Omar Al Mustafa
student
Beirut Arab university, Faculty of Architecture, Tripoli
Lebanon
Architecture
The project is the first-of-its-kind in Mina, Tripoli, a fabrication craft center with exhibition, placed in an uninhabited area near the universities. … more
Muzaffar Ali
advisor
JAMIA MILLIA ISLAMIA
Saudi Arabia
Dedicated to the advancement of a sustainable built environment, my practice integrates… more
The project innovates a fabrication workshop center in Mina, Tripoli, in proximity to universities with the vision of stimulating innovation and learning, that’s the true design approach. With its dynamic layout in rotational motion of gears and rooted in Frank Gehry's deconstructivism inspirations, an industrial utilitarian concept is transformed into an innovative architectural statement as shown in the project. Project design needs to enhance space planning and efficient zoning approaches, that maximize quiet areas and reduce noisy areas, and sustainable strategies like north-facing openings, shading devices, and skylights maximize daylighting and efficiency in energy consumption. However, the intricate prism rotations pose structural challenges, and circulation efficacy between exhibits and workshops must be honed with sensitivity. With its cultural allusion to Tyrian purple and emphasis on craft, the project can potentially be an icon, also its remote location and reliance on intricate forms must be balanced against usability and accessibility for long-term success.
Recommendation critique:
The project's ambitious vision appropriately integrates industrial energy with deconstructivist architecture, but there are points for improvement regarding functionality and efficiency. Optimization of structure needs to balance complexity and viability, and circulation between workshops and exhibitions should be more fluid. Urban connectivity strategies to overcome the remoteness of the site are vital for activation. Daylighting is well-coordinated, but control of glare and heat needs to be refined for comfort. Material choice, particularly brutal concrete, needs thermal performance consideration. By enhancing spatial efficiency, sustainability, and flexibility, the project can be turned into an iconic building that is pragmatic as well as innovative.