Nada Abu-Daqer - B.Arch Portfolio

Nada Abu-Daqer

Portfolio B . A rc h

2021 October

Table of Contents

Thesis Studio 4

Ruins in Sharq: Interpretation + Research Center Studio VI

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Alvaro Siza: An Analysis

24 House for a Geographer Studio IV 34 Reservoirs & Urban Stations 40 Hajj Narratives: Evliya Çelebi Mysticism on Makkah 42 Ex/In-clusion Intro to Landscape Arch 44 Surra Walkway Re-design Extracurricular 48

T-square Magazine

Ruins In Sharq Interpretation + Research Center

The local urbanscape inherited a culture of erasure and a disregard to the historical artefact. In Aldo Rossi’s general theory of architecture, the locus participates as a unique and physical place, and on urban artifacts he explains: ‘These places are real signs of space; and as such they have a relationship both to chance and to tradition.’

Thesis Studio: Instructed by Arch.Mishari Al Awadhi and Dr.Mohammad Al Jassar Mediums: Modeled on Rhino, drawn on Illustrator. rendered on Vray Outstanding Graduation Project Award at AIAS Graduation Ceremony

Block 1 of Kuwait City, Sharq exhibits a layered phenomenon, a palimpsest, in which the old was erased to be replaced by the replicated. In 2005, the foundations of old houses (250-75 years of age) were unearthed, halting the project of the newly found Heritage Village.

Findings of jars and ceramics bear witness to traces.

In block 2, the site bears marks of streets temporarily constructed in 2004, next to the oldest documented cemetery in Kuwait, one that survived the changes of time. Nowadays blocks 1 & 2 remain largely empty, with construction halted. The general scene is that of abandonment.

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The blocks are full of fragmented markers, tied to figures, and the ruins are fenced. The development intended to take place was a roman amphitheatre.

The architectural intervention neighbors archaeology, using an architectural language informed by historical site conditions.

The program intervention aims for further research, and education.

Site Pictures & Found + Illustrated Textures

Site: Block 1, Sharq, Kuwait City

On Earth

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Thesis Studio

Historical Progression of Blocks 1&2

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Site Elevation & Building Analysis

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Thesis Studio

Process Diagrams

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Formation

1. L Bar

2. Diagonal Cut

3. Orient to the Historical

4. Fillet: Soften the Edges

5. Fillet and Void

6. Build Up

7. Reach into the Ruins

8. Final Form

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Thesis Studio

Top View

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Exploded Iso

Offices

Workshops

Labs

Archives

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Thesis Studio

Plans

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Thesis Studio

Elevations

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Moments

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Thesis Studio

Sectional Perspective

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Alvaro Siza: An Analysis

The assignment’s clear guidelines were to choose an Architect and Four projects of the domestic scale for analysis pre-designing a house for a client whose occupation was our choice.

For this assignment I chose: Siza On Siza: Findings

Studio VI: Instructed by Dr.Jawad Al-Tabtabai & Arch. Adel Albloushi Mediums: Modeled on Rhino, drawn on Illustrator

Through the modelling and illustration of Siza’s projects, formal and programmatic choices started fitting into the urban context. It became clear that almost every building is a composition born out of site, with a point of generation placed somewhere in the urban context surrounding the project. Some of his plans are suprematist compositions. His view of architecture was painterly, poetic, and playful.

Each project addresses the skin, corners, and ground differently. Subtractions are met with additions elsewhere, and voids are perceived in the threedimensional travelling through the levels of plans.

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Siza’s work has a respectful approach to the land, the Portuguese landscape, and daring design choices that challenge perception of domestic Architecture.

The diagrams follow Peter Eisenman’s Formal Analysis convention.

The Four Selected Projects were the following: - Van Der Venne House - Pego House - Fez House - Carlos Ramos Pavilion

Van Der Venne House Exploded Axon

Voids:

Corner

Generator

Ground

Corner

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Van Der Venne House Taxonomy

Corner Skin Ground

glass-column-glass

transparent-opaque-transparent

Studio VI

glass-column-glass

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Van Der Venne House Taxonomy

Corner Skin Ground

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Pego House Exploded

Skin Wood Concrete

Ground

Studio VI

Fez House Exploded

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Carlos Ramos Pavilion Exploded

Ground Skin Corner

Carlos Ramos Logic

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House for a Geographer

House for a geographer is designed for the area of Abdulllah Al-Mubarak, a yet to be built area.

The assignment was described the following way: “A different Kuwaiti villa, one that belongs more to the community while at the same time is more in tune with the community.” The villa is to follow local municipality regulations while providing a public intervention corresponding to the occupation of the resident.

