Portfolio of Amera Balobaid

AMERA BALOBAID
PORTFOLIO
amera.balobaid@outlook.com
+971 52 276 5897

MY WORK - Index
Part #1 | University Journey
Selected University Projects
• Project 1
• Project 2
• Project 3
Part #2 | Internship Journey
Aldar Projects Internship Selected Tasks
• Task 1
• Task 2
• Task 3
Part #3 | Freelance Interior Design
• Majlis
• Bedroom 1
• Bedroom 2
Part #4 | Creative Hobbies
Selected Photographs, Sketches and Paintings
• Artworks
• Photography

Part #1 | University Journey
Selected University Projects
• Project 1
• Project 2
• Project 3

Project 1 (year 1)
Project Brief
In year 1, the task was to design a sustainable villa that
resonates with the client. In my case, my imaginary
client was a botanist, so my design involves elements
related to the client’s field. The requirement were to
implement a sunken yard with a botany lab, and the
building be made of sustainable materials.
Ground Floor First Floor Basement

Project 1 (year 1) – Cont.
Elevations

Project 1 (year 1) – Cont.
Section 1 + Wall Section

Project 1 (year 1) – Cont.
Section 2 + Details

Project 1 (year 1) – Cont.
Details

Project 2 (year 2)
Project Brief
In year 2, the task was to design a bank and research
systems and materials to apply in the building. A flat
plate system is designed for the roof and floor, while the
foundation is slab on grade. The external walls are made
of cavity walls with insulation. The cladding system used
is laminated, while the curtain walls are stick system.
Ground Floor
First Floor

Project 2 (year 2) – Cont.
Elevations

Project 2 (year 2) – Cont.
Sections
Section 1 Section 2

Project 2 (year 2) – Cont.
Wall Sections + Details
Detail 1 Detail 2
Wall Section 1 Wall Section 2

Project 3 (year 4)
Project Brief
Graduation project about the Construction Design for an
Eco-friendly Earth-Sheltered Restaurant. The project
purpose is to develop a sustainable earth-sheltered
restaurant, a touristic facility that serves as a landmark
for Al-Mubazzarah Al-Khadraa and respects the natural
asset of the site by reducing ecological footprint
through appropriate earth sheltered construction
systems.
Building Construction / Construction
Management Problem:
Design Challenges
Panoramic View To The Mountain & Lake
Since the type of restaurant designed is earth-sheltered located
in front of a lake and a mountain nearby, openings must be
provided in all directions for visual aesthetics while achieving
optimum daylight autonomy and minimum glare.
Sustainability
Earth-sheltered buildings require more energy than normal to run
in UAE climate because of low indoor air-quality, poor
ventilation, limited natural light, and anti-green construction
materials.
Moisture Control
Provide
catering
delivery area,
other relevant
facilities
Serve 300
Guests, And
Accommodate
20 Working
Staff
User
Needs
Accommodate
International &
Local Tourists
Design a long span structure supporting earth
deadloads from the RC/Steel roof and retaining walls
as per the ASCE 7-12, ACI 318-11 for concrete, and
AISC for steel structures.
Integrate layers of
green roof and walls in
construction design
and achieve the
required damp
proofing and U-Values
as per Abu Dhabi
International Building
Code / Estidama.
Moisture is a big issue in earth-sheltered buildings as the soil
requires water, and if not maintained properly the building
could flood and possibly collapse.
Safety
The earth-sheltered restaurant would have a walkable roof to the
public; therefore, safety issues will arise if not addressed.
Panoramic
View, Indoor &
Outdoor
Dining (private
or common)
Achieve Architecture 2030 EUI
benchmark for restaurants.
Achieve the required STC and
fire ratings as per the Abu
Dhabi International Building
Code.
Apply the CM in the
construction of the building
structure, although the
main concentration will be
dedicated to the design of
the BC systems.

