Selected works 2020

TOOBA JALAL archi tecture + d esi gn

sel ected w orks 2020

CONTENTS

Resume

02

ACADEMIC Professiona 01

Montage

04

02

The Spine

12

03

The wall as protagonist

24

04

Dwelling

42

PROFESSIONAL 05

Silk Bank

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06

Rehman Dental College

50

07

Observations

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TOOBA JALAL

email toobajalal@gmail.com phone (832)-398-9943 connect https://www.linkedin.com/in/tooba-jalal/ portfolio https://issuu.com/toobaj

EDUCATION Virginia Tech Blacksburg - Virginia

Master of Architecture College of Architecture + Urban Studies

Steger Center for Int’l Scholarship Riva San Vitale Switzerland

Architecture Residency + Thesis Virginia Tech

Indus Valley School of Art & Architecture Karachi - Pakistan

Bachelor of Architecture Dept of Architecture

Cox Graae + Spack Architects Washington - DC

Staff Architect

Virginia Tech (CAUS) Graduate School Blacksburg - Virginia

Graduate Assistant

Feb 2016 - June 2017

Arcop Associates Karachi - Pakistan

Architect

June - Aug 2012

The Architects (Tariq Hasan Studio) Karachi - Pakistan

Architectural Intern

Software

AUTODESK | Revit, AutoCAD Graphisoft | ArchiCAD ADOBE | Photoshop, Illustrator, Indesign, Lightroom, Premiere Pro MS OFFICE

Languages

English, Urdu, Hindi, Italian (Introductory)

Society of American Registered Architects

Past Presidents Student Scholarship Award Recipient 2018

Alpha Epsilon Lamda

Graduate Honor Society Inductee, Virginia Tech Chapter - 2019

2017 - 2019 Jan - May 2019

2010 - 2015

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 2019 - Present

2018 - 2019

SKILLS

H O NO R S

Part of the conceptual design team for Suitland High School.

Simultaneously working on the DD set for St Stephen’s High School.

-Helped Program Chair David Dugas during accreditation process.

-Assisted Prof Joseph Bedford as a research assistant for the compilation of his book and interviews -During the Riva Architecture Residency, worked as a Teacher’s Assistant for Prof Kevin Jones. Managed travel coordination and cultural activities Worked on multiple projects ranging from preliminary phase, design development, construction drawings and coordination of projects on site.

Primarily focused on design development through model making for a high rise apartment complex. Helped on different design teams with project development.

02

01

MONTAGE - LIBRARY/WORKSHOPS MAKING DIALECTICAL OPPOSITIONS CO-EXIST Virginia Tech / Fall 2017 / Studio project

Cowgill Hall along with Burchard hall houses the Architecture department at Virginia Tech. The building is one of the few architecture schools in the United States made in a Brutalist fashion. As each year brings in more students the expansion of the building is imminent. The design brief is to relocate the library and workshops onto a new site. The challenge is to find harmony in the composition of these opposing program types.

04

Concept: The location of the project, a plot next to the existing department, provides an insight. As demonstrated in the site plan, many pedestrian paths coincide at the heart of the plot. The word ‘transient’ best describes its atmosphere. As the extension of the building hosts a variety of conflicting functions the best way to appreciate it is by stitching them together in a sequence. The daily mundane activity of passing by can be enhanced by the choreography of spaces. The idea of a montage was applied.

05

Construction of a Montage

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Separate elements - One building Library and workshops in their nature are two contrasting building types.

If each element is different then the challenge was to find a way to coexist. Each part of the program was treated as a separate piece and then woven together through a bridge and ramp.

07

First Floor plan

08

Second & Basement Plan 09

Bridge Details 10

02

`THE SPINE - town Hall WEAVING CIVICNESS WITH CULTURE Virginia Tech / Spring 2018 / ACSA Steel Comp

A town hall is a reflection of the community’s ethos and aspirations. Blacksburg is a small, closely knit college town filled with people from all walks of life. A town hall for an intellectually brimming community needs to be more than just a place of civic nature. It should be a place which weaves together the services of the town and gives the citizens a platform to come together and interact with each other.

12

Concept: The town hall is perceived as a spine which will bridge the gap between the citizens and the government and in turn, form a better integrated community. As the program dictates a plethora of functions which range from a police station to a council hall. In order to arrange these functions, the structure was used as an ordering device.

