Saeed Amini

advisor

Tehran University of Art

United Arab Emirates

I am an architect, researcher, and architectural critic who views architecture not merely as a… more

The project presents a clear and culturally grounded conceptual framework, and the intersection of the two primary axes learning and belonging creates a strong organizational logic that gives the campus a recognizable identity. The use of local materials, open-air typologies, and shaded transitional spaces is appropriate for both climate and social context. The courtyard system, permeable brick screens, and raised canopies introduce a layered spatial experience that is rich in shadow, ventilation, and subtle gradations between inside and outside. These qualities give the project a strong atmospheric consistency and make the architecture feel rooted rather than imported.

However, several aspects could be refined to strengthen clarity, usability, and architectural precision. The overall plan, although conceptually driven, becomes very extensive horizontally, and in some areas the circulation appears overly stretched, risking long walking distances and fragmented daily movement patterns. A more defined hierarchy of routes distinguishing primary spines from secondary paths would help resolve this. The residential clusters are visually coherent, but some of the shared outdoor micro-courtyards lack distinct spatial character; more variation in proportion, shading, or planting could give each cluster a clearer sense of identity. The canopy design is one of the strongest features of the project, but its structural logic is not yet convincingly expressed particularly the connection between the lightweight elevated roof and the heavier masonry components. Articulating joints, drainage strategies, and transitions would improve credibility. The same applies to the perforated brick walls: their arrangement is atmospheric, but the way they meet the ground and roof needs more tectonic clarity.

In the renderings, the interplay of light and shadow is compelling, yet the ground plane often appears too uniform and lacks the subtle textural variation expected in a campus of this scale. A more robust landscape strategy integrating shaded seating, soft surfaces, and water-sensitive planting would enhance comfort and complete the environmental narrative. The central civic space is conceptually key, but its spatial definition is still ambiguous; strengthening its scale, edges, and programmatic role would reinforce its position as the heart of the campus.

Overall, the project has strong cultural grounding, good environmental logic, and a clear conceptual narrative. With further refinement in circulation hierarchy, tectonic detailing, and landscape integration, it could achieve a more cohesive and mature architectural resolution.

The project has a strong conceptual foundation, yet several areas would benefit from clearer architectural refinement. The overall massing, while intentionally dispersed, could be strengthened with a more legible hierarchy between primary and secondary axes to avoid visual repetition and improve campus orientation. Many of the circulation zones feel overly uniform; introducing moments of compression and release, or subtle shifts in material or shading density, would enrich the spatial rhythm. The elevated canopy system is well conceived, but it would gain credibility through more explicit structural detailing and clearer explanation of how wind-driven ventilation is stabilized across seasons. Some interior–exterior transitions appear abrupt and could better articulate thresholds through changes in floor texture, planting, or framed views. The brick screens have strong potential but would benefit from greater variation in pattern or porosity to differentiate social, semi-private, and service areas. Vegetation placement could also be more deliberately integrated current planting sometimes appears decorative rather than climatically strategic. Finally, the renderings would be more persuasive with improved material realism, more consistent shadows, and a clearer depiction of activity patterns that show how students inhabit the courtyards and shared spaces.
03.12.2025