Portfolio2022_Mostafa K Abuahmed

Mostafa K Abuahmed Architecture + Computation Portfolio mostafa.khamis95@gmail.com

Mostafa K Abuahmed Architect + Computational Designer

Zwaluwstraat 15, 9000 Gent. Belgium mostafa.khamis95@gmail.com +320496833259 20/10/1995 Egyptian Arabic, English, and German (B1)

EDUCATION MSc in Architecture KU Leuven, Ghent (Belgium) BSc in Architecture Faculty of Fine Arts, Alexandria University, Alexandria (Egypt) Overall Work Grade: Very Good.

Graduation Project Grade: Excellent - 90% - Ranked 1st /2018 class.

21/09/2020–07/2022 15/09/2013–01/06/2018

WORK EXPERIENCE Junior Architect.

Encode Studio, Alexandria (Egypt) - Architectural design in various projects - Parametric design and digital fabrication - Computational design research

15/08/2018–15/03/2020

01/07/2017–01/09/2017 Architecture Intern.

Dorsch Grupp, Cairo (Egypt) - Tender drawings of two elementary schools in Abu Dhabi, UAE, using BIM - Shop Drawings of two mosques schools in Abu Dhabi, UAE, using BIM - Attending general meetings of the departments to participate in workflow coordinating - working on ESTIDAMA design methodology for constructing and operating to meet the green building standards of “Abu Dhabi Vision 2030”

ACTIVITIES 8/06/2021–20/07/2021 ’’Digital Ecology – Generative City ‘’ Workshop.

Studio Soomeen Hahm and PA ACADEMY, Online.

Investigating shape grammar. By applying very simple rules (instantiation & rotation) to some basic building elements to achieve some complexity. Aiming to digitize M.C. Escher’s architectural drawing by creating a mind-bending geometrical experience.

‘’SIWI-EJOUDAR Design & Build’’ Workshop.

27/01/2017–03/02/2017 ECUMENE studio, Siwa (Egypt) Redesigning buildings facades of a main street in Siwa Oasis, considering native’s needs, the unique identity, the clash between traditional and modern methods of building in Siwa ‘’A schoolyard for all’’ Workshop.

10/09/2016–17/09/2016 UNHCR Egypt and Ecumene studio, Borg ElArab and Alexandria (Egypt) A participatory design and construction school project, aiming to benefit the local Syrian and Egyptian community in Borg ElArab, by creating a useful educational environment that reduces the conflicts between genders and nationalities 17/07/2016–28/07/2016 TU Delft Summer School Planning and Design with Water.

Delft University of Technology, Delft (The Netherlands) Redesigning a harbor in the Hague, The Netherlands, considering the rising sea level, different stakeholders, economical situation, waterfront and sustainable design with water.

• +2, +4, +6 Floor plans 1:75

Selected lamps Architecture: Design 1// Creativity Hub

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2// Cordahi Plaza Hub

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Architecture: Detail drawings

3// Alex Dorms

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4// Stick & Stones libirary

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Maig 12- Integration: interdisciplinary construction driven design

Architecture + Computation 5// ElKhor Subway Station

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Computation The selected shape (Elongated Dome) is an interesting result as it is the combination of a Normal box ( giving the simplest architectural form for the spatial program ) + The Islamic/Arabic dome which is the traditional cooling method!

6// The Digital Hut 7// Morphing Contrast

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8// Space Syntax

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9// GHtoREVIT

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10// Experi[ences,ments]

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Depth (0)

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Depth (5)

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New El-Alamain city is considered the first smart city of the 4th generation of Egypt new cities. Its vision was to attract population outside the overpopulated cities, as well as being the first Egyptian center for high technology corporations, innovation, and social media.

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In my opinion, The global dilemma of technological singularity, increased the difficulty of the situation. Since 1980, a gap between Egypt and advances in the industrial world had emerged, Technological singularity is vastly amplifying the gap. El-Alamain should be a chance to get back in the game by Egyptian society not corporations. By creating a space that get normal individuals involved in the process of innovating technologies.

CREATIVITY HUB. • • • • •

Location :New Al-alamein City, Egypt.

Type : Academic project.

Type : Graduation project.

Time : 10th semester, 2018 Work Type : Individual work.

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Duration : 3 monthes ROLE : Entire Work.

Supervisor: Arch.Mohsen Merdash.

Mohsen_mohamed@alexu.edu. eg

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The

current

CRISIS OF OVERPOPULATION IN EGYPT?

population

of

Egypt

is

100,926,788 as of Friday, October 11, 2019, based on Worldometers elaboration of the latest United Nations data. Egypt is the most populous country in the Arab World and the third-most populous on the African continent. About 95% of the country’s 97 million people (2017) live along the banks of the Nile and in the Nile Delta, which forms Egypt 2010 estimated population density per square kilometer. only 5% of the land.

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Overcrowded cities.

• Urban sprawl over water resources. •

Urban sprawl over agricultural land.

Drainage system failure.

GOVERMANT PLAN SINCE 70’s.

New Egyptian cities to be established in Egypt in the last 3 decades. Located away from the narrow strip of the Nile Valley.

WEAKNESSES IN THE GOVERMANTS PLAN. 1. Government misses practical execution plans with a timeline that considers future changes.

2. Inadequate transportation system.

3. Forcing poor families to settle in new cities .

4. Cultural conflict between different stakeholders: Newcomers and bedouin(desert natives).

DEVELOPED THREATS. Due to the critical political situation in Egypt since 2011: •

A significant increase in Gated communities, serving as shelters (for the rich) in case of conflicts.

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General distrust in the government as the country is divided into 2 opposing political powers.

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High stress on the government, therefore the government stress on stakeholders with the least authority: Displacement of poor families, with using violence to arrest the opposition. like in El-warraq island families displacement .

