︎


Wud Aldulaimy


Portfolio 

        CLOUDOPOLIS




                 this drawing won a Juror Citation award in the 2024 KRob Architectural Delineation Competition, link



  The Cloudopolis is envisioned as an unfolding framework that integrates virtual platforms, verdant spaces, foldable avenues, and adjustable structures. Through adaptable and sustainable infrastructure and by encompassing diverse spatial arrangements; the Cloudopolis seeks to accommodate several life forms, whether temporarily or permanently. It serves as a plug-in city overlaying existing urban landscapes or as an independent floating entity, offering a new paradigm for co-existing, intersection, continuity, and interaction between individuals. The Cloudopolis fosters versatile living conditions for inhabitants, as a continuous, nonstop, unfolding environment. Drawing inspiration from historical cities and contemporary models; works like Broadcare City, Walking City, and Nonstop City.




This thesis explores the profound mental, social, emotional, and psychological shifts resulting from the pandemic. It critically examines the humanitarian landscape post-COVID, addressing feelings of isolation, the loss of social constructs, and sensory deprivation; by envisioning a new form of living within an immersive and dynamic city. Every figure in the Cloudopolis consists of a set of rules and characters in play, a set of ethics to be followed, and intended roles assigned to each part. Every figure could transform, duplicate, repeat, and double, to perform and co-host multiple configurations at once. A figure can function as a living garden and a house sheltering people at the same time. The Cloudopolis can exist in the primary world, and in an imaginative one, it can exist on a digital base or above the clouds.




                 This thesis does not aim to find a solution but rather thinks
                through typological programs, possible modes of design, and
                situational structuring; a take on the “new normal” way of life
                shaped by the pandemic. It offers a nuanced examination of
                the importance of interaction, community, and solidarity,
                while critically reflecting on the allure of inhabiting spaces
                that evoke a sense of vitality, immersion, and
                 interconnectedness.











︎GRADUATE ARCHITECTURE THESIS WORK | WUD ALDULAIMY
︎WINTER‘24 | TAUBMAN COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

DIY: PUZZLE HOUSE 



The Puzzle House is a prototype that uses mass-production techniques to deliver affordable, customizable housing. Our aim is to make personalization more accessible by reducing costs, while giving clients greater control over the design of their future homes.

This flexibility is achieved through an adaptable design system that utilizes affordable, prefabricated materials:

  1. Structural Insulated Panels (SIPs): Highly insulated, mass-produced, pre-fabricated panels that are quick and easy to install.

  2. Varied Panel Sizes: Panels form a stacked, card-like structure that can be transported to the site by truck.

  3. Fixed vs. Flexible Design: Clients can choose from options in finishing materials, custom layouts, and eco-friendly systems.




The Puzzle House prototype was deployed in North Corktown, Detroit, Michigan, within a neighborhood that includes both residential (Ash Street) and commercial (14th Street) lots. The design consists of modular cubic volumes (rooms) that can be added or removed according to client preferences. Each cube is multipurpose—for example, one could serve as a living room in one design or as a studio in another—allowing for highly flexible, custom-made buildings.


















   

  




The Puzzle House supports Type V residential and light commercial construction. Only the concrete foundation requires on-site building, while the structure itself is assembled from prefabricated SIPs. Wall panels are 4 feet wide and 4.5 inches thick, with panel heights determined by use:

  • 17 ft panels for double-height ceilings

  • 15 ft panels for commercial spaces

  • 10 ft panels for standard residential volumes

  • 7 ft panels for smaller residential spaces (with the option to add an open gable ceiling above)

Floor SIPs are 6.5 inches thick, while roof SIPs are 8.25 inches thick. Roof options include either a flat roof or a 45-degree gable roof. Different spans utilize specific sets from our kit-of-parts SIP system, ensuring versatility and efficiency in construction.

                               
                                                                                   



               


Seven Different Scenarios 


Focused on two scenarios: Residential and Commercial 

























Residential: the Incremental Developer 
Commercial: Architects



Commercial Unit: Architects, working from home



            Residential Unit: Incremental Developer 



            Sections



  F or each cube volume, we developed possible floor plan designs and suggested uses. The goal is to help clients select volumes based on their intended functions. While we provided several scenarios below, the volumes are not limited to these examples and can be adapted to a wide range of uses.



