what connects us to architecture? Dennis Verlo LaPrade
Dear Recruiting Manager, I am a graduate of Portland State University with a Bachelor of Science degree majoring in Architecture. I am looking for an environment where I will be able to expand what I learned during college and apply it to real world design through problem solving with respect in furthering my knowledge and understanding in architecture. I feel this position would be a good fit for me, to allow me to expand knowledge in architecture and design as well as getting some true hands on experience. During my time at Portland State, I was able to be a teacher’s aide to my professor which allowed me to work with and guide first year students with their design challenges and provide them with constructive criticism to help them expand the detail of their work. Sustainability and how it relates to the human experience within architecture is something I am passionate about. Peter Zumthor, an architect I admire, works closely with a client in a way that creates architecture through a series of enriching conversations. I would like to set up an interview or conversation with you at your convenience to discuss any opportunities that may be available to me. I can be reached at my cell phone number 503.347.5053 or at my email dennis.verlo.laprade@gmail.com. I look forward to meeting you. Sincerely,
Dennis LaPrade
“We comfort ourselves by reliving memories of protection. Something closed must retain our memories, while leaving them their original value as images. Memories of the outside world will never have the same tonality as those of home and, by recalling these memories, we add to our store of dreams� Gaston Bachelard, The Poetics of Space
i was here.
In a sense to feel grounded to a place one lives, I have designed a memorial to the everyday person by taking an existing wall in Downtown Portland, OR that sits on a sloped site. This wall’s original design is attempting to be symetrical yet because of the slope creates the opposite of that. My design intervention takes the existing wall and adds to it, from the highest point on the wall I drew a horizontal line and in that void, I filled it in with a wood pattern that reflects the pattern ration of the stone work. The center of the wall, I leveled out the space to create a stable covered area that provides protection while allowing in an abundance of light fragments.
In a way to remove our filters on how we interpret the world, I broke down the space and materials to their root meanings and created something that related to my own personal history and how I experience the world. By using a very personal experience in my childhood I was able to create something that could translate to others in their own personal way.
A narritorium is a fictional place that is a collection of stories and maps that document a city’s history through the eyes of the individual, allowing the viewer to create their own knowledge of historical information through personal experiences, as well as giving the viewer a chance to record their own stories and experiences of a city’s past. The site of the building is located roughly in the center of Portland, OR, giving the viewer a unique experience with understanding and seeing the city.
The building is divided into two parts, the horizontal and the vertical. The horizontal houses all the verbal stories that can be told either formally on stage to an audience or informally to small groups of people over food and drinks in the cafe. The veritical houses the store which is where one could purchase maps and collections of stories to take with them while experiencing personal walking tours of the city. Above sits several floors of the library where one could immerse themselves in reading and listening to stories of the city. Further up sits the recording studio where one could document their own personal stories of the city through audio or written documentation. At the top sits the curator’s office and observation deck where one could reflect upon the city they are in.
Dennis Verlo LaPrade 131 West 5th Street, Apt 2 Bayonne, New Jersey 07002 dennis.verlo.laprade@ gmail.com
“For a knowledge of intimacy, localization in the spaces of our intimacy is more urgent than determination of dates.” Gaston Bachelard, The Poetics of Space
Personal Photography, focusing with urban context and details Figure Drawing and gestural sketching
Education
Portland State University
Sept 2004-August 2009 • Graduated with a Bachelors of Science • Majoring in Architecture at the School of Fine and Performing Arts • Emphasized in Urban Planning and Portland history as well as history of the urban city
Spokane Falls Community College
Sept 2002-June 2004 • Focus: Painting, Figure Drawing and Experimental Art
Professional British American Household Staffing SoHo, NYC June 2012-Current • Part-time freelance IT help • Assisted with office build out and computer setup • Helped with spatial design and office layout Embassy Suites Hotel Portland, OR July 2009-April 2012 • Valet/Bellman • Skilled in customer service • Works well with multitasking and on the spot problem solving • Extensive experience successfully working collaboratively with a team as well as independently
Teacher’s Aide Portland, OR Sept 2008-March 2009 • Two Quarters assisting Nikola Boscanin with his first year class • Helped with desk and group critiques • Helped with guidance and advice for students • Taught techniques learned while acquiring Architecture degree
Skills Proficient in AutoCAD, Rhino, FormZ, Photoshop, Illustrator, InDesign, PowerPoint, Google Earth, Sketchup, Kerkythea