Nawal Aamir
RIBA PART I ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO
My time at The University of Texas at Austin & Loughborough University has enabled me to curate a unique skill set and personal values to implement towards the industry, which will be evident along my portfolio. With past work experience in an architectural and interior design settings; supplemented alongside my education has enabled me to to expand my current architectural framework.
While this portfolio is a selected collection of my projects as a student, it represents my interior architectural journey as an individual. Exploring both the creative possibilities and various boundaries of innovation, while maintaining attention to technical details. Though it can be assumed that my enthusiasm for interior architecture stems from my Middle Eastern background - while influenced - it is also my perseverance to help individuals form communities, through the exploration of human interaction and the built environment.
Skin First. Makeup Second. Smile Always :)
Central Courtyard Treatment Room
Cleanse Bar
Biophilia
Cloud Paint Blushes
Members Lounge
Design Development
While the initial design development was centered around Glossier’s oragnic blushes ‘Cloud Paint’ deconstructing the pros of ‘cloud’ and ‘paint’ resulted in formulating a space which extends the brand as a lifestyle upon its consumers organically – undisturbed from their day-to-day routine. Precedented from brands such as Aime Leon Dore’s flagship and café and Ralph Lauren’s coffee ‘Ralphs’. Glossier’s London Flagship takes this one step further through implementing a Women’s driven members club initiated by none other a brand whom consistently campaigns for female empowerment. Celebrating & networking with like-minded Intellects, creatives and more.
Lea Valley, London
Situated in East London, the ‘Oyster Rock retreat’ thesis project aims to revive the abandoned relationship between the Lower Lea Valley and its surrounding inhabitants through implementing a closed loop system nurtured by constructed wetlands landscaped along the site, oyster farming and filtration. This is in response to overwhelming amounts of pollution evident along the Lea Valley, as headlines highlight the plagued water and waste pollution contaminating the river, making it unsafe for the public to swim or fish along the Lea’s waterbody.
‘For it seems there is a curious symbiosis existing between industry and nature...’
- William Mann, Bastard Countryside (Lea Valley)
CONCEPT SKETCH
Farming to Filtering
Adapting a symbiotic nature of design resulted in the scheme catering to two key clients, which includes the water of River Lea navigation canal and visitors seeking interactions with water. Signifying how the systems embedded upon the programme establishes an equilibrium between nature and humans. Neighboring the edge Banbury reservoir and Tottenham marshes, the scheme significantly contrasts industry communities of Upper Edmonton fueling the chain of consumerization, therefore reflecting the treasure hidden in the shell of an oyster.
SYMBIOSIS
Closed Loop Plan
The programme aims to establish an experiential relationship with water through the intimate pleasures of the wetland spa, holticulture learning of aquaponics farming and regulated fishing along the pier. While longer staying guests can check into the barnacle lodgers to extend their experience within the resort.
Primary Material : Oyster-Crete
Establishing a closed loop system
Oyster[crete]
LimeCycle
Oyster-Crete and Oyster Tile Samples
Interior Visual of Indoor Pool
Interior Visual of Cafe Overlooking Constructed Wetlands
Aquaponics wall section 1:20 @ A3
Inspired from the excerpts of ‘An Invisible Muslim’ by Medina Whiteman - Mount Haven is a scheme centered around the transitioning regufees within the Lea Valley. In response the scheme proposes a dynamic hub of refuge, learning and gathering for the younger misunderstood Muslim community of Tottenham. Establishing a program of Eat, Pray, Grow, food catalyses the scheme as it respresents a familiar culture/community and can be used as a form of communication - as with architecture.
Gastronativism: Food - Identity - Politics
The ideological use of food to advance ideas about who belongs to a community and who does not.
Floorplan development initiated from identifying the location of the Qibla on site, instilling an ease of prayer as the structure directs the correct path for its users when performing prayer.
Markfield Road in South Tottenham contains a mix of industrial warehouses, homes, scrapyards, restaurants, studio spaces, breweries, ice-cream van rental and nightclubs. It is sincerely a mixed-use portion of citycreating the sense of a diverse, thriving neighbourhood
Islam is recorded through hidden artefacts found along the streets
Further between the landfill local inhabitants, Muslim’ needs which
Arabic Kufic calligraphy
Islamic Geometry
Letter ‘W’ in Arabic
The Site
Mount Donovan (Landfill)
of Markfield.
Mount Donovan Cave Hira
Seven Sisters Market
Food integrating the Latin community in North London
exploring the architectural typologies Cave Hira and Mount Donovan. While landfill is seen as a landmark for the inhabitants, Cave Hira in ‘Invisible echoes the religious and communal which has been deprived from the Muslim community in North London.
The architectural language is inspired from Islamic and Middle Eastern architecture, specifically in reference to bazaars and baths. This translates a recreational program while curating a cultural landmark for the visitors.
Transition from the cave anatomy towards clay ovens. Discussions around the necessity of a Middle Eastern household kitchen circled back to the significance of clay ovens for it popular function of cooking flat bread.
Digital Oil Paintings composed in response of analysing Islamic Architecture references. Specifically inspired from markets and bazaars I have visited myself as well.
‘An extension of Loughborough University’s Architecture Building for the part C cohort’. Highlighting the role of digital collaboration, there is an aim to create a stimulating learning environment, which will promote integration of all three cohorts, and ensure future sustainable proofing of the entire building. As a bachelor’s of ‘architecture’ course, the university itself teaches the subject through the equal integration of arts and sciences. As a result, our concept drives to stimulate a balanced platform of architectural expression under the same roof. This has been accomplished through the establishment of creative spaces such as the workshop, digital room, reading nook and collaboration space housed in one, as students currently must travel between different buildings to utilise equipment. While the addition of a Japanese garden to the second floor creates a shift within the studio space, and contrast with the floors below as there is an element of relaxation and wellbeing.
Aim: To produce a safe and multi-func-tional outdoor space which will appeal to both primary and second-ary school students.
The concept reflects the notion of build and rebuild, which enables the structure to create an experience for the local com-munity and school children coming together and engage in this self build project. Through this there is a constant change being implemented upon the structure which is controlled by its users, therefore reflecting the change which these children have experienced from leaving their homes in the states and migrating to the UK. The form takes in-spiration of vernacular homes and shel-ters of the RAF camps, thus echoing the ethos of ‘A home away from home’ as the structure acts a safe haven for its users through providing them a space they can partake activities away from the traditional school environment.
CONTACT
Mobile (UK): +44 7493021900
Mobile (US): +1 (346) 481 7006
Email: nawal.aamir@hotmail.com
Instagram: n.a illustrated
NAWAL
