Nawal Abdul | 2025

Hello!

> My name is

I am a second-year undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo School of Architecture, eager to explore the architectural design industry.

I’m a designer who’s detailedoriented and passionate about my craft, always seeking new and innovative ways of creating immersive narratives within space that resonate with the people who experience them. Through my work in architecture, I strive to constantly experiment with new materials, forms, and concepts, pushing the boundaries of traditional architecture and conventional design.

I look forward to continue refining my skills and challenging myself in the architectural design field, using my love and prowess for design to leave meaningful contribution to your team!

My Values

> Ingenuity

> Experimentation

> Curiosity

> Honesty

> Passion Likes

> My pocket sketchbook

> Collecting CDs

> Illustrating

> Crafts

> Making Short Films

> Fish

CURRICULUM VITAE

Summary Of Qualifications

Experience

01.2025-04.2025 Toronto, Ontario

> Proficient in a variety of architectural softwares, including Rhino, V-Ray and Adobe Suite (Illustrator, Photoshop, Indesign)

> Excellent time-management and organization skills, successfully managing both personal and school projects

> Ability to excel in collaborative environments, promoting a positive work culture and actively contributing to group projects

Architectural Consultant, SWON LLC

> Developed innovative and sustainable design solutions to address the affordable housing crisis in Indigneous communities

> Created and compiled high-quality drawings, renders, and diagrams to support design visualization

> Engaged in project discussions, collecting key points and presenting thoughtful design solutions

Skills

Digital

Rhino 7/8 AutoCAD

Revit Blender V-Ray

Enscape

Photoshop Illustrator

Indesign

Clip Studio Lightroom

Microsoft Suite

Google Suite

Analogue

09.2024-present Cambridge, Ontario

09.2024-present Cambridge, Ontario

Marketing Coordinator, WASA

> Collaborated with a group of leaders, proposing ideas and solutions to create a more engaging and inclusive school environment

> Designed marketing campaigns on social media and in school for events

Editor, galt.

> Collaborated with a team of editors and writers to produce a cohesive, creative, and compelling issue

Model Making

Hand Drafting

Wood Working

Laser Cutting

CNC Milling

3D Printing

Sketching

Traditional Art

Languages

English

French

Education

University of Waterloo, School of Architecture | 2023-present Cambridge, Ontario, Canada

> Candidate for Bachelor’s of Architecture studies/Honours Co-op

Distinctions

Dean’s Honour List/Excellent Academic Standing | 2023-present Term average for all courses above 80%

Barbara MacKay Memorial Award | 2023

Excellence in the Arts in Streetsville Secondary School

President’s Scholarship of Distinction | 2023

Admissions average above 95%

Urdu

Garden of Barzakh

Typology

Location Course Garden Cambridge, Ontario, Canada Spring 2025

The Garden of Barzakh acts not only as an intervention on the site, but an intervention of the soul. Barzakh, which is a realm found between the physical body and afterlife is an intermediary buffer space where the soul fully seperates iteself from the body.

The space manifests in ways that are unique to the individual - creating a complex and dynamic landscape that is experienced differently by each soul. However, for all, this landscape becomes a place of contemplation, selfreflection, discovery, and spiritual reconnection.

Plan

With influences from Mughal paradise gardens, charbaghs, and indian stepwells, the garden becomes a space for spiritual healing and meditation, integrating a ritual mikveh within the program. Water becomes a metaphor and manifestation of the soul while the individual travels within their physical body - conversing with the soul through the sequence of spaces.

A matrix of trees, shrubs, and herbaceous plants are arranged in a grid to elicit imagery of paradise and stimulate all five senses. The planting is split into three main zones – the higher elevated terraces hosting a series of fruit, shade, and habitat trees, the mid zone hosting shrubs and ferns to help stabilize the soil, and the lowest level hosting colourful, aromatic plants.

Pavilion East and West Elevations, Sectional Perspective

rainwater runoff flows downward through drainage path

collection basin

filtration terrace planter system

1. filtration plants - little bluestem - pearly everlasting - wild bergamont

pipe 1 2 3 4 5

well collects purified water and pumps towards mikveh pavilion

The garden contains various aromatherapy plants that create a dynamic smellscape.

Primary aromatherapy plants include geranium, patchouli, chamomile, and silver sagebrush.

Fruit trees and berry shrubs within the matrix of planting make up the foodscape.

Red mulberry, eastern flowering dogwood berries, and flowering raspberries can be gathered for human consumption.

