This portfolio document belongs to Safiya Yahaya and contains examples of her architectural work and design projects. It includes a kiosk design that won second place in a competition, a medium density housing project in Dubai, a redevelopment plan for an area along Dubai Creek, a wayfinding system for a university campus, and conceptual designs for an elementary school and performing arts center. The portfolio demonstrates Yahaya's skills in architectural design, technical drawing, model making, and graphic design. It aims to showcase her qualifications and experience in architecture and related fields.

1. S A F I Y A Y A H A Y A
P O R
T F O
L I O

2. S A F I Y A Y A H A Y A
A R C H I T E C T U R A L D E S I G N ( B S C . H o n s . )
S A F I Y A Y A H A Y A . C O M
+ 9 7 1 ( 0 ) 5 6 2 0 1 2 6 1 5
Seemingly in my own world of doodles and drawings. I’ve had a pencil in my hand
since I was young. When I started university I originally had the idea of going into
art & graphic design. Then I discovered architecture. It was the perfect blend of art &
engineering for me and I was hooked. A new way to show and share my passions.
I do the work I do because I love it. I like the industry. I believe architecture shapes
our communities and has the power to define the way we live as a society. My aim is
to be able to work on projects where I can tap into my creative energy and help be a
part of shaping today’s fast-paced world.
S. Yahaya
S a f i y a Y a h a y a .
“
“

3. “ The selected photographs, drawings, and graphics which make up this portfolio are my
original work and personal property.
I attest that the information and documents contained in this portfolio are true and reflect
the knowledge, skills and abilities I have acquired. ”

4. c o n t e n t
0 1
0 2
0 3
0 4
0 5
0 6
0 7
0 8
0 9
Kiosk
2nd place Najah competition.
Housing
Urban + Mass housing project.
Resume
Personal experience & skills.
Urban Redevelopment
Re-imagining Dubai Creek.
Wayfinding System
A graphic design for a campus.
Elementary School
A 3rd year school design.
Smart City Parking System
Smart city competition entry.
Concept: Performance Center
Conceptual thinking into a PAC.
Photography
Gallery of photography work.

5. E d u c a t i o n + Tr a i n i n g
2011- 2015
2004-2010
Canadian University
of Dubai.
BSc. Architecture
Dubai, U.A.E
El-Amin Int’l School
School Diploma
Minna, Nigeria.
R é s u m é
ECOWAS - Diplomatic
Observer
• Documented
presedential election in
Mali.
• Setting up polling
centers.
• Recorded & reported
results to the organization.
Y4Y Nigeria - Co-Founder
A non-profit run by the
youth focused on eradicat-
ing illiteracy
& promoting primary
healthcare in less privi-
ledged kids.
• Organizing events &
fundraisers.
• Managing all the activi-
ties of the organization
2010
2013
Wo r k E x p e r i e n c e
2013
A w a r d s + C e r t i f i c a t e s
Fashion design &
Illustration.
Campustar fashion llt.
2nd Place- Smart City
Design
Canadian university of
Dubai.
Merit Award- Architecture
Exhibition
Canadian University of
design
2014
2013
2013
S k i l l s + C o m p e t e n c i e s
• Graphic drawings & illustrations.
• Teamwork, organization, working under
pressure, strong work ethic, time manage-
ment skills, problem solving, ability to learn
from critisim.
• Languages : Fluent in English.
• Vector programs : AutoCAD, ArchiCAD,
Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop, Google
Sketchup.
Better Life Program for the
African Woman -
Volunteer
• Reconstruction of their
local public buildings.
2011
TEDx - Organizer
TEDx conferences brings
together the world’s
most fascinating thinkers
& doers in Technology
Entertainment & Design,
who are challenged to give
the talk of their lives in 18
mins or less.
• Selected speakers for
talks & jury panel.
• Interviewed volunteers,
staff, & technicians.

6. Project | Kiosk
Date | April 2015
This is a recently completed competition entry that
won 2nd place. This kiosk is supposed to function as an
adaptable structure for the Canadian University of Dubai
to use at the Najah exhibition in Dubai and to retain for
future expo’s and functions.
02
0 3
N A J A H
K I O S K

7. The idea behind the design was to translate the slogan “ a portal to canadian education” into a 3D form. The
panels along the wall of the kiosk continue to change & progress in shape and size as the user moves through
the “portal”.
The profile of the wall panels are raised as they reach the back wall. Symbolic of reaching the end of the
portal.
0 5
n a j a h k i o s k d e s i g n
Step 1
Visualizing the portal as a 3-di-
mensional form.
Step Two
Ribs are aligned to create a tunnel
to move through the portal.
Step Two
The form is made geometric & cut
open to create cross circulation.
Step Two
The roof forms a symbolic shelter
over the whole structure.
Step Two
Roof extends to the partitions
creating a unified structure.
Step Two
The lounge and meeting spaces are
carved into the portal.
0 6
roof structure
roof structure
roof structure
roof structure

