SAMMY ZARKA

Architecture graduate

PORTFOLIO

 Nothing is invented, for its written in nature first

ANTONI GAUD

SAMMY ZARKA
Address
Via Saluzzo 17, 10125
Torino, ITALY
Telephone
+363 3 88 00 63 30
sammy.zarka24@gmail.com

INDEX

CONTENTS
CURICULUM
VITAE
p. 6 -7

DESIGN
p. 8 -45
p.8-45

p.46-57
LANDSCAPE
Architecture

ARCHITECTURE

TRANSPORT
MUSEUM

social
center

construction
design

traditional
construction

block
housing

play
scape

garden
design

WORKSHOPS
p. 72 -81

miscellaneous
p. 82 -87

p.58-71
PROFESSIONAL

ninoves
port

tunel
renovation

wood
works

photo
documentation

CURICULUM VITAE

MAIL

TELEPHONE

sammy.zarka24@gmail.com

+363 3 88 00 63 30

SAMMY ZARKA
PERSONAL HISTORY
Growing up in an animated city like Damascus with different visual themes
interacting all around, and finding in architecture the marriage of art, passion
and scince, I decided to take this path passing by different countries and universities, finding in the image of the city my greatest inspiration.

LIVING IN

Via Saluzzo 17, 10125 / Torino, ITALY

BORN IN

Paris_FRANCE
BORN ON

JUNE 30 1992
NATIONALITY

USA

EDUCATION
architecture

2014-present Architecture program.

Architettura-Politechnico di Torino
ITALY

landscape architecture

2013 Landscape Architecture program.

Erasmushogeschool Brussels
BELGIUM

architecture

2010 Architecture program.

Faculty of Architecture-Damascus University
SYRIA

SOFTWARE ABILITIES
Autocad
Sketchup
Rhino
Key shot

Photoshop
Indesign
Illustrator
Office

SPOKEN LANGUAGES
English
NATIVE
Arabic
NATIVE
French
CONVERSATIONAL
Italian

Dutch

BEGINNER

BEGINNER

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
INTERNSHIP

FEBRUARY - JUNE

2014
JULY - AUGUST

2013

Internship

JANUARY - Dec.

2012
MARCH - dec.

2011

Landscape design and Urban planning at BUUR

www.Buur.be
Leuven-Belgium
Developing Landscape design concepts
for Massar Rose project by HLA group in Damascus
www.henninglarsen.com/projects/0800-0899/0820-massar-childrens-discovery-centre.aspx
Damascus-Syria
Project Development MEMAR Architecture
www.memararch.com
Damascus-Syria Dubai- UAE
Branding and Logo design at SEMAH Group
www.semahgroup.com
Damascus-Syria

DESIGN TRANSPOT MUSEUM

DESIGN

Architecture

Torino transport
museum
History and Design Studio

GTT depot renovation, and masterplan for the newsurrounding of the museum
Analysing the site of borgo San Paolo, and generating a new
masterplan focusing of the preservation of the industrial memory of the site and city .
Starting by creating an ATLAS in groups of 7 students for
each zone of the surroundings, then using the study to create
a masterplan, followed by a micro group to develope a detailed design of a side of the masterplan (the museum).

Location :
TURIN, ITALY
Project : TORINO TRANSPORT
MUSEUM
Context: HISTORY AND DESIGN
STUDIO
Date :
JANUARY 2015

