Donna Ashraf_Portfolio

MIDC| WORK EXPERIENCE

One of my favorite design work experiences was when I worked with the MIDC team. I designed the MIDC company logo which was a great opportunity that I enjoyed doing. worked on Architectural pre-concepts for resorts, interior design refurbishments and few landscape designs. Since we were a small team, there was a lot of freedom given to me to explore and learn.

FIFTH YEAR | SEMESTER 9

Design and fabrication by a team of four The task entailed choosing a plant within the region and then stylized it into an object using 3-D softwares such as rhino. The next step was to design a wall by multiplying these objects/units and they were furthur modified in order to incorporate openings and closings within the wall.

This project was to design a prototype for the design build in following semester. The ultimate goal of this semester was for each group to come up with a well-developed unit than can be modified. Our group’s work design was chosen as the best work among the rest of the groups. It was further developed and designed in the following semester into a shade structure that was built at full scale within our univeristy campus by us students along with the guidance of a professor.

THE PAVILION PROTOTYPE

TEAM MEMBERS: Donna Ashraf | Sara Aleem |Sally |May

Unit Variations to create porosity within THE WALL

STEEL PROTOTYPE

OUTER SURFACE

STRUCTURE

INTERIOR SURFACE

FRONT SKIN STRUCTURE

BACK SKIN

DETAIL OF CONNECTIONS

The protoype from the previous semester was futher developed as a group. The pavilion was designed in detail taking into account structure, geometry, form, asthetic appearance,

FIFTH YEAR | SEMESTER 10 Design Build Location: American University of Sharjah

Team work by 16 students with the guidance of Professor Ken Tracy

A ANIMAL VEGETAL American University of Sharjah

Color Analysis

Team Memebers | AVM Pavilion | American University of Sharjah | Seniors + Professor Ken Tracy

3-D PRINTED MODEL WITH COLOR | American University of Sharjah

FIFTH YEAR | SEMESTER 10

Digital Fabrication

Textured Tessellation

Chosen Texture: Reptile skin

Task 1: The reptile skin pattern was digitally 3-D modelled using the software called Rhinoceros. The texture was further used to form a solid container that can accomodate as a mobile phone holder.

Method: The container was modelled by stalking multiple chipboard pieces which were printed using a laser cutter machine.

3-D Model of the reptile skin

3-D Model of the container

Sectional line drawing Physical Model View 3

Physical Model View 1

Physical Model View 2

FIFTH YEAR | SEMESTER 10

Digital Fabrication

Textured Tessellation

Chosen Texture: Reptile skin

Task 2: The tessellated texture was further used to form a miniature vase which was 3-D printed.

Task 3: Using the tessellated texture in an abstract form, a wall mounted pedestal was designed in order to hold on to the 3-D printed vase.

EXPLODED AXONOMETRIC DRAWING OF THE WALL MOUNTED PEDESTAL

Render of the digitally modelled vase

Photograph of the 3-D printed vase

Photograph of the 3-D printed vase on the wall pedestal

Render of the 3-D model of the wall mounted pedestal

Unrolled drawings | kit of parts

Photograph of the final pedestal with the 3-D printed vase

FOURTH YEAR | SEMESTER 8

Comprehensive studio

The site was located at Jumeirah where the task was to design 5 residential housing units. Each unit had an internal courtyard space along with living area, dinning area and kitchen. The main concept was to have minimal partition walls allowing for a clear circulation within the spaces. In addition, there are 2 bedrooms, a work area and 2.5 toilets. This comprehensive studio required a complete set of contruction drawing and documents along with a detailed sectional model.

JUMEIRAH RESIDENTIAL UNITS

Detailed Wall Section

Model of detailed Wall Section

BRAIN FREEZE | ICE CREAM PARLOR | DEPLOYABLE FOOD CONTAINER

FOURTH YEAR | SEMESTER 7

FOURTH YEAR | SEMESTER 8

Project duration: 2 week

Comprehensive studio

The project task was to design an architecture with a functional purpose using more than one deployable shipping containers. We were given the freedom to use our creativity and get playful with our designs. However, the challenge was to design this project which had minimal restrictions within a given time constrain. designed an Ice cream parlor using two shipping containers of standard sizes. accomodated for different experiential spaces where the customers could enjoy their ice cream. In addition, proposed a site for the project which was on top of a cliff in Edinburgh, Scotland.