                                                        Possible floor plan designs





                                                      Physical Model and Pin-up layout





︎GRADUATE ARCHITECTURE STUDIO WORK | WUD ALDULAIMY & TRUC NGUYEN
︎WINTER‘23 | TAUBMAN COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

                CENTER OF EMOTIONS  

   
The main concept is to create a space that both contains and frees students’ emotions, providing a secure and supportive environment where they can release and articulate their feelings. This is achieved through carefully curated rooms and spaces designed to encourage different modes of self-expression. The varying wall types represent different levels of enclosure, with each material selected to symbolically and physically absorb different emotions.

Building on this idea, I explored how comfort and safety could extend beyond fixed spaces into a more mobile context. To illustrate this, I developed a prototype of soft padding and insulation—both aesthetically pleasing and portable—that can be installed anywhere.

The main goal is to move away from static, designated spaces by creating objects that can bring emotional comfort wherever needed on campus. I designed three components, or ‘pillows and blankets,’ each filled with different materials and wrapped in unique fabrics, offering diverse tactile and emotional experiences.

Because of social pressures and the lack of adequate attention to mental well-being, students often face challenges that are difficult to express. This project responds to those issues by embracing the notion of emotional containment—crafting both a physical environment and portable prototypes that enable students to encapsulate, release, and express their emotions in meaningful ways.




               



                SEWING PROCESS

The first compartment is the smallest: a 30”x15” ‘pillow’ stuffed with foam and wrapped in a waterproof, shiny-holographic fabric. This piece is designed for versatility—it can be duplicated and mounted on a wall or surface to create an acoustically insulated space, or used more directly as a punching bag or squishy pillow. Its aim is to provide a tactile outlet for releasing and expressing emotions in multiple ways.

The second compartment is a 5’x1’ elongated pillow, filled with a mix of foam and polyester fiber, and covered in smooth Minky fabric. This piece is intentionally soft, moldable, and huggable, designed to comfort students through physical interaction. It can also be multiplied and attached together to form seating, or wrapped around desks to create a cozy, personal environment that fosters comfort and engagement.

The third compartment is a 4’x4’, 3” thick blanket, padded with a cotton and polyester-fiber filling. Its two exterior sides are intentionally distinct: one made of soft white fabric, the other of textured dark-pink fabric. This duality allows the blanket to adapt to different needs—used as a cover, mattress, or even wall insulation. By offering contrasting tactile experiences, it emphasizes flexibility and furthers the concept of creating a personalized ‘safe space’ for students.







︎GRADUATE ARCHITECTURE STUDIO WORK | WUD ALDULAIMY
︎FALL‘23 | TAUBMAN COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE

MERGE:IN
BELANGER PARK 


Throughout the semester, I have focused on documenting the movement of boats and ships along the Detroit River. Historically, the river served as one of the primary pathways for trade, and it continues to play this role today, with vessels from across the United States and around the world passing through daily. However, while the riverfront is now predominantly occupied by large commercial ships and industrial docks, it was once a place where people could swim, gather, and engage directly with the water before the era of heavy industrialization.

My research revealed that the riverfront lacks sufficient recreational opportunities, particularly for smaller boats, kayaks, and community-based activities. In addition, the overall connection between land and water has become limited, reducing opportunities for public engagement with this vital natural resource.

In response, my proposal envisions a space that reintroduces and expands the ways people can interact with the water. The design incorporates new access points—such as inlets and canals—that improve circulation for smaller recreational ships and create more opportunities for movement into the Detroit River.

A service building is introduced to accommodate smaller boats, while the addition of a recreational stop within the adjacent park enhances accessibility and provides gathering spaces. Together, these interventions seek to rebalance the relationship between land and water, transforming the site into a multifunctional environment that supports both community recreation and ecological engagement.





Building view from the river 



Renders




︎UNDERGRADUATE ARCHITECTURE STUDIO WORK
︎FALL‘21 | TAUBMAN COLLEGE OF ARCHITECTURE