Although Egypt had a low success with previous cities, new cities are being constructed with almost the same strategies and visions. Based on the changes happening to Egyptians, I tried to select the suitable city.

WHY NEW EL-ALAMAIN CITY? •

New Al-alamain city had a vision of catching up with the rest of the world in technological growth.

Egypt.

Matrouh region.

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The city had special importance in the president program, hence more governmental marketing.

City urban plan.

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Diverse stakeholders.

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Adequate transportation system.

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A high density of bedouin tribes, therefore the government can’t ignore them.

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Citizens now percept the role of new cities

As the city is planned to be the first technologically smart city in Egypt. I believe it should respond to another phenomenon.

TECHNOLOGICAL SINGULARITY? “The hypothesis that the invention of artificial superintelligence (ASI) will abruptly trigger runaway technological growth, resulting in unfathomable changes to human civilization”.

NOW

I bieleve World population is getting catagroizd into 3 groups:

Technology creators.

Consumers.

FUTURE

In my opinion, this category is the most capable one to minimize the negative effects of the phenomenon. Besides, aiming towards a safe future.

Future Majorty.

Off the grid.

According to BBC & NBC reports, these communities are increasing, living a sustainable life. they consist of people with a variety of interests, education degrees ... etc.

Therefore, I believe these communities will survive but for an unknown destiny.

PROPOSAL FOR SOCIAL CHALLENGE. In order to create space that meets the their needs, I studied the stakeholders of New El-alamain and their different needs. Rich cultural environment and beneficial activities will create the desired social coalition.

To gain a deeper understanding of how different categories of people adapt to new conditions (moving to a new city), I tried to analyze the stakeholders based on the diffusion of Innovation Theory : The Adoption Curve.

According to the law, any new idea(product) should be marketed in a specific order.

Successful ideas mange to cross the CHASM.

PROPOSAL FOR INTELLECTUAL CHALLENGE. Hence the advanced technologies made a revloution by making it is possible for everyone to 3d print and fabricate what is imagined, I think it is equily important to educate the Youth stakeholders, and engage them in CREATIVITY HUBS to increase the number of the creators cataogry. Upgrading the local crafting and create strong social bond to remove culture conflicts.

FORM DEVELOPMENT.

Elements of creativity.

SITE ANALYSIS.

HOW TO PROVOKE CREATIVITY? In my opinion it’s Negative space that provokes the creativity of users, as the designer blanks lot of details to the creative interpretations of users.

CONCLUSION IN DESIGN.

Negative space : Less boundaries , means more Imaginative solutions, interpretations and more creative thinking to recognize the boundaries of the space one is interacting with it.

To achieve this, I dependent on the gestalt rules:

Inverting the ordinary.

Building Solids with one material, in the main spine, main form and workshops.

Open expo, as an approach to the spain for workshops + negtaive space experience which cuts changes with user movement.

Negative space in open Expo.

Negative space in the Sculpting workshop.

Ground Level.

1- SHADED PLAZA CUBE .

2- LIBIRARY. 3- LECTURE ROOM. 4- CAFE. 5- SCIENCE EXHIBITION. 6- DESIGN EXHIBI-

TION. 7- ARTS EXHIBITION. 8- TARCE. 9- OPEN EXHIBITION. 10-OPEN EXHIBITION.

11- ELECTRO-MECHANICS W ORKSHOP. 1 2- ROBOTICS WORKSHOP. 13- DESIGN WORKSHOP. 14- DRAWING

WORKSHOP. 15- SCLUPTURE WORKSHOP. 16- ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS.

Underground Level.

1- SHADED PLAZA 7- ARTS EXHIBITION. CUBE .

8- LAB .

2- FOYER. 9- ENGLISH COURT. 3- MULTI PURPOSE 10-STORAGE ENHALL .

TANCE. 4- VIP REST. 11- ELECTRO-ME5- ADMINSTRATION. CHANICS WORK 6- DESIGN EXHIBISHOP. TION. 12- ROBOTICS

WORKSHOP. 13- DESIGN WORKSHOP. 14- DRAWING WORKSHOP. 15- SCLUPTURE WORKSHOP. 16- ACTIVITIES AND SPORTS.

17- CLASS ROOM. 18SECURITY + STORAGE. 19- MAIN STORAGE ENTRANCE. 20- SECURITY/ INFORMATION.

- GRC cladding of concrete texture will give the illusion of the flying wall.

- Beams holding the floating walls will be fixed to the roof and floor of the workshop

Every zone of the main hub can be built using steel frames.

Curtain grid connection with the main structure system by space truss wires.

0.80 m shear wall to hold Beams & columns forming the sculpture which creates a sense of neg- the roof, creating the negaative space. Cladding will hide the structure system. tive space.

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S I T U A T I O N :

Cordahi that was clear in the building height, modules, urban grid. To even enhance the idea of harmony between buildings considering the time factor, we added new material to Foad street, which gives great respect to the old building due to its neutralization and color, yet a unique identity to the building due to its modernity.

Cordahi complex is mixed use buildings for housing and commercial uses.

It was built in 1937. Loacted beside it is Cinema Plaza ,the 5th oldest cinema in Alexandria and is totally abandoned.

The complex lies in the oldest street of Alexandria, where a rich historical context is surrounding the site. The 3rd building of the complex had been demolished. The complex is next to Alexandria opera house.

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We believed that the site has the perfect elments to create a story telling, which adaptively reuse Cordahi building by creating social infrastructure and a narrite the history of the city. Aiming to design a building that respects the old surroundings buildings, especially

CORDAHI PLAZA HUB. • • • • • •

Location : Alexadnria, Egypt.

Type : Academic project.

Time : 8th semester, 2017 Work Type : Group work.

Duration : 1.5 monthes

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ROLE : Site Analysis, concept, form development, shots visualization.

Supervisor: Dr. Ahmed E Elzayat. ah_zayat@alexu.edu.eg

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HISTORICAL BACKGROUND.