8. 0 1 Main Access
02 Secondary Access
0 3 Lounge
0 4 Meeting Areas
0 5 Information Desk
0 6 Storage/Technical Space
The kiosk provides a lounge. 3
meeting areas, technical/storage
space and a reception desk.
There is additional digital
interactive function incorporated
into the central circulation space.
The structure functions as an
entire piece yet parts can be taken
out to adapt it to different
functions, environments & users.
This creates a functional &
aesthetically pleasing structure
that represents the university.
07
n a j a h k i o s k d e s i g n
0 8

9. Project | Medium Density Housing estate
Date | December 2013
This residential project was aimed at creating a feasible
housing estate along sheikh zayed road of Dubai. It is a
combination of medium density apartment blocks, villas
& town houses.
The site is located adjacent to the dubai metro and a
city parking structure.
The project focuses on trying to implement the reduced
use of motor vehicles by transport by supplying the
residents with limited parking spaces and creating RTA
bus tops around the estate.
0 3
0 9
U R B A N
H O U S I N G

10. The housing blocks are interupted
by social spaces and roundabouts
that bring in commercial functions
to the area.
This makes it
economically feasible. The
apartment blocks have retail and
commercial functions on the
ground floor. It is important that
the estate be mixed-use enough to
prevent it either being completely
deserted during the day time or
congested with traffic during rush
hour.
The streets are designed as
cresents to prevent a straight
boring streetview.
1 1
u r b a n h o u s i n g
1 2

11. 1 3
u r b a n h o u s i n g
0 1 Part of Courtyard
02 Main Entrance
0 3 Lobby
0 4 Elevator
0 5 Apartments
1 4
01
02
03
04
05

12. The town houses each have their
individual backyards and front
porches. There are 3 different
variations of townhouses in the
estate.
This creates variety and eliminates
the repetiveness that can cause
housing projects to become too
monotonous. The streets have
larger pedestrian walkways be-
cause they include cycling tracks.
The architecture of the town-
houses is modernist with minimal
features.
1 5
u r b a n h o u s i n g
1 6

13. Building elements such as
louvres and shaders that
work to keep the building
cool in the summer time
have been moved to the
interior to minimize the
elements on the facade.
Windows are recessed to
prevent the excessive solar
gain of the hot & humid
Dubai climate.
The apartments are between
5 to 8 storeys. They are
arranged in a courtyard
configuration with a central
public space with a
playground and private
ground parking spaces.
1 7
u r b a n h o u s i n g
1 8

14. Commercial functions are
located on the ground floor.
The ground floor itself is
elevated by 0.5m to create
variety in heights along the
street view.
The first floor and
subsequent floors above it
protrude to shade the
ground commercial strip.
Each apartment block has
a variety of all 4 types of
apartments. From studios to
4 bedroom apartments.
1 9
u r b a n h o u s i n g
2 0

15. Dubai creek is the oldest settlement in dubai. This project is a
re-design of the al-khor area located along the creek. Its a high
density mixed use area with predominantly local residents.
0 4
2 1
O L D T O W N :
U R B A N
R E -
D E V E L O P M E N T

16. My re-design of the creek started with seperating the various functions into various parts of the site. The part
closest to the water is a boardwalk with stalls for selling local crafts and artifacts to tourists. The boardwark
pushes out at 3 different areas onto a maskeshift pier with seafood restaurants.
The second part of the site has the pre-existing banks and commercial towers. It is where the basement
parkings are located.
2 3
u r b a n r e d e v e l o p m e n t
2 4

17. 2 5
u r b a n r e d e v e l o p m e n t
The 3rd part of the site is
composed of building like
this. Mainly residential with
commercial ground floor
functions. The tramway that
crosses the site
provides access to the
building blocks.
The street is shaded by the
protrusion on the first floor.
The trees along the street
also shade the pedestrian
path.
1850
The creek has
played a major
role in
economic
development
1860
Over time
shoreline
begins to
shape
1908
The creek
divided the city
into two
1938
The area
served as a
port for dhows
1970
massive
change in
construction
2 6

