Rabih H. IbrahimSample of Work

About MeAn artist in spirit. Between Image and Space2011 I finished a one-year introduction to film program at afilm Barcelona, Spain 2007 I graduated from the American University of Beirut with Bachelor Degree in Architecture1992 Summer. I was eight years old when I came back to Beirut two years after the end of the war, and I can still remember clearly how Beirut looked that day; the buildings, the destruction, the leftovers, the people and the sky. Beirut has always been my inspiration. She doesn’t mind change; she embraces it and grows, or refuses it and moves on. My Beirut has taught me what it means to be bewildered and be strong because of it. I am a product of my city.Now Asking question. Between Film and ArchitectureArchitecture; A passion in creating space, the built and un-built, perceived and conceived, sensed and imaginedFilm: a whole new set of tools of expression. It offers me a bridge between the abstract and literal, and a moment between moving in space and perceiving images in motion. My questions explore their answers in the visionary and the experimental, the two words that describe my process and destination.

1.ANIMATION[pre-production]

root Bwith Fouad Mezher + Dara Sabri + Ahmad Bizreh + Jamal Malaeb + Lina Abu Reslan + Elissar MezherComic (Animation)Oct 2011 - Feb 2012

Root B is a retro futuristic tale that unfolds in an imaginary city. A freedom fighter from the commoners tries to fight the fascist “Arrangement” of the Machkinas. He get rescued by an Urbanite, who becomes his unlikely ally. Root B is a visual articulation of an alternative dialogue at the crossroads of a subjective longing for conceptual and tangible freedoms and the delusional immersion in a rapidly unfolding reality; two situations that often seem simultaneously impossible to achieve and impossible to evade. With the emerging signs and images of freedom of speech, a new promise of freedom emerges that of true encounter, simultaneously from within the physical real-ity of the system as city and from within the boundaries of the individual into the collectives as city.

references

architecture1- Installation by Arne Quinze, Beirut Lebanon

2- Scene 7, Illustration by Giacomo Costa 3- Inhabiting the earthquake, Illustration by Lebbeus Woods4- Red Tower (Homage to Tatlin’s Tower) Illustration by Yuri

Avvakumov and Yuri Kuzin5- Re-Ruined Hiroshima, Ink and Guache by Arata Isozaki

1 2 3 4

5

MachinES1-Siteline Vienna , Model by Lebbeus Woods

2- SCAB Construction, Illustration by Lebbeus Woods 3- STRANDBEEST, Moving Sculpture by Theo Jensen

4- Gift of the Wind, Moving Sculpture by Sasumu Shingu5- Open House, Illustration by COOP Himmelblau

1 2 3

4

56

6- Siberia, Photograph by Jewgeni Chaldej

FASHION1- Item part of Fall 2011 collection , by John Galliano

2- Sketch of item part of 2007-2008 collection, by Rui Leonardes3- Suit part of Project Artisanal by Maison Martin Margiela

4- Item part of Men’s Spring/Summer 2011 collection by Jean-Paul Gaultier5- Sparkling Crystal Dress by Hussein Chalayan

1 2 3 4

5

atmosphere1-Mandan , Photograph by Joel-Peter Witkin2- Steamfitter, Photograph by Lewis W. Hine

3- Lisa Fonssagrives, Photograph by Erwin Blumenfeld4- Sao Paulo, Photograph by Rene Burri

5- On the Pavement, Photograph by Alexander Rodchenko6- Steelworks, Photograph by Felix H. Man

1 2 3 4

5

6

7

7- The Photojournalist, Photograph by Andreas Feininger

VISUALS

characters

commoner urbanite

GobI-17

HAMMA-13 GEMMA-34

SANA-23 ACHA-05

BADO-08 SAKI-12

machkinas

city plan

shot 1 “...THE COMMONER observing something out of the corner of his eye. On the wall in front of him is a poster with a statue of martyrs that says “Rise.”...”

Shot 2 “...They stare at each other until the URBANITE gestures with his hands that he means no harm. THE COMMONER re-tains a cautious posture....”shot 1

Shot 3 “...The rope sways somewhat loosely at first and then suddenly stiffens. The camera tilts down to reveal THE COMMONER hanging from a hook.....”

