Murtaza Mohammadi Portfolio/CV

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A r M U R TA Z A M O H A M M A D I IGBC AP MSc | B.Arch

M UR TA Z A M O HAM MA D I The Pursuit

Architecture is an essence of everyday life, people may not realize it but it acts as a strong influence at all times.

It was evident that architecture had a strong impact on the creative bent of my mind, thus I opted for Architecture to satiate my quest for creativity. It takes years of patience and persuasive efforts to understand the complexity of this field, hence I yearn for a career to assimilate experiences that I have gained and comprehend them in newer sectors of architectural vocabulary.

Dedication is the uptime requirement for achieving success. My experience so far has led me to strongly root myself in this philosophy, I cheerfully take up challenges and leave no stone unturned till the last fathom.

Finally, it is essential that for a totalitarian growth and survival in the commercial sector of any business, one must also have soft skills for entrepreneurial development. I have managed various portfolios at school, college and office. While working at Salient studio, I managed a resort project, looking after both the design and coordination of the site. At university level, represented my college at national level student’s organization and lead a team of 50 students through an architectural study program. My dedicated efforts led me to study at Hochschule Luzern as an exchange student for a year which gave me an international exposure in architectural design and practice.

MUR TA Z A M O HAM MA D I Curriculum Vitae Education

Experience

Contact

2018: University of Nottingham MSc Renewable Energy and Architecture

Worked at Salient Design Studio, a multiple award winning architecture firm, where I was involved with the design and development of a resort and an office tower. I was also involved in the design and development of an art school and a public interaction center.

Date of birth: 12/12/1992

Internship at Studio Mumbai Architects, with Ar. Bijoy Jain. Here I had the opportunity to work on wide range of projects including furniture exhibition Maniera, architectural exhibition - MPavilion and hotel designs.

Phone: +44 7501442552

2016: Graduation year Bachelor of Architecture 2015: Exchange year Lucerne University of Applied Science, Teknik und Architektur, Lucerne, Switzerland Thesis Project: Tectonics of Alpine Region Prof. Natalie Plagaro Cowee 2014: Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee Roorkee, India 2011: High School St.Augustine’s Day School, Kolkata Indian School Certificate

Software skills Advanced

Intermediate

Autodesk AutoCAD Autodesk Revit Rhinocerous/Grasshopper Google SketchUp Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator Microsoft Office Suite V-Ray Ansys (Fluent CFD) EnergyPlus (Energy simulation) C#, Java and Visual Basic WUFI Adobe Aftereffects Adobe InDesign Corel Draw

Exchange year at Lucerne University of Applied Science, Teknik und Architektur, Switzerland Part time job as ‘Teacher Assistant’ at Hochshule Luzern, for the course of Design Thinking (Stanford D-School) Internship at Kaferstein und Meister Architekten, Zurich, Switzerland. Majorly a model making internship where I had the opportunity to use various materials like wood, foam, gypsum, steel etc along with the use of high precision modeling machines.

Internship in LLArchitects, Kuala Lampur, Malaysia Worked on a high rise residential project and a villa design Internship at StudioX-Mumbai (a research lab of Columbia Graduate School of Architecture Art and Preservation) Specialization in urban study Internship at PAN Architure (Gangtok, India) Specialization in hill arhitecture Qualified as IGBC AP (Indian Green Building Council)

Other interests Architecture and Tectonics Parametric Architecture Wilderness Trekking Squash Climbing

LIK Trophy 2013, Architectural Documentation of Kee Gompa (a high altitute monastery in the Himalayas) India Unit Secretary, IIT Roorkee Represented my college at national level architecture student’s body, and lead a team of 50 students for a documentation trip to study heritage architecture.

Email: murtaza.iit@gmail.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/murtaza-mohammadi-a72baa68

Current Address: 2 Brailsford Road Nottingham United Kingdom NG7 2JU

TECTONICS OF ALPINE REGION

NON HETEROTOPIC TOWER BOSCO GURIN, TICCINO, SWITZERLAND

* Graduating thesis project at Hochschule Luzern, Switzerland * Completion date: January 2016

Site The site is located in the village of Bosco Gurin, a small settlement in Tessin, southern Switzerland. It is a mountainous location with an average altitude of 1500m above sea level. The village has some of the oldest surviving archetype of stone still preserved and intact.

A steep slope, north of the city church, is the site for design and construction of a tower serving as a villager’s facility during summers and as visitors facilitation centre during winters. This unconventional mixed program is a major driving force to achieve tectonics of a rooted system.