Location in Foad st.

Foad st, the oldest street in Alexandria, it resembles the most potent symbol of Alexandria’s grand history, with its elegant villas and various landmarks. The street is from the Ptolemaic era.

Cordahi building is a landmark in the sreet, located next to the opera house with a cultural & historical value ,built in 1937 and it needs renovation.

After investigating the site, We found out, CINEMA PLAZA, 4th cinema in Alexandria, opened in 191, totally abandoned.

Due to rich cultural and historical value of the buildings(Cinema Plaza, Cordahi building, The Opera house), we believed A cultural story telling will transform the area to cultural hub.

Elongated design of Foad St, leads to: • Narrow visual connevtion.

• Traffic jam.

• Narrow sidewalks.

URBAN SPECIFICATIONS + CURRENT PROBLEMS. Foad street has a rich history with art, yet because of the lack of art practice spaces, urban artists now use the buildings as their canvas.

Back in 1888, all cultural centers in the street, were painted in white, and alleys between buildings were used for various usages.

Opera house

Opera house

POLYCARBONATE WALL - INTERLOCKING POLYCARBONATE TRANSLUCENT WALL

CINEM RED LED LIGHT.

Alex Dorms

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S I T U A T I O N : The project aims to provide technical and details drawings for a chosen conceptual design designed.

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The project implemented Ventilation, structure, and fire fighting systems.

Stick & Stones libirary • • • • •

Location : Ghent, Belgium.

Type : Academic project.

Time : 1st semester, 2020 Work Type : Individual work.

Duration : 1.5 monthes

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ROLE : Entire work.

Supervisor: Johan Cordonnierjohan.cordonnier@kuleuven. be

ke a uniquie architectural identity while having its ed space requirments.

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ntilation outcones and

esign ideas :

J2- Stick & Stones.

Ventilation and Structure : Maig 12- Integration: interdisciplinary construction driven design

Mostafa Abuahmed - r0821686

LS-BORD

TRANSFORMATOR

BOILER ROOM

HS RMU

NEW

-Ventilation system that depends on pulsion and extraction ducts. It travels verticlly throught the building core (two shafts with fire damper at each floor opening) OUTSIDE UNIT

OLD - Not enough facade opening - Most os plans not ventilated

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LS-BORD

TRANSFORMATOR

BOILER ROOM

HS RMU

BOILER ROOM

OUTSIDE UNIT

TRANSFORMATOR

HS RMU

OUTSIDE UNIT

• Ground Floor 1:75

• +2, +4, +6 Floor plans 1:75

• Basement Floor 1:75

• +1,+3,+5 Floor plans 1:75

Selected lamps

• +7 Floor plans 1:75

• Structure system isometric:

• Fresh air opening needed into the building (170*80) • The facade area devoted for this is (200*180)

Maig 12- Integration: interdisciplinary construction driven design

J2- Stick & Stones.

Mostafa Abuahmed - r0821686

Maig 12- Integration: interdisciplinary construction driven design

Mostafa Abuahmed - r0821686

• Acoustic Interventions:

• Beam connections:

• Convectors in bookshelf & floor heating:

Fire safety: OLD

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Maig 12- Integration: interdisciplinary construction driven design

NEW

- fire locks added between compartments - evacuation stair width

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J2- Stick & Stones.

Mostafa Abuahmed - r0821686

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Elkhor City in Qatar is preparing to host the FIFA 22 World Cup. The city is known for its harsh weather, low density and high dependence on car-based transportation!

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Environmental approach by Looking to Qatar’s harsh weather as a special opportunity to make an interesting architectural design.

Especially, considering solar radiation and wind analysis.

ElKhor Subway Station | Environmental Approach • • • • •

Type : Academic project.

• Time : 2nd MSc semester, 2021 Work Type : Individual work.

• Duration : 3 months ROLE : Entire Work.

Supervisors : Bruno Peeters, Frank Theyssen bruno.peeters@kuleuven.be + frank.theyssen@kuleuven.be

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Early Design brainstorming sketches

Making the inner plaza the centroid of the building. Therefore it’s obligatory to pass by it, creating some “free“ experience for the misfortune/mistreated working class. While adding more profitable recreations for the ones who can afford them.

- Summer in El-Khor can reach 48 C. Forming a critical problem for outdoor activities. Therefore the Subway station works as a shelter from the heat at hour mornings.

- Wind is stable all around the year. With 14.4 m/s coming from the North. The wind has interesting potential for the building’s natural ventilation.

Exploring solar radiation effect on basic geometries in the site to better understand the heat gain of different geometries. Flat surfaces will lead to much more heat gain, in sequence much more cooling energy and costs.

Domes -as inspiration from Islamic architecture - can have much less heat gain.

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The selected shape (Elongated Dome) is an interesting result as it is the combination of a Normal box ( giving the simplest architectural form for the spatial program ) + The Islamic/Arabic dome which is the traditional cooling method!

“The construction sector has also emerged as the biggest job creator in Qatar. According to a report of the Planning and Statistics Authority, Qatar’s population at the end of 2019 reached about 2.8 million, of which the number of workforce in the country was about 2.1 million. The expatriate workforce accounts for about 94.9 percent of the total workforce.The construction sector is playing a significant role in powering Qatar’s economy. In the run-up to FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022, Qatari cities have undergone a massive change. With massive investment to build airport, road network, Doha Metro, Qatar now has world-class infrastructure....” business-humanrights.org

Yet, many reports question the conditions of these workers. Over 6,000 South Asian migrant workers have died preparing Qatar for the 2022 World Cup. Other reports are precarious about workers’ shelters, being described as cages without any social life luxury! On the other hand, Qatar gov’t promised to address these problems!

One of the project aims was to provide public space with social activities for the construction workers class who is not able to afford these experiments!