Various plants invite birds, small animals, and pollinators into the garden, creating a unique soundscape

Cardinals, robins, and warblers are some of the many bird species at rare that compose the melody of the garden.

1. Existing topography of basin slope

3. Exentuating the slope by manipulating topography into distinct terraces - rock walls using rocks collected from stream adds stability and distinction between walkable garden areas

2. Establishing new drainage paths on site and clearing of trees near base for garden

4. Proposed garden on site

AXIS School of Law

Typology

Location Course Law School Kitchener, Ontario, Canada Fall 2024

Caught between the dynamic downtown of Kitchener, the AXIS School of Law creates a point of intersection between the education of law and community. The school is located along the intersection of King and Victoria Street,

just outside the Kitchener Go and Central Station. The design strategically orients itself onto the site to encourage spaces of gathering, accessibility, and interactions.

The design reflects the school’s goal to create an overlap between public/civil law and education, creating an inclusive educational experience for the community, students, and faculty.

Sectional Perspective

The moot court within the school serves as the core of the building - a hinge from which the program and internal circulation is organized. The x-axis taken from the moot court harbors education based programming while the y-axis adopts more community based and public programming.

Director’s Cut

Typology

Location Course

Library & Cinematheque

Cambridge, Ontario, Canada Winter 2024

Tucked away between the bustling intersection of Dickson, Water, and Ainslie Street, Director’s Cut stands as a landmark on the site, grabbing passerby and encouraging circulation along the site, an area that is often overlooked. The unique, bold geometry of the library

abstractly represents the site and establishes flow both around and within the library, creating a hub for the intertwining paths found around Dickson Street.

Director’s Cut aims to celebrate film and cinematic arts within the community of Cambridge. With a collection of movies, books, film archives, and technology available for use, the library inspires creativity and curiosity in a medium of entertainment that conencts all types of people.

encourages circulation both inside and out

Second Floor Plan

1. quiet study area

2. book & media stacks

3. computer lab

4. private studio space

5. accessible washrooms

6. information desk

First Floor Plan

1. reception desk

2. cafe

3. auditorium/theatre

4. office

5. accessible washrooms

6. outdoor cinema seating

7. outdoor cafe seating

The Facade

Load bearing masonry walls built with concrete filled CMU gives the library the support needed to stand structurally.

Perforated brick walls are incorporated in the design to let in unique lighting and variation to the masonry walls.

1. Window sill

Leopold Artisan Cabin

Typology Location Course

Off-Grid Residence Baraboo, Wisconsin, USA Winter 2024

Located a short distance away from the Aldo Leopold Legacy Center and Leopold Family Shack in Baraboo, Wisconsin, The Leopold Artisan Cabin is an artist and botanist studio and research residence. It models itself on the legacy center’s passive strategy design and follows examples of the Leopold family ethic. As of spring 2023, the Leopold pines were due for a thinning. The surplus removed from the thinning would be milled and dried locally to be used in the artisan cabin’s construction. The shack also utilizes rapidly renewable local Baraboo materials, like sand and clay, in its landscaping.

The Cabin aims to be net zero in its operation and carbon neutral by generating its annual electricity needs through photovoltaic systems and making the most out of natural ventilation and daylighting.

Longitudinal Section - Energy Systems

Energy System

Water Well & Septic System

Composting Toilet

Water-To-Water Heat Pump

Radiant Floor Slabs

Wall Assembly

12.7mm Interior Pinewood Panelling

Vapour Barrier

250mm Class 1 Fire Rated Structural Insulated Panel

Foil Radiant Air Barrier (to reduce summer head gain)

25mm Exterior Pinewood Siding

Floor Assembly

Top Mounted Joist Hanger Ledger

50mm x 150mm Top Plate

12.7mm Pinewood Flooring

12.7mm Subfloor Extended Over Top of Structural Insulated Wall Panels

38mm Hydraunic Radiant Floor Heating Space

Wood Joists With Blown-In Cellulose Batt Insulation

25mm x 76mm Wood Furring 400mm O.C.

12.7mm Gypsum Board

North and East Elevation

Selected Pages from Marks+Matter(2025).pdf

Marks+Matter(2025).pdf

Project Year

Art Zine 2025

Marks+Matter(2025).pdf is an experimental zine that compiles the intimate textures of traditional media and personal thoughts into an abtract exploration of identity, nature, and emotional connection.

As a part of a more personal project, the zine weaves together hand-drawn illustrations, sketches, comics, and personal reflections, into an evolving introspective space.

Professional Work

Firm Project Term

SWON LLC

Kettle Point Affordable Housing Winter 2025