2.FILM MAKING

A Story of A MomentCast & Crew: Giovanni Smets + Allan Ignaczak + Desiree Haupts + Theo Prasidis3 minute movie using 16mm Canon Scoopic Completed Feb. 2011Link: https://vimeo.com/40041762

In the matrix, Fast Mat wakes up!He realizes that he is being tracked down; Fast Mat is running away from people from places from his dream. He got spotted by the agents, and while he was about to jump away the machine takes his brain to a world of parallel reality, that acts as a maze to capture his brain.In the maze Fast Mat tries to escape but the agents stop him from doing that by controlling his brain and constantly changing the space of movement. Fast Mat brain is no more free, his brain is under control, full control ... he is an agent.Fast Mat is STILL IN MOTION

1. Shooting of A Story of A Moment

ASOAM Story Board

Fast matt RUnning

AGent 1 anticipating Fast Mat

Fast mat runs past agent 1

he RUns He Stops AGENT 2!!!

PARAllel reality

Agent 1 reports

Agent 2 reports

FAST matt runs for his life!!!

Agent 2: Dirty Dutch

Agent 1: Dynghi

o183edh9232wsjdh8923wd-j928wqdjxhd98w930uerd-j940ef jc89 j342ef483h-f 3 4 3 2 0 4 r 9 d j 4 9 3 j e -9 r j 4 9 j e f 3 0 4 9 r 9 e -f j4093jf094jf094jf94f j o183edh9232wsjdh8923wd-j928wqdjxhd98w930uerd-j940ef jc89 j342ef483h-f 3 4 3 2 0 4 r 9 d j 4 9 3 j e -9 r j 4 9 j e f 3 0 4 9 r 9 e -f j4093jf094jf094jf94f j o183edh9232wsjdh8923wd-j928wqdjxhd98w930uerd-j940ef jc89 j342ef483h-f 3 4 3 2 0 4 r 9 d j 4 9 3 j e -9 r j 4 9 j e f 3 0 4 9 r 9 e -f j4093jf094jf094jf94f j o183edh9232wsjdh8923wd-

he JUMPS !!!!!!!

FAST matt is running scared!!!

Agent 3: Crazy Daizy

reports !!!Agent 3

FAST matt JUMPSSSSSS!!!

START OVER !!FAST matt JUMPS in time!

FAST matt RUNNING!

Agent 2 PASSES HIM BY!

START

Agent 2 reports

ZOOOOOOM

OVER !!!

FAST matt RUNNING Again!!!

Fast matt pass by Agent 2 again!

Agent 2 reports

HE JUMPSssss!!!!

ZOOOOOOM

HE passes him by but no reaction ?!?!!!

START OVer !!!

Fast matt is running stuck in

his mind maze

Agents reports!

Fast matt runs

past the agents

Agents Anticipate

o183edh9232wsjdh8923wd-j928wqdjxhd98w930uerdj940e-fjc89j342ef483hf343204r9d-j493 je-9r j49 jef3049r9e-f j 4 0 9 3 j f 0 9 4 j f 0 9 4 j f 9 4 f j o183edh9232wsjdh8923wd-j928wqdjxhd98w930uerdj940e-fjc89j342ef483hf343204r9d-j493 je-9r j49 jef3049r9e-f j 4 0 9 3 j f 0 9 4 j f 0 9 4 j f 9 4 f j o183edh9232wsjdh8923wd-j928wqdjxhd98w930uerdj940e-fjc89j342ef483hf343204r9d-j493 je-9r j49 jef3049r9e-f j 4 0 9 3 j f 0 9 4 j f 0 9 4 j f 9 4 f j o183edh9232wsjdh8923wd-j928wqdjxhd98w930uerdj940e-fjc89j342ef483hf343204r9d-j493 je-9r j49 jef3049r9e-f j 4 0 9 3 j f 0 9 4 j f 0 9 4 j f 9 4 f j o183edh9232wsjdh8923wd-j928wqdjxhd98w930uerdj940e-fjc89j342ef483hf343204r9d-j493 je-9r j49 jef3049r9e-

Agents reports!

Fast matt Spots Suspect

Fast matt Jumps back to First REality !

he is stuck!!!!

Love & MoustachesCast: Jordi Domènech + Caroline Pierce + Alexandra BugaCrew: Giovanni Smets + Allan Ignaczak + Desiree Haupts + Theo Prasidis10 minute movie using JVC GY-HM600 Completed May 2011Link: https://vimeo.com/40041502

Love and Moustaches is a tale about hope and doubt. It starts when Ja-mal a young man spots beautiful Emily walking on the beach. He tries to take her picture, and with his trial a fantasy of what-could-be draws the movie. The story is a walk and a talk about dreams, pictures, likes, dis-likes and of course moustaches colored by the attraction and emotions rising between Jamal and Emily. Love and moustaches is a longing to love story where Jamal makes a voyage through the fantasy he wishes to capture with his camera, through doubt, and back again to reality, with no camera to hide behind, just his doubts and hopes.