Project 3 (year 4)
Concept Statement
The concept’s philosophy is to seamlessly integrate the building with the
surrounding nature, making it look unassuming and almost completely
part of the landscape, as the form takes inspiration from the formation of
hills in Al-Mubazzarah Al-Khadra’.

Project 3 (year 4)
Renders

Project 3 (year 4)
Renders

Project 3 (year 4)
Building Context Analysis
Neighborhood Level
Country Level
Green Mubazzarah
Chalets
City Level
Al sahra Restaurant
Mubazzarah Train Tour

Project 3 (year 4)
Building Context Analysis
Collective Decision Map
Sunrise
Sunset
Legend
Site
Undesirable
winds
Desirable
winds
Entrances
Sun path

Project 3 (year 4)
1 Indoor dining hall
2 Outdoor dining
3 Family/private dining
Floor Plans
4 Food preparation
5 Fire Escape
6 Kitchen
7 Prayer Room
8 Ablutions
9 Guests’ toilets
10 Staff toilets
11 Staff locker room
12 Dry storage room
13 Walk in refrigerator
14 Administration office
15 Loading/unloading
room
16 Mechanical room
17 Electrical room
2
6
1
5
17
2
3
4 5
9
10
11
8
6
18 16
18 Storage
12 13 15 14 18 15
Ground Floor Mezanine Floor Basement

Project 3 (year 4)
3D Site Plan
Entrance walkway integrity of natural
stone and water bodies
Outdoor seating area with natural stone
chairs and water bodies
Rubber tiles flooring for the
playground
PV Panels Parking Canopy

Project 3 (year 4)
Elevations
North
South

Project 3 (year 4)
Sections
Section A-A
Section B-B

Project 3 (year 4)
Wall Section + Detail
Section Legend
D1 – Detail 1
W1 – Wall Section

Project 3 (year 4)
Wall Section + Detail
“ZinCo Georaster”
Drainage Element
Drainage Layer (5 cm)
Protection DPM layer (3 cm)
RC Hollow Core Slab (20 cm)
Steel Wide Flange (12x24x24)
Rigid Insulation
Metal Flashing
Steel 2D Truss (80 cm)
D1 – Detail 1 D2 – Detail 2
Section Legend
W2 – Wall Section
D3 – Detail 3

Project 3 (year 4)
Structure 3D + Plans
Structure Load Analysis
Live load
Arrangement of
hollow core slabs
hollow core slabs
2D Truss
Roof Structure
Truss are supported by
columns and retaining
walls
Roof Roof used for gardens 4.79 kN/m 2
Floor 1
(Mezzanine)
Load for dinning rooms and restaurant use 4.79 kN/m 2
Wide Flange Purlins
Floor 2
( Basement )
Load for dinning rooms and restaurant use 4.79 kN/m 2
Dead load
Hollow core slabs
Floor 1 (Mezzanine)
Vegetation layer 2.21 KN /m 2 16.97 kN/m2
Soil bed 4.78 KN /m 2
Filter sheet SF 0.0001 KN /m 2
Columns and beams with
simple connections
Roof
Floradrain FD 40-E 0.75 KN /m 2
Protection mat SSMM 45 0.02 KN /m 2
Root barrier WSF 40 0.0011 KN /m 2
Floor 2 (Basement)
Columns and beams
with simple connections
Mortar 0.5 kN/m 2
Floor 1
(Mezzanine)
Terrazzo 1-in 0.431 kN/m 2 5.057KN /m2
Cement Screed 1.24 kN/m 2
mortar bed 1.7 kN/m 2
Suspended Ceiling 0.191 kN/m 2
Miscellaneous Load
(Mechanical & Electrical
systems)
0.995 kN/m 2
Mortar 0.5 kN/m 2
Cement Screed 1.24 kN/m 2
Terrazzo 1-in 0.431 kN/m 2 5.357 KN /m2
Floor 1
(Mezzanine)
mortar bed 1.7 kN/m 2
Metal Stud with gypsum
board in each side
0.3 kN/m 2
Suspended Ceiling 0.191 kN/m 2
Miscellaneous Load
(Mechanical & Electrical
systems)
0.995 kN/m 2
Ground Floor Mezzanine Floor Basement

