architectural & interior design Amal Saleh Nesredin This portfolio brings together selected university projects and freelance col- laborations with construction companies, reflecting a hands-on design ap- proach shaped by both academic exploration and real-world execution Amalsaleh.nm@gmail.com PORT FOLIO ARCHI SOFTSCAPES LINKAFÉ: CAFE & CYCLING WORKSHOP LOCATION: MUSHRIF PARK, DUBAI TOTAL AREA OF 542 M² IN THE PROJECT SOFTSCAPES, WE LOOK AT HOW DIFFERENT FUNCTIONAL ENVIRONMENTS MIGHT OVERLAP, BLURRING THEIR EDGES AND OPENING UP NEW POSSIBILITIES AND MEANINGS IN THE PROCESS. THE TYPICAL PERIMETER-DEFINING BUILDING ENVELOPE IS ADDRESSED AS A PERMEABLE FAÇADE OR EDGE, AKIN TO THE HISTORIC SOUKS OF THE MIDDLE EAST. THE PERMEABLE FACADE CAN PROMOTE SOCIAL INTERACTION AND PASSIVELY ENHANCE COMFORT CONDITIONS WHILE ALSO PROMOTING ENVI- RONMENTAL SUSTAINABILITY. 1 SOFTSCAPES WITH SPATIAL FORM +TWO CYCLING TRACKS EXTENDING FROM THE EXISTING TRACK. ACTING AS THE SPINE OF THE PROJECT,PLACED IN A POSITION WHERE WIND IS STRONGER. ZONING WINDTOWER POSITIONS 5M SET BACK FROM SITE BOUNDARIES BUILDABLE AREA EXISTING BICYCLE TRACK +TAKING ADVANTAGE OF WINDS BY INCLUDING WINDTOWERS,TO USE LESS ENERGY VEGETATION HEAVY FOLIAGE TO THE WEST OF THE SITE PROVIDES SHADING FROM THE HOT WEST- ERN SUN. PEDESTRIAN ACCESS A TWO WAY, 4M CYCLING TRACK VEHICLE ACCESS NOISE FROM AIR- PLANES AND FROM THE CARS AND BICY- CLES MAY DISTURB THE FUNCTIONS ON SITE WARM SOUTH-WEST PREVAILING WINDS COME IN FROM THE DESERT NORTH-WEST PREVAILING WINDS SUMMER - WARM WINDS WINTER - COOL WINDS THE HOTTEST MONTHS OF THE YEAR ARE DURING THE MONTHS OF JUNE TO MID NOVEMBER, WHILE COOLER MONTHS ARE DFROM DECEMBER TO MAY. DESIGNING ACCORDING TO THE HARSH WEATHER IS KEY TO A SUSTAINABLE AND EFFICIENT BUILDING THAT PROVIDES SHADING. IN DUBAI RAINFALL IS RARE, HOWEVER WHEN IT DOES RAIN, AS THE SITE IN A DRAIN ZONE THE DESIGN WILL HAVE TO TAKE THE RARE RISE OF WATER LEVELS INTO CONSIDERATION. +CYCLISTS DISAPPEARS AND APPEARS THROUGH THE CAFE BY BREAKING THE CAFE INTO SEGMENTS, BLENDING INTERACTION BETWEEN OUTSIDE AND INSIDE + TECHNO FARMING AS A PLUS FUNTIONW, USING INGREDIENTS THAT ARE GROWN IN THE CAFÉ , PROMOTES VEGETATION, COULD ALSO BE USED AS A NATURE THERAPY POLYPROPYLENE MESH PANELS TO REDUCE HEAT STRUCTURE POSITION DISPLAY OF MOVMENT IN THE CAFE + WORKSHOP. GREEN ROOF WINDTOWER AS NATURAL VENTILATION WORKSHOP CAFE GREEN- HOUSE THE WIND TOWERS ARE A PROMINENT PART OF THE DESIGN, REFERENCING TRADITIONAL ARCHITECTURE IN DUBAI. THIS PASSIVE DESIGN METHOD CATCHES COOLER BREEZES THAT PREVAIL AT A HIGHER LEVEL ABOVE THE GROUND AND DIRECT IT INTO THE INTERIOR OF THE BUILDINGS. DURING THE WINTER, THE FOLDING SLIDING DOORS OF THE TWO CAFES WOULD BE OPEN- CHAIRS AND TABLE COULD BE PULLED OUT BLENDING THE CAFES AND THE TRACKS WORKSHOP AT THE VERY END OF THE CAFE TO THE NORTH, EAST, NORTH AND WEST VIEWS WITH THREE ACCESS POINTS.STORAGE UNDERNEATH THE STAIRCASE. THE SLIDING DOORS ALLOW THE WORKSHOP TO SPILL OUT INTO THEOUTDOORS AND EXPAND. CAFE WITH SPACE FOR NINE PEOPLE, SMALLER KITCHEN,THE ADDITIONAL TRACK GOES THROUGH IT AND LINKS WITH THE MAIN TRACK. THE TWO CYCLING TRACKS ACTING AS THE SPINE OF THE PROJECT, PLACED IN A POSITION WHERE THERE