amal al balushi 2 0 1 6

Figure ground plan

BuildingsWater

Circulation plan

Pedestrian SidewalkRoads

Functional Zoning plan

HousesAppartment buildingsCommercial Building

My Ideal City - Urban DiagramsAmal Al Balushi,

13-0577

Collected student study projects.

Architecture and Urban Planning,German University of Technology in Oman.AMAL AL BALUSHI

P O R T F O L I O. 1 6.

C O N T E N T S.

1. ENCLAVE..........................................................................................2. PRAYER ROOM...............................................................................3. PLACE MAKING...............................................................................4. CONTAINER HOUSE.......................................................................

0. RESUME...........................................................................................

5. PASSAGE.........................................................................................6. NIZWA BLOCKS...............................................................................7. WOMEN’S CENTRE.........................................................................

8. PAINTS.............................................................................................9. CHARCOALS....................................................................................10. MULTIMEDIA..................................................................................

M U D. P L A S T I C. W A T E R.

A N A L Y S I S. I M P L E M E N T A T I O N.

P A S S I O N. I N S I G H T.

“H E R.” GRAPHITE AND CHALK ON BROWN PAPER

H E L L O,

My name is Amal Al Balushi, I am a third year student at GUtech (The German University of Technology) in Muscat, Oman. Currently finishing my Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Urban Planning.

Throughout this portfolio you’ll be accustomed with projects, some done alone, some with other group partners, that tackle situations such as day to day urban planning elements, and in depth living con-cepts. I believe that the little details in our living surroundings affect us by a whole.

My major, art and aesthetics is what leaves an impression on the view-ers. A big hobby and passion steams from the dedication I have to pro-duce Heritage rich portraits and paintings that define me as a person.

T H A N K Y O U.

[email protected]: +96897674043

Muscat, OmanP.O Box 972

P C 116Mina Al Fahl

2 0 1 0

2 0 1 3

P R E S E N T

Languages:+ English (fluent)+ Arabic+ Swahili + German (A2 level)

Programs:+ Auto Cad+ SketchUp+ Adobe InDesign, Photoshop

Other Works:+ Volunteer at OWCA (Omani women cancer Association)+ Volunteer at Daar Al Atta Food distributor+ Personal online business,Art dealing on Instagram

Hobbies:+ Painting+ Crafting+ Paintballing

C U R R I C U L U M V I T A E.EDEXCEL IGCSEMathematics, Art, ICT, Biology, Arabic, Islamic, Business Studies, History.Event CoordinatorStudent Council

A LEVEL CERTIFICATESA LEVEL Art, Business, ITAS LEVEL MathematicsGraduated with Special Mentions.Head Girl Hear Prefect Award for Model International StudentCIS AwardGreen Team Leader

GERMAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGYBSc Urban Planning and Architectural Design.Fourth Year studentCumulative GPA 3.57Open Urban Spaces Field trip to Germany.Winner of Prayer Room Design Competition (To Be built on University Campus)

MUSCAT INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL

M U D. P L A S

T I C. W A T E R

Partner: Dana Al Haremi.

The main constructive material used in Oman in the past was mud. From small houses to King’s Forts, this material has a certain texture, smell and feel that is so rich and unique, it is difficult not to appreciate the beauty of it.

As part of a competition on University Campus to build with Mud a shed for workers to relax in, My partner and I created this Synchronisation of free standing mud walls shaded by wooden beams. The rammed earth and mud brick walls currently stand in place at the university.

E N C L A V E.

A

B

B

A

B

B

FIRST FLOOR PLANScale 1:200 0 10 m

GROUND FLOOR PLANScale 1:200 0 10 m

ROOF PLAN

WEST ELEVATION

MODEL

I N T E G R A T E D P R O J E C T. F O U R T H S E M E S T E R.

P R A Y E R R O O M.

B

C

A

A

BC

EDC

A

5

B

A

B

EDC

6

7

1

2

1

2

5

3

4

6

7

10.6

62.

604.

992.

600.

402.

642.

000.

602.

002.

640.

40

8.00

0.750.40

6.85

10.057.83

8.361.85 3.51 3.00

4.91 3.511.85 0.40 2.71 0.40 3.00

4.072.67

0.990.40

+3.00

+- 0.00+2.04 -1.60

3

4

A

B

B

A

B

B



P R A Y. A B L U T E. H Y G I E N E.

Partner: Dana Al Haremi

The university has a need for an outdoor non condi-tioned prayer room which would be connected to the Outdoor tennis court and football field. They were expecting 20 to 30 male prayers on average. A com-petition was created, and this winning project includ-ed an ablution space and male and female toilets.

