and breezes, and to minimise unwanted heat gain and loss. A passively designed pavilion can deliver a lifetime of thermal
comfort,
low
energy
bills,
and
low
greenhouse gas emissions.
How is this pavilion a passive design? 70% of a building's carbon emissions are released during construction. This pavilion is made of natural or recycled materials that are deconstructible, making the construction process simple and won't require large machines. The walls, floor, and roof are made of a consecutive 5-layer system in this order: Interior timber planar, air and vapor control layer, insolation, waterproofing layer, and exterior cladding. The walls have timber cladding, the ground has bamboo cladding, and the roof has recycled aluminum cladding as timber or bamboo would rot from the excess rain. This strategic 5 layer system assures many sustainable traits,
ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY HUB| UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY| 2023|
Redfern Aboriginal Technology Hub This building design is distinguished by its innovative timber structure, which serves as the backbone of its design. Strategically placed beams and columns, both internally and externally, define the building's form and structure. These elements also function as a protective shield against the intense Sydney sun. Situated in the culturally rich Aboriginal neighborhood of Redfern in Sydney, Australia, this First Floor building is not merely a structure but a symbol of deep cultural significance. Its design is thoughtfully layered, echoing the Indigenous method of constructing and nurturing the land from its roots. The surrounding landscape is carefully crafted to reflect the traditional artwork of the Gadigal people, further tying the architecture to its cultural and historical context. This harmonious blend of form, function, and cultural reverence marks a significant architectural achievement in integrating modern design with indigenous heritage.
Physical Model
Second Design Iteration CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT SKETCHES
LOAD BARING DIAGRAM
PRIMARY STRUCTURE
ABORIGINAL COMMUNITY TECHNOLOGY HUB| UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY| 2023|
TWO WAY SPANNING STRUCTURE Bending Active
BEAM GRID ROOF
Minimized Material Usage
SHARING OF LOAD Distributed Bending
Point load applied to roof cladding
Rigid Joints Between Beam
Planers supported by cross bracing, carry load in compression to footings
Timber Structure
Precast timber planks spanning over timber columns Concrete Base
Thick timber beams supported by planers
Concrete base supporting full structure
Second Design Iteration BASEMENT PLAN
PRIMARY ELEVATION North Facing
West Facing
GROUND FLOOR
SECOND FLOOR
SEC TION
Main Section
CROSS SECTION
ART AND CULTURE HUB- KAFR ‘AQAB JERUSALEM | UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO| 2023|
RIWAQ ART AND CULTURE HUBKAFR ‘AQAB JERUSALEM Collaborating closely with the real-life NGO 'RIWAQ,' based in Jerusalem, our project focused on the adaptive reuse of abandoned ruins over 300 years old in Kafr Aqab. Our objective was to transform these historic structures into a vibrant art and culture hub, primarily serving the women and children of this small town. My team and I were committed to preserving each element of the building, avoiding the demolition of any heritage structures. We strategically designed additions, taking into consideration factors such as climate, stakeholder needs, the political context, vernacular architecture, accessibility, and inclusivity. Among all the participating teams, ours was honored to have our design chosen for execution, a testament to our innovative approach and respect for historical integrity.
GROUND FLOOR PLAN
SECOND FLOOR PLAN
SEC TIONS BEFORE AND AFTER RENOVATION
SOUTH-EASTS EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC
SOUTH-EASTS AXONOMETRIC
ART AND CULTURE HUB- KAFR ‘AQAB JERUSALEM | UNIVERSITY OF TORONTO| 2023|
DAY VS NIGHT PROGRAMS
AI RENDER
Skecth Drawings
Mix Media Drawings
PARAMETRIC TOWER| UNINVERSITY OF TORONTO| 2022|
Microcosm Ecosystem Parametric Tower This parametric tower, crafted using the architectural coding program Grasshopper, embodies the ethos of sustainability in urban design. It confronts the classic challenge faced by urban designers: the need to balance urban development with environmental preservation. The tower's multi-layered design is a testament to innovative thinking, creating a safe and harmonious living space for humans, plants, and animals, thereby seamlessly integrating urban space with the natural environment.
PROCESS DIAGRAM
DESIIGN ISOMETRIC
ISOMETRIC RENDER