The stacking of the program vertically, allows each floor to interact with other parts of the program as they share the same circulation core.

Based on the design checklist multiple points of interaction are created throughout different levels of the town hall.

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Diagrammatic assembly of the building and program

14

Aesthetic versatility: The linearity of the building creates a strong line of force on site and creates a huge blank canvas with an opportunity for artistic expression. The faรงade uses different kinds of steel screens and different levels of permeability. The arrangement of the canvas is perceived as a collage of different material palates and they come together to form a painterly composition.

15

Facade study

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Long - term function: As the town grows so does it’s needs expand. The spine is a flexible structure in its arrangement. With ample space for further expansion vertically as well as the free plan allows for creating new spaces whenever they are needed.

Functions come and go but the building adapts and retains its presence in the town’s center, forming a landmark for the people of Blacksburg.

18

Model studies of volume and space

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Art Gallery entrance - the portal to the city

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Elevation

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Section

22

03

The Wall as the Protagonist EXCERPTS FROM THE GRADUATE THESIS Virginia Tech / Spring 2019 / Thesis

Narratives are there in everyone’s lives. They are made up of stories that interest us, stories that we want to share with others. However, narrative is not only limited to the written or spoken word. It is made up of a complex system of units and devices which can be explored in many different genres and media. One such medium is Architecture.

This thesis is an investigation in decoding the elements that are essential for a narrative. Comparing and analyzing the concept using other medium especially the cinemaas a point of reference to understand how it can be applied to architecture. Testing out these discoveries to create a visual arts school in Lugano.

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Site: Lugano is a city situated next to Lake Lugano and is nestled between Monte Bre and Monte San Salvatore. The site provides clue as to what could the story of the building be. An interesting situation arises on site as the view to the lake is blocked by the hotel in front.

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Massing : The cuboid form can be carved out to create circulation that is prominent and creates intrigue from the outside.

As circulation is an important part of the narrative development its presence on the elevation creates a sense of mystery.

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Design Consideration: Based on the case studies, three devices for a narrative have been devised. The design consideration will be to look into how these devices can be developed and then be used together to form a harmonious design which can tell the story of the lake, art and artist.

Based on the case study of Moller house the wall was used as an element to create frames and experience time. This thesis will use the wall as the organizing element to not only create frames looking in time but also as an anchor to wrap the circulation` and create a trajectory to the final frame.

As the program has two distinct separations of studios and galleries. The idea of the room as an event will be explored using a different material palate for the gallery and studios.

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Narrative structure and its parts in architecture

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The wall: (Trajectory and frames) Adolf Loos used the wall to create frames and Le Corbusier used the circulation to create a trajectory.

To understand the potential of these two elements, few studies were done.

1st Study: The first element that was studied was the wall and the potential of its thickness. When the wall has a width it starts to act like a threshold. Similar to the walls in Moller House and CastelVecchio, the thick wall has a presence. This thickness can be used to create frames and thresholds.

Furthermore the possibility of layering these planes was experimented. Similar to Moller House layering creates a visual complexity but also allows spaces in between to be inhabited.

2nd study: The element circulation which gives direction to the narrative was wrapped around the wall. Both the wall and circulation have a sense of direction. Combining the two elements allows for two ideas to co-exist.

Both the frames and path of movement can occur simultaneously.

3rd study: As the circulation can now be wrapped around the wall to create a hybrid element. It can be further developed by integrating the circulation within the inhabitable wall and developing the profile of the wall with the circulation. As shown in the wall can be physically thick and be used to walk within.

The circulatory element can be then part of the facade and explore the concept of framing device.

In this case the wall, circulation and the final frame are all integrated into one architectural form. This piece of the building can be considered a working narrative. As there is movement, and a frame which reflects on time, all happening within a space which can constitute as an event.

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Wall element used as threshold and frame

Sliding planes used to wrap circulation and create visual layering

Wall used as an organizing element as well as for wrapping circulation

Wall split to create an inhabitable space and circulation made a part of the wall

30

The Rooms: (Studio pods and gallery) Carlo Scarpa created rooms within his architecture which would best enhance the objects within the space. He would simple architecture backdrops like a blank wall to place the objects. As the program requires to distinct types of functions, a space to create art and a space to admire art. The use of two different materials is used.