The main themes we tackled were the play on height. The location was directly connected to a 3m depressed wadi. We took the advantage of natural topography, by placing the toilets in the lowest point, and working upwards to the new man made hill for the prayer room. The walk to the top of the hill had ablution rivers integrated into the journey, while the used water would seep out carefully to help irrigate the plants.

This project also introduced a new daring concept of pre stressed free standing rammed earth walls. The aesthetically pleasing layers of rammed earth would be the most dominating and story telling elements of this project.


J O

U R

N E

Y.

A

B

B

A

B

B

FIR

ST F

LOO

R P

LAN

Scal

e 1:

200

010

m

GR

OU

ND

FLO

OR

PLA

NSc

ale

1:20

00

10m


P L A C E M A K I N G.PLASTIC. WOOD. ROPE.

Group Project

Each material has a specific atmosphere, movement, sound. The col-lection of materials speak a language, we as architects need to under-stand. Using these three elements provided to us, we changed the feel of passage from the main building to the ECO HAUS.

The project was realised and built by our hands for a limited amount of time.

DRAWING

MODEL

SITUATION

M A T E R I A L S I T U A T I O N. S E C O N D S E M E S T E R.

CAD PROJECT

Stacking blocks atop each other to create intricate bal-conies and shades, this idea is located on the island “Al Fahl” in the open seas of Mina Al Fahl.

Only accessible by boat, the house has it’s own patio and direct connection to the rocky island. The house contains two bed rooms, two living spaces, one bathroom and a gallery.

C O N T A I N E R H O U S E.

Container HouseExplodedAmal Al Balushi 13-0577

C A D. S E C O N D S E M E S T E R.

A N A L Y S I S. I M P

L E M E N T A T I O N.

A

B

B

MASTER PLANScale 1:500 0 20m

LEGENDOld & NewExisting Buildings

New BuildingsGround Floor

New BuildingsSecond floor

Grass

City Wall

Fortifications

Gateway

PathwaysStone-pavedPedestrian

REANIMATING THE HISTORIC CENTRE OF NIZWA.Partner: Dana Al Haremi

After deeply analysing the old walled city of Nizwa, this project was cre-ated.

Attempting to bring in a dense diverse neighbourhood into the deserted plots of Nizwa means adapting the old buildings to modernity, while pre-serving main elements of the area. In order to allow the locals to still feel like they are in the old city, while living comfortably, a similar form is used to distribute the spaces. The idea of stacking these blocks over the old buildings and over one another stems from the ideology of preserving what is there, yet showing how the old and new could work together and come together in a way that does not overwhelm.

As an outsider looking into this settlement, you wouldn’t know which door on the inner private courtyard leads to which block exactly as they are all so mixed into one another. Although still private, the inhabitants have a constant view over the mix of old and new, and the shades and shadows made by the offset groupings of residential units.

Greenery is kept to outside the actual courtyards and the Falaj system is still widely used throughout the site to provide water naturally for the greenery, as well as to create boundaries between spaces; such as in between the busy public urban square on the commercial side and the residential spaces. It also helps with cooling the area, as the wind blows in and cools the walls from the outside, making it truly a walkable city.

S T A C K I N G N I Z W A B L O C K S.

N I Z W A. F I F T H S E M E S T E R.





Urban Square

Grass

Trees

Falaj Path

City Wall

Fortifications

Gateway


BuildingsFocusing On

A

B

B

A

B

B







Urban Square

Grass

Trees

Falaj Path

City Wall

Fortifications

Gateway







Urban Square

Grass

Trees

Falaj Path

City Wall

Fortifications

Gateway




A

B

B

A

B

B



A

B

B

A

B

B



TYPICAL GROUND FLOOR

SECTION AA

TYPICAL FIRST FLOOR

A

B

B

A

B

B



A

B

B

A

B

B




Partner: Maryam Abdu Zango

Concentrating on elements Omani Villas currently provide, we attempted to integrate that into an ideal Row House. The main feature present in villas, is the ability to walk around your property, around one’s own house.

Having the main circulation outdoors and shaded, and working with volumes and paths, we mimicked this atmosphere.

Privacy is also something that isn’t easily provided in Row houses, and the combination of a green Mashrabia on the outside of the windows overlooking the street allowed us to control sunlight in-take, while providing an aesthetically pleasing features that draws visitors to the main gathering hall.

P A S S A G E.

