Teaching Portfolio

Teaching PORTFOLIO Leyla el Sayed Hussein 2019-2021

[01] Design II _ Formal Tectonics Lebanese American University

[02] Dynamic Modeling Lebanese American University

[03] Architectural Drawings Lebanese American University

[04] Computer Graphics Lebanese American University

[05] Digital Modeling Lebanese American University

[01] Design II _ Formal Tectonics Unknown Emergences Lebanese American University FND236 _ Spring 2021

“…last episode of a film I saw in the neighborhood, in which a Chinese who had found some way to multiply himself invaded New York by means of several million self-reproductions. He entered President Wilson’s office followed by himself, and by himself, and by himself, and by himself…” André Breton, Nadja The architectural and urban reality of Beirut has become a mere repetition: stuck in a video game having the tools to populate endlessly similar models which look the same, feel the same and function the same. Questions may arise while observing these acts of repetitions: What went wrong? Is it the object being repeated, is it the density of repetition or is it the linkage between the objects?

The studio deals with issues of repetition as a problem and as a solution simultaneously, what if we used repetition to break out of it? The results will be unknown; it is an allegory of explorations that the part or the object, along with the designer, will self-reveal.

This design course functions at the intersection of theory, methods of representation and design. On the theoretical level it focuses on the "thingness" of the part, each part has an inherent objective reality, each part is autonomous yet can function in a field. It also deals with issues of resolution and densities, as Leibniz poetically puts it: "Each portion of matter can be conceived as a garden full of plants, and as a pond full of fish.

But each branch of a plant, each limb of an animal, each drop of its humors, is still another such garden or pond". Those theoretical concepts also stems from the digital, such as concepts of: repetition, assemblage, aggregation, discreteness and compliance.

Briefly the studio will require researching a part and cataloguing its metamorphosis into a series of new parts through radical transformations of abstractions and complications, this will yield to a catalogue of parts. The studio will then dwell on linkages methods and part-to-part interactions through repetition, rotation, subtraction and aggregation. Multiple experimentations will be conducted in order to understand the role of the objectivity of the part in the whole. Through these processes series of spaces will materialize, this why such emergences will remain unknown until they are born.

Zahraa Mazeh _ Endless Parts

On the representation level, the process will surface as the part dictates; each project will force a certain methods of representation that resonates with its objectivity. On the design level the process will follow the design by research method, constantly jumping back and forth between thinking and making.

[01] Design II _ Formal Tectonics Unknown Emergences Lebanese American University

The exploration of parts to parts interaction also happenes on the genius loci level.

Sites have parts too. Ein el Mreisseh is depicted here sa a first encounter with the sea, the greenery, the waves, the sky and the concrete as parts.

Tala Salam _ Ein el Mreisseh as Parts

Parts to parts interactions are reflected in the technique if pouring usef which define the whole.

[01] Design II _ Formal Tectonics Unknown Emergences Lebanese American University

Nancy Najdi _ Reptile Texture as Parts

Moving from the texture of reptiles and the reptile movements as two discrete yet connected parts, this project explores the possibility of skin aggregation as an inhabitable pavilion

[01] Design II _ Formal Tectonics Unknown Emergences Lebanese American University

This project explores the possibilities of a cup in sections.

A cup, a mundane object which holds liquid is investigated on the level of its sectional silhouettes, duplicated, scaled, deformed and aggregated.

Lynn Ramadan _ Cups Sections as Parts

Parts as sectional lines which once depicted the act of holding a liquid become spaces of containment. Unknown spaces of enclosures and openness emerge.

[01] Design II _ Formal Tectonics Unknown Emergences Lebanese American University

Different spatial experiences emerge from the cup extrusions.

Lynn Ramadan _ Cups Sections as Parts

Walking in the cup, walking surrounded by the cup, walking on the cup, walking under the cup.

[01] Design II _ Formal Tectonics Unknown Emergences Lebanese American University

Marwan Agal _ Camera as Parts

This project explores the parts of a Camera.

The objects are fragmented and held on an organic surface that depicts the intangible property of the image and its visual memory.

