VICTORIA H. ALSAYED | INTERIOR DESIGN BACHELOR | PROJECTS 2022-2025
Victoira H. Alsayed
French | Swiss
Languages
French : Mother Tongue
English: Fluent / C2
German: C1
Japanese: A2-B1
Italian: B1
IT Skills
Photoshop
Illustrator
InDesign
Sketchup
3DsMax
Autocad DIALUX
Rhino
Photography
Awards
2x winner
Mobi Table & Torus Chair
Education & Qualifications
Bachelor of Interior Design, Italy - 1st Degree Honours
Goldsmiths University, London in partnership with Florence Institute of Design International, Italy
Modules included: Interior Design Studio, Furniture Design, Lighting Design & Building Systems, 3D Advanced Computer Design, Art and Design Theory, Computer Aided Design, & Digital Photography.
Bachelor of Business Administration, Switzerland
University of St. Gallen, Switzerland
Modules included: Business Administration, Economics, Swiss Law, & Psychology. Study duration 2 years before leaving to found an online business, Canis Stellar, and design high-end products for pets in 2018 as founder and CEO from 2018-2023 before joining interior design studies
Kyoto International Academy of Japanese Language, Japan
Gap ear in Japan to learn the language and culture within a host family.
Double Diploma : Swiss Matura & International Baccalaureate (IB), Switzerland
Gymnasium Am Münsterplatz, Basel, Switzerland
Graduation from high school curriculum combining the Swiss Matura with focus on Psychology, Philosophy, and Pedagogy (PPP) taught in German, and the IB with HL in English Language Litterature, French & German taught in English.
Option Internationale du Baccalauréat (OIB) & French Baccalaureate Program, France
Cité Scolaire Internationale de Lyon, France
Middle-school and Highschool curriculum with dual diploma; French Baccalauréat, and OIB program in English.
International Baccalaureate (IB) Program
International School of Verdala, Malta
International School of Basel, Switzerland
International School of Geneva, Switzerland
EXTRA
Student Representative at Florence Institute of Design International
Born in Paris, multi-cultural French-Swiss-Lebanese background, grew up within various countries, cultures & educational systems taught in different languages. Spatial design fuses psychology, art, science with accent on sustainability, & adaptive reuse. Focus on the emotional power of space harnessed through sculpting light, volumes, shapes & textures to build a narrative connecting people through a shared experience regardless of their various origins, language barriers, or cultural differences. Discreet design with attention to details to create an interior atmosphere that is felt rather than seen, telling a tale, & creating unique experiences as bubbles in time that transform moments into memories.
Modeling Infinity
Furniture Design
Coffee Table & Easy Chair (3rd & 5th Semester)
Spot on Kusama Residential Design (2nd Semester)
Historic Escape
Hotel Design
Hospitality Space (4th Semester)
Color of Light
Lighting Design Exhibiion space (5th Semester)
Temporary Exhibition Design Cultural & Public Space (2nd Semester)
Shape of Love
Canine-Assisted Welfare Centre (5-6th Semester)
SEMESTER 4 | with professor Leonardo Rossano
Mobi Table
Coffee Table Design
The Möbius Coffee Table transforms mathematical elegance into a functional work of art. Inspired by the Möbius strip—a single, continuous surface with no beginning or end—this design faithfully embodies its infinite curve.
The table features two interwoven levels, connected with screws that are concealed on the underside of the table’s based to mantain the feeling of an infinite curve in both form and function. A striking statement piece for any living room, it merges the precision of mathematics, the creativity of design, and the beauty of art into a timeless centerpiece.
drawing
Mobi table front view technical
Mobi table render top view
Mobi table front view render
For this project, I started with study models of the mobius strip with paper and cardboard in order to determine the length and width needed for a coffee table of 47cm and the lower level around 30-35cm.
After 14 trials , the final concept model study of made up of two identical pieces of 1m50 x 30cm plywood pieces.