Site Plan, Bosco Gurin

The town church with the site in the background, as seen from the river below in the south

Concept The roots of a tree provide stability and nutrients through its extensive network in the ground. The concept of the tower is a metamorphological representation of this system.

Just as a tree rises from the ground to soar above the rest, so does this tower.

The topography of the landform gives way to its steady base, a structural system rising from the earth, like a pedestal. Atop which rests the light timber structure housing the different activities. Just as in a tree the phloem, which transfers the nutrients, is a natural extension of the root system – likewise, a central core in the tower acts like a transferring medium rising from the base. The different niches inside are for different uses like seating, standing or sleeping. The core is essentially a thriving place of activities.

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Ground floor plan, Scale 1:200

Section A, Scale 1:200

Keeping in mind the local architecture of the place, wood has been extensively used for the superstructure.

Since the terrain is prone to avalanches, concrete has been employed for the lower parts for stability and weather protection. The sandwich wooden element consists of a double insulation layer bound by wooden cross laminated boards (CLT). European larch and white spruce combined wood plates (Holzplattenbau) form the load bearing wall, with timber boards on the outside for weather protection. Massive timber columns support the floors.

The whole system rests on concrete base.

Double glazed sliding windows with U-value 1.1 have been used in dormitories, triple glazing fixed window with U-value 0.9 have been employed in the lower levels and the rear portion. The concrete core acts like a thermal storage which absorbs heat through the skylight, windows and the exposed southern side.

This trapped heat can later be used to warm the interior spaces. Beds and furniture have been placed in niches in this core for the same reasons. Primary heating is through warm water tubes below the wooden flooring, in the screed. After a layer of vapour retarder, a 20mm sounds insulation follows supported over wooden plates forming the ceiling below.

Facade detail

Section B (1:400)

Front elevation (1:400)

Basement (1:400)

First floor (1:400)

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From top left, 1. Second floor, 2. Third floor, 3. Fourth floor, 4. Fifth floor, 5. Terrace (1:400)

External perspective of the Tower

Windows in many Alpine regions have a strategy to invite daylight inside during winters and preventing the summer sunlight from penetrating deep into the interior space. This clear strategy leads to the evolution of various window types. Kasten Fenster or Box Window with its projecting sill, lintel and jamb is an interesting window typology, which prevents excessive daylighting, apart from creating an ideal architectural space for sitting next to a window and enjoying the view outside.

The use of cross laminated wood with sandwiched insulation makes it possible to create a deep shelf around the window where a person can sit and take a glimpse of the wonderful town below or the enchanting mountains above. The louvred window creates an interesting filigree space inside and beckons one to come near it. In a way, the whole tower speaks like that. Its elevated position creates an aura, calling on to the passers-by below to ponder what might this forlorn tower hold. To what may he find himself once he reaches that height. Well, there is only one way to find out- take the narrow forest trail leading up to the tower

Interior perspective from one suite

VENTILATION AND PASSIVE DESIGN

BIOCLIMATIC OFFICE DESIGN CAIRO, EGYPT

* Ventilation Design * Online design performance report: https://issuu.com/murtazamohammadi7/docs/k14bdc_report_murtaza * Parametric research on natural ventilation: https://issuu.com/murtazamohammadi7/docs/k14vap_report_murtaza

Site The site is located in the densely populated city of Cairo in Egypt. An irregular plot of land of about 8 acres is located south of a large lake and adjacent to the National Museum. The Al-Fostat road divides the land into different uses, commercial buildings towards the north and residential buildings in the south.

For the design of the bioclimatic office building a predefined form had been assigned. The objective was to plan and design that in the most effecient way.

Climatic studies, vernacular passive technologies employed and case studies from around the place helped in establishing the archetype.

Site plan of the region with the site marked in red

Further scientific research in fields of passive technologies helped in understanding the context. A seperate parametric study on ‘Efects of natural ventilation on thermal comfort’ (link on the title page) produced literature for design application.

The museum and the site as seen from the opposite side of the lake

Elements from the regional archetype

Plotting annual data and adaptive thermal comfort range

Predefined geometry, the spatial form of the office block

Background & Evolution The initial study involved determining the solar and wind potential of the site, in terms of both design optimization and energy efficiency. With the 6 units placed back to back and arranged in various configurations, CFD simulation and radiation analysis revealed the characteristic of the layout.

Wind studies using Ansys/Mesh/DesignModeler

CFD simulation was carried on Ansys Fluent, with 500,000 mesh elements and k-epsilon laminar air flow.