18. The density of the buildings is most concentrated along the creek and because less dense towards
the mainland.
There is a courtyard system in place for the larger building blocks. The buildings are higher and
shade the alleyways and the lower buildings adjascent to them
27
u r b a n r e d e v e l o p m e n t
The creek has played a major
role in the economic
development of the region
throughout history. It is
currently protected under
the the UNESCO Heritage
act. The site is located
around the buffer zone.
• Pedestrian friendly:
walkable access with shaded
streets.
• Pre-existing public trans-
port (RTA bus stps on site).
• Cultural significance due
to presence of UNESCO
heritage buffer zone.
• Created main accesses &
connections to the creek.
• Created landmarks and/or
nodes.
• Dead spaces have been
converted to public parks.
Block Boundary Sailboat Stations
Public Transport Vehicle Routes
Main Circulation Parks & Public Spaces
2 8

19. 2 9
u r b a n r e d e v e l o p m e n t
3 0

20. This project involved designing an
effective and user friendly
wayfinding system for a
university campus. A study of the
human scale, graphic type and
color theory was applied.
I applied graphic techniques and
human factors to place the signage
and symbols in strategic
places where the users would most
lkely notice and understand the
signs and symbols. Big bold fonts
are used on the walls, stairs and
elevator doors. They have also
been designed to match the design
aethetic of a modern university
campus.
0 5
3 1
G R A P H I C
W A Y F I N D I N G
S Y S T E M

21. 3 3
w a y f i n d i n g s y s t e m
3 4

22. 3 5
w a y f i n d i n g s y s t e m
3 6

23. This was a 3rd year project
to design an elementary
school for children aged
5-12. The school has a
capacity of 300 students.
The classrooms are grouped
to facilitate modern teach-
ing techniques.
0 6
3 7
E L E M E N T A R Y
S C H O O L

24. e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l

25. 4 1
e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l
4 2

26. 43
e l e m e n t a r y s c h o o l
4 4

27. This project was a 2nd place
winner for the Smart City
Competition. My entry was a
proposal for a smartphone aspp
that combines the built
environment with technology.
A way for drivers to find free
available parking spaces near them
instead of driving around
creating more traffic. It could also
help the city strategically reduce
traffic by evening out available
parking spaces.
07
45
S M A R T C I T Y
P A R K I N G S Y S T E M

28. Step 1
App is used to reserve parking.
Drivers can view free spaces.
Step 4
The entire system is not connected
to the power grid of the building
but powered by solar panels.
Step 2
The Cuboid emerges out of the
ground to block out the space.
Step 3
Once the driver pulls out the
sensor makes the space available
again on the app.
4 6
s m a r t c i t y p a r k i n g
The Parking Cuboid has a geometric form and LCD lighting within its structure. It uses a hydraulic
mechanism of force powered by the solar panels mounted on the roof. This energy moves it in and out
of the floor slab. The choice of using solar panels is mainly specific to the climatic condition & rapid
daytime solar gain of the U.A.E & its neighboring regions.
47

29. These are the begining stages of
the design for a performing arts
center which will eventually be
the senior project of my final year
thesis.
The center features a concert hall,
auditoria, exhibition spaces,
studios and classrooms for
children.
The site is located adjasent to
downtown Dubai in the Al-Wasl &
Safa districts.
0 8
4 8
C O N C E P T U A L :
P E R F O R M A N C E
C E N T E R
49

30. 5 0 5 1

31. 5 2 5 3

32. The concept is
integrates the 3
major facets of the performance
art music, dance & theatre.
My approahc aims at creating
a transparency to the building
that allows onlookers insight
into the activity & energy pres-
ent within.
The concert hall, the auditoria
& the studios are essentially 3
seperate buildings that are
connected by the organic
circulation. The concert hall is
further emphasized by the the
height, shape and variation in
its roof structure.
5 4 5 5

33. 5 6 5 7

34. 5 8 5 9

35. 6 0
p e r f o r m a n c e c e n t e r
6 1

36. 6 2
p e r f o r m a n c e c e n t e r
6 3

37. 6 4 6 5

38. 6 6 6 6

39. 6 7
p e r f o r m a n c e c e n t e r
6 8

40. 6 9 7 0

41. 7 1 7 2

42. 7 3
p e r f o r m a n c e c e n t e r
74

43. 7 5 7 6

44. The photos of architectural
elements included here show
contrast in materials, form, texture
, light and shadows.
They also emphasize the
exposure of the structure that
holds up man’s built environment
and show ways in which we as
users interact with them.
0 9 P H O T O G R A P H Y

45. p h o t o g r a p h y
7 9 8 0

46. p h o t o g r a p h y
8 1 8 3

47. : +971562012615
: safia.yahaya@gmail.com
: safiyayahaya.com
T
M
W