A

B

B

A

B

B



GROUND FLOOR

FIRST FLOOR

SECTION

R O W H O U S E S T H I R D S E M E S T E R.

W O M E N ’ S C E N T R E.

S E E B. S I X T H S E M E S T E R.

Seeb Corniche has been a growing second centre to the city of Muscat. Located in the heard of this region, with a direct link to the Souq, and to the beach, this project attempts to change the dynamic of a very characterised area. When walking through the area during the day, you can’t help but notice the overwhelming number of guys. In such a male dominated area, women are hardly seen; if they do decide to go, they tend to stay in their car.

Although the area had a direct view of the beach, a busy road passing right through this area broke off any chance of integration between the Souq and the beach. The first step we took was the complete removal of this connecting road and of the By-passers users that were causing such chaotic traffic. A new extension of a promenade with piers jutting out in order to formally create a connection from the commercial district to the beach was aspired.

Playing with heights and materials, the atmosphere and movement of the people throughout the area allows space for informal activities, stalls and spontaneous actions to inspire. This was deliberately done as, although bringing in Female users is the main goal, the existing users (The Males) are what allowed Seeb to become such a vibrant place, and the economic and social hub of west muscat. One of the new additions is the shaded platform for the vegetable market. Currently the parking lot gets overcrowded by local farmers wishing to sell their good, the provision of a safe shaded space would allow their business to boom.

The Building placed in between the souq and restaurants is a Women’s centre, where heritage art and business can be taught, exhibitions can be held, and activities that would attract women to the area is provided. It’s also directly lined to the outdoor stage and Exhibition space.

III

IVIII

III

IV

II

I

IIIII

IV

Sandy Beach

Harbor Walkway

New Connection to water

Mixed use building

Elevated Outdoor Seating

Outdoor Exhibition

Outdoor Stage

COMMUNAL BUILDING

Shaded entrance and Recreational space

Shaded Vegetable Market

Souk Entrance

Restaurant's Outdoor Seating space

Buffer zone - Informal Activities

Pier

Informal Activities Space

The connection between the actualcommercial areas and the sea wasn'texistent. This addition of stairs into thewater is a concept taken from therenovation of Dania Park in Sweden. Thestairs pushing the willing pedestrians intothe water. The connection between shatticinema and Jawharat Shatti in Qurum hasa similar feature that is popular and wellused.

This area of Seeb already had a distinctcharacter that drew people out into theopen on a day to day setting. Contributingto this factor was the irregular urbanelements that provided small businesseswith the ability to function and flourish. Arun down elevated seating place was oneof them.

Elevated

Pushing some of the formal communal functionsand activities out of the actual building gives theoutdoor life a sense of togetherness. This furthermakes this space one that all kinds of people ofdifferent demographics want to use.

Seeb's restaurants are very original and individual.Allowing them to contribute in the sense of theplacement of their chairs and colours of theirshades keeps up with the personality of the Soukand busy chaotic space.

The seating elements present at the theaterbreak off and continue along the walkway toallow a connection to be assumed. Furthermore asafe stairway connection to the sandy beach isprovided.

Part of the society is the day to day pop upstalls and spaces for people to create theirown situations. With the introduction of thenew female users, these rough activitieshave the risk of being lost. Providingadequate and inviting spaces for both usersto function together is the main goal ofthese plans.

Private stalls with similar shadingsystems to the communal buildingis put along the first pier to allowthe shoppers and visitors to havequite, personal spaces. Lighting isprovided along this and variousparts of the promenade.

Mixed use buildingMixed use building

Mixed use building Souk Communal Square

PIER - private boothsThe pier allows privacy and peacefor the visitors willing to get awayfrom the busy souk and communalcentre.The mini booths on the pier hasthe same shading system at asmaller scale as the communal andvegetable market spaces.The Piers also serve as anotherentrance to the beach. It's a placeof relaxation and movementbetween to major zones.

Connection to WaterThe sketch and photo present are takenfrom the Dania park in Sweden project.

All stairs in the area provide enoughseating access as other activities. Thisarea of Seeb attracted an abundance ofinformal activities and gathering spots. Inorder to keep that character of the spaceand the ability for different users tocooperate together, spaces needed toprovide many opportunities and optionsfor the variety of users.

Site Plan 1:500

25 m

S I T

E P

L A

N.