Step by step process for mobi table conceptualization with study model
Mobi table render 2 with child sitting below
SEMESTER 4 | with professor Leonardo Rossano
Mobi Chair
Easy Chair Design
The mobius strip inspiration that resulted into my möbius-inspired coffee table ignited my curiosity further: could this mesmerizing, infinite form be reimagined for another purpose?
The answer was the Mobi Easy Chair— the mobius strip transforms into a unique furniture piece, this time as a seating experience where light & shadow dance on the various curves.
Designed to be manufactured using 3D printing with recycled plastic as an outdoor chair, it can later also be upoholstered as an interior chair. This design explores the boundaries of creative adaptability and sustainability, highlighting the rich potential in the fusion of mathematical principles creatively in design.
Mobi chair ergonomics
chairtechnical drawing - front and side view
VICTORIA ALSAYED
Mobi
Mobi chair back view render
SEMESTER 2 | with Professor Silvia Scarponi
Spot On Kusama
Residential Project
“Since my childhood, I have always made works with polka dots. Earth, moon, sun and human beings all represent dots ” - Yayoi Kusama
The concept behind this apartment design was to create a sanctuary-like space reflecting Yayoi Kusama’s artistic vision and to provide a comfortable, intimate space to freely express her creativity. Drawing from her familiarity with the polka dots, through circles; I explored this shape architecturally and through light vs shadow in the form of curved walls, circular openings, and arches, as well as integrated her artwork itself directly into the space. Finally, I designed a bridge as physical seperation leading to her work space and bedroom whilst allowing light to filter & flow between the levels.
Initial concept sketch of the central bridge space and circular opening with spheres artwork integrated directly into the walls.
PLACE: Piazza del Duomo 15R, 50122 Florence, ITALY
AREA: 280 m2
YEAR: 2023
TYPE: Residential | Private client
Isometic bird-view of the Kusama flat
Floorplan GF (out of scale)
Floorplan F1 (out of scale)
Section BB’ (out of scale)
Section AA’ (out of scale)
Render of Kusama flat living room and central opening with bridge
2 | with Silvia Scarponi
.Touch of Water Temporary Exhibition
Space
Dating back to 1568, this Loggia site served historically as a fish market. I sought to honor the historical roots of this space by designing a temporary art exhibition space that could becomes a bridge connecting the past with the present through art and light.
My inspiration came from Frank Gehry’s “fluid” architecture inspired by fish, and more particularly his fish lamps as featured artworks. To architecturaly accompany Gehry’s emotionally rich design language inspired by the movement of fish, I designed an interior waterscape of light using a custom glass-brick facade to capture the element of water from both within and without as connecting element inviting curiosity through translucence between the private exhibition space, and connected public outdoor piazza.
PLACE: LOGGIA DEL PESCE, PIAZZA DEI CIOMPI VIA PIETRAPIANA.
YEAR: 2023
TYPE: Temporary Exhibition Space
PROF: Silvia Scarponi
Water ripple effect concept sketch
SEMESTER
LIKE A FISH TO WATER
Frank Gehry’s fish lamps appear to be swimming in midair, the glass brick facade creating water-like ripples of light. At night the light from the fish lamps spill onto the outdoors, drawing attention and curiosity of passerbys.
Using the “Underdamped Oscillator” effect of ripple waves, I designed the outdoor benches to increase in height towards the trees acting as epicenters.
Exterior render of exhibition space glass facade
Water ripple effect trial modelisation
Ripple effect seating modelisation
Loggia Gehry interior render
FISH BONE INSPIRATION
I transformed the X-fish market loggia into a temporary exhibition space by designing a facade made of glass bricks to close off the space without disturbing the existing architecture.
The glass-brick facade allows some transparency, especially at night with the fish lamps, inviting people to discover the art exhibition space within. The uneven glass creates an immersive water-scape interior by harnessing the light-refraction effects of the textured glass, evoking water.
