PortfolioAENG 352- Design Studio 2

Dr. Magda Mostafa & Dr. Mohamed Noaman

Mona Serag Sayed

Project 1: Beyond StyleLearning to “Read” Architectural Language and Form

Project Description

In recent decades of increasing shifts in ideological and socio-cultural trends, architecture continues to be a vehicle of pluralistic expression. As a young architect developing design skills becomes a challenge of finding your own voice among the crowd. But, as with any new skill, you are best positioned to succeed when you build on the successes of others.

In order to do this architecturally, one must counteract the common trends of “stylistic”, superficial approaches, and learn to understand architecture as a language. This language is such that it permits dialogue between the user- with his or her functional, socio-cultural, spiritual and philosophical needs- within the multi-disciplinary context of technology, climate, environmental awareness, economics and history- as manifested in the built form.

With this in mind this first assignment is to “read” the language of contemporary architecture, through a critical visual and graphic review of the works of today’s most prominent and influential architects. Each student will be assigned anarchitect to review and is required to prepare a presentation summarizing the architectural philosophy and vocabulary of their chosen architect. In the first stage of the project the student must present a comprehensive review of their understanding of their architect’s vision using language/theme/inspiration/gesture boards and collages, time lines and precedent matrix “readings”.

At the end of this process each student will be required to develop a program and design a specific project in the “spirit” of their chosen architect, taking on their philosophical, ideological and architectural role. This project will be aresidential single-family residence prototype designed “by” the architect for a residential development compound in Egypt.

Midterm Project:Response to Project 1 Research

Project Description

In response to the first project, for the midterm assignment students were asked to swap their

research outcomes from project 1 (Beyond Style) with another student and design a project in the spirit of the architect that was designed by his fellow student.

At the end of this process each student will was required to develop a program and design a specific project in the “spirit” of their chosen architect, taking on their philosophical, ideological and architectural role. This project will be a stand alone residential unit designed for an architect “by” the architect chosen in Al Moqattam, Cairo. In response to the first project, for the midterm assignment students were asked to swap their research outcomes from project 1 (Beyond Style) with another student and design a project in the spirit of the architect that was designed by his fellow student.

Final Project : The Architecture of Expression

Project Description

The objective of this second project is to explore the power of architecture to express meaning

through form and space. Past projects have included the expression of art, performance, identity and freedom. This semester we will be exploring the spatial expression of music.

Since first attributed this quality in the late 1700’s by philosopher Goethe, architecture has been called “frozen music”. Many of the dynamic characteristics of music that give it quality and excellence have parallel attributes in the world of architecture- rhythm, balance, climax, focus, repetition, measure, harmony and flow.

These attributes, and their parallelisms, will be the key to designing the space and form of your project to symbolize, express and facilitate the enjoyment of music. Taking a layered approach of both expression and function, students are required to design a music pavilion for contemporary middle-eastern music performance in the South end of Al Azhar Park in Cairo.