A

B

B

A

B

B

FIRST FLOOR PLAN

Scale

1:200

0

10m

GROUND FLOOR PLAN

Scale

1:200

0

10m

III

IVIII

III

IV

II

I

IIIII

IV

Sandy Beach

Harbor Walkway

New Connection to water

Mixed use building

Elevated Outdoor Seating

Outdoor Exhibition

Outdoor Stage

COMMUNAL BUILDING

Shaded entrance and Recreational space

Shaded Vegetable Market

Souk Entrance

Restaurant's Outdoor Seating space

Buffer zone - Informal Activities

Pier

Informal Activities Space

The connection between the actualcommercial areas and the sea wasn'texistent. This addition of stairs into thewater is a concept taken from therenovation of Dania Park in Sweden. Thestairs pushing the willing pedestrians intothe water. The connection between shatticinema and Jawharat Shatti in Qurum hasa similar feature that is popular and wellused.

This area of Seeb already had a distinctcharacter that drew people out into theopen on a day to day setting. Contributingto this factor was the irregular urbanelements that provided small businesseswith the ability to function and flourish. Arun down elevated seating place was oneof them.

Elevated

Pushing some of the formal communal functionsand activities out of the actual building gives theoutdoor life a sense of togetherness. This furthermakes this space one that all kinds of people ofdifferent demographics want to use.

Seeb's restaurants are very original and individual.Allowing them to contribute in the sense of theplacement of their chairs and colours of theirshades keeps up with the personality of the Soukand busy chaotic space.

The seating elements present at the theaterbreak off and continue along the walkway toallow a connection to be assumed. Furthermore asafe stairway connection to the sandy beach isprovided.

Part of the society is the day to day pop upstalls and spaces for people to create theirown situations. With the introduction of thenew female users, these rough activitieshave the risk of being lost. Providingadequate and inviting spaces for both usersto function together is the main goal ofthese plans.

Private stalls with similar shadingsystems to the communal buildingis put along the first pier to allowthe shoppers and visitors to havequite, personal spaces. Lighting isprovided along this and variousparts of the promenade.

Mixed use buildingMixed use building

Mixed use building Souk Communal Square

PIER - private boothsThe pier allows privacy and peacefor the visitors willing to get awayfrom the busy souk and communalcentre.The mini booths on the pier hasthe same shading system at asmaller scale as the communal andvegetable market spaces.The Piers also serve as anotherentrance to the beach. It's a placeof relaxation and movementbetween to major zones.

Connection to WaterThe sketch and photo present are takenfrom the Dania park in Sweden project.

All stairs in the area provide enoughseating access as other activities. Thisarea of Seeb attracted an abundance ofinformal activities and gathering spots. Inorder to keep that character of the spaceand the ability for different users tocooperate together, spaces needed toprovide many opportunities and optionsfor the variety of users.

Site Plan 1:500

25 m

± 0.0mShaded Gathering Spot

± 0.0m

+ 0.4m+ 0.2mOutdoor Open Stage

+ 0.3mShaded NewVegetableMarket

± 0.0mWomen's Centre Lobby

± 0.0m

+ 0.4mShaded Seating Area

+ 0.4mRestaurant Oudoor Space

RestaurantRestaurant

Ice Cream storeRestaurant

Cold Store StoresStoresFurniture Shop

Offices

Restaurant

Restaurant Restaurant

± 0.0mOutdoor Seating Blocks

Reception Desk

AA

B B

CC

Light PolesMissing in the space was the sense ofsecurity during the nighttime. Partly dueto the fact that we were females roaminga male dominated area,and partly due to the no - or limitedlighting in the area that did providevisibility and safety. Most light wasprovided from the spot lights of the popup mishkak stalls, or from the passerbycars.

This is a lighting element i would like tovigorously introduce in the area (Asspotted in Athaiba park)

Block Seating ElementsThe theme of blocks is areoccurring one, therefore theurban elements connecting to theblock concrete structure of thecommunal building is one thatcompletes the picture.

These blocks are shaped toaccommodate 3 people per blocksurrounding the open stage, and 1person per block underneath thecommunal building.

Site Plan 1:500

10 m

G R

O U

N D

.

± 0.0mShaded Gathering Spot

± 0.0m

+ 0.4m+ 0.2mOutdoor Open Stage

+ 0.3mShaded NewVegetableMarket

± 0.0mWomen's Centre Lobby

± 0.0m

+ 0.4mShaded Seating Area

+ 0.4mRestaurant Oudoor Space

RestaurantRestaurant

Ice Cream storeRestaurant

Cold Store StoresStoresFurniture Shop

Offices

Restaurant

Restaurant Restaurant

± 0.0mOutdoor Seating Blocks

Reception Desk

AA

B B

CC

Light PolesMissing in the space was the sense ofsecurity during the nighttime. Partly dueto the fact that we were females roaminga male dominated area,and partly due to the no - or limitedlighting in the area that did providevisibility and safety. Most light wasprovided from the spot lights of the popup mishkak stalls, or from the passerbycars.