Therefore It was important to design a form that can capture natural wind, creating an enjoyable public square experience around the station, especially after sunset as the temperature get lower! Therefore, Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) analysis was investigated to reach that form. In addition, capturing natural wind and can help in reducing the power needed for artificial ventilation by partially depending on natural ventilation!

Second form variation was to subtract straight cut out of the main shape! + Wind Catching Form + Good Air circulation at the southern facade for public users experience.

Third form variation was to subtract curved cut out of the main shape! + More wind catching and self shaded form at northern Facad for better public users experience. + Good Air circulation at the southern facade!

Environmental Analysis Videos!

Environmental Analysis Video

STRUCTURES.

Every zone of the main hub can benew built using steel frames.aims Curtain grid connec- GRC cladding concrete texture will Considering theof environmental factors, The shape tion with the main give the illusion of the flying wall. structure system by to reduce heat gain, artificial cooling, and ventilation energy. space truss wires.

In addition to offering social infrastructure for the workers.

- Beams holding the floating walls will be fixed to the roof and floor of the workshop

0.80 m shear wall to Beams & columns forming the sculpture which creates a sense hold the roof, creating of negative space. Cladding will hide the structure system. the negative space.

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Plan:

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Circu

Circulation analysis: Circulation analysis:

ulation analysis:

Isometric section: The subway station is on the underground Floor. Can easily be reached by escalators and elevators.

Structure System: Space truss is the best solution for the massive span (48 m) The space truss depth will be 4 meters. Steel was chosen as it works better than concrete in high temperatures.

Shell Materiality: translucent polycarbonate panels. As it is easy to fabricate according to the design. Installed onsite. Its translucency will allow more natural light inside. The 4m depth between two layers of cladding will reduce the heat gain.

Reference: Free University’s Philology Library / Foster + Partners

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Architecture is always changing.

Throughout time, it tends to change its physical manifestation. Manifestations depend on different parameters like: culture, context, technology, global challenges.. etc. Although physical manifestations of architecture are always alternating, architecture itself is to some level of certainty a simple and noble abstract notion of shelter.

In the mid-1700s, a conception of architecture as a noble shelter was provided by abbé Marc-Antoine Laugier in “An Essay on Architecture” where he argued that all architectural forms can be abstracted into a basic structure known as “The Primitive Hut”. The primitive hut is the first man-made architecture to escape harsh nature. Through time, architects’ creative process included consistent development of new methodologies of thinking and execution. Consequently, altering the primitive hut presentation medium as well as its physical manifestation. Notably, developing new tools is an essential part of being an architect.

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as digitality), It is clear that media ecology is growing rapidly in usage as well as authority. This thesis looks into media ecology as a technological methodology with strong potentials to be included in manifesting the primitive hut. Questioning: Can media ecology be utilized to take part in the architectural creative process? How can this utilization happen?

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The Digital Hut is a configuration of the primitive hut. It aims to expose the architect to digital information and manipulate abstract architectures. Working as informative yet provoking navigable archives. The Digital Hut utilizes the powers of game engines to procedurally generate the spatial archives with sets of architectural and digital features.

THE DIGITAL HUT Location :Media Ecology.

Type : MSc Thesis, KU Leuven.

Fieldstation studio | Decoding Archives Time : 2022 Work Type : Individual work.

Duration : 3 monthes

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ROLE : Entire Work.

Supervisor: Corneel Cannaerts + Michiel Helbig corneel.cannaerts@kuleuven.be michiel.helbig@kuleuven.be

A.Light and Terrain.

D.Is everything architecture?

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiy2sPZbomLpojDKYITOulHIBMfz6Z2d8

B.Scrapped Room.

C.Primitives.

Download and play the game (PC & MAC) https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/154_Mr9eQ62LedbalNtwLdn83uLiI7eI-?usp=sharing

A.Light and Terrain.

One can argue that one of the factors that make architecture different from art is the context, architecture can’t be contextless, it needs context to be given a meaning. Architecture thrives on context. Context can be a tangible entity with physical property such as the surrounding landscape. Or the urban fabric that is around the building slot.

Correspondingly, natural light as well as artificial lighting conditions form an essential context for observing architecture.

Artists as well as architects long ago used to manipulate the presentation of light, color schemes, and context to deliver their own imagined design/representation of the primitive hut. These manipulations found their way from 18 century to today’s industry and post-processing of architecture renders most commonly to win a competition or persuade clients.

In this archive, algorithms procedurally generate different post-processing volumes that are navigable. Each of these post-processing volumes gives different visual representations. The aim is to experience how colors can manipulate sensing. Enabling the architect to navigate through different visualizations, trying to figure out the best one to deliver a design idea. In addition, these visualizations can provoke the architect’s creativity to create a new visualization style.

In this archive, light is represented in simple rectangular forms/meshes that are repeated over a train. The terrain itself is changing based on random parameters, there’s no material assigned that it represents different natures. Varying from the desert landscape, dunes, mountains or sea waves.

A wireframe filter was developed that can be initiated by the right click on the mouse.

It gives the architect a peak of how all of this scene was structured in Unity this filter reveals some technical logic of the archive manifestation. The wireframe filter itself works as a different visualization medium as light and meshes there behave differently.

For example, a scene surrounding mesh that hypothetically can be called the “mother mesh” appeared in the whole archive. Mother mesh is more obvious with warm colors especially in entering a Hue overlay filter modifier and it’s not visible with cold light like Cyan. This might establish a correlation between light wavelengths and the mother mesh.

B.Scrapped Room.

The archive is initiated as an architecture competition renovating a cubic room with no chronological or spatial context. The room is all white, working as a blank canvas.

In addition, the archive is not intervening with the geometrical form of the room. The question inclines to: How can architectural interventions reconfigure the space? In this simplified hypothesis, part of the answer can be found in the information that architects can apply to this blank canvas with any interventions. For example, the intervention of adding a wooden floor (2D texture) develops new information about the room.

