The beginning of the studio was spent analyzing the interior envelopes of a precedent of our choice from the baroque period. I chose Sant’Ivo alla Sapienza by Borromini for its sophisticated geometric relationships consisting of equilateral triangles and circles.
Courtesy of Lisa-Christin Laue
Through this analysis a primitive consisting of several layers of space, ranging from the orange, larger, more open to light, public spaces to the teal, smaller, filtered light, more private spaces, was generated. The white middle layer evolved into the circulation that would reach out and morph into a pedal, becoming a way of connecting individual units with each other.
Courtesy of Lisa-Christin Laue
To allow for a variety of programmatic needs, many primitives where clustered, and a scale shift was introduced. The white layer now also morphs down to create the structure to hold up the cloud of primitives. This allows for the structure to filter light and create an environment below as well as inside. One must first experience the space below in order to enter the building and once inside, the experience becomes not only about the envelopes of the structure, but also the sky above and the water below.
Ibrahim Abdelhady is an architect, academic, and media entrepreneur with over two decades of experience in architecture and digital publishing. He is the Founder and CEO of Arch2O.com, a leading platform in architectural media, renowned for showcasing innovative projects, student work, and critical discourse in design. Holding dual PhDs in Architecture, Dr. Abdelhady combines academic rigor with industry insight, shaping both future architects and architectural thought. He actively teaches, conducts research, and contributes to the global architecture community through his writing, lectures, and media ventures. His work bridges the gap between practice and academia, pushing the boundaries of how architecture is communicated in the digital age.