1.1B1.1A 1.1C 1.1D

2.1B2.1A 2.2 2.3

2.4B2.4A 2.5 2.6

Story board

1. Love & Moustaches making off

2. Love & Moustaches making off

3. Love & Moustaches making off

4. Love & Moustaches making off

3.ARCHITECTURE

Beirut In BetweenFinal Year ProjectAmerican University of Beirutwith Instructors Rana Haddad + Rami DaherOct. 2006 - June 2007

Beirut in Between makes use of leftover spaces found in the city , and offers a much needed constructive public space for the youths of Beirut. The youths need a new opportunity of development, diversity, and new frontiers beyond space limitations. Beirut In Between are spaces for the youths of Beirut designed to serve their needs in order to enhance their sense of belonging to a city that needs them. Beirut in Between study took place in Ghobaire a low middle class residential area in the suburbs of Beirut. A place full of youth and scarce on spaces.Beirut in Between are neutral spaces of interaction, creativity, informa-tion support, and development, offered to the Lebanese youths, who want to grow and express their authentic identities

1- Story of BIBi-Once upon a time, there was a boy call B, playing in his neighborhood, which had a lot of spaces for him to play in. ii-Then a building was built in that space but it only took a part of it so B kept playing in the space.iii-But then many other buildings came up, and B didn’t have any space left to play.iv-So what he did is he flooded his neighborhood with water.v-And where the water seeped and remained,the spaces in between, is his new playing space. There is always space.

i.

ii.

iii.

iv.

v.

3. Ghobaire neighborhood

4. Mapping of left-over spaces

i.From junk space to real spacei. Choose a blockii. Cast the void iii. Subtract unusable space iv. Conclude space

ii.

iii.

iv.

5. Intervention site elevation

6. Intervention site perspective

9. Gobi 1.06, an intervention part of Beirut In Between8. In-progress study model of the leftover space of Gobi 1.06

10. Gobi 1.06 structural build-up

12. Skin structure

Dubai Constantwith Polypod / Hani Asfour + Lina Abu Rislan + Chantal HarbThyssenKrupp 11th Architecture Award entryCompetition Site: Za’abeel Park - DubaiAugust 2008 - Sep. 2009

Dubai constant is a safe harbor for the people of Dubai. It is a reliable base from which Dubai’s collective memory will spring, as a witness and a guardian, as a reference and a support. As a constant.Dubai Constant provides a much-needed permanence amongst the emptiness of the fleeting spectacles of modern living. Dubai Constant, in its publicness, emerges as the first living icon of the city. Its structure is a product of dynamic vectors that evoke machine-like rhythms, which, in their lightness, de-materialize the tower’s massiveness. The rich pro-grams encourage spontaneous and unscheduled events that dismantle any possibility of pinning a singular reading of the experience.

1. Process sketches and models

3. Section

a

b

c

d

2. Plan in progress

4. Elevation of Dubai 5. Tomorrow Steps 6. Today Gallery 7. Urban Common

4

5 6 7

8. People Stairs

Dubai Constant is at once a tall urban object and a welcoming public space. Standing at 170m, it emerges proudly from the ground, where it appeals to the human scale through its elements and details. At the same time, it addresses its immediate contextDubai Constant, ultimately, represents the ephemeral permanence, the immaterial presence, and the transient strength that is the future of Dubai. Ever changing, Dubai Constant is the much needed anchor that will ensure Dubai’s constant transforma-tion and growth.

9. Elevation

As a public space Dubai Con-stant works like a gigantic piece of urban furniture an-choring the middle-ground: through its programs, it activates the neglected in-between open spaces with identity and community building activities.As an icon, it plays an af-firmative role in defining the background—the skyline of Dubai. As a functional object, it creates a foreground for each of its users through the haptic interactions they create and experience.

10. Perspective - Looking up from Wire City

Flow 17 with 4b Architects Competition by Kittaneh Group Competition Site: Plot# 3696 in Badaro, Beirut Feb 2011 - March 2012

Flow 17 is a residential complex that takes place in Badaro District in Beirut. It is located at a cross point between a commercial road and a neighborhood street. It is located between two different city scales an office building one, and a smaller neighborhood residential one. The com-plex contains 36 apartments of 4 sizes; 250m2, 200m2, 120m2, 80m2.Flow 17’s main idea is to keep a flow of space between the main road and the neighborhood thus inviting the light inside flow17’s inner space and into the adjacent neighborhood; Marking the light space with green planes and facades, providing the residents with gardens and the area with breathing space. The slides following show the background study and three different schematic designs. All the ideas are driven by the idea of the flow but each translated into a different volume and skin.

