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Papers by Rana Zureikat
Frontiers in Built Environment
The provision of national housing to citizens in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is considered a c... more The provision of national housing to citizens in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is considered a crucial topic. Over the past four decades, the process of developing national housing has emerged into multiple housing programs and schemes, all with the same aim of offering affordable and high-quality housing to citizens, in addition to meeting the needs of local families regarding spatial configurations while maintaining cultural values. However, despite all these efforts, the question has always remained: are the offered housing practices suited for family needs, socioeconomic trends, and environmental challenges? This study aims to offer an alternative approach for the design and delivery of national housing practices in the UAE. The proposed process is structured based on the following ethos: first, a conceptual approach for design flexibility toward offering customization while maintaining contextual and cultural qualities for inhabitants; second, a computational design strategy f...
A Note on the Architectural Layout of the Early Islamic Church on Sir Bani Yas Island, UAE, 2023
It has been suggested that the church on Sir Bani Yas island, dated to the seventh– eighth centu... more It has been suggested that the church on Sir Bani Yas island, dated to the seventh–
eighth century, originally had a tower rising over its south-eastern room. This would be
a unique feature as other hitherto known churches in the Gulf dated to the early Islamic
period did not have towers. One of the arguments for the existence of the tower has been
the increased thickness of the northern wall of the south-eastern room. However, close
examination of the remains reveals that the increased thickness of this wall is in fact related to the rectangular apse of the chancel. Other arguments used previously to support the claim that the church had a tower are critically assessed in this paper, which concludes that the Sir Bani Yas church had no tower and that its chancel had a rectangular apse, yet another architectural feature it shares with other early Islamic Gulf churches.
Conference: CAADRIA 2018: Learning, Prototyping and Adapting, 2018
The convergence of digital design and fabrication technologies have offered architects and design... more The convergence of digital design and fabrication technologies have offered architects and designers the means by which to develop customized architectural artifacts, ones that goes beyond the standards of “one size fits all”. Such applications have been applied extensively in various architectural practices, and specifically in the realm of industrialized building production, given that they present a suitable model. Although unrecognized within standard precast concrete production, current research acknowledges the need for advanced computer applications for shifting the industry into a digitized process. This paper represent a critical phase of an ongoing research endeavor that aims at rethinking the precast concrete production in the UAE, and MENA region for housing typologies. The project explores possibilities of a new protocol that is focused from design to production, relying on performative design strategies, and possible optimized for large format 3D printing of concrete e...
In this era, Architectural Design Practice is faced with a paradigm shift in its conventional app... more In this era, Architectural Design Practice is faced with a paradigm shift in its conventional approaches towards computational methods. In this regard, it is considered a pedagogic challenge to boost up knowledge and skills of architectural students‘ towards an advanced approach of architectural design that emphasizes the potentials and complexity of computational environments and parametric tools for design problem solving. For introducing the concept of Parametric Oriented Design Methods to 3rd year level architectural students, an experimental pedagogic course was designed in the scholastic year of 2012-2013 at German Jordanian University GJU (School of Architecture and Built Environment SABE) to approach this concept. In the preparation phase, the experimental course was designed to incorporate structured instructing and training method to be consecutively performed within experimental lab environment to target predetermined learning outcomes and goals. The involved students wer...
Books by Rana Zureikat
Innovations in Green Urbanization and Alternative Renewable Energy. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation, 2022
Housing has become a core theme in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Recent reports have marked a s... more Housing has become a core theme in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Recent reports have marked a shortfall in the required supply of middle-income housing, thus suggesting significant efforts to address the current imbalance. It is believed that several reasons have contributed to the current shortage of affordable housing, including the low adoption of prefabricated construction techniques resulting in higher construction costs, as well as lower financial returns; therefore, making such developments less attractive for developers. However, there are several projects that have proven to be successful in utilizing precast concrete towards practical and economical value, in addition to providing a viable solution to meet the expectations for efficient housing delivery with regard to quantity and quality. In this research, we propose a comprehensive process that combines a design and production model to enhance the actual practices and mechanisms of the precast concrete development. This paper proposes various stages of logic design implemented in an architectural process with the aim of reaching the highest level of sustainability in UAE housing while reducing the cost of construction, and the time of delivery.
Thesis Chapters by Rana Zureikat
Master's Degree Thesis , 2024
Open shelters for archaeological sites are recognized as effective conservation strategies that b... more Open shelters for archaeological sites are recognized as effective conservation strategies that balance safeguarding the vulnerable remains exposed to the environmental element with presenting them. Shelters preserve the site’s significance and integrity while providing accessibility, and public presentation. Case studies from both literature and practice highlight many sheltering interventions that have failed to create positive and stable climatic conditions, consequently, negatively impacting the archaeological remains. Through a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, the study investigates the possibilities and constraints of digital simulation tools for assessing and communicating the environmental and climatic performance of the design of the protective shelters, taking as a case study the significant site of the Church and Monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Looking at the specific climatic context of hot arid regions and the specific materiality of the archaeological asset. In addition, the study explores through consultations with experts, the extent to which this approach and the information it presents can guide the decision-making process throughout the design of open shelters and the formulation of climatic-conscious design briefs. The results of the study will contribute to enhancing the design process employed by design and management teams and will present the value of incorporating digital simulations as an assessment tool, along with underscoring protection criteria and requirements, to ensure educated and informed decisions are made for the best preservation of the site under study.
