Articles by Hana Abdel

Idea – The project was conceived as a bird’s nest perched on top of a hill in a forest. The intention was to explore what it’s like to dine in an overgrown, enlarged weaver’s nest on a hill surrounded by lush tropical paradise. Located on Vagator Cliff overlooking the sea in North Goa, India, this restaurant and bar was a challenge to build and execute. The entire structure was built sustainably, from the construction techniques to its building materials. The project has been primarily built using bamboo and a repurposed wild shrub, Lantenna Camara. The latter is an invasive species of plants widespread in the Western Ghats, which affects agriculture, forest growth, wildlife, and tribal livelihood every year. By repurposing this wild invasive species and using it as a building material, the project displays innovative building practices using biological materials while creating emphasis on antenna removal, use, and restoration.

Courtside House is a home that’s serious about being fun and welcoming in every way. It was designed for a family of three as a coastal holiday home where they can escape the city, relax, and entertain friends by the waters of Mount Martha. it is a place to entertain friends, gather around the fireplace, soak in the sun, and, as its name suggests, enjoy a few hits of tennis. The brief was to maximize city views, connect the house to an existing tennis court, and provide multiple outdoor areas to capture or hide from the sun. Strategic planning would allow for separation between parents, children, and guests while also allowing everyone to come together for a tennis viewing.

Mushroom Jellyfish House is on the outskirts of Saigon, where the houses are not close together and are mostly the same (corrugated iron roofs) then Mushroom Jellyfish House is a different part. The project was formed when the homeowners wanted a garden so their children could be closer to nature and away from smart devices, immersing themselves in childhood.

Home: This project aims to explore “home” not only as a type of architecture but also as a part of our daily life and identity, which goes beyond any physical location and reflects our relationship with ourselves, others, and the surrounding universe. The concept of “home” in Iran and the world has undergone significant changes over the past few decades, but it can be said that in Iran, the turning point of these changes was in the 1950s. At that time, due to the increase in urban population on the one hand and the increase in oil income and wrong policies of governments on the other hand, “home” turned into a profitable commodity for capital production. This trend became more bureaucratic by the government in the 1970s, and “home” and housing became the most important investment field in Iran.

Quietly sitting in the corner of a calm neighborhood in Semarang, Halo House takes form of contemporary barn that is arranged in respect to location of existing trees on site while adopting passive design in the house. There are two components in the house; one is the pitched roof structures arranged in elongated manner along the north south axis, another is the thin platform in the center connecting the pitched roof structures. This platform is then punctured where existing trees are located in a circular manner while defining the courtyard throughout the house. The circular expression is then adopted further to accentuate main areas, such as entry, dining area, and swimming pool. These circular voids, or as we call them “halo”, give strong characteristics to the architecture and spatial experience in the house. The halo allows light to penetrate in an interesting form into the house throughout the day and gives shape to the falling rainwater.