1. Location 2. 3D Model of the Area

16 14

8

North

3. Flow Space Diagram of Flow 17 4. Skyline on Main Road

5. Sun Movement Diagram

Scheme 1

Scheme 2

Scheme 3

4.INTERIOR DESIGN

BWGhirosaki / Lina Abu Rislan Make Up BoutiqueSaida - LebanonSep 2009 - Jan 2010

The young make-up artist wanted to start the site execution of her beauty lounge in three weeks. She didn’t want to demolish anything existing. Overlay. Inspired from the elegant human touch of make-up art, the walls disappear behind light-washed white voile curtains. Softness. Each of the three main spaces of the lounge has a varying light qual-ity and privacy level. BWG stands for black, white and gold. The white symbolizes light carved out of a mass— black, while the shine in gold represents the carefully designed and placed objects inside the carved spaces and in between them. The austere color scheme of black and white is tinted with framed moments of bright pink, creating a sense of fresh elegance and gateways through experiences

1. Schematic Diagram

2. Conceptual Plan

3. Schematic Perspective

4. Schematic Plan

2.

3.

4.

5. Boutique Reception

6. Make Up Room

7. Specialist Room 8. Bathroom

9. Make Up Room

nsite

nSITE is a creative community workspace and an accessible and supportive learning environment on the ground floor level of a building in the heart of Beirut. Learning Space. nSITE is a space for individuals, pairs, groups and communities from all ages and backgrounds to reflect, exchange, share and co-create freely and responsibly. Its settings adopt flexibility and build on multiplicity in scales, functions and levels of privacy, hence providing resources and opportunities for working, holding events, experimenting, visualizing ideas and other activities of creative communication. Settings for inspiration. In its delicately minimalist design and use of raw materials, nSITE is a background that invites engaged reinterpretation of possibilities of being in it.

hirosaki / Lina Abu Rislan NGO HeadquartersBeirut - LebanonAug 2009 - Dec 2010

1. nsite spatial diagrams

4. Entrance Perspective

2. Main Space Perspective

3. Main Space Rear Perspective

5. Main Space 6. Entrance

8. Working Space7. Through the looking glass

9. Window Overlooking Main Space 10. Private Working Space

11. nsite main Space

Wadi Fresh Outletwith Maha NasrallahOrganic Food StoreCairo - EgyptAugust 2011 - Dec 2011

This concept proposes an integrated design with nature, a Nature Friendly Shopping Experience, at the level of the design by using natural or recycled construction materials as well as at the Commercial level by targeting clients with the same philosophy. The program offers a good opportunity to intervene on an already designed structure on the site proposing a new function in line with nature and farming activities with the linear park. The site is a dense green olive grove planted on a grid of 4m x 6m. The proposed landscape treatment respects the grid composing with the given conditions, and using the site to its full potential, at times re-locat-ing some of the olive trees to insert new plantations.

Outlet Entrance

Cash Point

Coffee Shop

Display Unit

Green Area

Fish Pond

Outlet Restaurant

Indoor Area

Netted Area

Service Area

Display Unit

Office Desks

Open Storage Area

Closed Storage Area

2. Outlet Plan

Desert Highway Service Road

Farmers M

arket

Parking

Pedestrian Path

Existing Service Buildings

Gate

Advertisement Flags

Outlet

1. Top Plan

15m

9m

5m

3m

Netted Dome

Indoor Dome

Service Dome

Highest

Suspended Lighting +

Advertising Lanterns

Indoor Domes Skin:Double Glazed Panels

Netted Dome Skin:Shading Triangular Panels

Netted Triangular Panels

3. Section

1. City Overlay

2. Display Blocks + Landscape

3. Lighting + Advertising Grid

4. Structure + Skin

4. Build - Up 5. Axonometric

6. Outlet Perspective

7. Outlet Interior Perspective 8. Products’ Presentation

5.Objects

Paper Expresswith Hamza Sarout + Jamal MlaebAmerican University of BeirutVertical Studio with Instructors Hani Asfour + Ayman ZahreddineMarch 2004

Paper Express is a white space where citizens can express their thoughts and feelings, observe the expressions of others, and interact with people in real and paper space.Paper Express in its final form emerged from studying writing postures and paper roll strategies. The experience was continuously tested on a one to one scale. Paper Express intends to provide a space that allows people to express freely. No matter what they are trying to express - their thoughts, feel-ings, or just random scribbles - It seems that people have the tendency to write on blank public surfaces. As if they are leaving an eternal fingerprint. A basic answer to a basic human urge.

