SAINA ABDOLLAHZADEH - Portfolio 2021

Saina Abdollahzadeh Architecture & Art Portfolio 2021

500 Circ

SAINA ABDOLLAHZADEH

My name is Saina Abdollahzadeh. I am currently a fourth year architecture student at IE University in Spain.

I discovered my interest in Architecture at the crossroad of my extremely technical and logical side with my fully artistic and creative side; However, over the past four years, I have come to fall in love with the complexities that Architecture is entangeled with.

From the historical context of a place, to the psychological and physical needs of the current people, along with the social

Education 2021-Now

Syracuse University (Ex

2017-2022

IE University, Segovia/

2016-2017

European School of Tb

2015-2016

Chaglar International S

2014-2015

CedarFalls Highschool,

2009-2013

Farzanegan Sampad (N

Achievements

Full Scholarship at Young Talented Le Foundation, 2017 - now

Scholarship at Future Leaders Excha Georgia (FLEX) 2014-2015

Design Excellence Award at IE Unive Design Studio II, 2019, Design Studi

Co-directed M.A.P Project funded b European Flexability - Georgia, 2017

issues of the time, to how long it can last through time, Architecture seems to be traveling in all three timeframes while engaging with different scales of human, society, and global all at once.

I thus use my logic to tackle these issues in different scales and times, and use my creativity to come up with innovative and new solutions.

Email: abdollahzadeh.saina@gmail.com Tel: (+34) 635 142 150 (+1) 315 350 8252

Skills AutoCad Rhinoceros Revit Lumion Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator Adobe InDesign Grasshopper

xchange), NY, USA

/Madrid, Spain

bilisi, Georgia

University Activities Editor at Prologue Magazine - IE School of Architecture and Design 2019-Now Student Class Representative 2017-2020

School, Tbilisi, Georgia

Head of Sets and Props Design in IE Theatre Production 2017-2020

, IA, USA

Student Mentor 2018, 2020

NODET), Shiraz, Iran

Leaders - IE

ange Program

ersity io III, 2020

by Eastern 7

Member of Academics Committe 2018-2019

Experience Design Lab at IE University, Spain 2019-2020 Internship at Parsomad Consulting Engineers, Iran 2018 Graphic Director at Best Builder International, Georgia 2019 Private Tutor - Structural Calculations, Spain 2018 - 2019 Private Tutor - Math & Physics, Georgia & Spain 2017-2018 Translator - English/Persian, Georgia 2017

Languages

Interests

Persian - Fluent English - Fluent Spanish - Intermediate Georgian - Intermediate French - Beginner Russian - Beginner

Drawing (Charcoal) Painting (Oil) Pottery & Ceramics Figure Skating Violin 2

Table of Contents University Projects 1- Pocket Living Fourth Year - Design Studio V, Fall 2020.

Design of a Social Housing Complex in Madrid, Spain Research and Unit Scale done in group with: Ana Domingo and Maria Paula Ramos Collective Housing Scale done individually

2- International Cultural Center & Women’s Refuge Third Year - Design Studio IV, Spring 2020 Design of a community center and housing for victims of domestic violence in the center of Malaga, Spain

3- The Fun Spider Third Year - Design Studio III, Fall 2019 Design of a temporary and seasonal ‘Caseta’ for the parks of Segovia, Spain Group project in collaboration with: Emmi-Julia Manninen and Maria Paula Ramos

4- Forest of Ice Second Year - Design Studio II, Spring 2019 Design of an Ice Skating facility in the center of Madrid, Spain both for professional and free practices

5- Fuencarral Community Center Second Year - Design Studio I, Fall 2018 Design of a community center in the northern area of Fuencarral in Madrid, Spain

Competitions 1- Furnitecture Seoul Biennale 2021, South Korea Teamwork in collaboration with: Ana Domingo, Antonia Franco, Miriam Otto, Maria Gonzalez, Candela Gonzalez, Celia Sanchez, Lorenzo Uribe

2- Tensile Pavilion Wonderfruit Design Competition - 2019 Design of a Bamboo Pavilion in Pattaya, Thailand In collaboration with: Isabel Nicole Limpo and Nicholas Saye

O t h e r Wo r k s 1- Artworks Study of Anatomy Through Art, 2017-2020

2- Photography Experimentation Workshop, September 2019 3

Pocket Living Design Studio V, Fall 2020 Madrid, Spain

(First Part of the Project Done in Group) Located in the center of Madrid, the project aimed to create a social housing complex by taking into account the architecture of the surrounding, the complex topography of the site, and a new definition of what home means to us in 2020-2021.