Student: Victoria H. Alsayed
Professor: SILVIA SCARPONI & FEDERICA FABBRI
The Florence Institute of Design International
Project name: LOGGIA
Description: Detail - Brick-Glass Façade
Loggia section
Glass Brick Loggia facade detail
SEMESTER 4 | with Silvia Scarponi
Historical Escape
Hotel All’Ombra
Relax, Reflect, Recharge
Steeped in the rich history of the Murate, a convent and later a prison, this hotel rekindles the architectural intent of the past with a contemporary interpretation. Inspired by the convent's desire to “wall out” the outside world, the space offers guests an exclusive, meditative-like retreat from the artistic and cultural vibrancy of Florence that can sometimes feel overwhelming.
Drawing from its origins as a prison, the main restaurant features a glassed void where the various cell levels used to be connected. Guests are invited to relax, to reflect, and recharge in a unique, luxurious, yet intimate boutique hotel space with 11 rooms total; Disconnect to better (re)connect with the city of Florence.
PLACE: Via Ghibellina, 12, 50122 Florence, ITALY
AREA: 3200 m2
YEAR: 2024
TYPE: Hospitality | Boutique Hotel
Restaurant view from banquette - Day
Restaurant view from banquette - Night
Section of the restaurant seating area and kitchen
Seatingisometricview
From incarceration to restoration
For the restaurant which I named “La Cella”, meaning prison cells, I used the original prison cell seperations to form a ceiling grid from which I derived vertical wooden elements as seperation between the tables with integrated lighting. The vertical wooden elements then extend horizontally to form the banquette seating of the restaurant.
I decided to keep the original communicating void allowing prison guards to maintain vidual connection across two cell floors, covering it in glass as a central feature of the restaurant.
Sacred Blue
As a homage to the site’s history as an x-convent, a parsimonious use of a very specific hue of blue is used which was historically reserved for the depiction of virgin mary in paintings.
Render view of hallway leading to hotel bedrooms
TOP
The bathroom sink wooden element helps frame the space, providing structure as well as mantaining the same design langauge throughout the space with vertical elements which are reminiscent of prison bars. Integrated lighting is also featured in the custom element.
LEFT
This custom prison-bar inspired element acts as both a desk, as well as a seperation between the room entrance, sleeping area, and bathroom area. Made of wood, wicker, and a glass top, it offers a contemporary twist to prison bars that takes a warmer, more inviting effect as adapted to a hotel space.
Bathroom render view of customm sink structure
Isometric view of custom sink structure
Isometric view of custom desk
SEMESTER 5 | DIALUX
Color of Light Exhibition Lighting Design - DIALUX
Upon entering, visitors are invited to select a path of light & shadow featuring japanese artist Rinko Kawauchi’s photographs (light path) , or featuring artist Sudi’s photographs (shadow). However, both paths merge at the centre and flip the balance. Inviting the viewer to contemplate the interplay of shadow and light and how intricately linked one is to the other. In appreciating both equally, therein may true contentment and harmony be found.
To highlight the potentialized beauty that emerges from the contrast between darkness and light, and best appreciate each individual artists photographs, the light path’s photos are exhibited on a black wall with colder light, and inversely, the shadow path’s darker photos on a white background with warmer light.
With close attention to light beam distance, angle, temperature, and custom lighting systems, the lighting is concentrated on the artworks with an ideal 200-230 LUX.
To achieve this, I used a custom railing system installation, as well as a quiet 40cm threshold below the artwork for spotlight installtion without disturbing the eyes.
Rinko Kawauchi
Sudi
SEMESTER 5-6 | END-OF-YEAR PROJECT
AIKARA Dog Sanctuary
To be loved is to be changed
What is the shape of love?
In terms of texture, light, volumes, shapeshow might a universal emotion be infused into a space in order to guide connections, and healing?