Similarly, the intervention of adding furniture (3D element) develops new information about the room. Hence, it can be argued that architects are relating to material culture in their design solutions.

Secondly, architects excel in developing a creative medium to deliver their ideas. Media can vary in format! It can be: still images, sketches, physical or digital models, animation…etc. Interestingly enough, applying some media can develop new information about the room. For example, any 2D medium used to deliver 3D information gives the benefit of graphical projection. Different types of graphical projections (i.e. 1 : 3 points perspective, isometric…etc) can hugely alter how information is perceived.

This archive questions: how can algorithms manipulate these material culture inputs as well as media?

Firstly, applying textures as well as 3D models inside the room is procedurally generated, creating an instant navigable archive after one click. Procedural generation in this case was scripted based on inputs by the architect. The architect inputs are text words such as: Wood, Column, Texture …etc. Two web scrapers were used to gather inputs (separately from Unity and using Python programming language). The first web scraper was developed by Joris Putteneers. It scrapes Bing image search results, automatically downloading the scrapped images to Unity system. Then images are assigned as textures to the room. The second works scraper aimed to automatically download free 3D models from “free3d.com”.

Inputs for the first scraper: “texture” which get applied to the room floor and walls. For the second scraper: “Column” and “Chair” which get instantiated inside the room.

Secondly, to manipulate the medium itself. Algorithms allowed to have two types of graphical projection overlapping together at the same time. In this second edition of the archive, the architect can navigate in both three points perspective (known as first-person shooter) as well as isometric projection. Consequently, overlapping the information gathered from each projection.

Thirdly, overlapping features. It can be argued that both definitions of texture and projection have a potential to overlap in various ways, especially when both are represented through a 2D monitor. In this manner, algorithms can manipulate the 3D navigation inside the archive two produce 2D patterns. The 2D patterns can represent movements through time frames. in principles, it is also possible to switch roles.

C.Primitives.

It is an obvious fact that architecture has a special connection to one of the oldest branches of mathematics, which is geometry. At the end of the day, an architect has to create a 3D spatial geometry. Geometry is concerned with properties of space with relation to distance, size, shape, and relative position of objects to each other.

Leonardo Da Vinci studied geometry with Pacioli. Da Vinci focused on considerations of shapes, sizes, and perspective, descriptive features of objects rather than their theoretical foundations. eventually, they both provided “Divina Proportione”.Where they discussed mathematical proportions. In addition, their applications to geometry and visual art through perspective, and architecture. Thanks to Leonardo's innovative illustrations, the book had an impact beyond the mathematician community and popularized contemporary geometric images and concepts. Da Vinci started illustration with simple geometries, starting with: sphere, cone, cylinder, pyramid, and the five Platonic solids. Several architects reflected on simple geometries and their relation to architecture. For example, Le Corbusier said “…cubes, cones, spheres, cylinders, or pyramids are the great primary forms that light reveals to advantage; the image of these is distinct and tangible within us and without ambiguity. It is for this reason that these are beautiful forms, the most beautiful forms.”

It can be argued that architects can initiate a form-finding strategy with primary solids. A reflection on this strategy can be found in “OPERATIVE DESIGN A Catalogue of Spatial Verbs” by Anthony di Mari (adjunct professor at Northeastern University's school of architecture) and Nora Yoo (architect, researcher, and strategist based in Nashville, Tennessee). The main notion of their book is the creation of spatial configurations by manipulating solids (including primary ones). They recommend to use “operative verbs” as tools for designing space. These operative verbs abstract spatial information and apply it to primary solids.

The primary solids are usually named primitives in the 3d modeling software realm.

This archive operates with rhino primitives, to create an abstract archive that is shaped by the location, scale, and rotation of the primitives. It looks to rhino primitives as the only “geons” to use. Primitives archive is navigable with a first-person camera to realize how people interact with the geometrical nature of the primitives. Moreover, primitives are also intractable with a rotation button making the architect able of rotating the elements to alternate the architectural fabric of this archive.

D.Is everything architecture?

A t i e q a t T t

I e d a c a i e h b r m

V p t i b p i o

T a a r i M o t a e T t

Although architecture is a very slow pace industry, It is always in constant change. Architects tend to always develop a set of principles that reshape architecture design. Some physical manifestations of the primitive hut can be driven by the latest technological developed methods. For example: le Corbusier was inspired by the “Assembly line” and the automobile industry, subsequently, he started to shape his buildings based on that. Pioneering what is to be called “modern architecture”. It can be argued that this approach is discussing the methods manifesting architecture. On the other hand, another approach would be discussing what is architecture itself?

This approach is rethinking the primitive hut itself. Usually, it wouldn’t the same appearance as the first one. As it is much separated from the nature of the industry and practical life situations.

In 1968, Hans Hollein announced a liberal definition of architecture in the “Bau” journal (1/2 edition): “Alles ist Architektur” which is “Everything is architecture” in English. It is a statement driven by the frustration against post war architecture. He sought about defining architecture as more than just shaping spaces and physical building. Due to the advances in telecommunication technology, Hollein stated that architecture should be liberated from buildings. He gave an example of a telephone booth, a minimal place which is easy to build, yet it enables its inhabitants to reach the whole world. A telephone booth gets its architectural value from the emotional connection service not from the complexity of its kind of building. Holleins describes his proposal from 1965 in Paris Biennale “MINIMAL ENVIRONMENT - Telephone Booth”: “going back to my ideas for the extension of the architecture by other media… that a building does not really have to be physically experienced or exist if it can be simulated or communicated through media.”

Vernacular architecture depends on a process of searching for materials that are available and practically questioning its building capabilities. Usually utilizing the available materials to design the building from the inside. Commonly with an absence of a supervising architect, in a participation-based approach by the future building inhabitants. In that sense, it can be argued that both ideologies: “everything is architecture” and vernacular architecture have in common principles. These principles downgrade the importance of design aesthetics and prioritize the meaning of the architecture. Both ideologies need context whether to contrast them or be made out of it! Both ideologies tend to reconsider geometries as building-related elements.