The users were defined based on extensive research and interviews in the neighborhood, coming up with a set of conclusions on who the housing project is suitable for, and what it should entail.

The main initiative of the project was th to define what housing is nowadays, along with accommodating two different groups of people, considering the temporality aspect of some (students), while the possibility of expansion of the other (young families).

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Phase one: Research, Users, & Dwelling Units Study and categorization of daily routine activities

Based on the research and one to one interviews, we had concluded that the area urgently needed housing for students, interns, and newly emerging couples and young families. Therefore, our units were designed based on the daily activities of our permanent (families) and impermanent (students/ interns) residents, along with the time of the day they will be at home.

Information gathered in the neighborhood

Design strategy based on a flexible core for social activities and pockets of intimacy

Defining the two main users

Users’ time of the day at home vs. outside

Student Unit

Intimate Pocket 1: Relaxing Pocket

Couple Unit

Intimate Pocket 2: Cleaning Pocket

Family Duplex Unit

Intimate Pocket 3: Personality/Productive Pocket

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Episodes: Minimal use of solid walls for maximum openness

Adaptability of Intimate Pocket of Personality

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Phase Two: Site Analysis and Strategy The extreme height difference across various points of the site, along with the very differing neighborhoods and access roads on each corner, made the design very challenging. The lack of green space throughout the whole area was also a crucial aspect to take into account not just for the people of the neighborhood, but also for the residents to ensure that the place doesn’t lose its airiness and doesnt start to feel too clustered.

Sun Path Diagram

The applied strategy was therefore courtyards within a central courtyard, where a gradient of public, semi-public, and private spaces start to form. A slight slope throughout the site is also applied that is broken by ramps and stairs in three different points. The height of the buildings on each side follow the height of its neighbors, and the types and number of units in each cluster is determined by the adjacent neighborhoods.

Local Roads vs. Highw

Commercial vs Residen

Site and its Immediate

Ground Floor Plan

Access Points to the S

Height Variation Across the Site

ways

Site Configuration Strategy

Central Open Green Space

e Surrounding Slope

Units Around the Central Courtyard

Breaks Based on Site Access Points

Site

Height Difference for lighting and Fitting with the Surrounding

Applying the Stepping for the Site Topography

ntial Adjacencies

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Phase Three: Units Configuration & Environmental Considerations

One of the driving rules for stacking units on top of each other was to never place a bigger unit on top of a small one unless provided with double height/ porosity, in order to ensure natural sunlight for all units.

This rule was also taken into account with different clusters located next to each other, ensuring that not just the units, but also the central courtyards receive natural light and are well ventilated.

Additionally, a catalogue of different possibilities of vertical configurations was developed based on the porosity rule and the height difference of 6 to 12 floors in different points of the site.

6 Floor Configurations

8 Floor Configurations

Opening Level 3

10 Floor Configurations

Opening Level 3

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Roof System: Flat Roof, Warm Deck a. Finishing Material b. Plywood - 21 mm Construction Details c. Timber Joists (40 x 300 mm) with 180 mm cavity and 120 mm thermal insulation in between d. Plywood (airtight membrane) - 15 mm Roof System

Walls Facing Outside: Aluminum Sandwich Panel (from

Flat Roof,outside Warm Deck to inside)

a. Double Layer Corrugated Aluminum Sheets with 120mm

Wall facing Outside: thermal and acoustic insulation in between

Structural skeleton of the Building (which the sandwich panel Aluminumb.Sandwich is attached to) c. Double layer Paster board as finishing for the interior

Walls facing Inside: Timber Platform Frame Construction a. Horizontal Boards - 24 mm b. Vertical Battens (with ventilated cavity) - 40 mm Wall Facing Inside: c. Bitumen-Impregnated softboard (Airtight membrane) - 18 mm Frame Timber Platform d. Timber Studding, Wool insulation - 120 mm Construction Panel e. Vaporproof Plywood wood-based board f. vertical battens (with space for services) g. Fiber-reinforced Plasterboard Floor Construction: Timber Box Element Floor a. Floor Covering - 10 mm b. 3-ply core plywoof 27mm Floor Construction c. Impact Sound insulations, two layers each 20 mm Timber Box Elementbox element floor on supporting members d. Timber e. Glaze finish Floor Green floor construction: a. Engineered soil with planting b. filter fabric c. geotextile membrane d. Moisture retention Layer e. Thermal insulation Green Floor f. Water proofing layer Engineered Soil with Support g. Sructural Planting, Thermal and

Plinth: Floor Construction unheated basement: Waterproofing a. Screed 50 mm b. concrete ground slab 200 mm c. Lean concrete 50 mm

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International Cultural Center & Women’s Refuge Design Studio IV - 2020 Malaga, Spain The project addresses the issue of domestic violence by creating refuge center for female victims of south of Spain, within the existing truss structure of La Union.

