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Part 2 Project 2014
Maria Kalaiji
Ibtisam Fawzi
Shadi El Ghoul
Vahid Farbod
Ban Ameen
Basel Birkdar
Azin Paryabzadegan
Varsha Vineeth
Noshin Khan
Dana Sawalha
Fatima Alawadhi
Dareen Abdallah
Haia Machfij
Sally Rakeen
Amel Al Aboodi
Fatma Mahmood
Mariam AbuEbeid
Mays Albaik
Noor Jarrah
American University of Sharjah | UAE
As part of a year-long design/build studio, the project addresses an acoustical problem in the open basement of the college of architecture in AUS.

The project was undertaken as a research. Acoustics, fabrication, spatial-configuration, and aesthetics are aspects that played big parts in its conception.

We began by experimenting with modular systems that we could produce in our labs, working with sheet metal and curved folds. the system went through many evolutions until we reached one that was co-dependent and structurally efficient, with directed views through it.

Acoustically, the system functions based on the concept of an acoustical deck, which is comprised of absorbent material sandwiched between metal sheets that are perforated on one side. Sounds travel through the perforated side, and get trapped and absorbed. The rippling form of the system also helps with acoustical diffusion.

Following the advice of our acoustical engineer consultant, we narrowed the project's scope to focus on creating a quiet pod within the noisy basement. Our system creates a wall that separates the noisy atrium from the faculty offices, and enhances a space that was already being used a study space. The wall curves around on one side, creating relative enclosure. However, the nature of the developed system allowed for directed views into the space. The wall was placed where it becomes a visual element within the school, viewable from the main entrances into the space.

The process focused on fabrication, assembly and structure. We cut, folded and assembled the columns in an assembly space, then anchored them to the concrete slab on site, then connected them together. A lot of attention was put on the development of detail while the project progressed, as it helped us overcome many big issues in terms of time and quality of the product.


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2014
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