The main logic of this archive is to represent the web as the context. Searching for accessible and in-hand 3D objects that can be used as architectural elements. To automate this process a scraper was developed to download models from “free3d.com”. The scraper works based on research keywords and the number of wanted files to be downloaded. Then unity creates a navigable archive. It is similar to a key-based web search, but instead of resulting in: All, Images, Maps, News, shopping ..etc. It results in a spatial environment that can vary from harmonious or contrasting. The instantiation of the scrapped 3D models is to be on one line. The archive is to be in a grayscale mode, seeking a harmonious journey. In contrast, no modifications were applied to the scraped models scale. As the 3D models were originally made using various modeling software as well as aiming for different usages the 3D models had different unit systems.

This resulted in a tweaked spatial configuration. Each time the architect press the play button, the archive generates a unique configuration.

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walk by controlling clipping planes of 3d captured google meshes. Trying to understand how 3 different spatial configurations can have a dialogue together!

As a part of Drawing Architecture “THE HYBRIDS” academic Studio interested in the agency of drawing in the production of space and thoughts.

The studio task is beyond the usual representational imperatives of architecture drawing, the Drawing Studio aims to discuss and use architectural drawing as a site of emergence, imagination and investigation: knowing through the making.

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We are living in a media ecology, I believe using digital media to understand the spatial context we are inhabiting.

Games as a medium of understanding architecture and reaching new insights can be interesting, due to the massive authority of playing with the game rules!

Game engines can simulate an urban

Morphing Contrast | Silent Spatial Dialogue • • • • •

Type : Academic project.

Time : 3rd MSc semester, 2022 Work Type : Individual work.

Duration : 3 months ROLE : Entire Work.

• •

Supervisor: Mira Sanders + Riet Eeckhout mira.sanders@kuleuven.be + riet.eeckhout@kuleuven.be

We, human beings are naturally moving creatures, I believe that we are in a constant silent dialogue with space around us! In contrast with verbal dialogue is the body gestures, it’s international, subconscious and wired to our behavior therefore a simple nodding with the head can give countless meanings in a simple situation. Yet we understand each other through it correctly!

I believe the same thing is happening with walking in space, a random simple walk in a city can say alot about its history, ethics and values!

Therefore our silent spatial dialogue greatly happens through motion!

The silent spatial dialogue is an investigation of gathering data from space and the built environment.

Giving importance to the media ecology, the dialogue is based on interaction and manipulation of digital geometrical data… trying to understand what they can say ? to what limit can they be manipulated? or give an accurate representation of real space!

This investigation is to be demonstrated in three steps:

FIRSTLY, we start with an INDIVIDUAL silent dialogue with 3 different cities (Ghent, Belgium NewYork,USA and Kyoto, Japan) The goal is to reach a non verbal story about each city individually!

SECONDLY, Using the power of digital mediums (Unity 3d, C# ) to smach these three unique individual stories together, trying to simulate how they will morph a collective spatial dialogue together!

THIRDLY, and the part where I can say I found my Hybrids, which is using the immersiveness and interaction of the media ecology with a VR set to simulate a manual morphing experience!

GHENT

New

York

Koyto

Ghent, Belgium.

The silent dialogue was Ghent was very welcoming! The city offered a lot for its citizens as it does not have a strong dominant stamp. Either a historical or financial one. The city can be easily understood as a home for different categories. Nature is relatively existing inside the urban fabric, especially with the canals in harmony with streets. Ghent says that warmly with its human scale based streets and center! The initial feeling I got from Ghent was Warmth! It’s welcoming and ready to offer some kindness! The built environment is diverse yet in unique harmony with each other and space in between! I find it hospitable!

NEW YORK, USA. Wandering the built environment of Manhattan New York as my first field of exploration. After a throught review of vloggers.

We can grasp certain basics about New York. In my silent dialogue with New York I try to collect all these data in a matter of seconds through non verbal communication! Thanks to media ecology we can represent the built environment of NY City and have silent dialogue with it! My initial thoughts from NY were quite sharp, NY is dominant for the city scale not the human scale. Not really much to tell about its inner space, just a simple grid with huge competition in building heights to show more importance. It’s always busy, noisy with cars and horns. Mixed use building might add some fragile social infrastructure. Therefore some skyscrapers are just famous for tiktokers with half empty.

The block scale is about showing wealth, prestigious facebook stories, and power...

I find it demanding !

Kyoto, Japan.

A smooth dialogue full of information. Nature appears before the city. After a tiny while architecture gives a harmonious appearance with nature. Both the built environment and nature give a smooth impression. It’s not a surprise then to know that the city has 1,600 Buddhist temples scattered around! In addition the city is vibrant all 4 seasons of the year with different aspects to discover each time! With a rich history to discuss, telling stories about philosophy, wars and religion I find it peaceful!

Morphing Contrast | Silent Spatial Dialogue

https://vimeo.com/665360496

Morphing With VR

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLiy2sPZbomLqnVnKkr9U5P4vtZnTbhE3A

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This investigation aimed to get a better understanding of ‘spatial configuration’.

New techniques have been developed and applied to a wide range of architectural and urban problems. Bringing to light the spatial logic of buildings and cities suggests that it might be possible to extend these ideas to other areas of the human sciences where problems of configuration and pattern are critical.

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I implemented the understanding of space syntax and graph theory on an architectural level! The goal was to develop an interactive (through Rhinoceros and Grasshopper) zoning building diagram! This investigation was anchored on merging three religious buildings together. Each zone of the final diagram represents the area as well as the integration.

Space Syntax | Interactive Religious Complex Diagram • • • • •

Type : Academic project.

• Time : 2nd MSc semester, 2021 Work Type : Individual work.