WILL BE A PLEASANT BREEZE OR “HEADWIND” OUTSIDE SEATING AREA CONCEPT, THE THIN SCREENS ALLOW PRIVACY AND SHADE WHILE BEING OUTSIDE. USING MATERIALS SUCH AS POLYPROPYLENE. USING MESH-LIKE MATERIALS TO LAYER AND CREATE A BLUR BETWEEN SPACES. THIS ALLOWS TO BLUR BETWEEN THE LANDSCAPE INTO THE INSIDE OF THE CAFE, CREATING AN ILLUSORY AND PLAYFUL WORK. THE PANELS ARE LARGE, THAT HELP REDUCE BUILDING ENERGY REQUIREMENTS. IT REFERS TO DESIGNING BUILDINGS AND SPACES (INTERIOR AND EXTERIOR) USING LOCAL CLIMATIC CONDITIONS TO IMPROVE THERMAL AND VISUAL COMFORT. THESE DESIGNS PROVIDE PROTECTION FROM SUMMER SUN SOFTSCAPE IN MATERIALIT & INTERIOR WEST ELEVATION 1:100 ODE TO PAUSE Oasis Plaza: Co-housing project PAUSE REFERS TO MOMENTS OF SOLITUDE AND REFLECTION WITHIN A BUILT ENVIRONMENT. THESE PAUSES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR CREATING A SENSE OF BALANCE AND HARMONY IN A SPACE. THEY PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE OPPORTU- NITY TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF EVERYDAY LIFE. LOCATION: AL RAS, DUBAI, U.A.E AL RAS, A UNIQUE AREA IN DUBAI, IS A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF HOW ARCHITECTURE CAN PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR SOLITUDE IN THE VIBRANT TRADE AND BUSTLING STREETS. THIS HISTORIC NEIGHBOURHOOD, KNOWN FOR ITS INTRICATE NETWORK OF "SIKKAS" OR ALLEYWAYS, OFFERS POCKETS OF QUIET IN THE BUSTLING CITY. THESE NARROW PASSAGEWAYS NOT ONLY SERVE AS SHORTCUTS FOR RESIDENTS BUT ALSO ACT AS SPACES FOR RESPITE FROM THE HARSH DESERT CLIMATE. AL RAS DEMONSTRATES AN AWARENESS OF THE HUMAN NEED FOR MOMENTS OF RESPITE IN URBAN SETTINGS BY INTEGRATING THESE INTI- MATE SPACES INTO THE NEIGHBOURHOOD'S FAB- RIC. BUSY ZONES LESS BUSSY The siTe is enclosed by lively & busy landmarks. WiTh TWo mosques on each side of The ploT, making The siTe is croWded WiTh people ThaT aT - Tend prayers, especially on fridays. being close To The creek on The souTh side of The siTe, WiTh many TourisT, visTers and residenTs using The TransiT boaTs. using all These landmarks To carve ouT Walk paThs ThaT Will connecT These areas and landmarks While providing shorTcuTs for pedesTeri - ans. pedesTrian-friendly sTreeTs. solid solid voide ZONING + MASSING green paTh, eXTending iT as a paTh. MACRO ANALYSIS DEIRA, AL RAS -OLD DUBAI TUCKED OVER THE SOUTHEAST COAST OF THE PERSIAN GULF, DUBAI HAPPENS TO BE THE MOST POPULOUS CITY IN THE UAE. ONCE A MERE FISHING VILLAGE OF NOT MORE THAN 800 PEOPLE, DUBAI HAS OVER TIME EMERGED AS A GLOBAL METROPOLITAN AND A MAJOR BUSINESS HUB OF THE MIDDLE EAST. AL RAS IS AN AREA WITH BUILDINGS THAT ARE MAINLY LOW RISE ( 5-6 ) AND CONDENSED, WITH ALLY WAYS IN BETWEEN THAT GIVE IT A DIFFERENT FEEL THAN MOST PLACES OR AREAS IN DUBAI. AL RAS IS A BUSY AND COMPACT AREA WITH NUMEROUS SHOPS, RESTAURANTS, AND APARTMENTS, ALLOWING ITS PEOPLE TO MOVE BETWEEN THEIR WORKPLACE AND HOME EASILY. MOST RESIDENTS WALK TO THEIR WORKPLACE, A PRIVILEGE THAT NOT MANY RESIDENTS IN DUBAI HAVE, WITH THE HUMID CLIMATE AND BEING A CITY THAT HEAVILY DEPENDS ON CARS. THE BUILDINGS IN AL RAS ALSO FOLLOW A MORE TRADITIONAL METHOD OF CONSTRUCTION, HAVING ALLY WAYS IN THIS HOT AND SUNNY CLIMATE THAT ALLOW FOR COOL AIR