Ladybug on Grasshopper calculated solar energy gain and shading potential of each configuration varying in one or more parameters.

When in parallel, the blocks are mutually shaded but with reduced wind speeds in the courtyards. When plans are open, the solar heat gain is higher but with higher wind speeds resulting in cooling.

An optimum value is reached in a triangular formation with a sunken courtyard acting as negative wind pressure zone. This results in higher wind speeds having a potential for natural ventilation of the building.

Wind simulation of the optimum design configuration

Surrounding open areas and landscaped public spaces are provided with shading devices and architectural features for outdoor thermal comfort.

Solar radiation falling on the optimum design configuration

Solar radiation studies using Ladybug/Grasshopper

Solar radiation studies using Ladybug/Grasshopper

Design features The triangular courtyard is shaded from the harsh sun by the surrounding buildings, large operable umbrellas and its sunken nature. A central tower catches and diverts winds onto the pedestrian level below, while presence of water bodies and fountains remove latent heat from air.

Block I, being in a critical location, is analyzed in detail for energy loads. The block is aligned east-west with a long facade area facing south. To minimize heat gain, thick thermal walls with time lag of 9 hours have been incorporated in the design.

The recessed windows covered with traditional mashrabia provide shading.

While the high arched window generates a deep space natural illumination reducing electrical loads.

Site plan

North facade

The north wind facing facade, has angled scoops to catch, concentrate and drive winds into the building. A network of ducts provide controlled ventilation inside.

Trombe wall on the south facing envelope, and the vertical solar chimney facing west, drive air by buoyancy effect. Heat flux of 100 W/m² is assumed to be the effective heating of the narrow air gap. This creates a negative pressure in the outlets, which drives air through the building aiding in natural ventilation. The design of inlets further help by creating high pressure near the inlets. Multiple air circuits exist to effectively ventilate the large space.

Vacuum evacuated, low-e, glazing further covered by a metal mesh in front helps reduce heat gain while allowing light into the deep interiors through perforated screens. The U-value of the glazing system is 0.2 W/m²K. Thermal walls of 600mm and and thermal mass of 82 kJ/K have been used to store heat and delay the time to transfer it into the interior space. North walls have reduced thickness since it does not face the harsh afternoon sun, with 0.25 W/m²K U-value.

Site plan outlining the integrated strategies

Exploded isometric of the different ventilation circuits

Bird’s eye view

Energy Simulation The tower block is analyzed for ventilation performance (circuit C1). The building has two parts, inlet and outlet system. The inlet system includes a wind scoop, funneling the air into the vertical shaft. Ducts at regular interval provide fresh air into the rooms. The stale hot air rises and is drawn out from the ducts near the ceiling. This connects to the solar chimney encased in a thermal wall and glazing.

The rising air creates a low pressure and draws out air from the rooms.

CFD simulation shows that the average speed of air in the interior space is 0.77m/s and PPD index of 10%. This can further be reduced if the wind speed is controlled.

Circuit C1

Circuit C2

Central section through the inlet duct of the tower

Trombe wall on the south sun facing facade

Section through the outlet duct of the tower

Annual energy demand in kWh

Energy simulation using EnergyPlus showed an annual energy demand less than 200 kWh/m²/yr, while the local energy demand as reported by ‘Arab Republic of Egypt Energy Efficiency Implementation 2017’ is above 300 kWh/m²/yr. The annual carbon emission is as low as 4 metric tons.

STUDIO MUMBAI ARCHITECTS (PROFESSIONAL WORK)

L’HÔTEL DU COUVENT RUE ROSSETTI, NICE, FRANCE

* Majorly worked on this hotel project while working at Studio Mumbai Architects * Period worked on this project: May-August 2016

Studio Mumbai Architects in collaboration with DP Architects (France) and Ruedy Krepps (Switzerland) were working on a renovation project in Nice, France for a client who envisioned the old 15 th century convent to be designed into a heritage hotel with an addition of a new block in the west along Rue des Serrurier.

A total of about 50 guest tooms were thus proposed as part of the new hotel, with 15 rooms in the new block while the remaining to be designed in the existing group of buldings. The hotel also included a spa, a swimming pool, couple of restaurants, a bar and other utility which goes into the functioning of a hotel.

