“Think Different” is not just an advertising slogan of Apple, but it is also a slogan of a very interesting and inspiring work shop by the students of college of fine arts, Alexandria – Egypt. The main objective of the workshop is to boost the students’ creativity and unleash their imagination by discovering new possibilities for the objects they are using in their daily life. The project formalizes the transformation of stools from detached useable objects into structural and spatial components of an ambiguously occupied edifice.
The workshop created an installation/ shade located in the court yard of the school and utilized 60 simple stools from students’ studios, arrayed and stacked in a curvy surface, the structure was built by starting two arcs then left them towards the middle, the stools were essentially connected to each other via simple ropes and clamps that were clear from view. Then the whole structure was covered using a plastic cover so it can be used as a shade. Did I mention how many trails did the students take to reach the case of stability ? It were two trials and then they added a new arc later !
Credits:
Project: Installation – Summer Workshop 2012
Instructor: Hatem El-Tawil
Architecture Department – College of Fine Arts – Alexandria- Egypt.
courtesy of Hatem El-Tawil
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.