10

DESIGN TRANSPOT MUSEUM

11

12

DESIGN TRANSPOT MUSEUM

13

14

DESIGN TRANSPOT MUSEUM

15

16

DESIGN TRANSPOT MUSEUM

A
A

Linking bridge
Linking bridge

Tour path
Tour path

Ground level
Ground level

Traveling underground
Traveling underground

B
B

B
B

GROUND FLOOR
GROUND FLOOR
PLAN
PLAN
1/100
1/100

A
A

SECTION AA 1/100
SECTION AA 1/100

SECTION BB 1/100
SECTION BB 1/100

MUSEUM
MUSEUM
MARY FARWY , MICHAEL BARCHINI , SAMMY ZARKA
MARY FARWY , MICHAEL BARCHINI , SAMMY ZARKA

17

18

DESIGN TRANSPOT MUSEUM

SECTION AA 1/100

SECTION BB 1/100

EASTERN FACADE 1/100

19

DESIGN SOCIL CENTER

DESIGN

ARCHITECTURE

20

7RF
HARF A LETTER

DAMASCUS SOCIAL CENTER

FOLLOWING THE STRICT CONSTRAINTS OF THE
GIVEN GRID AND AREA AND INSPIRED BY THE
SOCIAL QUALITY OF CALLIGRAPHY IN ARABIC
LANGUAGE, THE SOCIAL CENTER OF DAMASCUS
FITS SMOOTHLY TO DEFINE AN ATTRACTION POINT
WITH A UNIQUE FORM THAT IS BASED ON AN
ALGORITHM SIMILAR TO THE ONES USED IN
THE MUQARNAS

Location :
DAMASCUS
Project :
SOCIAL CENTER
Context:
DESIGN STUDIO
Damascus University
Date :
MARCH 2013

21

DESIGN SOCIL CENTER

Melting the units together

to create an entity

Editing the form to fit into

to functions

Hierarchy forming
terraces

Applying the rules asked

in the brief by forming an
algorithm of adding and
subtracting

A box with a
5X5 grid

aa section

western elevation

22

southern elevation

The usage of Calligraphy is based on

the concept of what makes Islamic architecture unique since all knowledge
of architecture in the arab world is
not in books but on buildings.

The text on the building is the first 2 lines of the first book written about social
science and what Ibn Khaldoun based his studies on.
The text is from a Quranic verse 13:49
The text is deformed and projected on the form to become the voids following
the functions needs.

23

DESIGN SOCIL CENTER

Underground Level

ground Level

First Floor

Third Floor

24

25

DESIIGN RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS

DESIGN

LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE

26

LRH
Low Rise Housing

residential blocks design

In a rural area in Damascus, It was intended to design a residential
neighborhood of eight blocks that follow strict given rules of grid
and growing vertical and subtraction on each level.

Location :
DAMASCUS
Project :
DESIGN STUDIO

Context : DAMSCUS UNIVERSITY

Fifth semester
Date :
DEC 2012

27

DESIIGN RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS

Ground Floor

28

First Floor

second Floor

Enchancing social qualities of the

neighborhood by creating a gallery in
each block that is devoted for a different kind of art in each.
This way gives more chance for residents to meet and interact.

the neighborhood

third Floor

29

DESIIGN RESIDENTIAL BLOCKS

Morphology process above, to create a form with best qualities

of light, ventilation, functions, and circulation

aa section

southern elevation

30

bb section

31

DESIGN RENOVATION CONSTRUCTION

DESIGN

construction
ARCHITECTURE

32

construction
Reusing an ex-industrial space and studying a construction within

house construction study

North to the city center of Turin, and located on via Novara,

remains of a factory from the 1920s still stand with no real
function.
A masterplan was issued to design housing units inside the old
structure.

Location :
TORINO
Project :
CONSTRUCTION
DESIGN
Context :
DESIGN STUDIO
Date :

MAY 2015

33

DESIGN RENOVATION CONSTRUCTION

site
Built in1922 then bombed in wwii and finally dismantled in the 70s.
Designed by Ugo Fano originallly destined to the casting of cast iron for printing
machines.

masterplan

urban sections

34

movement scheme
structural analysis

function schemes

interior shots

the 40 sqm model plan

35

DESIGN RENOVATION CONSTRUCTION

the 60 sqm model groundplan

wall section construction detail

wall plan construction detail

36

western elevation

southern elevation

eastenr elevation

southern elevation

bb section

aa section

37

38

DESIGN CONSTRUCTION

CDT
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS

CONSTRUCTION DETAILS STUDY

AND A PROPOSAL FOR A HOUSE IN
THE OLD CITY OF DAMASCUS
After choosing a house with a history that dates back
to the 1600s, and Located in the old neighborhood of
Sarouja The first task was to draw acurate
Construction Details for the house, the second was to start
solving some of its problems by proposing new
structures and materials.

