Architecture Portfolio Karen Ajala

KAREN AJALA PORTFOLIO

TABLE OF CONTENTS

ACADEMIC WORK/ 05

COMPETENCE/ SKILLS/ 45

PROFESSIONAL WORK/ 51

PERSONAL WORK/ 63

ACADEMIC WORK

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BEYOND THE CHURCH DECK OF CONNECTIVITY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL

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CUD FACULTY RESIDENCE ADVENTURE LAND THE FASHION STORE

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01 BEYOND A CHURCH

The United Arab Emirates is home to hundreds of cultures and nationalities, it prides itself on being a global role model for acceptance, harmonious coexistence, and religious tolerance.

The official religion of Dubai is Islam, but the area is tolerant and respectful of other religions.Dubai has a high number of expatraites, a good number of whom are christians.

Dubai according to Al Khaleej times has about 10 churches, These existing churches face overcrowding and congestion. Some other congregations lack their own space. They end up meeting in private locations, or shared space with other churches and make use of it not more than twice a week. “My project provides a goshen, a haven, a place of comfort and plenty�

OBJECTIVES 1.

Exercising Christian sermons 2.

Facilitating familiarity through worship

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3.

Opens the church to all Creating an engaging amenity-rich space for people to enjoy seven days a week, whether for worship, education, socializing or business. Provision of campuses, multipurpose activity lobbies, flexible spaces, intelligent classrooms, to multi-use chapels, every space is being designed with future change-ability in mind.

A landmark and tourist destination in Dubai “My project therefore, aims to provide a goshen, a haven, a place of comfort and plenty” Creating an engaging amenity-rich space for people to enjoy seven days a week, whether for worship, education, socializing or business. Provision of campuses, multipurpose activity lobbies, flexible spaces, intelligent classrooms, to multi-use chapels, every space is being designed with future change-ability in mind. A landmark and tourist destination in Dubai.

CONCEPT “Finding your reflection in the broken” The keyword broken, was gotten from the function opposing the word connection. The word reflection was gotten from the site; the water front.

Symbolically, one can liken Christ to be as clear waters, come to him and he will show you, who you are, who he has created you to be. The church is not a particular sect but a fragment of sects.

Functionally, the chapel can be likened to the only true soul or mirror of the project however, what each user sees when they reach this mirror is up to them. The functions go from most generic to a climax, most noisy to most quiet and, most broken to more whole.

In terms of site, we go from broken (the world, the country, the city, the Highrise buildings behind the site) to the reflection which is the waterfront.

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GROUND FLOOR PLAN 1.

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MAIN CHURCH CHILDREN CHURCH OBSERVATION DECK GARDEN CHAPEL CHURCH OFFICE MEP WC BAPTISM ENTRANCE VOCATIONAL ROOMS SERMON ROOMS EXHIBITONS RETAIL FOOD COURT OUTDOOR RECREATION HOSTEL ROOMS

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LONGITUDINAL SECTION

ELEVATION ELEVATION

CHURCH SECTION

LONGITUDINAL SECTION

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GARDEN CHAPEL

GARDEN CHAPEL

RETAIL

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02

DECK OF CONNECTIVITY

A design aimed at connectivity at all levels.

It aspires to connect the birth and origin of Dubai to the present. To connect the users to the knowledge(Library), views, light and one another. A melting pot where one would enjoy leaving and socializing. The building orientation allows the flow of the N-W prevailing winds, enabling passive cooling. The south facade is the shortest to prevent overheating. Shading device, trellis and trees are further used to increase the ambient temperature.

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CONCEPT

5 1 4 2 3 DECK PLAN SITE PLAN 2BEDROOM APARTMENT 90m2

1BEDROOM APARTMENT 85m2

ARTIST STUDIO 3BEDROOM APARTMENT APARTMENT TYPE-1 170m2 55m2

3BEDROOM APARTMENT TYPE-2 165m2

ALTERNATE ELEVATION STUDY

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CROSS SECTION

SECTION

LONGITUDINAL SECTION

ELEVATION

ALTERNATE ELEVATION STUDY

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1.OUTDOOR AREA

2. VIEW TO THE BOAT

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3. VIEW FROM BALCONY

4.COURTYARD AREA

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03

OHANA ELEMENTARY SCHOOL The Coexistion of Nature and Nurture Ohana means family, which also means everyone is welcome. This design at user level aims at welcoming everyone from the primary users, students, to adults to various people of various cultures At the site level, this design is aimed at embracing nature, welcoming all that nature has to offer.

An architecture that can be recycled for other functions after school. At the function level; This design allows room for the Montessori school system which believes in more of nature yet welcomes nurture.

The concept comes from the intersection of a rigid box serving as nurture and a canyon serving as the nature. The courtyard space being the main circulation and depicting the canyon blending both interior and exterior.

A fluid and flexible space used for interaction and socialization with nature to improve the air quality and give a different feel to the environment. The school consists of classrooms, canteen, theatre, activity rooms, labs, and services.

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GROUND FLOOR PLAN 32

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

INTERIOR

LOBBY

EXTERIOR

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04 ADVENTURE LAND

Pinocchio was an adventurous boy. He ventured indoors, outdoors and even on sea. This project hopes to give the users the best of the indoor and outdoor experiences. A site for exploration and magical experiences. The red path serves as an outdoor adventure area, a courtyard piazza like area, connecting all the spaces together. It also serves as a connection to both sides of the site and leads way to the famous paper factory. The spaces have been designed in such a way that both the interior and exterior are interrelated giving users a holistic experience.The building has been design with accessible green roof, it has also been designed with the climate to maximize light and views. It incorporates the indoor and outdoor which improves air quality. The library has been placed to get in as much light and at the same time shielded from noise.

The cafe has been placed by the river side for the views and experience.The building has slanting walls and angled roofs to create shading on the path ways and for the building itself.

The proposed materials for the building are locally found in the region of Collodi.

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CONCEPT

SECTION

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SKETCH MODEL

05 CUD FACULTY RESIDENCE The concept of my design came from the function; faculty residence, the user; international professors and the site; Arid Dubai. After reviewing some case studies and analyzing the site, I decided to work with the flow of sand dunes.

Sand dunes don’t go in a straight direction(diversity), it can be found in the desert(arid Dubai).

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SKETCHES

SKETCH MODEL

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GROUND FLOOR 1.

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ENTRANCE EXHIBITION SPACE LOBBY MEETING ROOMS KITCHEN LOUNGE CHANGING ROOMS SWIMING POOL

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SINGLE ROOMS DOUBLE ROOMS BALCONY CORRIDOR ATRIUM MINI SEAT OUT

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COMPETENCE/ SKILLS 49

VISUALIZATION 50

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WORKING DRAWINGS

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PROFESSIONAL WORK 55

WORK WITH EDGE ARCHITECTS DUBAI INTERIOR/ PRODUCT DESIGN

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MIXED USE; RETAIL/ RESIDENTIAL PROJECT

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HIGHRISE PROJECT

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FACADE STUDY FOR SUPERCELL ARCHITECTS

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LOGO DESIGN FOR CLIENT

MAGAZINE DESIGN FOR CLIENT

FLYER DESIGN FOR CLIENT

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PERSONAL WORK 63

INK MAGNIFIK CERTIFICATE 64

BEADWORK

ARTWORK

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CONTACT E-MAIL karen.ajala@yahoo.com

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PHONE +971581805548 (U.A.E) +2348132281441 (Nigeria)