Dante Di Vincenzo Architecture Portfolio 2024

DANTE DI VINCENZO SELECTED WORKS 2024

DANTE DI VINCENZO dante.divincenzo@mail.utoronto.ca | 647-207-2899

EDUCATION

PROFESSIONAL

INVOLVEMENT

Honours Bachelors of Arts in Architectural Studies

University of Toronto (Graduated With High Distinction, 3x Dean’s List) 2019 - 2023

Beta and Associates

Assistant Project Coordinator Vaughan, Ontario 2020 - Present

Young Architects Competition - Hyperloop Campus University of Toronto Design Team 2019

Certificate in Sustainability of the Built Environment University of Toronto 2021

Ontario Building Envelope Council Student Executive University of Toronto 2021 - 2022

Ontario Architects Association Student Member Toronto, Ontario 2022 - Present

Jane and Finch Mall Stage Design + Build

Corner Commons / University of Toronto (Design + Build Studio) 2022

Archstorming Competition - Mozambique Learning Centre Kurandza 2022

Hyperloop Team Graphics Lead University of Toronto Hyperloop Team 2022 - 2023

SKILLS

SOFTWARE

Laser Cutting Woodshop Photography Videography Construction Model Making Architectural Representation Graphic Illustration Rhino Grasshopper Adobe Illustrator Adobe Photoshop AutoCAD Google Sketchup

TABLE OF CONTENTS Duality House A secluded and open dwelling in an urban centre

Creative Arts Student Centre Student learning centre focused on the arts

Connected Student Housing Student living connected to the urban context

Corner Commons Design Build Sparking a community parking lot with a stage

Mozambique Girls Learning Centre Girls learning centre promoting safety and play

YEAR: 2022 | DURATION: 6 WEEKS | TYPE: ACADEMIC | INSTRUCTOR: PETROS BABASIKAS

DUALITY HOUSE

A SECLUDED AND OPEN DWELLING IN AN URBAN CENTRE CONTRASTING RESIDENT NEEDS: The dwelling space designed is for two co-living friends, situated on a tight alleyway plot in a dense urban area. One resident is an introverted programmer, requiring reclusive and private space for work and living, blocking out the sensory overload of Kensington Market.

The second resident is an extroverted architect, who requires space open to the exterior, to bring in natural elements like light and air, and offer views to the city. The result is a private first floor that, moving vertically upwards, gets increasingly more open.

RECLUSIVE: A translucent polycarbonate facade blurs interior activity from the outside world, and its combination with wooden fins acts as a privacy screen. At the first floor the only visible apertures are narrow slit windows. Entrance doors are not open to the streets, they are accessed by entering openings in the facade, then turning 90 degrees once in the covered porch.

Internally, the basement work space and ground floor bed space are inwards facing, besides glass panels that open up to the backyard garden.

OUTGOING: In the evening the building comes to life, giving off a soft glow of diffused warm light, partially obstructed by wooden fins. A shared dining and living area becomes more open to the outside on the second level, with a backyard-facing patio.

Lightwells supply generous amounts of natural light into the third floor double-height bedroom and fourth floor architect’s office, which opens out to the rooftop terrace.

LEFT: Aerial shot of existing laneway site in Kensington Market RIGHT: Final rendering of the Duality House, from Augusta Avenue

Site Plot

Exterior vs. Interior Space

The site is located on Augusta Avenue, just south of Bellevue Park

Backyard is seperated from interior, rectangular massing is brought to maximum height

Angle Roof

Add Balconies

Gabled roof is utilized for ideal performance in Toronto’s climate

2nd and 4th floor balcony space allows for maximized connection to the outdoors

Natural Lighting

Facade Structural System

Windows and lightwells bring natural light into the interior, and allows for views out to the city

Timber fins support polycarbonate panels and act as a translucent wall, keeping interior private

Basement Programmer’s Office, Living Room

Ground Outdoor Garden, Bedroom, Bathroom

Level 2 Balcony, Kitchen, Dining Space, Living Room

Level 3 Bedroom, Bathroom

Level 4 Architect’s Studio, Rooftop Terrace

Roof

35mm Polycarbonate Panel

Timber Fin Support Frame

25mm Glass Panel

35mm Polycarbonate Panel

TOP LEFT: 1:100 concept massing model of preliminary wood frame house TOP RIGHT: 1:100 concept materiality model displaying a translucent sheet over a wood frame CENTRE: Exploded isometric showing the components of the facade’s panel construction VISIBILITY: Various models were created to test and showcase facade material effects to achieve a blurred visibility from the exterior through translucent walls and solid timber fins