Location :
Project :
Context :


Date :

DAMASCUS
RENOVATION
DAMASCUS
UNIVERSITY
FEB 2013

39

DESIGN CONSTRUCTION

Starting by visits to the house and

studying and observing the local
materials and methods of construction.
Measuring every points position to
project it on the plans using traditional
methods as shown in the plan.

Generated plans

Construction plans

40

Construction sections

41

DESIGN CONSTRUCTION

Creating Details of some

unique elements in the house and
the structure of the house and
how the different layers of isolation are connected to each other.

42

THE SECOND PART of the project is the proposal that was to

cover the patio with a steel structure framing glass that makes the
space warmer in the winter and
could be controlled easily from
the inside to open in the summer.

43

44

DESIGN CONSTRUCTION

THE FINAL STEP of the study

was to design a 3D render that
makes it easy to understand how
the whole system works in most
traditional houses in the old city.

LANDSCAPE PLAYGROUND

DESIGN

LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE

46

Playscape
PLAY LANDSCAPE

A semi-private garden design

Study and construction management for the development of a
play landscape in the Heesakker Park
The project attempts to create a child-friendly space where there
is room for informal meetings and relaxation that frame life.

Location :
BELGIUM
Project :
LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE
Context :
COMPETITION
During internship at BUUR
Date :
MAY 2014

47

LANDSCAPE PLAYGROUND

Vision:
The landscape is more than a kind of no mans land; it lays claim to its own
character. The playground has such a distinct decor.
The present landscape occupies a specific place in the former moorland near the
Dommel Valley and is the instrument for creating a new constellation between
the landscape components, to restore old connections or reconstruct. The landscape Heesakker Heide is a collective space ideally suited to develop an identity.
Generating a special attraction, the playing landscape Heesakker Park, promotes
the identification of the visitor with the vastness of the surrounding landscape.
It is therefore the task to recognize the landscape forming components and the
spatial reference points and to give new meanings in a plan to create a continuous network landscape.
Concept:

1. ANCHORAGE

2. TOPOGRAPHY & BLUE ROOM

48

1. ANCHORAGE, in the surroundings

Existing forest roads form the connection between Heesakker Park and surrounding landscape. linking the environment and all spatial elements of the design area.
The corporate Bosland furniture (information boards, picnic tables and benches)
drawn between road and play landscape accompany visitors.
The entry spot or canvas is like a mysterious structure where everything comes
together. Some solitary identify the place.
2. GEOGRAPHY, soft and rough contours
The topography can characterize the location and give its authenticity. The third
dimension gives the imagination and makes exciting game possible. The manipulation of the contour is taken as the starting point. The topography, the structure of
the play landscape.
Topography is in the design so the landscape instrument that organizes the function of the space. Sculptured sand dunes in the shape of pine scales are adjusted
depending on the program and leave in the area of the playing landscape activities
far without mutual negative interactions.
THE BLUE ROOM, the blue space for a dynamic interaction of nature and culture,
peace and dynamism. Wide channels (depending on the depth of groundwater) are
the blue spine. The system infiltrates in the middle area and gives direction thus
integral to the scenic interpretation.

3. A LIGHT SHRUBS STRUCTURE, a green double wall

A light shrubs structure acts as a green double wall and brings scenic section; a
sequential structure indeed increased curiosity. Mixed, irregular massifs shrubs of
native species to create a front, middle and rear plan plan or vice versa depending
on the selected entry spot. These extra shrubs belts make the edge softer. In time,
the bushes are also fine blockage and play. The shrub massifs with flowering and
fruiting also enhance the ecological value of the area.
The existing trees infrastructure is barely touched. At the height of the entry points
to the tree population is supplemented with a few loners.
3. LIGHT SHRUBS STRUCTURE

4. GREEN SPACE & LANDSCAPE games

4. GREEN SPACE, The open grass landscapes lie between the entry points and the
playing landscape and fall somewhere between two worlds; they form a barrier
to the immediate vicinity or in the opposite direction a threshold into the game
landscape.
Green spaces provide opportunities. Views decompression. The time you can
spend there is one step from the hectic everyday life, from the busyness, from
work, school rush. The place offers space for a picnic, to recreate, do nothing, taste
the nature and behold, in the grass staring at the clouds. That is the program of
green space. It is an ultimate comprehensive green that can always transform
and reinvent.

