Articles by Hana Abdel

Introduction and design concept – VAYU House, a unique architectural residence situated on a compact corner plot facing southwest, revolves around effectively addressing the challenges and stands as a testament to innovative principles aimed at meeting the diverse needs of a multi-generational family. The abode, conceived with a vertical approach, optimizes the available space with a particular focus on the element of Vayu, representing air or wind in Hindu philosophy while responding to the environmental and cultural context of the region. The emphasis on Vayu underscores a commitment to establishing a harmonious living setting that respects architecture and functionality equally.

This is a relocation project for a vintage clothing store that has had a store on a semi-underground location on Namiki-dori in Naka-ku, Hiroshima City for many years. Since the new location would be on the first floor and more than double the space, we were asked to design a store that would not only cater to the core vintage clothing enthusiasts of the past, but would also broaden its customer base. When I looked at the items lined up in the space before the relocation, I felt as if they were one-of-a-kind haute couture pieces that, despite being vintage clothing, conveyed the handiwork of careful processing of each item, It had the power to instantly change the concept of vintage clothing that I had felt before, I felt it was necessary to create a space that would convey this impression to visitors.

Maativan signifies a natural building sanctuary made of mud amidst the forest’s embrace. The natural farmhouse nestled on the fringes of Wada’s reserved forest area near Mumbai in India stands as a testament to dedication to environmental consciousness through the integration of material palette, biophilic design, passive design climatology principles, and construction technology. Maativan exhibits the integration of nature within the building envelope in the thoughtful planning of spaces around existing trees, preserving existing natural vegetation. The design follows biophilic architecture design principles. Shapes were influenced by organic forms found in nature and the ephemeral quality of natural light. The intention was to create an immersive, atmospheric experience that inspires a feeling of being in a forest in a lush outdoor space under an overgrown natural canopy. Organic forms merging with surroundings take clues from the works and philosophy of architects Nari Gandhi and Javier Senosiain.

The diwaniya in Kuwait is a traditional space used primarily for male social gatherings. In the newly completed AlOsami diwaniya, guests are welcomed with a main iconic wooden door, a minimalistic version of its traditional counterpart. The visitor then enters a reception hall, which leads them to the smaller daily diwaniya room, where people gather and socialize. Just opposite the daily is the grand diwaniya hall, usually used for male and female weddings, funerals, and other family occasions.

ROTATING house, located in a new urban area, is the house of a nuclear family – a couple and their two children. The client hopes to find peace and prioritize the space for the development of their kids. The popular urban housing design is a setback of 1m – 2m from the land boundary to open side windows, which leads to the lack of privacy between buildings.

In the context of the post-Covid-19 world, both the mental and physical health of individuals has significantly deteriorated, even though life is gradually returning to normalcy. People still lack the internal spaces that can provide relief from the congestion, enhancing their overall mental well-being. This is particularly true for row houses tightly packed within a dense urban setting.