Project 3 (year 4)
Water Demand
Greywater Treatment System
3D Site Plan
Wash
Basins
Settling
tank with
screening
Treatment
Plant
Sprinklers
Grey Flow PRO
Recycling System
Bougainvillea
Date Palm tree
Type/name
Local
species
Hazards Quantity Average irrigation
rate (L/day)
Total water
demand per
species (L/day)
Bougainvillea No Thorns 3 6.1875 18.5625
Date Palm
Tree
Yes
Leaf
spikes
20 24 480
Ghaf Tree Yes Thorns 6 14 84
Egyptian Star
Cluster
Water Demand for Irrigation
No - 20 4.0975 81.95
Total water demand
(L/day)
664.5125
Source: Irrigation Systems Design Manual –AD Public Realm Design Manual (QCC/DMT)
Prosopis cineraria
Amount Of Recycled Greywater For Irrigation
Egyptian Star Cluster
Average
water
consumption
(L/day)
# of Wash
Basins
Water
consumption
per unit
(L/WC unit)
% of
greywater
(45%) (L) per
day
Percentage
of greywater
for irrigation
per day (%)
Restaurant 21,955.39 25 878.21 395.19 68.15% 26

Project 3 (year 4)
PV Panel Analysis + Energy Simulation Revit Insight Results
SunPower Maxeon
MAX3 SPR-MAX3-430
Benchmarks:
§ Energystar: 660.569 kWh/m2/yr
§ ASHRAE 90.1: 200-336 kWh/m2/yr
§ ARCHITECTURE 2030: 56-419
500
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
Specifications
Power Rating
(Pmax)
Module
Efficiency
Outer
Dimensions
430 W
22.7%
1,812 mm x 1,046 x 40 mm
Product SunPower Maxeon
Area 1.895*192= 363.84 m 2
Tilt &
24 o , South-east
orientation
System Size 82.59 kW, 18% of total energy load
Project annual 412,500 kWh/yr
energy
production
KWH/M2/YEAR
450
400
350
300
250
200
453
46.8% reduction through
passive strategies
% 17.72 reduction
through PV panels
Energy production
Number of panels needed
EUI
150
100
241
198.28
131,236 kWh/yr
192 42.72
kWh/yr/m 2
50
0
Baseline model Proposed design Target
0.43 0.53
Proposed= PCIt= 0.53
Target= PCI= 0.43

Part #2 | Internship Journey
Aldar Projects Internship Selected Tasks
• Task 1
• Task 2
• Task 3

Task #1
Task Brief
My supervisor instructions were to sketch and produce a
suitable concept for the consultants to give them an
idea of the ideal design for KBZ street. My concept was
derived from palm tree fronds which is representative of
Al Ain’s identify. I made a simple sketch of the concept
generation for the street, and then a conceptual plan
view of the street combining the elements from the
concept generation stage.
Palm frond pattern
pavement
Dried palm
fronds
Part of palm
frond
Concept Statement
In the UAE the
palm tree is utilized for
its fruits used for food,
its trunk for building
homes, and its fronds,
leaves, and fibers for
traditional handicrafts,
making it a significant
part of everyone's
everyday lives.
Tied dried palm frond
canopy
Color palette
Avenue
Cyclist path
Retail
“Sa'af Al-Nakheel” interwoven dried palm
fronds canopy
“Old Graveyard Leinefelde”
Pavement palm frond pattern
Street

Task Brief
Task #2
I was instructed to design a different façade for Al Hayer
shops. To evoke a neo-Islamic architecture feel in the
façade, concept images were searched for, taking
inspiration from the Mashrabiya and arches used in
Islamic architecture and mix them with modern elements.
And then the final conceptual façade of the Al Hayer
shops; I sketched two options for the façade, in option A I
used steel Mashrabiya with very low visibility for the
occupants on the first floor, while in option B I used glass
Mashrabiya with Islamic patterns of high visibility.
Concept Statement
Islamic architecture mixed with modernity