1. Examples of expressions in the city

2. Writing-body postures

3. Different scenarios of Paper Express

Paper Express design process started with studying the writing postures and paper roll strategies. It developed into a 3D model leading to the final one to one model. With Paper Express we got the chance to experience the design of the “built” and adjust it.

4. Paper roll strategies

5. 3D model of design in progress

6. Final model5. Building process 7. Final model + writing postures

8. Paper skin There are different kinds of details in PaperExpress; connection, lighting, display, and structure.

How to use ?

- Express- Interact- Observe- Read- Don’t leave any white spaces

9. Paper Express after use

Perceptionfree time experimentationMarch 2008

BlissBliss street AnalysisDesign Studio IAUB Archtiecture StudiesFebruary 2003

Stick ModelDubai Constant In Progress StudyPolypodNovember 2008

Idea 3Dubai Constant Formal ExperimentationPolypodAugust 2008

6.PHOTOGRAPHY

Life Without a VisionModel: Toufic Al AyyashCompetition entry in Soura Photography Magazine Jan. 2008

Appearance Life starts you appear you immerge so small so insig-

nificant relative and in the background. You grow get In Touch it’s all about the body it’s all about the strength. Being dominant is life it’s in the posture it’s in the knife. Suddenly you are larger than life you are at

the Zenith. The peak of your existence the peak of your strife No worry to survive. The top is nothing but the beginning of the end you can’t

handle it it’s your Recluse nobody can see you like that you are not the man you used to be away please away. Until others are so away and

you have no choice but to Condense once again insignificant once and once again in the background living the life; the Life Without a Vision

Appearance

In Touch

Zenith

Recluse

Condense

Hamra Noirwith Michael James DennsionA series of Poems by Michael assorted and accompanied with photos by Rabih IbrahimJuly 2010

Hamra Noir is a book of chosen poems by Professor Michael James Dennsion inspired by the city of Beirut, and specifically the neighbor-hood of Hamra. The final product is a result of cooperation of his words and my photographs and layout design.The book is a result of a personal reading inspired by our separate artis-tic experiences of a distinctive city. The juxtaposition of the perspectives draws a multi-personal picture of Hamra. And in the words of the author “with love and gratitude looking into the private gates of my city, to the people, to the spaces, to the ghosts.”

1. Snapshot of a spread from the book

THE INQUIRY AT THE BORDER

“...Why have you come to Beirut?I have come to meet a friend...”

1

THE WEDDING

“...and the zodiac dream, this is how it started, when I knew the sails were black...”

21

DREAM SONNET(From Dante’s La Vita Nuova)

“...This sonnet is for all my brothers who do notstand a chance in love and hate to think aboutthe woman but still do...” 29

NOTE FROM BEIRUT TO HANNAH

“...I had watched you turn his pagesin the loft of the churchland a year later...”

43

Camera City TourCameras:- N65 Nikon (Analogue)- Olympus E-620 (Digital)

Instructions: grab1 Camera WALK in the city, LOOK around, and TAKE pictures. Results : Spaces . Places . People . Architecture . Kids . Emotions . Mov-ies in the Making . Objects . Cities . Leaves . People . Structure . Junk . Leftovers . Close ups . Lamps . Statues . Water . Reflection . Transparency . Tunnels . Spaces . Lights . Movement . Peep hole . Openings . Opaque . Alone . Together . Mechanics . Screw . Wheel . Texture . Shadows . Alignment . Fantasy . Shadows . Spaces . Objects . Moments . Colors . White . Black . Illusion . Lines . In Between . Community . Together . Sky . Rhythm . Repetition . Walk . History . Focus . Background . Depth of Field . Geometry . Stories . History . The Moment Before . Juxtaposition . Eyes . Direction . Lines of Vision . Vision.

P1011436

karthaj , TunisiaSeptember 2011

PA233284

Barcelona , SpainSeptember 2011

LCNV000018

Damascus , SyriaNovember 2009

PA112813

German Pavillion, BarcelonaOctober 2010

PA3117216

Rotterdam, NetherlandsMarch 2011

PA112819

Crazy Daisy A Story of A Moment PhotoshootJanuary 2011

WCNV000017

Madaba , JordanSeptember 2010

PA102537

Barcelona , SpainOctober 2010

WF1000010

Beirut , LebanonApril 2006

CNV000014

hiroskai brand photo shootJune 2010