Students Project
Department of Architecture
Kuwait University

Design 6, Computer Aided Design
Dr. Hussain Dashti
Architect Haifa Dashti
Architect Mohammad Makki

In the early stage, students were divided into small groups and individuals to come up with design concepts for the pavilion. It was a challenge for the students; where two designs will be chosen to be developed and built in scale 1:1.

Here are some of the early concepts:

Scale 1:1 Pavilions

Pavilion [6]

The concept of integrating the performance capacity of biological structures into architectural design was derived in the design of this pavilion, using a modular system. The pavilion consists of a group of units that vary in size to give it a naturalistic inconsistency but also to allow the surface to shape into a dome.

This was mainly derived from the biological principles of a sea urchin’s skeleton and then morphed into an architectural unit. A hexagon, with a finger-joint detail, between each two meeting surfaces will generate a unit that is not flat.

The experience from the inside is something the viewer doesn’t expect when comparing it to the outer skin. The invert of the whole body embraces the visitor inside of it in a calm and serene manner, engulfing them in a comfortable darkness. Perforations at certain areas of the pavilion create a pattern that acts as a visual guide through the pavilion starting at the entrance.

The making of Pavilion [6 ]:

Pavilion [6] Team Members:

Abdulaziz Al-Anzi/Abdulla Al-Thaqeb/Ahmad AlQallaf/Aisha Madou/Anaan Al-Anzi/Bashayer Al-Qattam/Eman Kassem/Fahad Al-Metin/Fatma Al-Mousa/Ghalia Al-Othman/Hashim Sadeq/Mnahi Al-Raish/Mohammed Al-Mohammed/Raweya Al-Sedairawi/Sultan Al-Anzi

OV Pavilion

The concept behind the pavilion was inspired by the snail, specifically its inability to hear. The snail interprets sound as vibrations, and reacts by staying inside its protective shell. Similarly, the pavilion attempts to interpret sound through a series of physical protrusions.

The radial form mimics the shell of the snail or a shelter. Sound volume and intensity are shown by the degree of protrusion, which in turn combines with the rest to form an image or pattern. This was done by setting a central origin (like the shell of the snail), and using a script to divide contours accordingly.

The script also took into account the image and its “intensity” via black and white images. White portions of the image extruded outwards, and black portions inwards. The image, number of contours, and height and size of the protrusions can be altered parametrically, through the script.

For the purpose of the pavilion, this was used to portray a message. The chosen images represent a person attempting to communicate but not heard. The person is then frustrated, and finally screams. The degree and drama of the protrusions respond to the intensity of each image. Ultimately, it is the “sight of sound that cannot be heard”.