The villa, as a result, has a skylit gallery, an archivals space, and an outdoor space.

Studio VI: Instructed by Dr.Jawad Al-Tabtabai & Arch. Adel Albloushi Mediums: Modeled on Rhino, drawn on Illustrator, rendered on Vray

The need for indirect lighting to preserve maps and archival collections guides the concept of the house.

The house is a series of cores guided by function and a formal logic. The villa becomes a gallery/living space, through the introduction of clerestories and skylight typologies coming together in domestic & public intervention functions.

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Isometric View

On Light

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Concept

Studio VI

Parti Process

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Exploded Iso

Electricity Room Atrium Clerestory

Office Guests Bedroom

Living Room

Masters Bedroom

Guests Room

Gallery Kitchen

Public Gathering Area

Archives

Entertainment Room

Laundry+Bathroom

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Plans

Studio VI

Basement

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Ground Floor

First Floor

Second Floor

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Sectional Perspectives

Studio VI

Section A-A

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Section B-B

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Studio VI

3D Printed Model

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Light Moments

Elevations

East Elevation

West Elevation

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Reservoirs & Urban Stations An Approach to Sustainability Partner: Deema Al-Othman

Studio IV: Instructed by Dr.Shaikha Al-Mubaraki Mediums: Modeled on Rhino, drawn on Illustrator Seoul Biennale Contribution as part of Studio IV: Mecca, An Ongoing Manifesto

Makkah has been facing flooding issues for so long now.

With four main types of recurring floods occurring in the main basin of Wadi Ibrahim, the city suffered immensely. The current infrastructure system is also poor. When floods occur, the roads are damaged, and many lives are lost. Makkah is also subject to Flash floods which happen after heavy short rainstorms. The mountains are of igneous rocks, hard and costly to excavate. Due to the urban sprawl on alluvial channels, floods are becoming more and more detrimental. The major flooding streams were located. To salvage much of the wasted rain, reservoirs were designed. The reservoirs are of multiple typologies, each having a corresponding water station. The Water stations adapt to the evergrowing urban settlements, varying in scale, depending on the area they are in.

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In Jummayzah, Ain Zubaidah provided the area with water coming all the way from Iraq, making the area luscious with a tree called Al-Jummayz, imported from North Africa. In Mina, people sat on the edge of the pavement, socialising. Kids were also found playing football on the streets. The typologies adapt to the needs of the neighbourhoods they are in. The main goal is to control these floods while utilizing the water through filters and an underground piping system that connects the reservoirs to communal stations in neighborhoods.

Three Types of Floods: -Flood Type A: Every 46 Years -Flood Type B: Every 33 Years -Flood Type C: Every 13 Years -Occasional flash floods during Pilgrimage season

Al Haram

Reservoir

Jabal Al-Nour

Jabal Abu Qubais Jabal Al Thawr

Rainfall point

Mountains of igneaous rock are hard to excavate and so they prevent the urban sprawl further up the slope.

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Concept

Reservoir Connecting Pipes

Water Station

The solid and void concept establishes the relationship between the station and the feeding reservoir. The solids form the reservoirs and the voids form the smaller stations.

The reservoir form follows the natural form of the sloped valley in order to reduce the usage of hydraulic pumps.

Studio IV

Rainfall Point

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Scalar Taxonomy

Jummayzah’s Station

Mina’s Station

Jummayzah’s Reservoir

Mina’s Reservoir

Station Perspective

On Water

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Mina’s Station & Reservoir

Station Location in Mina

Studio IV

Station Section

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Reservoir Plan

Diagrammatic Model

The use of filters creates easy removal for cleaning and prevents mold in water pipes.

Varying layers of filters remove rock sediments or other objects that might cause blockage in the pipe.

Reservoir Section

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Hajj Narratives: Evliya Çelebi Mysticism on Makkah

Studio IV: Instructed by Dr.Shaikha Al-Mubaraki Mediums: Hand Sketching then Illustrator (Except for Camel Silhouttes) Seoul Biennale Contribution as part of Studio IV: Mecca, An Ongoing Manifesto

Evliya Celebi, a 16th century wandering Ottoman dervish, wrote a book of travels. In the book, Evliya describes his pilgrimage, exaggerating unusual details regarding the three holy cities: Jerusalem, Medina and Makkah.

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Jerusalem, Sufi’s Qibla, was described in measurements, architectural elements and through a planar view.

Medinah, was the richest description, colors were added to the frames upon the mention of colors in Evliya’s accounts. Medinah is a timeframe in and of itself.