Top: Site model, Scale 1:200; Second floor plan, NTS Bottom: Computer model of the existing as well proposed buildings

Elevation along the road Rue des Serrurier and the corresponding street views

Top: Ground floor plan (ver.5), NTS Bottom: West elevation from Rue des Serrurier (ver.5), NTS

A mockup of the new unit was proposed to be built on the hotel grounds to test different parameters, including interior layout, lighting, structural system, acoustics, thermal comfort etc. I majorly worked on this mockup proposal where my role was to design this unit with all its structural, thermal, acoustic, plumbing and electrical details.

Collaborating engineering firms helped us during the design evolution.

Top: Plan of mockup unit (ver.2); Bottom: Location of mockup unit (ver.1)

Top: Wall detail of ver.1 unit, Middle: Floor detail of ver.1 unit, Bottom: Construction detail

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Left to right Top: section A, elevation D and elevation E Middle: section B, elevation F and elevation G Bottom: section C, elevation I and elevation H

CC ENVELOPES & SOLAR ENERGY

FACADE REDESIGN HSLU, SWITZERLAND

* Research based design project * Completion date: June 2015

Since the past few years, there has been an intensive questioning related to the sustainability of the building industry and its share of the total energy consumption.

Research in this sector aims to make the building industry more energy efficient for a long term benefit. The Swiss government has been spending a considerable amount in research on solar based systems. The Competence Center for Envelopes And Solar Energy at HSLU is one such research unit.

Lucerne Univeristy of Applied Sciences, Technik und Architektur department - site plan

Southern elevation

HSLU campus a seen from southern side

This project under CC EASE involved the study of the facade of HSLU building (Track 4) and come up with strategies to enhance the solar performance of the facade as well as try and harness energy from the sunlight falling on the building.

Initially, we studied the glazing installed in the building and analysed the attached rooms. The construction system was studied in detail to understand the mechanism behind the functioning of the glazing system, including fixation, thermal performance, ventilation performance etc.

Faculty room on the ground floor facing the south

Window zone map - developed by overlapping view from window onto the window dimension

After an in-depth study of the construction detail, we analysed the view from individual window panes and also noted people’s view regarding the window they work against. After taking several measurements and inferring from the collected data, we developed a chart called the window zone map, to understand the data from the window view analysis exercise.

Sequence of images taken from different points for window view analysis

Overlapping of different views to generate window shading pattern

A second important aspect of the project was the integration of PV modules in the building to harness the solar energy incident on the southern facade since this was a BAPV approach.

Graphs were plotted, after extensive research of the incident solar radiation over the city of Luzern, to visualise the power production capacity of the PV modules. Later an algorithm was developed to visualise the capacity of those PV modules installed on the building based on their geometry, position, tilt etc.

Solar and PV data plotted against time

Energy analysis based on orientation of PV module on facade

Initial sketches for PV installation

Grasshopper code developed to modify PV design for energy enhancement

Apart from solving issues from an energy efficiency point of view, the facade was designed to be aesthetically pleasing too. The tinted glass over the PV was a compromise to achieve a balance between the two components.

MULLION FLOOR FINISH CHANNEL FOR WIRING 60 MM

FINE CONCRETE LAYER (4 cm) INSULATION (2 cm)

410 MM

CONCRETE FLOOR (35 cm)

350 MM

CONCRETE PARAPET (10CM THICK) SAND (2CM THICK) 70 MM

INSULATION (5CM THICK) DAMP PROOFING

220-240 MM

GRADIENT CONCRETE (24-22CM THICK) INSULATION (10CM THICK)

350 MM

CONCRETE CEILING (35 cm) L-SECTION TO FIX THE MULLION

180 MM

METAL CLADDING

180 MM

METAL COVER FOR BLINDS 580 MM

400 MM

580 MM

BOLTS TO FIX COVER

400 MM

FALSE CEILING METAL COVER FOR BLINDS

ANCHOR TO FIX ALUMINIUM CHANNEL ALUMINIUM CHANNEL FOR BLINDS

L-SECTION TO FIX THE MULLION FALSE CEILING ALUMINIUM CHANNEL FOR BLINDS

110 MM 150 MM 70 MM

110 MM 150 MM 70 MM

Drawing: Side elevation of 80° frame

BOLT TO FIX METAL FRAME CONCRETE FLOOR (35 cm)

