Assistant Lecturer of Architectural Design, and a PhD Candidate in Ain Shams University.
I participated in many multi-disciplinary Research projects, Workshops and Technical trainings in Egypt and Germany (German-Arab Chamber of Industry and Commerce &TUM) that collaborate Architecture, Design computation, Fabrication Technologies, Biogenic materials, Synthetic biology and Bio-inspired Design to enhance the relationship between the built and natural environments.
My Current Research is in the field of integrating design methodolgies or guildelines in Architecture based on [sustainability] and [Biophilic Design] in Children educational spaces.
Although, contact with nature is inseparably linked to the well-being of children. Nowadays, chil... more Although, contact with nature is inseparably linked to the well-being of children. Nowadays, children are facing entirely new health threats resulting from being detached from nature, where nature's positive influence is being replaced by staying indoors. In the mid-20 th Century "Erich Fromm" coined the term "biophilia", which emphasized the importance of visual connection and interaction with nature, thus appeared as a magical solution. However, in application, architects involved in designing educational spaces for children need to have better understanding on how to enhance children's tendency for biophilia. Hence, this paper begins to explore this growing body of research and emerging biophilic design dimensions, elements and attributes in architectural terms, which could help in drawing connections between fields of study, highlight potential avenues for future research, evolve understanding of biophilic design patterns, and capture the cognitive benefits afforded by biophilia in designing educational spaces for childhood. A research methodology consisting of a literature review, case studies and a survey questionnaire was designed to accomplish intended objectives. Firstly, a literature review was conducted to investigate the concept of biophilia, its design principles, and the factors affecting their integration onto design of spaces for children through a number of analysed worldwide case reviews. Secondly, a one-to-one interview was conducted with a sample of children ranging from 6-10 years old, which aimed at capturing the perceptions and experiences of children in nature and more specifically in educational spaces. Findings of this study indicated that children in early childhood have a positive intellectual and emotional appreciation for all elements of natural environment. Results showed that children enjoy being in, which provides a glimpse into the potentials of integrating nature within architectural context; including offering beauty, freedom, efficient learning, relaxation and a critical life support system.
ABSRACT: Design methodologies have radically shifted our conception of the design process, as wel... more ABSRACT: Design methodologies have radically shifted our conception of the design process, as well as our understanding of geometrical forms as a function of performance instead of finite positions in space. However, the materials perspective that digital technologies has not yet been explored on the basis of the new possibilities disclosed by these very same tools; material considerations have almost considered as a post-rationalization design input. So far, the materialization of formal expressions instigated by such processes is primarily based on techniques of assembly, which do not negotiate the advanced levels of material complexity that the tools put forward. This lack of materialism limits the value of the design tool and the exploration of the design space, resulting in a style driven or decorative computational form making processes. This work lies on the premise of investigating modes to address an emergent rather than imposed materiality of distributions, instigated by computer-generated processes. It introduces a sustainable design approach that draws on evolutionary concepts or 'Biogenesis' of natural forms, from their material properties and from their adaptive response to changes in their environment. Instead of looking at the macro level of a building (Formal expression), this paper investigates assemblies at the domain of Material microstructures as a function of structural and environmental performance that generates design form.
A B S T R A C T — in this paper the authors discuss an integrative computational design methodolo... more A B S T R A C T — in this paper the authors discuss an integrative computational design methodology for the design of materially-embedded structures. The proposed approach is based on the integration of biological key principles, material structuring within a coherent computational design process to create novel ways of a biological-based form generation that achieve a higher level of performativity and, thus, ultimately a higher level of sustainability. The main goal is to set a methodological framework for the generation, simulation and optimization of the material's microstructure and their macro feedback into the global morphology of the structure in order to meet the specific requirements of architectural design and building construction.
Although, contact with nature is inseparably linked to the well-being of children. Nowadays, chil... more Although, contact with nature is inseparably linked to the well-being of children. Nowadays, children are facing entirely new health threats resulting from being detached from nature, where nature's positive influence is being replaced by staying indoors. In the mid-20 th Century "Erich Fromm" coined the term "biophilia", which emphasized the importance of visual connection and interaction with nature, thus appeared as a magical solution. However, in application, architects involved in designing educational spaces for children need to have better understanding on how to enhance children's tendency for biophilia. Hence, this paper begins to explore this growing body of research and emerging biophilic design dimensions, elements and attributes in architectural terms, which could help in drawing connections between fields of study, highlight potential avenues for future research, evolve understanding of biophilic design patterns, and capture the cognitive benefits afforded by biophilia in designing educational spaces for childhood. A research methodology consisting of a literature review, case studies and a survey questionnaire was designed to accomplish intended objectives. Firstly, a literature review was conducted to investigate the concept of biophilia, its design principles, and the factors affecting their integration onto design of spaces for children through a number of analysed worldwide case reviews. Secondly, a one-to-one interview was conducted with a sample of children ranging from 6-10 years old, which aimed at capturing the perceptions and experiences of children in nature and more specifically in educational spaces. Findings of this study indicated that children in early childhood have a positive intellectual and emotional appreciation for all elements of natural environment. Results showed that children enjoy being in, which provides a glimpse into the potentials of integrating nature within architectural context; including offering beauty, freedom, efficient learning, relaxation and a critical life support system.
ABSRACT: Design methodologies have radically shifted our conception of the design process, as wel... more ABSRACT: Design methodologies have radically shifted our conception of the design process, as well as our understanding of geometrical forms as a function of performance instead of finite positions in space. However, the materials perspective that digital technologies has not yet been explored on the basis of the new possibilities disclosed by these very same tools; material considerations have almost considered as a post-rationalization design input. So far, the materialization of formal expressions instigated by such processes is primarily based on techniques of assembly, which do not negotiate the advanced levels of material complexity that the tools put forward. This lack of materialism limits the value of the design tool and the exploration of the design space, resulting in a style driven or decorative computational form making processes. This work lies on the premise of investigating modes to address an emergent rather than imposed materiality of distributions, instigated by computer-generated processes. It introduces a sustainable design approach that draws on evolutionary concepts or 'Biogenesis' of natural forms, from their material properties and from their adaptive response to changes in their environment. Instead of looking at the macro level of a building (Formal expression), this paper investigates assemblies at the domain of Material microstructures as a function of structural and environmental performance that generates design form.
A B S T R A C T — in this paper the authors discuss an integrative computational design methodolo... more A B S T R A C T — in this paper the authors discuss an integrative computational design methodology for the design of materially-embedded structures. The proposed approach is based on the integration of biological key principles, material structuring within a coherent computational design process to create novel ways of a biological-based form generation that achieve a higher level of performativity and, thus, ultimately a higher level of sustainability. The main goal is to set a methodological framework for the generation, simulation and optimization of the material's microstructure and their macro feedback into the global morphology of the structure in order to meet the specific requirements of architectural design and building construction.
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