• Duration : 1.5 months ROLE : Entire Work.

Supervisor: Prof.De Maeseneer Martine martine.demaeseneer@kuleuven.be

m2

Location & Date: Speyer, 1030.

Area: 850 m2

Area: --

ng:

Christian Building:

nd Temple.

Speyer Cathedral.

ate: Jerusalem , 516 BCE

Location & Date: Speyer, 1030.

Area: 850 m2

n:

Investigation of erging Religous dings via Space ax / Graph Theory.

Islamic Building:

Jewish Building:

El-Sultan Hassan mosque.

The Second Temple.

Location & Date: Cairo, 1363 Area: 8000 m2

Location & Date: Jerusalem , 516 B Area: --

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hthe : possibilities of merging 3 differ-

s buildings into one building. While efficient functionality of each. The aim rch is to reach a bubble diagram of a mplex building with integrated zones s together.

eory & Axial map: Plan:

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matics and the Social Logic of Architecture

ail & Michael J. Ostwald

to abstract the building into simple espect to zones (functions) and acng from the buildinf bubble diagram ly link the zones toghter. Red zones st integrated (connected to other anwhile blue ones have the most pri-

Graph :

Integration: +

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An Investigation of Merging Religous Buildings via Space Syntax / Graph Theory.

An Investigation of Researching the possibilities of merging 3 different Merging Religous religious buildings into one building. While keeping the efficient functionality of each. The aim of the Buildings via Space research is to reach a bubble diagram of a religious complex building with integrated zones to bring usSyntax / Graph Theory. ers together.

Islamic Building:

El-Sultan Hassan mosque.

Location & Date: Cairo, 1363 Area: 8000 m2

Researching the possibilities of merging 3 different religious buildings into one building. While keeping the efficient functionality of each. The aim of the research is to reach a bubble diagram of a religious complex withmap: integrated zones Graph theorybuilding & Axial to bring users together.

Graph theory & Axial map: Plan:

Space Syntax: Mathematics and the Social Logic of Architecture Space Syntax: Mathematics and the Social Logic of Architecture Authors: Authors: Michael J. DawesEmail & Michael J. Ostwald Michael J. DawesEmail & Michael J. Ostwald

First step is to abstract the building into simple graph with respect to zones (functions) and access. Starting from the buildinf bubble diagram we can easily link the zones toghter. Red zones are most integrated to other Firstthe step is to abstract(connected the building into zones ).

Meanwhile blue ones have the most prisimple graph with respect to zones (funcvacy. tions) and access. Starting from the build-

Graph :

inf bubble diagram we can easily link the zones toghter. Red zones are the most integrated (connected to other zones ). Meanwhile blue ones have the most privacy.

Integration: In both islamic and jewish buildings the inner

Jewish Building:

Christian Building:

The Second Temple.

Speyer Cathedral.

Location & Date: Jerusalem , 516 BCE Area: --

Location & Date: Speyer, 1030.

Area: 850 m2

Islamic Building:

An Investigation of El-Sultan Hassan mosque.

Merging Religous Location & Date: Cairo, 1363 m2 : : Graph Graph Firststep stepisistotoabstract abstractthe thebuilding buildinginto intosimple simpleArea: 8000 First Buildings via Spaceandac-acgraphwith withrespect respecttotozones zones(functions) (functions)and graph cess.Starting Starting/ from thebuildinf buildinf bubblediagram diagram cess. from the bubble Syntax Graph Theory. wecan caneasily easilylink linkthe thezones zonestoghter. toghter.Red Redzones zones we Space Syntax: Mathematics and Social Logic Architecture Space Syntax: Mathematics and thethe Social Logic of of Architecture Authors: Authors: Michael DawesEmail & Michael Ostwald Michael J. J. DawesEmail & Michael J. J. Ostwald

are the themost most integrated (connected (connected other are integrated toto other Researching the possibilities of merging 3 differzones Meanwhile blue ones have themost most prizones ).).Meanwhile blue ones the prient religious buildings into onehave building.

While vacy. the efficient functionality of each. The aim vacy. keeping of the research is to reach a bubble diagram of a religious complex building with integrated zones to bring users together.

Graph theory & Axial map: Plan: Integration: Integration: bothislamic islamicand andjewish jewishbuildings buildingsthe theinner inner InInboth In both islamic and jewish buildings the inner courtsare arethe the most integrated zones.

On the othcourts are the most integrated zones.

On the othcourts most integrated zones.

On the othhand,the thecrossing crossing area church isthe the most er the crossing area church most ererhand, hand, area ininin church isisthe most integratedone. one. the temple, the holiest room integrated In the temple, the holiest room is isis integrated one.

InIn the temple, the holiest room the most private zone (Deepest level).

In comparthemost mostprivate privatezone zone(Deepest (Deepestlevel). level).InIncomparcomparthe ison with the Founder tomp and the Apse in isonwith withthe theFounder Foundertomp tompand andthe theApse Apseinthe inthe the ison mosque and church respectively. mosqueand andchurch churchrespectively. respectively. mosque

Space Syntax: Mathematics and the Social Logic of Architecture Authors: Michael J. DawesEmail & Michael J. Ostwald

Depth: Depth: Graph : With thisis level abstraction, thereare aremany many criWith this level ofofabstraction, there criFirst step to abstract the building into simple With this level of in abstraction, there are many criterions adapt in merging thebuildings buildings togethterions toto adapt merging the togethgraph with respect to zones (functions) and acterions to adapt in merging the buildings together.This This proposal explored merging with respect er. proposal merging with respect cess.

Starting fromexplored the buildinf bubble diagram er. This proposal explored merging with respect thedepth depthlevels. levels.

Therefore, zones (nodes) totocan the allallzones we easily link theTherefore, zones toghter.