AND SHADE. AL RAS NEIGHBORHOOD IS NOT CENTERED AROUND THE USE OF AUTOMOBILES,STREETS ARE ORGANIC. CITY WAS BUILT AROUND PEOPLE AND MOVEMENTTHROUGHOUT PLACES. IN AN ERA BEFORE MECHANICAL SYSTEMS, PASSIVE DESIGN STRATEGI -ES WERE A MUST. 3 + recreaTing The similar alleyWays in al-ras ThaT make iT a Walkable neighbourhood. including void and solid spaces are also crucial componenTs in archiTecTure and urban design. void spaces creaTe op - porTuniTies for movemenT. LIGHT, DEMOGRAPHICS + USER GROUP mosT people ThaT live in al-ras are from pakisTan, and an adequaTe number of peo - ple are from iran and india, making al ras an admiringly culTural place. populaTed WiTh many Tea shops ThaT serve karak, karak is a parT of Their everyday lives and is knoWn as 'masala chai', roughly Trans - laTed as Tea WiTh spices. hoWever, mosT residenTs and pedesTrians don'T have choices of ouTside seaTing or a place To socialize comforTably. as a plus funcTion for The projecT, including a majlis, a majlis is an ara - bic Term meaning "siTTing room", used To describe various Types of special gaTh - erings among common inTeresT groups. The majlis can hosT TradiTional and folk music While also serving as a space Where They can unWind, socialize and enjoy Tea. Cultural dive present Co-housing Case many residenTs share aparTmenTs in al- ras To cuT doWn living cosTs, spending only up To 300-600 dhs per monTh. This is possible since more Than five people share a flaT While living in an affordable area, Where food and oTher eXpenses are less cosTly compared To oTher communi - Ties in dubai. The goal is To design a place Where as many people can share a space, While sTill being in a posiTion To be comforTable and have privacy by; -adding more Wall parTiTions in a home uniT. pockeT sliding parTiTions connecT The rooms. -maXimizing small spaces. bunk beds To maXimise space hanging cloThes and belongins on The Wall existing user group introduCing neW user group feWer Women live in al-ras Than men, al - Though iT is relaTively safe considering The Women ThaT reside in al ras While designing is key To safeTy, comforT and inclusiviTy, especially since a co-housing projecT Would require The residenTs To use rooms and ToileTs TogeTher. + Both user groups are FlexiBle, sharing spaCes and living in sMaller spaCes is easier. + introduCing students Could diversiFY al-ras Further. inTroducTion of lofTs To save more space Top vieW 8 sqm CONCEPT + SPATIAL DESIGN SPATIAL DESIGN SPATIAL DESIGN designing from The inside ouT To de - sign a comforTable space for The resi - denTs. TransiTional spaces builT in furniTure/ sTorage spaces. young adulTs / arTisTs are parT of The user group, having a builT-in desk ThaT could funcTion as a com - puTer desk is high - ly valuable. cosy home in The ciTy for individuals seeking adjusTabiliTy aT a loWer cosT, differenT funcTions and spliT inTo various degrees of inTimacy. lofTs are pre-fabricaTed WiTh furnishings em - bedded inTo The Walls. curved furniTure helps To sofTen The space. creaTing a conTrasT beTWeen The boXy room and Th curved furniTure. The massive sWooping curve creaTes snug, +The pods/ bedrooms have direcT access To The ToileTs for com - forT. +bedrooms accessed ThroughT The living