1st Study: (Studio Pods) Studios are a place of learning and work. They need to have a distinct flavor which makes them work friendly and also provide a visual separation from the gallery space to the user and visitor both.

As the gallery is made out of concrete. Wood was chosen to make these studio pods. But the pods were conceived as these sealed boxes floating within the heavy concrete box. These floating pods are visible from the outside but their contents are sealed and create a further intrigue to the visitor.

2nd Study: The gallery is explored as an element within the concrete wall as mentioned in the study before. The smooth gray background forms th perfect canvas to view art.

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Wooden studio pods ( one floor)

Wooden studio pods (stacked)

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Comparative Analysis

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Using the thickness of the wall to integrate the circulation as a part of the wall profile.

Profile of the final frame in plan. The circulatory element (ramp) can not only be integrated within the thickness of the wall but also starts to open at an angle to best maximize the view of the lake. The view of the lake is best visible a 35 degree angle to the site.

36

Synchroic & diachronic frames: The spaces are volumes suspended in the building, directed by the planes

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Room as an event: Each Art studio demands a different enclosure and light

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04

DWELLING SECTIONAL VOLUMETRIC STUDY Virginia Tech / Fall 2017 / 2 week studio

The studio was focused on designing a dwelling with a dual function of a spin class. The design was only to be explored through analog model.

The study was divided into three phases. The week long exercise explored abstract volumetric models, design exploration in a 1/2” model and finally a 1/4” sectional model.

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The wall forms the datum of the design

43

Circulation and other spaces arrange themselves around the wall

44

05

SILK BANK TOWER SUPERIMPOSING OLD WITH NEW Arcop Associates / 2017 / Karachi, Pakistan

The project aimed to combine the historic Lloyd’s bank building with a contemporary high rise tower. It was a design exercise in stitching old with the new.

Phase I: Document the heritage site and find all the possibilities and challenges.

Phase II: Schematic design development and approval from the client.

Phase III: Presentation to the public in a town hearing and approval from the town and heritage council.

Phase IV: Design and development and preparation of working drawings.

Participated in all the phases mentioned above

46

Figure Ground Study

Maps studying traffic flow, historic context and intersection nodes

URBAN CONTEXT: A very crucial part of the design process was to first understand and deeply study the historic context as well as it’s impact on the present condition. The site was analyzed for possible scenarios of how the city will evolve and how can a precedence be set to use heritage sites as opportunities for future harmonious developments.

47

Elevational studies with the urban fabric

Documentation of the heritage elements

Documentation of the heritage facade

48

06

REHMAN COLLEGE OF DENTISTRY A PLACE TO LEARN AND PRACTICE Arcop Associates / 2016 / Peshawar, Pakistan

The dental college is a new addition to the Rehman Medical Institute. The project’s aim was to create a top notch medical facility as well as provide a learning environment for the dental students.

Landscape Package: The package included detailed working drawings for the various landscape elements, boundary wall and main gate.

Facade & water body details: Part of the package included detailed drawings of the window and the brick facade assembly, along with features like the water body.

Site co-ordination & interior package: Along with co-ordinating the shell and core phase on-site, also developed the interior package.

Participated in all the phases mentioned above

50

Hard and soft landscape plan

Boundary wall elevation & section

51

Planter elevation and section

Planter working plan cut @ various heights

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Water Body plan and section

Window details

53

Water body detail

Ground Floor - Working Plan

Radiology

Radiology Interior Drawings

54

07

OBSERVATIONS ARCHITECTURE RESIDENCY Steger Center / Spring 2019 / Semester abroad

The aim of the residency is to expose, explore and educate the student with all the architecture sights present in Europe. The residency is based in Riva San Vitale in Switzerland.

As a part of the residency different mediums are used to document the sights that we visit. I preferred to preserve those moment via film photography, sketches and screen printing.

56

Piazza Del Campo, Siena, Italy

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Rechtswissenschaftliche Bibliothek, Zurich, Switzerland Santiago Calatrava

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La Tourette, Eveux, France Le Corbusier

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Centre Pompidou, Paris, France Renzo Piano & Richard Rogers

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San Cataldo Cemetary Modena, Italy Aldo Rossi

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TOOBA JALAL toobajalal@gmail.com (832)-398-9943

selected works 2020