designportfolio april david
[environmental design + interior + architecture]
designportfolio
[environmental design + interior + architecture]
april david 1177 alexander avenue winnipeg, manitoba r3e 1k7 canada aprildavid24@hotmail.com www.aprildavid.com
+ table of contents
+ 04
ABOUT ME //
+ 06 CONNECTIONS // + 08 MISC. GRAPHICS // DESTINATION LIBRARY // + 10 + 12 MIND GAMES // WRITTEN MESSAGES // + 14 + 18 HCUBE // + 20 DREAMSCAPES // DROSSCAPES + ECARTOGRAPHIES // + 22 + 24 TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY // MISC. PROCESS // + 26 + 28 IMMERSED IN IDLENESS // + 34 WARMING HUTS // ESCAPISM AND LEGACIES// + 36 + 38
TIMELINE //
[ABOUT ME] I appreciate design in all mediums and at all scales with my strong passion for not only architecture, but also for interior design, graphic design, photography and art. My education in both interior and architecture has strengthened my belief and approach to designing holistically, at which every level or scale of design requires equal attentiveness and thoroughness. My strong organizational skills and work ethic have proven to be a beneficial attribute in everything that I pursue.
05
CONNECTIONS //
ID4 + SENSORY TECHNOLOGY + SCOTT, DEB Both function and form is resolved through connections resulting in a programmatically hybrid piece of furniture.
GROUP MEMBERS APRIL + SARA + KALEY + KATE + TANYA
“Adventure is a path. Real adventure – self-determined, self-motivated, often risky – forces you to have firsthand encounters with the world. The world the way it is, not the way you imagine it. Your body will collide with the earth and you will bear witness. In this way you will be compelled to grapple with the limitless kindness and bottomless cruelty of humankind – and perhaps realize that you yourself are capable of both. This will change you. Nothing will ever again be black-and-white.” – Mark Jenkins
MISC. GRAPHICS// 2006 - 2010
"There's a reason we refer to "leaps of faith" - because the decision to consent to any notion of divinity is a mighty jump from the rational over to the unknowable, and I don't care how diligently scholars of every religion will try to sit you down with their stacks of books and prove to you through scripture that their faith is indeed rational; it isn't. If faith were rational, it wouldn't be - by definition - faith. Faith is belief in what you cannot see or prove or touch. Faith is walking face-first and full-speed into the dark. If we truly knew all the answers in advance as to the meaning of life and the nature of God and the destiny of our souls, our belief would not be a leap of faith and it would not be a courageous act of humanity; it would just be... a prudent insurance policy."
faith
redemption
balance
DESTINATION LIBRARY //
ID4 + DESTINATION LIBRARY + KARPAN, DR. CYNTHIA The Architecture/Fine Arts Library has been successful in fulfilling it’s purpose for nearly 50 years. This project is intended to propose an image that will seek the potential of the existing space and merge it with the ever-changing modern context. The design will ultimately incorporate a new and sophisticated aesthetic allowing it to not only adapt to contemporary times, but exist for many more years to come. The design is based on the exploration of two terms, observation and interaction, both of which are a derivative pertaining to some of the ways in which one learns and gains knowledge. This is in response to the educational ideals put forth by not only both departments but by the users as well. 11
MIND GAMES //
AMP2 + MIND GAMES + ENNS, HERBERT Each panel or mirror serves as a blank canvas upon which light and the reflection of light paints a fragmented image.
13
WRITTEN MESSAGES (PART 1) //
ID4 + EXCHANGE REMIX + ISAAC, KATHERINE + COMEAU, JAC
15
WRITTEN MESSAGES (PART 2) //
ID4 + EXCHANGE REMIX + ISAAC, KATHERINE + COMEAU, JAC Written Messages is a proposed design of a stationary store in which its programs are sculpted by the properties of paper. The concept of folding is utilized to define spaces.
17
GROUP MEMBERS APRIL + SCOTT + ANNELIES
H-CUBE //
ED4 + TECHNOLOGY + MINUK, NEIL H-CUBE is a transformable device of which presentation drawings and models can be mounted upon.
19
DREAMSCAPES //
AMP2 + MIND GAMES + ENNS, HERBERT The premise of the design is to stimulate introspection (self-reflection) through the combined phenomenology of light and movement. The spatial concept attempts to fuse together the interior, exterior and landscape into a streamlined dreamscape. The interplay between lucid dreams and reality will be explored through the juxtapositions of varying materiality, a spectrum of light experiences and architectural gestures.
