I began my architecture studies in Lebanon and went on to earn a Master’s degree in Sustainable Architecture & Landscape Design in Italy. With six years of experience as both an architect and landscape architect, I have enjoyed the unique opportunity to work across disciplines. I am proud of my achievements and excited to contribute to the future of this field.
Gerber Architekten International - Berlin, Germany
Lead Support - Green Roof Systems
Architectural and Landscape Designer
- Co-led the development and coordination of the green roof systems for the King Salman Park Project in KSA, ensuring seamless collaboration with multidisciplinary teams and the client.
- Researched local materials for hardscape, managed samples, and established supplier connections.
- Contributed as a landscape and architectural designer on international projects and competitions across Europe and Saudi Arabia.
Behnisch Architekten - Stuttgart, Germany
Intern – Competition Team
- Contributed to over five competitions, including a winning project in Hamburg.
- Selected materials for exteriors, interiors, and furniture for a school in Paris.
Agora Group - Sahel Alma, Lebanon
Junior Architect
Storm Advertising and Marketing - Jounieh, Lebanon
Executive Assistant & Assistant Producer
Chadi Architecture Design - Jounieh, Lebanon
Interm architect
EDUCATION
M.Sc. in Sustainable Architecture and Landscape Design
Graduation score: 110/110
Politecnico di Milano, sede di Piacenza, Italy
B.Sc. in Architectural Studies
The Holy Spirit University of Kaslik, Lebanon
Technical Baccalaureate in Architecture
College of the Holy Hearts, Adma, Lebanon
COMPETITIONS I WORKSHOPS
- Plug-in for Rehab - 2nd place winner
Politecnico di Milano - AIDAA Tokyo - TerraViva
- Architecture for Smart Cities
Staffans Aija Katarina - Aalto University, Finland
- Passionate about sports, travel, and the outdoors.
- Volunteered for 10 years at Don Bosco Youth Center in Lebanon.
SELECTED WORK
2ème Groupe Scolaire
Nanterre, France
King Salman Park
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Museum Complex Podgorica, Montenegro
Parque del Mar Barcelona, Spain
La Liaison Nice, France
Plug-in for Rehab Milan, Italy milieUse
1. KING SALMAN PARK
PROJECT, 2021 - 2024
GERBER ARCHITEKTEN INTL., BERLIN
Located in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, King Salman Park spans 13.4 sq km and is set to become the world’s largest urban park. King Salman Park aims to transform Riyadh into a vibrant green space, blending innovative landscaping, architecture, and recreational spaces.
I had the opportunity to contribute to various aspects of the King Salman Park, including hardscape, playgrounds, ornamental water features, green roof systems, and soils. With the trust of Gerber Architekten, I progressed from primary support to leading during the final stage of the project.
Overview & Responsibilities
Detailed Design: Lead for Green Roof Systems
Schematic Design: Primary Support for Green Roof Systems
Concept Design: Primary Support for Hardscape and Naturalistic Water Features
The project includes 47 structures with Green Roof Systems, ranging from large bridges and museums to smaller elements like pedestrian bridges and MEP rooms. Managing these roofs presented unique challenges as it’s the first of its kind in the region with no local precedents.
I was involved in every phase of the project, starting as primary support and later becoming the lead for the Green Roof Systems. My main responsibility was to ensure architects had the necessary details for implementation and that all parties were consistently informed of each other’s updates. Weekly coordination meetings were conducted throughout, from concept to detailed design, ensuring the timeline was maintained and all deliverables were successfully submitted on time.
Confidential image included for project context; not produced by me.
Locations of Green Roofs in the King Salman Park
Systems and Soils
To ensure the successful implementation of green roofs, soil compositions were carefully engineered, and the most suitable system layers were proposed for each situation. To prioritize vegetation growth and sustainability, various soil blends were extensively tested with system layers in rain simulators and evaluated under fire conditions. Tailored configurations were developed to suit different roof situations and vegetation typologies.