LEFT: 1:20 detailed model, zoomed in to highlight the visual effect of the facade consisting of wooden fins and frosted plexiglass panels RIGHT: 1:20 detailed model photographed to show building proportions, form, and materiality

TOP AND MIDDLE ROW: 1:50 preliminary section model with removed south facade used to display light entering the house and testing the effectiveness of lightwells and windows LIGHT AND SHADOW: Multiple physical models were used to develop the effect of light entering or being omitted from the building to illuminate certain rooms based on program and user needs

BOTTOM LEFT: 1:100 concept model with removed north facade to show light entry through apertures RIGHT: Section perspective with removed south facade that connects residential programming to the open and closed elements of the facades

YEAR: 2021 | DURATION: 6 WEEKS | TYPE: ACADEMIC | INSTRUCTOR: JEFFREY GARCIA

CREATIVE ARTS STUDENT CENTRE STUDENT LEARNING CENTRE FOCUSED ON THE ARTS

MOTION: The main focus of this project was to use form as a tool for promoting movement through space.The final design acts as an indicator for motion and use, through architectural details.The external ramp that wraps the building promotes meandering up it.This ramp has flat points with outdoor seating, and winds up to a rooftop patio space and garden. The inverse is done for the basement circulation, where instead of an added ramp, an opening is carved out.Both steps and a ramp lead down into a centre for performances. Internally, stairs wrap the central atrium that brings natural light into the building.

INSTRUMENT: As a student learning centre that focuses on space for the creative and performing arts, it is fitting that the structure acts as an instrument, amplifying the sensorial outputs of its users. The building serves as an auditory instrument, as open spaces for performance fill the building with sound. The basement performance space and first floor stepped music friendly space encourage sonic performance to resonate throughout the centre. Visually, the space offers sighlines out into the city through the external ramp and outdoor patios.

Further, the varying floor heights and central atrium provide sightlines to different performative spaces within the centre, for example the basement and dance studio. Creative energy and performative spirit give life to this architectural instrument.

LEFT: Aerial view of existing site RIGHT: Final rendering of main entrance, from Devonshire Place

Site Plot

Chisel Basement Opening

A rectilinear mass is extruded from the initial site as a base form

An entrance to the lower level is chiselled from the backside of the mass

Subtract Atrium

Carve Out Balconies

A central atrium illuminates the building interior with natural lighting

3rd floor and rooftop balconies are added to connect to the outdoors

Add Exterior Ramp

Aperture and Furnishing Details

An exterior ramp is added, connecting the site to the interior floors and rooftop from the outside

Openings are detailed, architectural details are added as functional seating

Basement Open air performance space

Level 1 Instrument friendly space

Level 2 Music rooms, work spaces

Level 3 Open air patio, dance studio

Level 4 Artist space

Roof Open air terrace, roof garden

YEAR: 2023 | DURATION: 6 WEEKS | TYPE: ACADEMIC | INSTRUCTOR: JON CUMMINGS

CONNECTED STUDENT HOUSING

STUDENT LIVING CONNECTED TO THE URBAN CONTEXT

FEATURE STAIR: The complex’s main lobby connects the two residential towers with a feature stair that acts as both circulation and as a node for social interaction. The large stair promotes unexpected encounters between residents, and in turn potential for impromptu social connections. The stair features terraced platforms that offer a common place for students and residents to congreate at, acting as pockets for social, intellectual, and creative exchange.

OPEN AIR MARKET: The double height ground floor pilotis that support the residential towers offer a space for outdoor markets to spring up, a public ammenity that brings together the students of the campus and the greater urban fabric it operates in.

UNIT DIVERSITY: The connection of the student body to the public extends to the unit types. The apartments have housing options for both students and young families, specifically for housing recent graduates and university faculty. This is due to the four housing types, single student units, two student units, four student units, and larger units specifically for young families and university staff.

LEFT: Aerial shot of existing site RIGHT: Final rendering of main entrance, from Spadina Avenue

Site Plot

Extrude Massing

A main layout is derived from the existing site plot containing heritage buildings

Massings are brought up for a cafeteria, main lobby, and residential block

Carve Out Public Market

Split Residential Towers

The first two floors are removed and replaced with pilotis for an open air public market

The residential tower is split into two to accomodate for different resident types

Daylight Angles

Exposed Circulation

Varying building height and chamfering the lobby maximizes natural lighting througout

A pedestrian bridge, elevator shafts and egresses are added to the exterior to accentuate circulation

LEFT: Circulation plan showing major foot-traffic flows towards the residential towers.