Frontiers in Built Environment
The provision of national housing to citizens in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is considered a c... more The provision of national housing to citizens in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) is considered a crucial topic. Over the past four decades, the process of developing national housing has emerged into multiple housing programs and schemes, all with the same aim of offering affordable and high-quality housing to citizens, in addition to meeting the needs of local families regarding spatial configurations while maintaining cultural values. However, despite all these efforts, the question has always remained: are the offered housing practices suited for family needs, socioeconomic trends, and environmental challenges? This study aims to offer an alternative approach for the design and delivery of national housing practices in the UAE. The proposed process is structured based on the following ethos: first, a conceptual approach for design flexibility toward offering customization while maintaining contextual and cultural qualities for inhabitants; second, a computational design strategy f...
A Note on the Architectural Layout of the Early Islamic Church on Sir Bani Yas Island, UAE, 2023
It has been suggested that the church on Sir Bani Yas island, dated to the seventh– eighth centu... more It has been suggested that the church on Sir Bani Yas island, dated to the seventh–
eighth century, originally had a tower rising over its south-eastern room. This would be
a unique feature as other hitherto known churches in the Gulf dated to the early Islamic
period did not have towers. One of the arguments for the existence of the tower has been
the increased thickness of the northern wall of the south-eastern room. However, close
examination of the remains reveals that the increased thickness of this wall is in fact related to the rectangular apse of the chancel. Other arguments used previously to support the claim that the church had a tower are critically assessed in this paper, which concludes that the Sir Bani Yas church had no tower and that its chancel had a rectangular apse, yet another architectural feature it shares with other early Islamic Gulf churches.
Conference: CAADRIA 2018: Learning, Prototyping and Adapting, 2018
The convergence of digital design and fabrication technologies have offered architects and design... more The convergence of digital design and fabrication technologies have offered architects and designers the means by which to develop customized architectural artifacts, ones that goes beyond the standards of “one size fits all”. Such applications have been applied extensively in various architectural practices, and specifically in the realm of industrialized building production, given that they present a suitable model. Although unrecognized within standard precast concrete production, current research acknowledges the need for advanced computer applications for shifting the industry into a digitized process. This paper represent a critical phase of an ongoing research endeavor that aims at rethinking the precast concrete production in the UAE, and MENA region for housing typologies. The project explores possibilities of a new protocol that is focused from design to production, relying on performative design strategies, and possible optimized for large format 3D printing of concrete e...
In this era, Architectural Design Practice is faced with a paradigm shift in its conventional app... more In this era, Architectural Design Practice is faced with a paradigm shift in its conventional approaches towards computational methods. In this regard, it is considered a pedagogic challenge to boost up knowledge and skills of architectural students‘ towards an advanced approach of architectural design that emphasizes the potentials and complexity of computational environments and parametric tools for design problem solving. For introducing the concept of Parametric Oriented Design Methods to 3rd year level architectural students, an experimental pedagogic course was designed in the scholastic year of 2012-2013 at German Jordanian University GJU (School of Architecture and Built Environment SABE) to approach this concept. In the preparation phase, the experimental course was designed to incorporate structured instructing and training method to be consecutively performed within experimental lab environment to target predetermined learning outcomes and goals. The involved students wer...
Innovations in Green Urbanization and Alternative Renewable Energy. Advances in Science, Technology & Innovation, 2022
Housing has become a core theme in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Recent reports have marked a s... more Housing has become a core theme in the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Recent reports have marked a shortfall in the required supply of middle-income housing, thus suggesting significant efforts to address the current imbalance. It is believed that several reasons have contributed to the current shortage of affordable housing, including the low adoption of prefabricated construction techniques resulting in higher construction costs, as well as lower financial returns; therefore, making such developments less attractive for developers. However, there are several projects that have proven to be successful in utilizing precast concrete towards practical and economical value, in addition to providing a viable solution to meet the expectations for efficient housing delivery with regard to quantity and quality. In this research, we propose a comprehensive process that combines a design and production model to enhance the actual practices and mechanisms of the precast concrete development. This paper proposes various stages of logic design implemented in an architectural process with the aim of reaching the highest level of sustainability in UAE housing while reducing the cost of construction, and the time of delivery.
Master's Degree Thesis , 2024
Open shelters for archaeological sites are recognized as effective conservation strategies that b... more Open shelters for archaeological sites are recognized as effective conservation strategies that balance safeguarding the vulnerable remains exposed to the environmental element with presenting them. Shelters preserve the site’s significance and integrity while providing accessibility, and public presentation. Case studies from both literature and practice highlight many sheltering interventions that have failed to create positive and stable climatic conditions, consequently, negatively impacting the archaeological remains. Through a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative methods, the study investigates the possibilities and constraints of digital simulation tools for assessing and communicating the environmental and climatic performance of the design of the protective shelters, taking as a case study the significant site of the Church and Monastery on Sir Bani Yas Island in Abu Dhabi, UAE. Looking at the specific climatic context of hot arid regions and the specific materiality of the archaeological asset. In addition, the study explores through consultations with experts, the extent to which this approach and the information it presents can guide the decision-making process throughout the design of open shelters and the formulation of climatic-conscious design briefs. The results of the study will contribute to enhancing the design process employed by design and management teams and will present the value of incorporating digital simulations as an assessment tool, along with underscoring protection criteria and requirements, to ensure educated and informed decisions are made for the best preservation of the site under study.