Inspired by Cedric Price’s Fun Palace, a series of elevated and hanging platforms create a dynamic space with areas that vary in the quality of space based on the needs. The main circulation is also designed around these platforms to make one discover the space as whole rather than a single destination.

To integrate these women back to society, the project also provides an international art center that focuses on activities that bring different cultures together by eliminating the issue of language barrier.

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The layout of programs ar accessibility and adjacenc taking into account a safe while still being connected elevated open platforms o activities.

The access to the facility i three main ramps based o ments, size and use.

Ground Floor Plan

Second Floor Plan

re based on the cy possibilities, e domestic area d to the of the public

is provided by on the place-

First Floor Plan

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Area Analysis, and Configuration of Housing Units

Program Configuration for Arts and Cultural Center

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Approaching the Existing Structure

Program Distribution

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Prefabricated SPA Sandwich Panel

Residents’ Platform with Wooden Decking

Public Platforms with Metal Mesh Decking

Reinforced Concrete Ramp Construction

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The Fun Spider Caseta de Verano in Segovia, Spain Design Studio III, Fall 2019

Group project

The Fun Spider is a proposal for the exisiting caseta de veranos in the parks of Segovia through a site-specific Analysis for a strategic solution alongside the study of materiality and wood techniques.

Located in Parque de Las Delicias in Segovia, the project aims to activate the park during its opening hours while creating this connection between the three very divided groups of kids, teenagers, and adults. The Caseta thus becomes a center point of all three, while still respecting each of their spaces and needs.

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The project also aimed for a welcoming and visible presence from the three main entrances of the park, while still being transparent and fit in with its surrounding in order to avoid blockage of the west view and the sunset.

To take advantage of the site and the environmental conditions, the caseta was placed in the center of the site, where no shadow is provided by the trees, and as a result, creates a hierarchy of shadows based on caseta’s density moving from inside out. The variety of the shadows provide a range of experiences to the users and correlates with the mass density of the caseta itself.

Site Plan

1:200 Site Model

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Plan of Caseta When Closed

Plan of Caseta When O

Open

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The caseta acts as a catalyst in the center of the park.

It brings people from all ages together and offers various activities for each of the age groups. As a result, the park no longer remains as a divided area.

1:3 Plywood Model Opening and Closing

Roof System Connection Detail with a 3D Printed Central Anchor

Fabric Connection Detail

Arms Connection Detail

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Since a 1:3 scale of the caseta was to be developed, every detail and connection was studied, tested and adjusted to achieve the best possible result in terms of efficiency, stability and aesthetics. Some of the main connections are shown here.

Shelf to Leg Connection

Leg to Leg Connection

Door Composition Detail

Leg to Base Beam Connection

Fabric to Leg Connection

Wheels Connection

Base Boards to Base Beams Connection

Foundation Connection Detail

Exploded Axonometric

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Forest of Ice Design Studio II - 2019 Madrid, Spain

Inspired by Bjarke Ingles’s projects ‘Expo 2010 Danish Pavilion’ and ‘2020 Musée Atelier Audemars Piguet’, the Forest of Ice is a proposal for an iceskating facility in response to the needs and behavior of the surrounding through a series of stacking and shearing of the volumes horizontally and vertically with respect to the architecture and the nature of the site and its neighborhood.

Due to its strategic location in between Mercado de Barcelo and the wide pedestrian street, the site acts as a transitional space that not only connects areas used by pedestrian, but it also acts as a green breathing space among all the narrow and crowded streets around it.

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The program consists of IceSkating for kids and adults, in response to the lack of ice skating facilities in Madrid, as well as an indoor cafe with outdoor green area to enjoy a good evening alongside doing sports.

There is also a bike ramp and parking space to encourage cycling in the area. Overall, the programs available can all be seen through 3 main circulations: Iceskators, Bikers, Pedestrians

Stacking Different Programs

Shearing Horizontally

Connection of Areas Through a Continuous Ramp

Adapting to the Existing Vegetation of the Site

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The program consists of Ice Skating for kids and adults, in response to the lack of ice skating facilities in Madrid, as well as an indoor cafe with outdoor green area to enjoy a good evening alongside doing sports.