A Glimpse of Final Deliverables
~ 50 Typical Details.
System Implementation, Potential Species, Irrigation Systems, among others.
Fire Prevention and Mock-up Strategy.
A detailed report, along with a technical drawing package, was prepared to guide the implementation of green roofs in KSP and potentially serve as a guideline for future developments in Riyadh.
With many international experts from fields such as smart irrigation and ecosystems, the report covers all necessary topics, from implementation to maintenance.
Various configurations (e.g., angles, orientations), soil compositions (e.g., soil depth, compost layers), and vegetation typologies (e.g., semi-arid, lush) were planned for testing prior to implementation.
KSP I 2. THE ROYAL GOLF COURSE
Overview & Responsibilities
Schematic Design - Detailed Design:
Landscape Architect
The 18-hole golf course is envisioned as an extension of the park’s forested landscape, designed to harmonize with its plant species and landscape characteristics. It features a lake, natural stormwater management systems, and diverse vegetation typologies, all while preserving a strong connection to Riyadh’s unique character.
My responsibilities began with modifying the masterplan and continued through subsequent stages, including the design and development of detailed landscape technical drawings such as plans and sections at various scales. I also set up drawing templates for all subconsultants, ensuring that all packages were aligned and unified.
KSP I 2. THE ROYAL GOLF COURSE Vision
The Golf Course has integrated key elements of the King Salman Park as a way to establish a continuous landscape. Some of these key components are:
• Creation of terraforming & a similar intricate contouring.
• Ornamental lake design with KSP hardscape edge finishes.
• Extension of the wadi network landscape along the site west border.
• Use of exposed limeston.
• Use of KSP furniture, shade structures and architecture style.
Non-play vegetated areas are categorized into three densities based on vegetation coverage and their proximity to golf turf:
• Low-density areas, covering 35% vegetation, consist of low-lying plants positioned near golf turf to ensure visibility and playability.
• Medium-density areas, denser ground and shrub vegetation transitioning away from turf.
• High-density areas, comprising 95% vegetation coverage, are forested zones adhering to KSP standards.
Landscape Typologies Planting Densities
Illustrative cross-sections showing the different landscape typologies and densitiesin the Golf Course
A Glimpse of Final Deliverables
A drawing package of 120 sheets covering various landscape topics, such as planting mixes, tree distribution, levels and grading, hardscape, soil, interface sections, and details, among others.
In addition, a 170-page report covers a wide range of topics for the Golf Course, including signage and wayfinding, sports lighting, irrigation, and operation and maintenance.
Shade Canopy
Starters Hut
2. MUSEUM COMPLEX
2024, COMPETITION
GERBER ARCHITEKTEN INTL., BERLIN
Role: Competition Team Member
The project required the transformation of an abandoned site along the Moraca River in Podgorica into a vibrant cultural destination featuring three museums and a park. Our design strategy prioritized enhancing the site’s natural qualities while minimizing disruption to the existing ecosystem, particularly the mature trees.
The design elevates the museums above the park, preserving the natural environment, while green roofs and reflective façades blend the structures seamlessly into the landscape, minimizing visual impact.
The design integrates the museums by elevating the structures above the park's surface, reducing their footprint and preserving the natural environment underneath.
A green roof seamlessly merges with the surrounding landscape, extending the park and softening the boundaries between architecture and nature.
The main aim was to create a simple yet beautiful experience for visitors, enabling them to fully enjoy the location.
The site contained hundreds of trees of varying quality, type, and size. These were carefully studied, with great care taken to preserve healthy specimens, remove invasive and damaged ones, and introduce new species suited to thrive in Montenegro's climate.
The landscape was divided into distinct environments:
• Forest
• Meadows
• Lawns
• Botanical Garden
• Sensorial pathway connecting the intire project.