room pods position and ForM TranslaTing This arT piece inTo livable func - Tioning spaces by using maTerials such as polypropylene. using mesh-like maTerials To layer and creaTe a blur beTWeen spaces. This alloWs To blur beTWeen The landscape inTo The inTeriors TWo silhoueTTes againsT frosTed glass- kirsTin mckee, 2015 PAUSE Case studies haus-rucker-co personal oasis WiTh a diameTer of 8 meTres proTruded from The façade of The museum fridericianums during The 1972 documenTa. incorporaTing pause, void, and solid spaces in archiTecTure and urban design is essenTial for creaTing environmenTs ThaT promoTe Well-being, creaTiviTy, and connecTiviTy. by prioriTizing These elemenTs, designers can creaTe spaces ThaT noT only look beauTiful buT also enhance The qualiTy of life for Those Who inhabiT Them. alloWing Them To recharge and rejuvenaTe Their minds. in urban design, incorporaTing These momenTs of pause can help creaTe more livable ciTies ThaT pri - oriTize human Well-being. second floor plan ground floor firsT floor elevaTion a in The ciTy of eTernal sunshine,ver - Tical oasis needs planTs ThaT love To bask in The sun.bougainvillea, WiTh iTs vibranT papery bracTs, and The resilienT deserT marigold are like The hollyWood sTars of dubai’s verTical gardening scene. They noT only ToleraTe The sun buT flaunT Their colors WiTh pride, adding a Touch of glamour To your green specTacle. acTing as a naTural insulaTing lay - er, green Walls help To regulaTe building TemperaTures, reducing The need for heaTing and cooling. in hoT climaTes, The shading provided by green Walls can loWer indoor Tem - peraTures, decreasing reliance on air condiTioning sysTems and conse - quenTly reducing energy consump - Tion. similarly, in colder climaTes, green Walls can provide addiTional insulaTion, helping To reTain heaT WiThin buildings and reduce heaTing cosTs during The WinTer monThs. majlis / music room The arabian jasmine Tecomaria capensis bougainvillea glabra galvanealed sTeel mesh screen mid-level inTegraTed planTers adjusTable clip floor slab sTrucTural beam WaTer sysTem modular façade and Trellis sysTem faciliTaTes and encourages planT groWTh MUESEUM OF WOVEN NATIONAL MUSEUM ACADEMY OF DESIGN AND ART CITY: DUBAI, UNITED ARAB EMIRATES NAMAD WORLD TRADE CENTER 1 3300 SQM 5 INTEGRATION DESIGN CULTURES khoos weaving OF NAMAD MUSEUM OF WOVEN DESIGN DRIVER WEAVING THE HERITAGE OF CRAFT AL-SADU USING S HEEP, CAMELS AND GOATS WOMEN CREATE BEAUTIFUL AND DISTINCTIVE DE- SIGNS RICH WITH GEOMETRICAL PATTERNS THAT OF- TEN REFLECT BOTH SOCIAL IDENTITY AND THE SURROUNDING EN- VIRONMENT CREATE THE BAIT AL-SHAAR (THE TENT) AND VARIOUS AL-SA- DU PATTERNS WERE USED TO DECORATE THE INTERIOR TENT DIVIDER. CAMELS WERE ALSO OFTEN DECORATED WITH ATAAD (CAMEL ACCESSORIES) MADE OF AL-SADU, WITH THE WOVEN DESIGNS ADDING VIBRANCY AND COLOUR TO THE SADDLES AND STRAPS. khoos weaving ARCHIVE TELLS THE PRINTED STORIES OF COUNTLESS EXPERIENC- ES, PLACES, AND MEM- ORIES THROUGH THE STRONG CULTURE OF WEAVING ACROSS THE MIDDLE AN EAST ASIA OF DAILY TOURS + WORK- SHOPS -GIVING OLD OBJECTS A SECOND LIFE WORK- SHOP THROUGH WEAV- ING. -SHOW CASE OF WORK FROM THE STUDIOS---- USE OF WOVEN MATERIALS AND TEXTIELS. -TEXTIELS LAUNCH M useuM of