INSPIRATION NATION// ARCHITECTURE PROJECT REVEAL

Second year of Architecture came to such a dizzying end and the cherry on top was what you see right here. Like my last Architecture project: (the complete process of which is photologged here) French Consulate General in an Arab Country, this year's final project was to create a science and discovery museum on category of choice.

I chose an Islamic Art & Culture Museum of course since I'm always so smitten by the complex geometric and botanically intricate mashrabiyyas. 

The concept was multi-faceted especially because the Islamic Arab heritage is so rich. While primarily based on the Arabian desert aspects of undulating sand dunes and oasis, the concept was also supposed to represent the up and down graph of the Arab era, of scientific discoveries and inventions which marked its peak, of the birth of Islam, of the depression of the period before literacy in ancient pagan times. The synergy of these ideas led to an edgy, modern form of the building jutting out from the roof, interspersed by skylights to break what would have been an otherwise "heavy" shape and lots of green outdoor areas for lounging in terrace cafes.

Let's start from the entrance,shall we?

The main entrance is dominated by two mashrabiyya canopies (the webbed geometric design is what you call a mashrabiyya, It has plenty of intricate net-like detailing and was used in traditional Arab houses as windows to control humidity, air current and provide privacy).

There are all in all four floors to the museum:

Floor 0 : Reception, ticket booths, gift shops, stores, outdoor cafe, office administration A separate staff entrance lies on the right lateral side of the entrance.
Floor 1: Exhibition Floor. Main exhibition. An outdoor exhibition area and two secondary exhibitions.
Floor 2: A theater, an "indoor" amphitheater space. A couple of multipurpose halls
Floor 3: Learning resource center: Library, digital and interactive areas for learning, etc.

The lengthy trapezoidal terrace you see covered in lush grass is the outdoor exhibition on the first floor. I hope things are slightly starting to make sense now. (lol)

And oh, this is the seaside elevation (below). The whole outdoor exhibition and cafe lounge (which is the green area on the ground level) faces the Red Sea.

The continuity of the triangular mass is seen on the landscaping. The function of the mashrabiyyas here is to serve as shade as well as aesthetic. The perforation allows the visitors to enjoy the sea side view as well.

A closer look at the voids and skylights in the roof. The texture was done using parchment paper (Hah!). The mashrabiyyas were done using Autocad of course in a laser-cutting lab especially for students. :D

The front elevation of the buildings and the two lateral sides all have the mashrabiyyas but the back side looks a bit different. Like below.

Here's the side opposite to the seaward side.(along with the main elevation you see on the left)

 And that pretty much sums up the facade of my second year's project!

Oh, and tiny little details like this made me feel happier about it!
The pavement work leading to the outdoor exhibition!

How did you like it? Lemme know!


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Love,
Nash