Connections
Contemporary Art Museum
Natural History Museum
House of Architecture
3. 2ème GROUPE SCOLAIRE
2021, COMPETITION
BEHNISCH ARCHITEKTEN, STUTTGART
Role: Competition Team Member
Located in Nanterre, Paris, the school project within the ZAC des Groues development focuses on sustainable construction with environmental features like green roofs, photovoltaic panels, and biosourced materials. The project emphasizes adaptability, aiming to support future transformations in line with sustainability goals for the broader ZAC des Groues neighborhood.
This was one of my first experiences in Germany, and it was an honor to learn under Architect Stefan Behnisch. My role included interpreting the brief, brainstorming program distribution, and preparing key drawings such as sections and facades, followed by post-production to refine the presentation. This project was one of many competitions that enriched my experience with Behnisch Architekten’s collaborative and sustainable design process.
The school's site is located between a sports facility and the Nanterre neighborhood, inspiring the division of the structure into two parts with a physical and visual passage running through it. This design naturally extends the surrounding greenery, which flows onto the roofs and terraces.
Rive Jardin
To enhance the playfulness of the spaces, recreational areas are distributed across all levels while remaining well connected, forming the core of the school. Both the kindergarten and elementary playgrounds open to the nearby sports facility, as do most educational classrooms.
Cours Elementaire
Cours Maternelle
Section B
Western Facade
Southern Facade
4. PARQUE DEL MAR
2021, THESIS PROJECT
POLITECNICO DI MILANO, PIACENZA
Mentor: Prof. Karin Hoffert (†2023)
The proposed redevelopment envisions transforming the former industrial region at the edge of the El Besòs ecological corridor into a multidisciplinary hub that seamlessly integrates nautical research, production, leisure, commerce, and residential spaces. This dynamic district will embody ecological sustainability, social inclusivity, and cultural continuity, reconnecting the site with Barcelona's diverse urban fabric.
Key strategies include adaptive reuse of industrial structures, enhanced green infrastructure, multi-modal connectivity, and community-centric public spaces that reflect the area’s industrial and maritime heritage. By fostering economic dynamism, environmental stewardship, and social harmony, the project positions the district as a global model for coastal requalification and an inviting space for living, working, and playing.
PROGRAM DISTRIBUTION
Housing: 44,000 sqm
Students Residence: 18,000 sqm
Social Integration Housing: 16,000 sqm
Teachers and Visitors Residence: 5000 sqm
Educational and Cultural: 22,500 sqm
Educational Facility: 20,000 sqm
Cultural: 2,500 sqm
Commercial: 4,000 sqm
Hotel: 5,000 sqm
Program: 70,000 sqm
Site: 180,000 sqm
Challenge: The program would cover a big percentage of land, leaving few open spaces.
Solution: Concentration of the program around the existing building, organized vertically.
Result: Enough land to create an urban green space.
PROPOSED MASTERPLAN
Carrer d'Eduard Maristany
Platja de la Mora
Platja de les Tres Xemeneies
Marina de Badalona
Carrer d'Eduard Maristany
Les Tres Xemeneies
Poliesportiu Municipal Marina-Besòs
Avinguda de la Platja
Avinguda de la Maresme
Carrer de la Mar Negra
Pont de Sant
STUDENTS HOUSING
Library and Documentation Center (specialized in Nautical)
The building uses the existing turbine room for common spaces and it features a green roof, 3,000 sqm of solar panels, and a modular wooden structure designed for sustainability and flexibility.
and services. The building has two vertical connections of eleva-
is facing the
slightly
is covered with a green
The
to
side of the
the site’s orientation. On the long side are the rooms to get the best of the view and sunlight. On the northern part are the common rooms and services. The building has two vertical connections of eleva tors and emergency escapes. To help reduce the carbon footprint, the
and an
of 3000 m² of solar panels. The structure is wooden and modular for a more
Library and Documentation Center (specialized in Nautical)
The circular nautical library, positioned at the main entrance, connects the campus to nearby residences. With 360-degree views and indirect sunlight for comfortable reading.
