zamila karimi | Southern Polytechnic State University (original) (raw)
Papers by zamila karimi
This thesis began with exploring low-cost prefab dwelling units to be implemented in struggling c... more This thesis began with exploring low-cost prefab dwelling units to be implemented in struggling communities with extreme poverty, homelessness, and unemployment. The initial research on modular units shifted to focus on our healthcare infrastructure challenges here at home given the COVID-19 crisis. “Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a substantial impact on racial and ethnic minority populations and essential workers in the United States …”1 This disease disproportionately impacts poor and rural communities in the United States, showing double the mortality than urban areas simply due to the neglected environment2. Emergency assistance is needed to expand the care capacity in these communities. How can architecture play a critical role in transforming emergency healthcare design to improve the response during a crisis by exploring the possibilities with modern technology? The current solution for expanded care is eerily similar to the strategy of over century ago during th...
SHS Web of Conferences, 2019
Let whoever may have attained to so much as to have the power of drawing know that he holds a gre... more Let whoever may have attained to so much as to have the power of drawing know that he holds a great treasure ... Michelangelo The tradition of architectural drawings and making as a means of design thinking in a constant feedback loop results in discoveries that facilitate creative thinking in an iterative process. In the digital age, notion of drawing and making by hand as a cognitive process of thinking is fading. This trend is increasingly evident in upper-level architecture students who depend strictly on digital tools for design thinking, missing many critical decisionmaking steps. Concepts of scale, diagramming, composition, materiality are missing − part of the challenge is the computer screen and the lack of tactical autonomy with physical materials − pen, pencil, brush, architectural scale, materiality, construction, assemblage. How can we as educators assert that drawings are not just architectural representations, but a means to architectural inquiry? Why is it critical f...
Recent events around the world have witnessed a range of proven strategies beingreenacted and app... more Recent events around the world have witnessed a range of proven strategies beingreenacted and appropriated to suit our times. The “space of appearance,” a metaphor ofpolis by Hannah Arendt took on a new meaning and imagery within the 21st century asmanifestations of socio-political shifts. The appropriation of public squares with all thepractical accoutrements needed for dwelling reappeared as a form of protest in the wakeof the Arab Spring and the Occupy movements. The power of ordinary people to cometogether against social discrepancies in a physical public space offers new possibilitiesfor change in the public sphere. Using Occupy Montreal, as a case study I will explorehow urban spaces are transformed into sites of resistance through an encampment. Fromtechnologically savvy social-media to the use of simple ephemeral techniques such aspropagandist imagery, architects, urban-planners and design activists today are in aunique position to use multi-disciplinary multi-prong approach...
The conventional boundaries of sacred space are challenged as globalization and multi-cultural di... more The conventional boundaries of sacred space are challenged as globalization and multi-cultural displacement prompt many American and Canadian faith communities to be flex- ible and perform religious rituals in leftover urban spaces within storefronts and converted hotel convention rooms. For many the notion of sacredness is an elusive concept that deals with the understanding of man’s relation to the divine to create an experience that is spiritual within the context of any physical space. By incorporating certain rituals and customs, mundane space is temporarily transformed into sacred environment. This paper focuses on the diversity of the Muslim Diaspora and worshippers pluralistic customs as they appropriate ordinary space into a place of reverence through embodied performative acts. The transfers of knowledge, oral tradi- tions and ritualistic practices, including social and communal activities, evoke historical mem- ory. The ethics of volunteerism and service to humanity guides such endeavors as they manifest humanistic value crucial in today’s environment.
COURSE DESCRIPTION The debate around physical public space has re-invigorated as staging grounds... more COURSE DESCRIPTION
The debate around physical public space has re-invigorated as staging grounds for social and political discourse post 2011 social movements and mass protests around the world. The unique nature of public space with a myriad of possibilities and expectations meeting the needs of various public(s) is a contested issue that the present debate seeks to come to terms within our networked environment. The contemporary public space acts as a performative space that negotiates the needs for multiple public(s) including minority groups, LGBT, illegal immigrants – city’s invisibles to create a collective discourse. A unique aspect of these performances is the complementary relationship between mass communications through social media and organizational tactics in the physical public space that empowers ordinary people in unprecedented ways in the public realm. Within such a landscape how can architects as members and enablers of communities, play a vital role in giving form to public spaces that reflect the contemporary narrative of our society - to envision a democratic space for all peoples to participate in?