Makkah, was the most unusual account. He makes no mention of Alka’aba and focuses on attire and characters. He speaks of the transforming scent of Zamzam’s water. The camels’ trail continues from Medinah to Makkah.

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Ex/In-clusion Partner: Deema Al-Othman

Inspired by Rem Koolhaas’s Exodus, a series of Meccan dystopian scenes are imagined exploring themes of exclusion and inclusion.

Storyboard of Photoshopped Collages:

Today, mecca is a huge statement of inclusion and exclusion, politically and religiously. Facing issues of flooding, security, gated communities, and unplanned settlements. How would such time constrained issues, hyperbolized by fast paced capitalism and over tourism, affect pre-existing urban life? An urban life that suffers from yearly floods, costly excavation processes, and poor infrastructure.

Studio IV: Instructed by Dr.Shaikha Al-Mubaraki

A story where, the capitalist driven, manmade objects exasperate existing issues is shown through a series of vivid scenes.

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Tourists are not allowed on Meccan lands, well what if they never have to touch it? Excavated igneous mountain caves connected via bridges that shadow above poor low-income neighborhoods in Mecca connected tourists from one location to another.

Tickets for 4,350 Saudi Riyal can give you the full Meccan experience.

As contamination spread through the slums of Misfalah, there was no time for demolition. The city was walled off to face its own written fate. Two doors, entry and exit, controlled the area. Access was granted upon the viewing of special passes. You can always go higher here, so why the hassle? The problem will unravel itself.

With a multitude of buildings on the rise, mountains are the next viewing spot. Mount Qubais was the perfect praying spot for Muslims. Extremely close to AlHaram but sheltered from all the noise. An experience that simulates the prophet’s meditation ritual at Jabal Al-Nour, where he first received Al-Risalah. 8000 Saudi Riyal is the price Muslims pay here, maybe even more in some seasons. The place was a manifestation of tranquillity. The cave was textured like no other, as the igneous rocks within were smoothed to perfection. The Screen was so clean you wouldn’t know it’s there. What keeps it that clean? The hands repeatedly touch the glass in plea. Calling for a connection beyond the visual.

High above all trouble, floods and calamities didn’t find their way to this cave.

As tourists arrived at their caves, they marvelled at the view. Sounds of Awhs and of camera shutters filled the room. The cave smelled of oud and musk. Al-athan blasted occasionally. Guests were charmed and sent back to the bridge again.

The crowd cascades and hits against the glass like the continuous waves of the sea against the rock. As certain elites are granted access with no sweat shed. The Ka’aba now has three glass cases protecting it. It was a long time coming, people could access Zamzam and now they could not, and then who put the glass case around Abraham’s footprint. Guards, armed, circulate. As long as the image of the Kaaba is visible. All must remain under control...

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Surra Walkway Re-design Partner: Sara Al-Zeer

Surra’s Walkway in Kuwait is suffering from negligence.

Upon deeper inspection, it became clear that many residents are using it to grow crops. Drawing on the history of Al-Surra regarding farming, the scheme offers urban farming stations corresponding to the crops found on site.

The scheme also makes use of much of the wasted width, to include a biking lane and rearranges the distribution of the existing trees.

ITLA: Instructed by Dr.Reem Alissa & Arch.Hamed Bukhamseen Mediums: Modeled on Rhino, drawn on Illustrator

Shrubs

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Dill/Mustard

Shade

Section C-C Top View

Shed

Football Field

Shed B

B

Farming Area Shading Structure

Gravel

Forest Area

Playground Area Farming Area

Gym Eq

Sections

Shed

Bike Way

Brittlebrush + Rhanetrium

Corn

Ziziphus

Conacarpus

Section A-A Cordia Myxa

Section B-B Shed

A

quipment

A

Farming Area

Parking

Herbs Farming Area

Forest Area

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Plants on Site

ITLA

Urban Farming Process

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Plants Representation

Taxonomy

Chart

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Extracurricular: T-square Magazine Editorial & Design

T-square is a student run & edited magazine tackling creative and architectural topics relating to the region.

I was responsible for editing issues 23: Plot & 24: After Aftermath , was managing editor for 22: Muhtawa, and responsible for social media for 21: Medium.

The last issue #24: After Aftermath

T-square Mag

Tackles topics of after war, after death, after pandemic, and after thoughts.

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Article in After Aftermath:

Elegy for a Valley, Marj Ibn Amer

Article in Plot: with Sara Al-Zeer

A Booming Street, an Urban Void

Article in Muhtawa: with Sara Al-Zeer

Makkah

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Thank You

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