Healing through love and connection, that is the heart of this project inspired by the memory of my dalmatian Aika. Beyond sanctuary-like canine-assisted welfare centre, AIKARA is an ode to love - Through the sun’s dappled whispers in the shape of Aika’s spots, and within the carved spaces in the shape of her paw in my hand, my wish was to covey the way a bond carves moments into memories, and that despite grief, love can continue to expand beyond a given lifetime. Reminding us that to be loved is to be changed.
PLACE: Via Fabrizio De Andrè 4, 50136, Firenze, Italy
AREA: 3000 m2 (adaptive re-use of an X-Tram deposit)
YEAR: 2025 (building built in 1890)
TYPE: Canine-Assisted Therapy Centre | Welfare Space
Translating love into shapes and volumes through spatial operations
muted tones invite visitors to see through a dog’s eyes. Only blue and yellow emerge as gentle cues - seeing, sensing, feeling RECEPTION
Transition Filter - a quiet pause with lockers where shoes can come off, bags are set down, and the weight of the outside world is gently left behind.
HUMAN AND DOG WORLD
Human world (above 80cm)
2cm gap indent
Dog world (below 80cm)
OVERLAP
CENTRAL ATRIUM
TREE OF MEMORIES
a tree of connection opening upward, the dog fountain roots the space, and spot-shaped foliage traced from my dog Aika’s spotted coat floats skyward in memory turned to light.
A RISING PATH CARVED WITH CARE A staircase shaped by understanding, and guided with light. Gently carved into the wall, every step considers who walks it.
Staircase structure
Steel structure & plate attachment
Yellow (for dog visibility) changeable rubber nose edge
White oak wood with wire-brush finish for grip
spots traced from my dog Aika’s coat for perforated ceiling panels creating unique dappled lighting effect from atrium skylight
A SHARED BUBBLE - A SUSPENSION IN TIME
Between 10am - 1pm when the light filters in dappled whispers, as the dog fountain’s soft waters murmurs, poems and short stories drift softly through the air. A space to pause, to share stilness, to simply be - human and dog, side my side, in a shared moment that asks nothing but presence.
I’LL COME MEET YOU
In the “Blue Hour Cafe”, the seating gently descends from 45 to 15cm, a soft architectural choreography that dances from a human-centric to a dog-centric design. Each level a quiet gesture of compromise, a physical trsnslation of love, of meeting another where they are, rather than were we stand.
Blue hour cafe section
Torus chair technicals Children Therapy Room
THERAPY ROOM
Each step is a soft invitation: To pause. To breathe. To arrive fully. And when the patient reaches the landing, the dog is already waiting - calm, grounded, and present.A nestled, carved embrace
PRIVATE BEDROOM
Wrapped in love & light The bedroom becomes a sanctuary; soft linnen walls, the warmth of wood underfoot, love is shaped through the sunlight’s dappled embrace through the perforated panels filtering the south-facing facade sunlight. Curved to reflect the tender overlap of a paw resting in a hand, a custom desk and seat give shape to the quiet promise of presence even in solitude.
THERAPY DOGS’ PODS
Located in thr adjacent building, with soft rubber underfoot, stone flooring steps to cool the body, and curved bamboo bed softly cradles this space is designed for stilness - a personal sanctuary for the facility therapy dogs. The space opens outide, where a single Catambra tree stands, offering natural shading warding off mosquitos. Inside, soft tones - less stimulating and more calming so the dogs too can rest and heal on their own time.
main building dog building
RISING CONNECTION
Two forms rice from the earth, reaching for one another. A hand, and a paw, gently wrapping one another, offering a moment to pause, tp connect in presence and a shared emrace.
EXTERIOR PROMENADE
AIKARA
Beyond sanctuary-like therapeutic dog centre, AIKARA project is an ode to loveThrough the sun’s dappled whispers in the shape of Aika’s spots, and within the carved spaces in the shape of her paw in my hand, my wish was to covey the way a bond carves moments into memories, and that despite grief, love can continue to expand beyond a given lifetime. Reminding us that to be loved is to be changed.