This is a lighting element i would like tovigorously introduce in the area (Asspotted in Athaiba park)

Block Seating ElementsThe theme of blocks is areoccurring one, therefore theurban elements connecting to theblock concrete structure of thecommunal building is one thatcompletes the picture.

These blocks are shaped toaccommodate 3 people per blocksurrounding the open stage, and 1person per block underneath thecommunal building.

Site Plan 1:500

10 m

Recreational Seating

Reception Desk

Office

Office

Female Restrooms

Pantry

Class

Conference Room

Waiting Space

Male Restrooms

Class

Mixed Use

Mixed Use

Mixed Use

Mixed Use

Restaurant

AA

B B

CC


Glass Elevator and View PointsTransparency being a big keywordin this project, it resonance fromthe inside out. The importance ofthis concept is defined further inthe first and second floor. The usergoes through the glass into a spacethat allows them to see throughthe core of the building, back outinto the communal spaces.

Indoor Zoning and FlooringThe wooden planks of the stairsallow the theme of transparency tobe carried out further, while theplain and natural concrete finishingof the landing connects the outsideand merges it to the functions onthe inside.

Standardized block tile flooringsare used throughout the building inall movement and service spaces.Areas that demand patience andawareness are provided with clearflooring.

Site Plan 1:200

10 m

F I R

S T

.


Reception Desk

Office

Office

Female Restrooms

Pantry

Class

Conference Room

Waiting Space

Male Restrooms

Class

Mixed Use

Mixed Use

Mixed Use

Mixed Use

Restaurant

AA

B B

CC


Glass Elevator and View PointsTransparency being a big keywordin this project, it resonance fromthe inside out. The importance ofthis concept is defined further inthe first and second floor. The usergoes through the glass into a spacethat allows them to see throughthe core of the building, back outinto the communal spaces.

Indoor Zoning and FlooringThe wooden planks of the stairsallow the theme of transparency tobe carried out further, while theplain and natural concrete finishingof the landing connects the outsideand merges it to the functions onthe inside.

Standardized block tile flooringsare used throughout the building inall movement and service spaces.Areas that demand patience andawareness are provided with clearflooring.

Site Plan 1:200

10 m

Recreational Seating Conference room Reception


B

B

c

C

Stage

Beach

Outdoor Recreational Seating

ReceptionMain desk

A

A

Fire Escape Conference room ClassCorridor Corridor

Conference room ClassCorridor Corridor

Outdoor Recreational SeatingShaded Gathering Spot

A

A

Classcorridors

Conference room Pantry

Reception

Reception

Main Circulation

Classcorridors


Reception

Shaded Vegetable MarketShaded gathering spot

SECTION A.A 1:200

SECTION B.B 1:200

SECTION C.C 1:20010 m



B

B

c

C

Stage

Beach


ReceptionMain desk

A

A




A

A

Classcorridors


Reception

Reception

Main Circulation

Classcorridors


Reception


SECTION A.A 1:200

SECTION B.B 1:200




B

B

c

C

Stage

Beach


ReceptionMain desk

A

A




A

A

Classcorridors


Reception

Reception

Main Circulation

Classcorridors


Reception


SECTION A.A 1:200

SECTION B.B 1:200




B

B

c

C

Stage

Beach


ReceptionMain desk

A

A




A

A

Classcorridors


Reception

Reception

Main Circulation

Classcorridors


Reception


SECTION A.A 1:200

SECTION B.B 1:200




B

B

c

C

Stage

Beach


ReceptionMain desk

A

A




A

A

Classcorridors


Reception

Reception

Main Circulation

Classcorridors


Reception


SECTION A.A 1:200

SECTION B.B 1:200




B

B

c

C

Stage

Beach


ReceptionMain desk

A

A




A

A

Classcorridors


Reception

Reception

Main Circulation

Classcorridors


Reception


SECTION A.A 1:200

SECTION B.B 1:200


A.A

B.B

C.C

S E E B. S I X T H S E M E S T E R.

P A S S I O N.

I N S I G H T.

C H A R C O A L.

P E N C I L.

A C R Y L I C P A I N T.

M I X E D M E D I A

W A T E R C O L O U R S

P E N.

A C R Y L I C P A I N T.

P E N.

F I N.

amal al balushi 2 0 1 6

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