Recent events around the world have witnessed a range of proven strategies being reenacted and ap... more Recent events around the world have witnessed a range of proven strategies being reenacted and appropriated to suit our times. The "space of appearance," a metaphor of polis by Hannah Arendt took on a new meaning and imagery within the 21 st century as manifestations of socio-political shifts. The appropriation of public squares with all the practical accoutrements needed for dwelling reappeared as a form of protest in the wake of the Arab Spring and the Occupy movements. The power of ordinary people to come together against social discrepancies in a physical public space offers new possibilities for change in the public sphere. Using Occupy Montreal, as a case study I will explore how urban spaces are transformed into sites of resistance through an encampment. From technologically savvy social-media to the use of simple ephemeral techniques such as propagandist imagery, architects, urban-planners and design activists today are in a unique position to use multi-disciplinary multi-prong approaches to appropriate public space in a performative mode, thereby creating spaces for social activism that impact cities phenomenally, socially and politically. Figure 1 "Occupy Montreal -Square Victoria" Photograph -Jean Gagnon ! iii! ! Résumé Les événements récents à travers le monde ont été témoins d'une nouvelle panoplie de stratégie adaptée à notre période. Dans « Space of Appearance », Hannah Arendt utilise la métaphore de la polis, celle-ci prend un sens nouveau dans les manifestations sociopolitiques du XXIe siècle. L'appropriation des espaces publics passe par une occupation physique du site, en tant que manifestation, dans le printemps Arabe et le mouvement Occupy. Le rassemblement de simples citoyens dans la place publique offre de nouvelles possibilités de changement dans la sphère sociale. En utilisant Occupons Montréal comme étude de cas, j'étudie comment les espaces publics deviennent des sites de résistance au moyen de l'occupation. En passant par les médiats sociaux et les interventions éphémères, telles que les images de propagande, les architectes, urbanistes et designers, adoptent une approche pluridisciplinaire pour s'approprier l'espace public.
Interiors: Design, Architecture and Culture, 2010
The role of the modern interior is redefined in this era of globalization, when boundaries blur a... more The role of the modern interior is redefined in this era of globalization, when boundaries blur among diverse communities to create new narratives. Regional influences are juxtaposed against cultural and religious attitudes, to offer opportunities for cultural amalgamation manifested in interior spaces. There are numerous opportunities to explore and respond to this vast topic through many levels of approaches. However, this investigation focuses on the study of the interiors of spaces of worship in Islam in the Western milieu, and considers whether there are underlying trends of historic precedence combined with contemporary materials and techniques that are successful within the context in which they exist. The search for relevant forms and expressions as manifested through the interiors of mosques and jamatkhanas of Islamic and Ismaili Centers in major cities of Europe and America is the focus of this article. Islamic Centers are built for Muslim communities in the West with a mandate of fulfilling the functional needs of the community, as well as acting as symbols Zamila R Karimi is a principal of Connexion
This thesis began with exploring low-cost prefab dwelling units to be implemented in struggling c... more This thesis began with exploring low-cost prefab dwelling units to be implemented in struggling communities with extreme poverty, homelessness, and unemployment. The initial research on modular units shifted to focus on our healthcare infrastructure challenges here at home given the COVID-19 crisis. “Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has had a substantial impact on racial and ethnic minority populations and essential workers in the United States …”1 This disease disproportionately impacts poor and rural communities in the United States, showing double the mortality than urban areas simply due to the neglected environment2. Emergency assistance is needed to expand the care capacity in these communities. How can architecture play a critical role in transforming emergency healthcare design to improve the response during a crisis by exploring the possibilities with modern technology? The current solution for expanded care is eerily similar to the strategy of over century ago during th...
SHS Web of Conferences, 2019
Let whoever may have attained to so much as to have the power of drawing know that he holds a gre... more Let whoever may have attained to so much as to have the power of drawing know that he holds a great treasure ... Michelangelo The tradition of architectural drawings and making as a means of design thinking in a constant feedback loop results in discoveries that facilitate creative thinking in an iterative process. In the digital age, notion of drawing and making by hand as a cognitive process of thinking is fading. This trend is increasingly evident in upper-level architecture students who depend strictly on digital tools for design thinking, missing many critical decisionmaking steps. Concepts of scale, diagramming, composition, materiality are missing − part of the challenge is the computer screen and the lack of tactical autonomy with physical materials − pen, pencil, brush, architectural scale, materiality, construction, assemblage. How can we as educators assert that drawings are not just architectural representations, but a means to architectural inquiry? Why is it critical f...
Recent events around the world have witnessed a range of proven strategies beingreenacted and app... more Recent events around the world have witnessed a range of proven strategies beingreenacted and appropriated to suit our times. The “space of appearance,” a metaphor ofpolis by Hannah Arendt took on a new meaning and imagery within the 21st century asmanifestations of socio-political shifts. The appropriation of public squares with all thepractical accoutrements needed for dwelling reappeared as a form of protest in the wakeof the Arab Spring and the Occupy movements. The power of ordinary people to cometogether against social discrepancies in a physical public space offers new possibilitiesfor change in the public sphere. Using Occupy Montreal, as a case study I will explorehow urban spaces are transformed into sites of resistance through an encampment. Fromtechnologically savvy social-media to the use of simple ephemeral techniques such aspropagandist imagery, architects, urban-planners and design activists today are in aunique position to use multi-disciplinary multi-prong approach...
