Portfolio

 

Master of Architecture - Ball State  University - Indiana, Usa  2014- 2016

 

Ball State University

Second Year First Semester

Studio 2015

http://midoportfolio.wix.com/midomahmoudproject

 

Center for Nature Conservation and Hospitality in Galapagos Island - Ecuador.

 

Concept of Design

 

The  design solution is focused on the integration of research and investigation activities with the touristic program for visitors and community. As the island  has been recognized like a UNESCO World heritage because of its pristine ecosystem and unique biodiversity the proposalif focused on providing  innovative infrastructures for  research groups to allow them study the variety of species and specially migration birds who stay in different zones of the island during seasons.

The  project proposes additional structures that integrate the natural  landscape with the spaces without disrupting the wildlife environment. This would create spaces for different species to stay in and out allowing researches, scientists and visitors to appreciate and analyze wildlife without past limitations that were observed in  past investigation activities in Galapagos Islands.One of the goals in the design is to use a modular construction system leaving  part of this structures for the future as part of the ecosystem, providing temporary or permanently homes and habitats for permanent and migration species , preserving wildlife with less losses of species.

 

 

 

Radical Innovation of Project

 

Galapagos Islands are an important node for bird migration paths between North America and South America. This species migrate in seasons journeys, in response to changes of food availability, weather and habitat. Approximately 20 % of the total number of bird migration species are long distance migrants and flight long distance species, where safety habitats during their flight are an essential need.

The construction of this strucutres will provide temporary and permanent habitat for bird species during the lifetime of the project ,but also after its remove. The tower's panels will be removed and the nest structure will stay as a bio integration with the natural ecosystem providing temporary and permanent homes for species. This would allow actual migration species into Galapagos islands to stay during  longer periods of time in the Island and also allow other species , specially sea birds and shore birds that in the present do not stay during their journeys in the islands to find homes. Many species that migrate and do not stay in the present in the Islands, flight long distances.

As a result, this structures will provide habitats with the right flight altitude that also will support plant life, as the design of the structure allows climbing plants to grow inside of them. This proposal will preserve bird species with less losses and support the better functionality of the actual ecosystem in the Island allowing new and different species to come to the Island. These towers are part of the research area of the project and would combine bird research, study and observation  activities, providing areas for researches and visitors to stay for short or long periods of time.