Shortlisted for AlUla Design Award, Paris Design Week 2023. The collaborative project involved research into the AlUla’s topography, archeology and nature. The Shortlisted submission is a reimagining of the collection of lithics found in a neolithic archeological site in AlUla.

The project invites a new dimension of color to a site that lacks any light. It uses a variety of textures in the landscape and artificial lighting around the curves, resulting in a valley that emits color during the day and night.

The facade promotes on site renewable energy and sustainability by regenerating its own power via the use of peltier junctions. The junctions embedded within the facade are gridded across face of the dwelling. The peltier junction facade powers a recycling machine aimed to recycle and reuse plastic water bottles.

Essay on new urban urbanism’s ability to preserve cultural memory in cities in the GCC. A link between walkability and long term memory storing in the hippocampus region of the brain.

For my master’s dissertation, I conducted a two-year in-depth study on methods to reduce the carbon footprint of concrete. I developed a comprehensive table outlining all known carbon reduction techniques and created a prototype aimed at achieving net-zero carbon concrete. This research, which was published, demonstrated a 23% reduction in carbon emissions while maintaining structural integrity.

As part of a 100 page thesis research, I explored parametric methods to reduce the quantity of concrete in a precast panel, hence proving one method in reducing the embodied carbon in concrete. I parametricized the conventional bubble deck slab on grasshopper, and used a combination of Python, sin formulas and Galapagos, to find the optimal reduction in cement while still maintaining structural strength.

Our entry proposed modular housing constructed from fiber reinforced polymer (frp). This solution aims to involve the underserved community in the construction and development of the site. We visited and spoke to community members in Skid Row, Little Tokyo and West Adams and used their input in the design. The design responds to issues such as lack of healthcare facilities for the underserved, poor sanitary stations and a shortage of job opportunities for the homeless.

The rejrej incense burner, a product prototype developed for the Bahrain Contemporary Crafts competition. A. contemporary take on the traditional Bahraini mabkhara, showcasing stone-cutting in Bahrain. This incense and bakhoor burner is crafted from hand-cut limestone rocks, found locally during walks through the island. A research in to the properties of different layers of natural stone in Bahrain revealed that there are layers that are low density and have properties of absorbing and slowly releasing natural scented oils. Thus creating a natural diffuser that doesn’t require electricity or water. The burner is a connection between Bahrain’s cultural past and modern design aesthetics.

Currently part of Bahrain National Museum collection. A research based approach on the properties of Bahraini natural stones. A sculptural ‘chair’ was hand-cut from Bahraini limestone. The collaborative project, with architect Łukasz Palczynski, has been ‘up-cycled’ to be featured in the 28th edition of art activation “Photos a la Chair” for Bahrain Spring of Culture 2025.

In 2023 I was voted by a local magazine as one of the 100 youth impacting their field.

This collaborative project with architect Łukasz Palczysnki was a research based approach to develop a community driven collective book display, made of hand cut Bahraini limestone rocks. There is an increasing need for a space to advocate for new urbanism, a growing movement within urban planning focused on human-centric, walkable, transit-oriented, mixed-use, high-density urban development. It is a movement that stands in total contradiction to—and aims to remedy—the traditional established norms of urban planning. Its ideas are guided by the research of Jane Jacobs, Jan Gehl, and Janette Sadik-Khan. In the communal spirit of the movement, we envisioned the project as community-driven, with modules that expand as people donate their books to it. During the conceptualisation of the project, I expressed my hope for our city inhabitants to reclaim the negative spaces in our built environment that were systematically surrendered to private vehicles, and reclaim them for human-scale activity.

Design and build installation for a music festival in San Diego. The structure highlighted the events waterfront theme. The design we chose is based on the idea of a crashing wave. We proposed a series of six triangles to represent the abstracted form of a wave.

The project seeks to reimagine the existing prototype for labor camps in Bahrain. After studying informal settlements in different corners of the world, the design implements sustainable technology such as wind towers, and a modular shade-scape to maximize shadows on the site. The project redevelops an existing site in Bahrain, while preserving local traditions by design.

To read more: https://issuu.com/mdadabai/docs/md_portfolio_369d21a6d0a7ec/22