BOTTOM: Ground floor plan (left) and residential floor plan (right).

RIGHT: Exploded axonometric displaying the main lobby stair, which offers residents with a place to congregate and work.

4 Person Student Housing FAR LEFT: Diagram displaying portion of the towers dedicated to each unit type.

LEFT: Detailed floor plans of each unit type.

1 Person Student Housing

2 Person Student Housing

3 Person Family Housing

RIGHT: Collages showing spatial qualities in the open air market (top) and the lobby at the base of the feature stair (bottom).

YEAR: 2022 | DURATION: 4 WEEKS | TYPE: ACADEMIC | INSTRUCTOR: AMY NORRIS AND CLINT LANGEVIN

JF MALL STAGE DESIGN + BUILD

SPARKING A COMMUNITY PARKING LOT WITH A STAGE AND SEATING CORNER COMMONS: The design build studio led by the University of Toronto and the Jane/Finch Centre took place at the busy intersection of Jane Street and Finch Avenue West in North York. The studio set out to transform the vacant corner of the area’s mall parking lot temporarily into a welcoming public space for the community. A stage and shaded seating were developed, where over the summer the site would be host to activities supporting local artists, grassroots groups, and community organizations from the neighbourhood. Out of 20 students, my design proposal was chosen and refined for a final proposal to stakeholders, and was fabricated and installed on the site by our class over 2 weeks. With the assistance of our instructors, the stage and seating came together smoothly.

WAVE: The design proposal focused on utilizing a wavy form as a gesture to make the stage stand out in the busy corner, visible to passing cars, pedestrians, and residents of the nearby apartments. The proposal was to be vibrant in colour and form, connected to the existing freeform ground mural. Triangular wooden panels of various sizes come together as a whole to form an undulating arch to frame the stage. This was coordinated with the seating station design, where shading systems above the seating also took the form of triangular waves. Help from classmates and instructors made the proposal come to life.

LEFT: Aerial shot of the main intersection of Jane Street and Finch Avenue West RIGHT: Photograph of the finished stage in the Jane Finch Mall parking lot

Stage Area

Wave

The platform and adjacent containers determine the stage area

The wave frames the platform with its peak at centre stage

Triangulate

Solid Geometry

Two more waves densify the stage front to highlight the form

The three waves are combined to form a triangular formal gesture over the stage

Divide

Reinforce

The triangular form is divided into an aggregate of wooden triangles of various sizes

The wave of wooden triangles is supported by wooden bracing that wraps the containers and extends over the stage as a roof

ABOVE: Photographs documenting the class construction of the stage and seating at the Jane and Finch Mall site, completed over a two week period RIGHT: Photographs documenting the completed stage and its triangular panels

YEAR: 2022 | DURATION: 6 WEEKS | TYPE: COMPETITION | TEAM: SAMMI KU, RYUTO HAMAGUCHI, MARTHA KHOSHABEH, JOSEPH PARK

MOZAMBIQUE GIRLS LEARNING CENTRE

GIRLS LEARNING CENTRE PROMOTING SAFETY AND PLAY

PLAY: The focus of this proposal was to create a learning centre with an emphasis on the safety of students and teachers, and the development of a learning environment that encourages play.

Safety is enforced with one front and back entry to the building, making it easy for teachers and security to monitor who enters and exits the centre. All other circulation is internal around the main courtyard. This open courtyard centres all classrooms, and allows users to get fresh air and stat active. The back garden offers the ability to grow plants and vegetables. A shaded library gives children the opportunity to relax while not in class.

LOCAL BUILDING: Local timber, sand, and cement bricks make up the structure, and twig slat walls provide filtered light and shade. A wooden double roof provides ventilation, shade, and shelter. Solar panels power the site, and a rainwater collection system keeps the garden plants hydrated. The design is intended to be feasible for construction using local materials, building methods, and builders.

LEFT: Aerial view of proposed site in Chivonguene, Mozambique RIGHT: Final rendering of the learning centre from its front entrance (render completed with team)

Site Plot

Stepped Platforms

Massing extents are developed around the Canhueiro Trees that must be preserved

Raised walkways wrap around the main courtyard

Modular Rooms

Lifted Roof Structure

Modular masses for class and supplementary rooms allow for growth of the school over time

A raised roof provides shade, protection from the elements, and passive cooling

Subtract Skylight

Detail Massings

A skylight brings natural light into the courtyard, and allows room for the Canhueiros to grow

Local materials and methods are used to sustainably built the school

dante.divincenzo@mail.utoronto.ca | 647-207-2899