The site was located at Jumeirah where the task was to design 5 residential housing units. Each unit had an internal courtyard space along with living area, dinning area and kitchen. The main concept was to have minimal partition walls allowing for a clear circulation within the spaces. In addition, there are 2 bedrooms, a work area and 2.5 toilets. This comprehensive studio required a complete set of contruction drawing and documents along with a detailed sectional model.

CULINARY ART INSTITUTE OF SHARJAH

FOURTH YEAR | SEMESTER 7

FOURTH YEAR | SEMESTER 8

Culinary Art Institute

Comprehensive studio

The site is loacted in Sharjah where the task was to design a culinary school which had to include spaces for students, offices for professors and teaching spaces. The main concept was to use curvilinear walls that enclosed spaces and allowed for an organic flow within paces. One of the requirements were to include a hydroponic system within the project. In addition, included a terrace garden with skylights and vegetation of herbs such as corriander, mint, parsley, thyme, spinach, etc.

The site was located at Jumeirah where the task was to design 5 residential housing units. Each unit had an internal courtyard space along with living area, dinning area and kitchen. The main concept was to have minimal partition walls allowing for a clear circulation within the spaces. In addition, there are 2 bedrooms, a work area and 2.5 toilets. This comprehensive studio required a complete set of contruction drawing and documents along with a detailed sectional model.

Roof detail

Detail of Hydroponics

Ground Floor Plan

Roof Plan

THIRD YEAR | SEMESTER 6

The project entailed designing a workshop, studio and exhibition space for a furniture designer in Sharjah. Exploration of brick construction and methods was one of the main aspects of this project. Bricks were used as a cladding onto a steel framework which in turn was structured by steel columns and beams. This folding effect was designed not just for visual aesthetics but also to serve specific functional purposes. The wall shrink-wraps the staircase by using up the wasted space under a stair and in turn creating and interesting space to walk by. The overlapping of brick walls to create narrow outdoor spaces, shaded from the hot Sharjah sun is also a significant part of the project. The folding in the wall also allow indirect light to enter into spaces such as the gallery and studio space.

Site plan

FURNITURE SHOP

THIRD YEAR | SEMESTER 5

Knowledge Archive|Al Qasba Sharjah

The objective of the project was to design a library in sharjah. The site was situated in Al Qasba, Sharjah. The concept of this project was to have a main bookshelf core and a brick wall wrapping around it. The bookshelf core being the “precious gem” and the brick wall being the”protective layer” that capsulates the essence of the project. One of the main aim of this semester was to create an understanding for structure and how we can successfully strategize based on our design.

LEVEL

SECTON A-A

Structural modelProject model

Sectional drawing ARCHIVE

Drawing

SECOND YEAR | SEMESTER 4

The project objective was to create an architecture that is both contextual and contemporary. The site was situated in Al Bastakiya, Dubai. In terms of function, we were obliged to include gallery spaces and private work space. A various range of materials were used in the project; brick was one of the most dominant one’s. There has been a play of light and shadow using the push and pull of bricks within the wall. The main aim was to invite the audience into the space through a captivating entrance which would further lead them into different experiential spaces.

C C C C

SECOND YEAR | SEMESTER 3

This was the first architectural project that had been introduced to us in our second year. The objective was to design a retreat in a fictional site in Cyprus that had been illustrated to us. We were obliged to relate to site constrains and design accordingly. Being our first take on designing a project, we didnt have to take into account a/c spaces Vs. non a/c. The main aim was to design experiential spaces with a poetic narrative.

THE RETREAT

ART| SKETCH BOOKS | TRAVEL DOCUMENTATIONS

During my 5 years in University, took a number of art courses in order to expand my knowledge and develop my interest for art. Moreover, always like to a keep a sketchbook, documenting things along the way. Through these sketches, try to fuse my passion for Architecture, Art and travel.