49

50

LANDSCAPE PLAYGROUND

51

DESIGN LANDSCAPE

DESIGN

LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE

52

LFT
LOFT PROJECT

A semi-private garden design

Resting on the banks of the Leie river in the city of Zulte, an
old factory that is converted to six houses with shared and
private gardens.
The design follows three important elements os the site,
the river, the factory, and the needs of the new function.

Location :
BRUSSELS
Project :
LANDSCAPE
ARCHITECTURE
Context :
ERASMUS


HOGESCHOOL
Date :
NOV 2013

53

DESIGN LANDSCAPE

Van de Put/Erik Van Mullem

Flanders Poppies/ Papaver rhoeas

SITE

EAST FLANDERS // ZULTE

BELGIUM / FLANDERS

Belgium - Flanders

NATURAL GRID

inspired by the form the local ower

and responding to the need of a source
of heating during cold days outside
also considering that the clients
wanted some sestainable elements

East Flanders/Zulte

the design is an umbrella shaped

element that has a heating radiator
that would work as a lighting element
during warm days with the solar panels
on the top
it is partly supported by green energy

The main theme of the project is to

respect the natural slope and
avoid making it flat, but at the same
time try to reflect the industrial history
of the placewith the natural identity as
well.

OLSENE

54

HUMAN GRID

fonction concept

INDUSTRIAL GRID

circulation

BIKE PARKING

SOALR POWERED HEATING UMBRELLLAS

FLOWER GARDEN

IBA SYSTEM
WATERFALL
JACUZZI
SEASON FLOWERS

SWIMMING POOL

CHANGING ROOM

WATER GAMES

WATERFALL

PUPPIES GARDEN

TARRACED GRASS

CAR PARKING

DESIGN LANDSCAPE

inspired by the form the local

flower, and responding to the need of
a source, of heating during cold days
outside. also considering that the clients
Van de Put/Erik Van wanted
Mullem
some sustainable elements.

Poppies/ Papaver rhoeas

cal ower
of a source
outside
lients
ments

shaped
g radiator
ting element
solar panels
green energy

56

57

PROFESSIONAL NINOVES PORT

DESIGN

Ninoves port
PROFESSIONAL

58

nin
Porte de Ninove

planning and designing one of

the ancient gates of Brussels
Recreating the public space with all its details. Bringing in
more greenary, merging the scattered exhisting parks into one
An opportunity to strengthen the ambition of the Ninoofsepoort
a park gate with a sense of identity and scale of the city, the surrounding neighborhoods and as a park area itself.

Location :
BRUSELS
Project :
PUBLIC SPACE
internship
context:
BUUR
Date :
JUNE 2014

59

PROFESSIONAL NINOVES PORT

VISION
An opportunity to strengthen the ambition of the Ninoofsepoort a park gate
with a sense of identity and scale of the
city, the surrounding neighborhoods
and as a park area itself.
Historical maps show the evolution of
the Ninoofsepoort, which has always
been one passage between town and
countryside, today between boroughs.
The place has always had a relationship
with the water. Senne and channel cross
each other there, soft and hard, nature
and infrastructure, an urban landscape
which is heavily over time mutated into
what it is today.

Concept

Canal system, welding figure

The complexity of the overhang and
the different streets and movements
are simplified to a strong figure, as the
channel space that movement and ex-

Senne valley system

The existing but currently inaccessible
stretch of the Zinneke is as a historical
relic, but also upgraded the system of
collective spaces, amenities, green areas,

change scene in turn.

including the Ninoofsepoort itself.

Boulevard System , avenue trees

The presence of large rows of trees on
the small ring between the Ninoofsepoort and the Porte de Hal is unique.
The Ninoofsepoort be reinstated as the
starting point of this green axis, with
several par- allel green trace.

But the project for Ninoofsepoort also wants to be an occasion for the modernization of the green axis, with new rows of
trees, wide sidewalks, separated cycle paths, comfortable crossings and tram stops.