Task #3
Task Brief
The task is to design a 4-bedroom villa as per ADHA
model, making sure to avoid waste area when distributing
spaces and avoiding designs that adds too much to the
cost. First starting out with space planning assigning
connections with spaces in the bubble diagram and
arranging relevant spaces and relative sizing in the block
diagrams. The villa consists of two floors, the ground floor
merging services, private, and social areas and the firstfloor
private areas. A guest and maid bedrooms are on
the ground floor, while four bedrooms are on the first
floor (including two master bedrooms).
Smart housing is considered in the design applying
Hassantuk system and smart controlled appliances. Initial
AC and lighting layouts are made too.
Bubble Diagrams
GF
FF
Block Diagrams
GF
FF

Site Plan + Boundary Wall
Task #3
Area Information
Plot Area 35 x 35 =
1225 sqm
Total BUA of Villa
669 sqm
BUA of Water
Tank & Pump
Room
29 sqm
BUA of Driver
Block
28 sqm
Total Built-Up
Area
726 sqm
Textured
Concrete
WPC Fluted
Panel with
LED Strips
Textured
Stamped
Concrete
Percentage of
Built-Up Area
68.7% of
plot area
In this simplistic site plan, there are native vegetation and interlock all
around the villa grounds. The car parking can fit four cars and has a
shading device made of tensile fabric canopy. On the far left connected to
the boundary wall is the driver room block, water tank and electrical room.
In the boundary wall of the villa, I used three types of finishes that matches
the villa façade, with three openings, from the left is the opening for the
electrical room with the electricity meter and sub distribution board, the
middle opening is the gate to the main entrance, and the opening on the
far right is the gates for the indoor car parking.

Ground Floor
Task #3
Room Schedule
Name Dimensions Area
(m 2 )
Foyer 4.9 x 4.3 21
Women Majlis 5.2 x 5.8 30
Men Majlis 6.7 x 5.3 35
Maid
Room
Bath
Ironing
Room
Laundry
Dining 6.7 x 4.5 30
Living Room 5.2 x 5.8 30
Kitchen 4.1 x 6.3 26
Maid’s Room 3.4 x 3.3 11
Maid’s Bath 2.2 x 2.2 5
Guest Bedroom 4.1 x 3.4 14
Guest Bath 2.1 x 2.2 5
Living Room
Guest Bedroom
Bath
Dress
Store
Service Corridor
Kitchen
Guest Dress 1.8 x 2.2 4
Wash 1 2.2 x 2.2 5
Wash 2 2,6 x 1.5 4
WC 1 2.2 x 1.5 3
WC 2 2.2 x 1.3 3
Laundry 3.4 x 2.8 10
Ironing Room 3.4 x 2.7 9
Staircase/Store 4.1 x 3.4 5/9 (14)
GFA 259
Services/corridors 36
BUA (GG) 340
WC
Wash
Women Majlis
Foyer
Men Majlis
Dining
Wash
WC
On the ground floor there are two entrances to
the villa, one that leads to the foyer, and the
other to the service corridor. There are two
bedrooms one for the guests and the other for
the maid. The men and women majlis can be
accessed from the foyer, each with accessibility
to washroom. A storeroom is provided under
the staircase.