During the summer, the hanging vegetation protects the interior from direct sunlight, while during the winter surrounding facades are the main focus. Numerous simple columnsProgram with vines were used throughout to Distribution merge perfectly with the trees in the area.

Longitudinal Section

Transverse Section Program Distribution Circulation Diagram

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Underlying Geometry

Underlying Geometry

Circulation Diagram

Cross Section

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Basement Floor Plan - Administration and Mechanicals

Longitudinal Section

Ground Floor Plan - Public Green Space and Cafe

First Floor Plan - Adults’ Ring

Second Floor Plan - Childrens’ Ring

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Fuencarral Community Center Design Studio I - 2018 Madrid, Spain

The Fuencarral Community Center is a proposal in which a series of strategies were explored to define the program distribution, circulation, and the differentiation between enclosed and more open spaces.

Circulation and natural light are among the most important aspects that were taken into account in this project. Additionally, the contrasting mass and void alternation of the more quite spaces allows for the overall space to feel more open and look bigger, and for sunlight to be reached to every part of the building.

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The community center is a proposal to create a variety of spaces with different heights, openings and transparencies created by the strategy of stacking, shearing, and a series of separated layers and masses. The circulation is the result of the overlapping layers in the strategy which creates an inclusive program while keeping the private spaces separate.

The building, with its reflexive glass provides complete transparency during the night to exhibit the program inside, while during the day, the facade reflects the surrounding community.

Site

Third Floor Plan

Fourth Floor Plan

Stack and Shear Strategy

e Plan

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The program consists of a series of more quiet and enclosed spaces such as a library, theatre, lecture hall, etc. which are placed in the pockets while the more open spaces such as offices, community rooms, shops etc. are placed in the more transparent and open places.

Circulation Strategy

Exploded Axonometric

Circulation Diagram

Program Distribution

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Furnitecture Seoul Biennale 2021, South Korea Teamwork in collaboration with: Ana Domingo, Antonia Franco, Miriam Otto, Maria Gonzalez, Candela Gonzalez, Celia Sanchez, Lorenzo Uribe

While furniture is normally considered as one of the last steps of the design process, we believed it was one of the main elements of architecture that is in direct contact with our senses. Thus, Furnitecture is a pavilion as a reusable space for the future, exploring multiple capacities; It hosts people inside, while it also engages them from a distance. It is a place that can be transformed to an activated element, relating to the body, actions, and gestures.

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Tensile Pavilion Wonderfruit Design Competition - 2019 Type: Bamboo Pavilion Location: Pattaya, Chonburi Province, Thailand Project Partners: Isabel Nicole Limpo and Nicholas Saye

The Wonderfruit Competition called for the design of a pavilion structure for a music festival, in line with Wonderfruit’s values of creative sustainability.

The structure was to be unique, lightweight, evolved, intelligent, leaving zero negative environmental impact, and utilising local and natural materials.

Using a local Thai species of bamboo known as Bambusa Lako, the aim is to have a living and actively growing pavilion.

Bending the bamboo naturally is possible by applying tension with cables. Over the course of the festival, the bamboo will grow and the cables will move with it.

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Study of Anatomy Through Art Starting with animal anatomy, it was important to explore the importance of light and shadow in emphasising certain body parts intricacies.

Medium: Charcoal, 29 x 42 cm Completed: Spring 2017

The focus in this work was body, its form and proportio light and sh

Medium: Charcoal, 4 Completed: Sum

s exploring the human ons through the play of hadow.

42.1 x 59.4 cm mmer 2017

As a further exploration in this series, a more ambitious step was taken to add color to play of light and shadow in order to create an image as realistic as possible, with the element of water being involoved.

Medium: Oil, 60 x 80 cm Work in Progress - to be completed

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Autumn Photography

Experimentation Workshop - 2019

This series of seven photographs was made with an intention to capture specific moments and details of autumn, looking closely at the change in colors, form and the movement of leaves with wind and and water, capturing the various moment of this colorful decay.

The project also aimed to focus on the relationship between such details of nature and the surrounding, most importantly the elements of the built world, exploring how the decay in autumn creates a conversation with architectural elements of the periphery.

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Thank you for your time!

Contact Email: abdollahzadeh.saina@gmail.com

sabdollahza.ieu2017@student.ie.edu Tel: (+34) 635 142 150 (+1) 315 350 8252 (+995) 555 600 704 LinkedIn: Saina Abdollahzadeh Instagram: saina_abdollahzadeh

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