60

61

PROFESSIONAL NINOVES PORT

Motorized traffic
To traffic closures between the principal axes and the wijkstra- for simplification, certain movements are modified or eliminated. Parking is limited
to local spaces for the direct vicinity of
buildings.

Bikers
The functional bicycle connections are
supplemented by necessary conventional connections at district level. A
number of logical connections make
short-cuts through the park for the
vulnerable road users as possible.

Pedestrian
Pedestrians get more comfort. By providing more crossings safety is increased.
Logical running lines on the Ninoofsepoort be translated into the park
design, which increases the accessibility
of the park and the neighborhoods.

Park walkways and corridors follow

frame the space
Wide paths follow the logical course

Lines and dots in the urban landscape

The Ninoofsepoort is up ingegroend.
Trees are important element under

lines between neighborhoods. The

corridors are functional spaces, but also
social spaces for different uses: business, rest, meeting.

different formats: as a line structure

which reinforce existing lines, as a soli-

Park concepts

Mpark ramparts dimensioning green

infrastructure
The small existing relief differences
are pronounced in park ramparts
that allude to the valley structure.
They define the park area and forms
the transition between mineral and
green spaces, between wet and dry
zones.

62

tary in special places.

Structural sketch Ninoofsepoort

Axonometry Ninoofsepoort long-term vision

63

PROFESSIONAL NINOVES PORT

GReenary_ trees

It is important to the preservation of trees that make up the Triangle Place. a number of new trees reinforce the line of
figure to the side by the lock, and the channel. An additional existing large tree on the inner ring, the height of the particular building on the Powder Hofstraat. A number of existing trees treeline be kept on the patent pavilions.
New trees are either part of line figures or define a special place as a solitary.
Important line figure is the shaft of the Slaughterhouse Ring. The project allows for it to complete the line figure of a
double row of trees in the central reservation to the Ninoofsepoort. also are lines of trees provide for the pedestrian zone,
separating the paths of the highway. This vierdub- bele row of trees is a step towards a long term vision for the Inner Ring
toward South Station.
The existing row of large trees in the sports city of Brussels is carried through in the Ninoofsepoort
In the new segment of Ninoofsesteenweg at the T-junction with the Inner Ring is equipped with a row of trees on both
sides.

64

Details

PARK_ Institut des Arts et Mtiers

For the proper functioning of the wadis, they should mutually be connected
by pipelines to provide the necessary
passageways under the wadis.
The entrance and exit of these lines
are marked in vertical walls in situ
concrete, the identity of the wadis
strengthened as a component of the
park.

Park Paths

65

66

PROFESSIONAL NINOVES PORT

67

PROFESSIONAL TUNEL RENOVATION 3D

DESIGN

PROFESSIONAL

68

PARIS PONT NEUF

3D RENDER

Renovation of the Tunels at the

river-side in Paris
A part of the long term plan of the continuous renovation the
SNCF company is applying on its tunnels along the riverside in
Paris, this final step takes place to generate a 3D visualisation
to convince the city of Paris of approving the installations that
would be put on the site during the months of the renovation.
The aim of the renders is to illustrate how simple the heave
works would seem, and demonstrate This renovation will
not affect the view of the city.

Location :
PARIS
Project :
3D RENDER
Consulting
Client :
VINCI
Agence
DREAMBOX
Date :
JUNE 2015

69

PROFESSIONAL TUNEL RENOVATION 3D

The Orsay Museum Gare dAusterlitz stretch of the RER C line was produced
for the 1900 Universal Exhibition.
The various works of this line (tunnels, trenches
covered and open) were built in a very short time for the time.
Today the line C is one of the most important traffic in Paris Suburbs Intramuros
with 24 trains per hour during peak periods, and 540,000 travelers daily.

The foundations of this very sensitive line therefore, since 1996, been gradually reinforced by technology jet grouting, by Soletanche Bachy and Spie
foundations.
The campaigns of 2016 and 2017 work aimed at strengthening the last
untreated area of the section Orsay Museum Gare dAusterlitz, Gare Saint
Michel off.

70

71

WORKSHOP WOOD CONSTRUCTION

WORKSHOP

wood
ARCHITECTURE

72

wood
Building system + wood work

river park wood installation

Study of wood construction for arround three months followed
by an intensive weed of a design workshop and building on site
with a building box prepared in the previous months.