MULLION

PV MODULE + GLASS

OPAQUE ALUMINIUM SHEET

PUNCHED METAL SHEET

METAL EXTRUDED SECTION FUSED WITH THE PANEL

Drawing: Isometric view of 80° frame L-SECTION TO FIX THE MULLION

MULLION

WINDOW

WINDOW TRANSOMS

Drawing: Side elevation of 50° frame

BOLT TO FIX METAL FRAME

MULLION

PUNCHED METAL SHEET

PV at 80° angle

PV MODULE + GLASS

METAL EXTRUDED SECTION FUSED WITH THE PANEL

Drawing: Isometric view of 50° frame PV at 50° angle

MULLION

Drawing: Side elevation of 30° frame

Glare protection glass at 30° angle

METAL EXTRUDED SECTION FUSED WITH THE PANEL

GLARE PROTECTION GLASS

Drawing: Section

Drawing: Front elevation PUNCHED METAL SHEET

BOLT TO FIX METAL FRAME

Drawing: Isometric view of 30° frame Drawing: Plan

Construction details

The final proposed system consisted of a tri-color band of PV strips stretched along the facade in a pattern to emphasise the entrance.

Each band had three set of glass panels, out of which two were used for energy production while the third solved issues related to solar glazing and solar heat gain.

The design was further investigated by experts from the field of BIPV / BAPV, for its scope and the feasibility of the project.

Study sketch of the proposed system after installation

KONSTRUKTIVE ENTWURFERUN

ATELIER FOR AN ARTIST

GOTTLIEBEN, THURGAU, SWITZERLAND

* 3 Member team - design and construction project * Completion date: December 2015

The subject is to study and understand the working of details in architecture, like the function and dimension of the joints, the connection between different materials and so on. The aim of this project was to design a small private house for an artist using timber and focusing on a fenestration in the house.

The site was located along the shores of the picturesque lake, Lake Konstanz, in the city of Gottlieben - north Switzerland. The final design tried to establish a dialogue between the interior space and the nature outside. In a way, it was envisaged to create a space to inspire the sculptor when we would work in the atelier.

A small 8x4 meter house sits on a 12x8 meter terrace, which projects out onto the lake. The construction system of the main house is in ‘Schulerblockholzplatte’, which is engineered wood manufactured by a local company Pius Schuler.

Section (scale 1:40)

Ground floor plan (nts)

First floor plan (nts)

The ground floor is the workshop for the artist plus a small kitchen with dining facilities. The bedroom is nicely tucked away on the floor above, with the bathtub facing the lake giving a vast expansive view. The abundance of sunlight in the workshop through the skylight and the window adds space and ambience for healthy working.

Site plan

The inside finish of the timber wall is of white fir while the outside is oiled douglas. The image on the far left is a photo of the interior model to highlight the materiality and immateriality of the space.

The terrace outside provides a nice place for the artist to showcase his sculptures as well as enjoy the scenery outside.

Interior perspective - model photo

North elevation

Exterior perspective

HORW HALBINSEL

LEUCHTTURM

(light tower)

LUZERN, SWITZERLAND

* Class project to design and build an exhibition tower for the community of Horw in Switzerland. * Industry partner ‘Shaerholzbau’ For more information: * https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KfDX9zeGOSo * https://secure.i-web.ch/gemweb/horw/de/kulfre/kultur/kulturproj * https://www.hslu.ch/de-ch/hochschule-luzern/ueber-uns/medien/ma * Completion date: August 2015

The community of Horw (Horw Gemeinde) in the canton of Luzern, organized a cultural project to commemorate their anniversary. They decided to have a light tower built for the community for this event and decided to involve the architecture students of HSLU in the neighbourhood. A team of eleven students worked together to come up with various design concepts and ideas for the competition.

This spiral tower is an evolution of my design from a pavilion structure on the right. Apart from the design it was also important to study the tectonics of the system and make mock-up models at various stages to test the design and the concept.

Towards the end one design was selected and worked upon in detail to produce all the necessary working drawings for its production.

Initial model of the design, with a spiral form

Mock-up of details to test the strength of the connection

Initial design

The final built tower was based on the concept of scaffolding, which is usually erected as a secondary structure against a primary one. Before the tower could be built a smaller portion was tested for stability and strength as well as its aesthetic appeal.

A network of barked tree trunks and diagonally stretched steel ropes was the basic unit of the structure, which was then later tested for strength. Based on the results there were some changes to accommodate for the increased safety. A team of students and professionals then built the tower at a wood workshop and was later transported in a truck and hoisted with the help of cranes.

Photograph of project after installation

Construction drawing of the light tower using Schuler-BlockholzÂŽ as wooden panels

Tree anchoring detail using steel ropes from JakobÂŽ

Tower being transported after construction