21
TRAVEL PHOTOGRAPHY //
WINNIPEG + NEW YORK + COPACABANA
25
MISC. PROCESS // DRAWINGS & SKETCHES
IMMERSED IN IDLENESS (PART 1) //
M1 + SUPERFICIAL CITY + AQUINO, EDUARDO + SHANSKI, KAREN This project is based on the premise that our work-obsessed culture, within the context of an urban cityscape, has made the notion of idleness vastly appealing and the allure of being immersed in hyperrealities second nature. This constant desire of wanting to escape our own realities reflects the psychological reliance upon immersion as a way to understand the world and our place in it. This project seeks to examine the ways in which moments of idleness and active-stillnesses can reveal spaces of escape from the accelerated temporalities enforced by social norms.
29
IMMERSED IN IDLENESS (PART 2) //
M1 + SUPERFICIAL CITY + AQUINO, EDUARDO + SHANSKI, KAREN Feirinha da Madrugada, Sao Paulo, Brazil. The project developed into a joint, collaborative design initiative that evolved into a hybrid extension of the night market. Both of the individual projects sought to reconcile the realms above and below grade through the development of integrating existing and desired programs that derived from this unique and highly complex site. Each day the market is populated by thousands of consumers who are primarily transported to this location by tour buses. Hovering above grade is an elevated hotel complex in which the targeted inhabitants are these bus drivers. The hotel is also attached to an elevated skywalk intended for additional retail programs. The project serves a duality of encouraging idleness and in doing so, in turn is meant to increase proficiency in the commerce that occurs there. This intention of the project becomes reflection of how in Brazil, the perception of idleness is not just an excess luxury but is also a necessity, a way of life.
31
IMMERSED IN IDLENESS (PART 2) //
M1 + SUPERFICIAL CITY + AQUINO, EDUARDO + SHANSKI, KAREN
COLLABORATION APRIL + SOUK
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HOTHUTS //
M2 + WARMING HUTS + AQUINO, EDUARDO + SHANSKI, KAREN
GROUP MEMBERS
GORDON YIU + MACKENZIE LOEWEN + MARK VAN DORP + ERIN CRAWLEY + TRACEY UMAILI + NICOLE HUNT + TAYLOR HAMMOND + JEFF DEL BUNON + MALLORY BRIGGS + BETH HICKS + LORI FOSSUM + CALEE GUSHIAK + MARI AGUIRRE + LUS MIGUEL ORTIZ BARRAGAN + JON GRANKE APRIL DAVID + SOUK XOUMPHONPHACKDY + MATTHEW TRENDOTA + PAUL DOLICK + EDUARDO AQUINO + KAREN SHANSKI
“HOTHUT is an exploration into foam’s inherent structural, visual and acoustic qualities by intensifying the hut’s social and cultural experience. Carved from a solid block of high-density foam, HOTHUT is a collection of body spaces that engage visitors... HOTHUT playfully questions the relationship between empty and full, positive and negative, contained and exposed, generating spaces to rest and escape in ways that feel both inside and out.“ - Eduardo Aquino Rendering By: Paul Dolick Photos By: Mackenzie Loewen
35
ESCAPISM & LEGACIES //
M2 + STUDIO + AQUINO, EDUARDO + SHANSKI, KAREN
The Seduction of Escapism and the Aftermath of Legacies
My current work and thesis is based on the discourse that the hosting of mega events continually and increasing becomes a motivational opportunity for a city to revitalize and transform its existing conditions. The role of architecture, infrastructure and urban planning then operates as monumental legacies that serve to support the success of these events. This architectural proposition will attempt to explore the complexities, temporalities and the potential of future, event-driven developments. Emphasis will especially be placed on a proposed methodology to reimaging post event occupancy and viability. It is within this context that the project continues to question how can architecture serve as a mechanism to facilitate escapism and explores the implications in the constant pursuit of escapism.
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POST SECONDARY EDUCATION
2005 UNIVERSITY ONE UO 1
2006 ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN ED 1
2007 ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN ED 2
2008 ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN - INTERIOR ENVIRONMENTS ID 4
2009 ARCHITECTURE AMP 2
2010
2011
ARCHITECTURE M1
ARCHITECTURE M 2 - THESIS
2012
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+ APRIL DAVID + DESIGN PORTFOLIO + UNIVERSITY OF MANITOBA + FACULTY OF ARCHITECTURE + 2005 - 2012 +