The Parco fluviale Gesso e Stura is a river park extended for

about 60 km from the Alps to the plain along the two rivers at
whose confluence the city of Cuneo is established. The Park
is an ecosystem which presents a variety of habitats (springs,
forests, wetlands) and fauna presenting areas of great ecological value for the water purification and the wildlife shelter. The
park is crossed by a dense network of hiking and cycle routes
which connect the city river banks with the wilder countryside
and mountain areas.

Location :
CUNEO
Project :
WOOD WORKS
Context :
WORKSHOP
Atelier Mobile
Date :
AUG 2015

73

WORKSHOP WOOD CONSTRUCTION

The atelier theme is the design and building of a small architecture in collaboration with the Parco fluviale Gesso e Stura
staff. An architecture to enhance the hydroelectric plant, the irrigation canals and the other main landscape elements of
the area: info and observation point as well as a resting point along the path.
The project was designed in wood using a construction box containing modular elements, part of a building system
studied and evaluated before the workshop by the same team.

74

75

WORKSHOP WOOD CONSTRUCTION

The building box

The building box was finally defined, its elements are now under cut in the sawmill to be ready for theatelier mobile week.
The building box contains a series elements to build junctions, frames and horizontal plans, rails to fill the frames and foundation poles.

1_junctions
marine plywood
280 plates 24x36 cm, thickness 15 mm,
with two inner cuts
to build
70 junctions using four plates each
2_frames
chestnut wood
80 planks 9x93 cm, thickness 2 cm
80 planks 9x97 cm, thickness 2 cm
to build
40 frames type A using 4 planks, final
dimension 106x102 cm
40 planks 9x97 cm, thickness 2 cm
40 planks 9x197 cm, thickness 2 cm
to build
20 frames type B made using 4 planks,
final dimension 106x206 cm

76

3_rails
larch wood
150 rails 3x3 cm, length 400 cm
4_foundation posts
wood treated in autoclave
24 posts 8x8 cm, length 130 cm
The system is based on an orthogonal
grid of 120x120 cm. It allows various
configurations, among which it will
be designed and detailed our small
architecture.

77

WORKSHOP WOOD CONSTRUCTION

The Parco fluviale Gesso e Stura is a river park extended for about 60 km from the Alps to the plain along the two rivers at
whose confluence the city of Cuneo is established. The Park is an ecosystem which presents a variety of habitats (springs,
forests, wetlands) and fauna presenting areas of great ecological value for the water purification and the wildlife shelter.
The park is crossed by a dense network of hiking and cycle routes which connect the city river banks with the wilder
countryside and mountain areas.

78

The place is an elongated field extending from the northern side of the Centrale Idroelettrica Fernando Olivero, an hydroelectrical plant dating from the 1920s.
The site is bordered by a canal, a pair of trees (a walnut and an apple tree) and a wide open field looking southeastwards to
the Stura river, the Bisalta peaks and the Alps.
It gives the chanche to host panels describing the canal system and the Centrale activities related to the area past and present configurations.

Choice of the part of the site that is going to host the new info and resting point.
The northern edge with the walnut and the apple tree is the only place giving shadow all the day long.
Placement of the foundations grid (modules 120x120 cm) on that edge, relating it to the two trees.
At the beginning of the workshop week little wells will be dug on the foundations points, then plastic tubes (diameter 20
cm) will be placed to contain the soil. During the design session the participants will decide which foundations point to
use according to their design choices.

79

80

WORKSHOP WOOD CONSTRUCTION

81

DOCUMTATION PHOTOGRAPHS

Personal

image
documentation

82

Negative
Conceptual documentation
ROAMING EUROPE YOU CANT BUT NOTICE THE
BEAUTIFUL NEGATIVE SPACE FORMED BY THE HUMAN LAYERS OF HISTORY, ART AND INDUSTRY.

This collection is a spontanious vision on skies and architecture. seeing similarity across landmarks and different monuments in different cities.

83

84

DOCUMTATION PHOTOGRAPHS

85

86

DOCUMTATION PHOTOGRAPHS

87