[02] Dynamic Modeling Lebanese American University

4 units _ aggregation 2

70 units _ aggregations 50 units _ aggregations

The course will be based on Rhinoceros as a main engine for 2D drawing and 3D modelling, and as a home for plugins such as Grasshopper. The course will be also guided by a brief historical evolution of the digital, and an emphasis on the philosophical approach that created the "terrain facile" of such software.

Vanas Raouf _ Aggregation of rooms and blocks

The course is an allegory of visual possibilities moving from literature on mereology (studying of parts to parts, and parts to whole) using multiple methods of drawing in modeling. Instead of modeling spaces of imagination, the course aims to model imaginary narratives of existing architectural models by applying mereological tools.

4 units _ aggregation 1

4 units _ aggregation 3

“Objects can be related to one another as Wholes to Parts, they can also be related to one another as coordinated parts of a whole. These sorts of relations have an a priori foundation in the idea of an object. Every object is either actually or possibly a part” E.Husserl / Logical Investigations / 1901

100 units _ aggregations

ARCH454 _ Fall 2020

[02] Dynamic Modeling Lebanese American University

Clara Boustany _ Grid as parts - Slabs as parts - Blocks as parts

Similar parts aggregation yield to a group of parts.

Foriegn bodies which enter the system forces previous parts to metamorphose. A new group is introduced.

Parts to parts become groups to groups, consequently a possibility for a whole.

[03] Architectural Drawings Lebanese American University ARCH201 _ Spring 2020

This course is an introduction to the formal representation of architecture through orthographic projections and auxiliary drawings; proportion, plans, sections, elevations, isometric, axonometric, perspective, and shade & shadows.

Nada Agal _ Cubes / one point perspective

Various representation techniques were introduced at different stages of the course constantly moving between 2D and 3D

[03] Architectural Drawings Lebanese American University

Nada Agal _ Parts and Assemblies

Parts as seperate volumes are first studied as discrete elements, then studies as parts of a group. Investigations of possible assemblies in axonometry are experimented.

[03] Architectural Drawings Lebanese American University

Gheed Khiami _ Parts and Aggregation in Exploded Axono and Matrix

Parts as seperate volumes are first studied as discrete elements, then studies as parts of a group. Investigations of possible assemblies in axonometry are experimented.

[04] Computer Graphics Lebanese American University ARCH551 _ Spring 2019

In his book, The Digital Turn in Architecture, author Mario Carpo defines a “meaningful” building of the digital age, a building that cannot be built except with the digital tools. The last 20 years showed a revolutionary movement in digital design and artificial intelligence. Maybe one of the early revolutions in the digital architecture was the introduction of Spline Software, the ability of drawing a curve on the screen using vectors and control points. From the curve, emerged the curving fold, and a series of possibilities towards folding spaces. This trend which started in the early 1990’s was a style on its own and is still evolving until today. This style was not bound to any existing style, it was not modern, nor de-constructivist. Many authors and historians claim that “post modernism created a cultural environment for the digital design”.

The radical eclecticism can and is becoming applicable with the digitally aided design tools. The digital design argues for variation and choice, and is standing far from any kind of standardization.

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Variations of a single based model

Variations of a single based model

Nour Hassoun _ Fictional Parts

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Variations of a single based model

[05] Digital Modeling Lebanese American University ARCH352 _ Summer 2019

This course expands on the digital skills acquired in ARC350 to include rendering and the advanced visualization of space related to design issues. The course will cover user-defined lighting and material applications in order to generate realistic 3D renderings and walk-throughs while enabling students to explore new software and digital design tools.

Sandra Kermezian _ S_ tudies of Light

A wide range of literature regarding the role of the digital in representation was introduced.

[05] Digital Modeling Lebanese American University

Tala Malli _ Rehabilitation of Building 102 Gemayzeh _ Representation Techniques

A series of representational techniques was introduced depicting textures, colors, lights and spatial qualities.

Although the course was purely technical, it introduced a critical approach to the software and tools used in the course.