weaving ... integration of cultures in the region . P resenting an aged val - ued tradition in a unique light . w eaving is interlaced M uch like the threads of roads of sZr that connect dubai and the eMirates , that has significance role in the connectivity of dubai .t he MuseuM of woven , taking uP weaving as a theMe i n terMs of the forM and the functions of the building .t he MuseuM and acadeMy DESIGN DRIVER EXPERIMENTING WITH CURVED WEAVING PATTERN AND STACKING THEM. DEVELOPED A CURVED WEAVING PATTEREN INTO A LOOP. GIVING IT PROP- ER HIEGHT AND SCALE TO TEST WHAT THE DEVELOPMENT LOOKS LIKE. TAKING INSPIRATION FROM A WEAVED PATTERN, THE OBJECTIVE IS TO ACHIEVE A FORM WHERE THERE IS A CONTRAST BETWEEN THE VOID AND THE SPACE. AIMING FOR A STRUCTURE THAT CONVEYS THE NARRATIVE FROM A DISTANCE. Interior design & Architectural Amal Saleh Nesredin projects from concept to coordination, with a design-led approach ground- ed in organisation, thoughtful documentation, and seamless collaboration across teams. Amalsaleh.nm@gmail.com WORK PORTFOLIO Business Bay 2 Bedroom apartment PAUSE REFERS TO MOMENTS OF SOLITUDE AND REFLECTION WITHIN A BUILT ENVIRONMENT. THESE PAUSES ARE ESSENTIAL FOR CREATING A SENSE OF BALANCE AND HARMONY IN A SPACE. THEY PROVIDE INDIVIDUALS WITH THE OPPORTU- NITY TO TAKE A BREAK FROM THE HUSTLE AND BUSTLE OF EVERYDAY LIFE. In a seamless fusion of neoclassical grace and modern restraint, this urban apartment redefines timeless sophistication through a lens of quiet luxury. Designed with a meticulous attention to proportion, texture, and light, the interior balances sculptural elements with soft tonal palettes to create a living environment that feels both elevated and effortlessly serene. From the gentle curves of the furniture to the ornate wall panelling and delicate lighting choices, every detail reflects a thoughtful interplay between tradition and modernity—resulting in a space that is as contemplative as it is compelling. ROOM LIST No 01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08 ROOM NAME CORRIDOR KITCHEN LIVING ROOM BEDROOM 1 BEDROOM 2 BATHROOM GUEST BATHROOM TERRACE TOTAL AREA AREA, sq.m. 18,1 11,8 34,0 15,0 20,8 4,9 2,5 6,2 113,3 * * DOOR LIST SYMBOL D1 D2 D3 D4 DETAILS DOUBLE-LEAF SLIDING DOOR DOOR LEAF: 82*+51* x 220 cm DOOR LEAF: 80 x 220 cm OPENING SIDE: RIGHT DOOR LEAF: 92 x 220 cm OPENING SIDE: LEFT DOOR LEAF: 72 x 220 cm OPENING SIDE: LEFT * - THE SIZES TO BE CONFIRMED QUANTITY 1 1 1 2 PROJECT: APT. 1401 RBC TOWER BUSINESS BAY DUBAI ARCHITECTS: ANASTASIA KOHAN DENIS MIRYAEV DATE: 20-12-2024 PAGE FORMAT: A3 [420x297] 3 FURNITURE LAYOUT SCALE 1:50 A Carefully Composed Urban Flow The floor plan of Apartment 1401 at RBC Tower in Dubai spans 113.3 square metres, offering a refined balance of openness and privacy. A spa - cious 34-square-metre liv - ing room anchors the layout, seamlessly connected to an 11.8-square-metre kitchen and a 6.2-square-metre ter - race. Two bedrooms—20.8 and 15 square metres—are positioned for privacy, sup - ported by a main and guest bathroom. Circulation is ef- ficient via a central corridor, while a mix of sliding and hinged doors enhances flow. The result is a layout tailored for elegant, modern urban liv - ing.