The conventional boundaries of sacred space are challenged as globalization and multi-cultural di... more The conventional boundaries of sacred space are challenged as globalization and multi-cultural displacement prompt many American and Canadian faith communities to be flex- ible and perform religious rituals in leftover urban spaces within storefronts and converted hotel convention rooms. For many the notion of sacredness is an elusive concept that deals with the understanding of man’s relation to the divine to create an experience that is spiritual within the context of any physical space. By incorporating certain rituals and customs, mundane space is temporarily transformed into sacred environment. This paper focuses on the diversity of the Muslim Diaspora and worshippers pluralistic customs as they appropriate ordinary space into a place of reverence through embodied performative acts. The transfers of knowledge, oral tradi- tions and ritualistic practices, including social and communal activities, evoke historical mem- ory. The ethics of volunteerism and service to humanity guides such endeavors as they manifest humanistic value crucial in today’s environment.
COURSE DESCRIPTION The debate around physical public space has re-invigorated as staging grounds... more COURSE DESCRIPTION
The debate around physical public space has re-invigorated as staging grounds for social and political discourse post 2011 social movements and mass protests around the world. The unique nature of public space with a myriad of possibilities and expectations meeting the needs of various public(s) is a contested issue that the present debate seeks to come to terms within our networked environment. The contemporary public space acts as a performative space that negotiates the needs for multiple public(s) including minority groups, LGBT, illegal immigrants – city’s invisibles to create a collective discourse. A unique aspect of these performances is the complementary relationship between mass communications through social media and organizational tactics in the physical public space that empowers ordinary people in unprecedented ways in the public realm. Within such a landscape how can architects as members and enablers of communities, play a vital role in giving form to public spaces that reflect the contemporary narrative of our society - to envision a democratic space for all peoples to participate in?
Recent events around the world have witnessed a range of proven strategies being reenacted and ap... more Recent events around the world have witnessed a range of proven strategies being reenacted and appropriated to suit our times. The "space of appearance," a metaphor of polis by Hannah Arendt took on a new meaning and imagery within the 21 st century as manifestations of socio-political shifts. The appropriation of public squares with all the practical accoutrements needed for dwelling reappeared as a form of protest in the wake of the Arab Spring and the Occupy movements. The power of ordinary people to come together against social discrepancies in a physical public space offers new possibilities for change in the public sphere. Using Occupy Montreal, as a case study I will explore how urban spaces are transformed into sites of resistance through an encampment. From technologically savvy social-media to the use of simple ephemeral techniques such as propagandist imagery, architects, urban-planners and design activists today are in a unique position to use multi-disciplinary multi-prong approaches to appropriate public space in a performative mode, thereby creating spaces for social activism that impact cities phenomenally, socially and politically. Figure 1 "Occupy Montreal -Square Victoria" Photograph -Jean Gagnon ! iii! ! Résumé Les événements récents à travers le monde ont été témoins d'une nouvelle panoplie de stratégie adaptée à notre période. Dans « Space of Appearance », Hannah Arendt utilise la métaphore de la polis, celle-ci prend un sens nouveau dans les manifestations sociopolitiques du XXIe siècle. L'appropriation des espaces publics passe par une occupation physique du site, en tant que manifestation, dans le printemps Arabe et le mouvement Occupy. Le rassemblement de simples citoyens dans la place publique offre de nouvelles possibilités de changement dans la sphère sociale. En utilisant Occupons Montréal comme étude de cas, j'étudie comment les espaces publics deviennent des sites de résistance au moyen de l'occupation. En passant par les médiats sociaux et les interventions éphémères, telles que les images de propagande, les architectes, urbanistes et designers, adoptent une approche pluridisciplinaire pour s'approprier l'espace public.
Interiors: Design, Architecture and Culture, 2010
The role of the modern interior is redefined in this era of globalization, when boundaries blur a... more The role of the modern interior is redefined in this era of globalization, when boundaries blur among diverse communities to create new narratives. Regional influences are juxtaposed against cultural and religious attitudes, to offer opportunities for cultural amalgamation manifested in interior spaces. There are numerous opportunities to explore and respond to this vast topic through many levels of approaches. However, this investigation focuses on the study of the interiors of spaces of worship in Islam in the Western milieu, and considers whether there are underlying trends of historic precedence combined with contemporary materials and techniques that are successful within the context in which they exist. The search for relevant forms and expressions as manifested through the interiors of mosques and jamatkhanas of Islamic and Ismaili Centers in major cities of Europe and America is the focus of this article. Islamic Centers are built for Muslim communities in the West with a mandate of fulfilling the functional needs of the community, as well as acting as symbols Zamila R Karimi is a principal of Connexion