Red (nodes) zones to the depth levels. Therefore, all zones (nodes) onthe thesame samedepth depthlevel level were linked together on same depth level were linked are most integrated (connected totogether other on the were linked together (New). links), while the original links ineach each graph (New links), while the original links ineach graph zones Meanwhile blue oneslinks have most pri(New links), while the original inthe graph remainedconstant constant (Old links).

Entrances tothe the remained (Old links).

Entrances totothe remained constant (Old links).

Entrances vacy. complex made next tototo each other asas aa way complexwere were made next each other as away way complex were made next each other to bring users together bringusers userstogether together totobring

Conclusion: Conclusion:

Theoutput outputbubble bubblediagram diagramisisquite quitesophisticatsophisticatThe ed.The Theislamic islamicInner Innercourt courtand andWest WestIwan Iwanare arethe the ed. mostintegrated integratedzones[nodes]. zones[nodes].This Thismay maybe bedue due most Integration: thecomplexity complexityofofthe theoriginal originalplan. plan.Some Somequesquestotothe tionablelinks linksappear, appear,for forexample: example:having havingclassclasstionable In both islamic and jewish buildings the inner roomslinked linkedtotothe theholiest holiestroom. room. rooms courts are the most integrated zones. On the other hand, the crossing area in church is the most integrated one. In the temple, the holiest room is the most private zone (Deepest level). In compar-

+

Jewish Building:

Christian Building:

The Second Temple.

Speyer Cathedral.

Location & Date: Jerusalem , 516 BCE Area: --

Location & Date: Speyer, 1030.

Area: 850 m2

+

Depth (5)

Depth (4)

+

Depth (3)

Depth (2)

Depth (1)

Depth (0)

complexity of the original plan. Some quese links appear, for example: having classlinked to the holiest room.

Conclusion: The output bubble diagram is quite sophisticated. The islamic Inner court and West Iwan are the most integrated zones[nodes]. This may be due to the complexity of the original plan. Some questionable links appear, for example: having classrooms linked to the holiest room.

Interaction: Rhino 7 Grasshopper SYNTACTIC (by Pirouz Nourian) KANGAROO PHYSICS (by Daniel Piker)

https://www.linkedin.com/posts/mostafa-khamis-abuahmed-20101995_grasshopper-syntactic-spacesyntax-activity-6814574737214185472-Szca?utm_source=linkedin_share&utm_medium=member_desktop_web

S I T U A T I O N ­­­: “Any architectural project we do takes at least four or five years, so increasingly there is a discrepancy between the acceleration of culture and the continuing slowness of architecture.”

— Rem Koolhaas

modeling, therefore, maximizing the time available for design and creating better solutions for today’s challenges. In this project I worked on automating the modelling process, outputting a 3d revit model from the

I think architecture is significantly influenced by the modeling methods.

Architects have to devote considerable time for Modeling and Visualization instead of design.

In ENCODE studio, clients hand over unfinished projects to us, usually in 2D CAD drawings with a tight schedule.

To meet the deadline and create better architecture solutions we thought about reconfiguring our work process.

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I believe Computational skills can help architects to automate the process of

GHtoREVIT. • • • •

Location :Alexandria, Egypt.

Type : Professional project with ENCODE studio.

Time : 2018.

Work Type : Individual work under research director supervision .

• • •

Duration : 1 monthes ROLE : solution formulation and Coding.

Supervisor: Dr. Mohamed H. Zaghloul. zaghloul@arch.ethz.ch

WHY AUTOMATING MODELING PROCESS? • • •

Save more time for analysis and creative thinking. ( espically in projects handed form other studios).

Minimize repetitive works.

USE BIM in the Egyptian market.

GHTOREVIT WORKFLOW .

As automating modeling with GHtoRevit challenges the manual modelling of 3D designs based on 2D CAD drawings, the importance of the code is much more obvious while processing a high number of projects.

HOW IT WORKS? WALLS. • • • •

Finding the wall axe by : Identifying the corners of every line.

Extending lines from these points in one direction, thus creating rectangular fragments.

Finding the middle point of every rectangle in the 2 shortest segments.

WINDOWS AND DOORS. •

After Identifying the windows layers, the code will work on finding the center of every door/ window bounding box.

Coordinates will be ready for exportation to Dynamo through CSV format.

If originally in CAD all doors & windows were on the same layer, the Code will recognize only bounding boxes on the exterior circumference as Windows, the Main Entrance will have to be fixed in step 6.

In Dynamo, Points that are not intersected with the walls list will not be considered.

Point is not considered.

Point is considered.

FLOORS AND ROOFS.

-

=

=

-1x(

To create he floors and basic roof: • The walls axis will form a shape.

• By subtracting that shape from an imaginabe shape , it outputs the negtaive of the floor outline.

)

EXAMPLE.

2D CAD plan received from previous studio.

various working steps, outputting the coordinates of wall axis, windows and doors.

OUTPUT IN REVIT (IN LESS THAN 5 MINUTES )

UNDER RESEARCH. • • •

Adjusting windows/doors type (width) to the original ones.

Automating Furniture (especially in bathrooms and kitchens) Curved walls using Voronoi pattern to create medial axis.

Experi [ments,ences]

CREATIVE CODING WITH PROCESSING 3.

Self learning coding skills to create artistic sketches, using processing 3 (creative coding language).

DYNAMIC RAINFALL, RANDOMLY COLORED.

An interactive mandala, based on the mouse pointer location, the radius of the patterns change.

DYNAMIC INTERSECTING LINES.

SIMPLE INTERACTIVE MANDALA.

INTERACTIVE REAL-TIME VIDEO FILTER (SONAR).

A real-time video filter that is inspired by Sonar images. Pixels with the same brightness get colored at the same moment. The location of the mouse pointer makes the threshold of brightness: resulting in coloring wide areas or thin lines.

DIGITAL FABRICATION SKILLS.

INTERACTIVE STEPPER MOTOR EXPERIMENT

3D PRINTING EXPERIMENTS