Students Residence
SEA-RELATED EDUCATIONAL FACILITY
This educational building, built on water, extends its platform to create a public pier accessible to all. It shares commercial and recreational spaces with nearby buildings. The facades are covered with a mesh layer to allow filtered light in, reducing energy consumption.
About 70% of Barcelona’s economy directly or indirectly is based upon tourism. But this sector is weak in Sant Adrià de Besòs due to the lack of attractions and the important presence of industrial activities. People have already a nostalgic feeling when it comes to the chim neys, so why not bringing people up there for an expe
People of Barcelona and tourists seek for the best views of Barcelona from the top of the surrounding peaks to watch the sunset and the beautiful urban design that
The thesis project proposes a hotel in the upper part of the chimneys, where they can enjoy the view, dine and spend a night looking over Barcelona and the beach.
PATH I MUSEUM
DESIGN
Hotel
Sant Adrià de Besòs lacks tourist attractions due to industrial activities, despite tourism being vital for Barcelona. The chimneys, a nostalgic landmark, offer an opportunity for a unique experience. The thesis proposes a hotel on top of the chimneys, where visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Barcelona and the beach while dining and staying overnight.
HYSTORICAL LAYERS
MAPPING NICE, FRANCE
Overlapping of the most important maps of the city, showing the different rooms, the urban sprawl and the elements that separate them. The Valley in the western part of Nice was once an agricultural land only. The land-use has changed by time and the municipality started having plans for the eco-valley to organize it.
DISTORTING THE LIMITS
The valley is heavily divided into two parts by various elements, and the aim was to blur these boundaries. Additional connections were inspired by the forces of the topography (axes). Along the chosen axis—closer to the train station—a museum, a bridge, and special housing will be developed. A linear park will run along the river to enhance the relationship with the water.
Voids Traces
Housing offers two typologies of modules, one of which is dedicated to artists. Modules measuring 10x10x10 dynamically shape the platform to create openings, gardens, and public spaces. The entire complex opens to the riverside, establishing a direct visual and physical connection.
Housing Ground Floor Plan
MUSEUM
The museum is divided into three main parts: The past, represented by the underground floor; the present, embodied by the cube where workshops and exhibitions of modern and contemporary artwork take place; and the future, symbolized by the sphere, which is fully enclosed and features 3D video mapping (digital art).
milieUse
6. PLUG-IN FOR REHAB
2019, DEISGN-BUILD COMPETITION
AIDA ATELIER, TOKYO & TERRAVIVA WORKSHOPS, MILANO
The concept of the "Plug-in," first introduced in the 1960s by the Japanese Metabolists and Archigram, serves as the foundation for this workshop. It focuses on creating mobile, flexible, and practical designs for living—such as sleeping, reading, writing, and cooking—using biodegradable and limited materials provided by the organizers.
The workshop is held at MaCaO, a cultural hub located in a former Milan slaughterhouse, surrounded by a vast, abandoned area near the city center. MaCaO hosts a vibrant, transversal program of performing arts, cinema, visual arts, design, literature, new media, and more, all coordinated by an open assembly of artists and activists.
milieUse is a multifunctional element designed for the MaCaO community, offering a safe sleeping space with adaptable features for artists. Its transformable structure includes doors that open into surfaces for showcasing artwork, blending practicality with creative expression to support the dynamic needs of the space.
The Plug-in module is rigid and secure when closed, and flexible and spacious when opened. The two long sides feature sliding doors, while the two short sides have swinging doors. To enhance flexibility and meet the needs of MaCaO, three mobile storage boxes on each side can also serve as seating.
PHASE TWO I CONSTRUCTION
PHASE THREE I EXHIBITION
MaCaO - Milano
Oct. 2019
Email: joannabbas@gmail.com
Certain visuals in this portfolio represent collaborative efforts and may not be solely produced by myself. I am happy to provide detailed drawings, additional information, or clarify contributions upon request or during a meeting.