First Floor
Task #3
Room Schedule
Name Dimensions Area
(m 2 )
Bedroom 1 3.9 x 5.8 22
Bedroom 2 3.9 x 5.8 22
Main Master
Bedroom
Secondary
Master
Bedroom
6.7 x 6.6 44
7.8 x 4.6 36
Secondary Master
Bedroom
Dress
Bath 1 1.8 x 3.1 7
Bath 2 1.8 x 3.1 7
Dress 1 2.2 x 2.5 6
Bedroom 1
Living Room
Bath
Dress 2 2.2 x 2.5 6
Master Bath 2.6 x 6.4 16
Master Dress 3.8 x 3.2 12
Bath
Dress
Store
Secondary
Master Dress
Secondary
Master Bath
FF Living
Room
3.3 x 3.3 11
4.3 x 3.3 14
5.9 x 5.8 34
Sitting Area 3.3 x 4.3 14
GFA 237
Wasted Area 14
BUA (FF) 329
Bath
Bedroom 2
Dress
Sitting Area
Main Master
Bedroom
Dress
Bath
On the first floor, there are 4 bedrooms, one
main master bedroom, one secondary master
bedroom, and two equal bedrooms. All
bedrooms have their own dressing and
bathroom. The main master bathroom has a
bathtub and a shower stall. The living room is
open to a sitting area provided with a small
kitchenette with a sink, shelves, and
countertop. There is also another storeroom on
the first floor.

Elevations + Mood Boards
Task #3
Mood Images
Neo-Islamic
Textured
Concrete
WPC Fluted
Panel with
LED Strips
Textured
Stamped
Concrete
Black Aluminum Frames
Textured Concrete
Concrete Wood
Imprint
South
Fluted Panels
with LED Strips
External
Internal
West
Wood
Composite
Louvers
East
Interior Mood Board
The mood images
convey how the villa
will look like to a client,
for the external mood
image I went for a neo-
Islamic look with
frames and earthy
finishes, and in the
internal mood image is
the interior feel of the
villa which is modern
Mediterranean, using
Moroccan tiles in
specific areas of the
house.
North

HVAC & Lighting Layouts
Task #3
MEP Legend
LED
Downlight
2W 1G
LED
Spotlight
2W 2G
Recessed
LED
Luminaire
2W 1G
LED Wall
Sconce
LED Strips
1W 1G
1W 2G
1W 3G
AC
Return
Diffuser
AC
Supply
Diffuser
AC
Return
Grill
AC
Supply
Grill
Smoke
Detector
Heat
Detector

Cost Estimate Analysis
Task #3
Smart Systems
Construction
Item Quantity Cost
Hassantuk Home Panel 1 pc 1,950 AED
Wireless Smoke Detector 20 pcs 5,780 AED
Wireless Heat Detector 1 pc 170 AED
Security & Intrusion Outdoor Camera 2 pcs 1,400 AED
NVR 1 pc 1,199 AED
Outdoor Contact for Gate 1 pc 337.36 AED
Energy Dimming Switch 6 pcs 1,800 AED
Smart Thermostat 10 pcs 6,740 AED
Home Automation Doorbell 1 pc 750 AED
Communication Wi-Fi 6 Mesh Router 4 pcs 3,200 AED
Smart Home Comms 4 pcs 2,004 AED
Total
25,330 AED
4200 AED/m 2 726 m 2 3,049,200 AED
The cost estimate include a general construction estimate
of the villa based on current trends, with a total built-up
area of 726 sqm, the total construction cost would be
3,049,200 dirhams, and adding up the smart housing
systems such as Hassantuk and home automation, the
total cost estimate is 3,074,569 dirhams.
Total 25,330 (Smart Home) + 3,049,200 (Construction) + 39 (Hassantuk monthly fee) 3,074,569 AED

Part #3 | Freelance Interior
Design
• Majlis
• Bedroom 1
• Bedroom 2

Majlis

Bedroom 1

Bedroom 2

Part #4 | Creative Hobbies
Selected Photographs, Sketches and Paintings
• Artworks
• Photography

Artworks – Digital Art
Lovely Albert - 2020 Trico & Boy - 2022 Old Ship - 2022

Artworks – Traditional Art
Still Life of Skull & Sunflowers, Watercolors on paper - 2019 Parrot - 2018 Plant & Cat Paw– 2019

Photography
C6 Building, UAEU - 2020 IT Building, UAEU - 2020 EXPO 2020 - 2022

amera.balobaid@outlook.com
+971 52 276 5897