portfolio - spring 2016
DESCRIPTION
ÂTRANSCRIPT
design portfolioerika ulrich
Erika Ulrich is a recent graduate of the Faculty of Architecture at
the University of Manitoba, in Canada. While the density of urban
environments has always fascinated her, a studio trip to Iceland in
the spring of 2015 reminded her of the beauty found in remote
landscapes. Through film photography, sketching, and design,
she has been able to develop a deeper understanding of the world
around her.
Her final year of study has offered many exciting opportunities,
from co-editing a publication of student work, to participating in a
design build on a frozen river landscape, and she looks forward to
what may come next in her design career.
_contact204_330_0174
issuu.com/erikaulrich
Warming Huts v.2016 - Art and Architecture Competition
Editor of Collective Studio Portfolio - Fall 2015
Tiny Feast Shopkeeper - Fall 2015 - present
EPH Apparel Graphic Designer / Office Assistant - Spring 2014 - Fall 2015
- accepted to be a part of the University of Manitoba Warming Hut Team to design and build a warming shelter on the Red River Mutual Trail in Winnipeg, Manitoba in an international competition- our team was able to create one of the largest ice structures in the world, using fabric, water and a cable net structure in collaboration with the engineering department of MIT- personally involved in leading the interior aspect of the shelter, by designing and building the seating inside the structure, and the lighting of the structure
- asked to be an editor for the publication of the entire studio’s body of work from the Fall 2015 semester- assisted in the design of template and layout, collected submissions, and edited submissions to create a cohesive work to assist with the University of Manitoba’s accreditation process in the future
- working in the storefront of an independent home design and stationary shop in the heart of Winnipeg’s historic Exchange District
- assisted in design-related needs, using InDesign regularly to create advertisements and printed promotional work for events in addition to other office-related tasks
- assist customers in the store, restock items, and occasionally assist in store design and visual presentation of products on the floor
experience
education
awards
skills
Bachelor of Environmental Design
Iceland Studio
Winner in the Ames Tile CompetitionSpring 2015
University of ManitobaSpring 2016
Interdisciplinary studio with Dalhousie University, the University of Manitoba, and Tanis Paul Additionally organized an exhibition of student work in March 2016Spring 2015
AdobeInDesign, Photoshop, Lightroom
GoogleSketchup, GoogleEarth
MicrosoftWord, Powerpoint, Excel
Drafting / ModelingAutoCAD, Revit, Rhino, analog
Compositionsketching, writing, photography
Presentationpublic speaking, visual presentations
cont
ents 2 CULINARY
3 BUILD
26
38
Re:Food
Fabrigami
1 WORKPLACE
8Imaginet
The office of Imaginet reflects the amalgamation of the visible and invisible. It exemplifies
the moment an idea is shared, a website is launched, or a connection is made. It embodies
the fleeting, intangible moment when something comes into existence, the moment where
it no longer exists, and the traces that are left behind.
The atmosphere is ephemeral and light, creating a feeling of anything being possible.
Light, smooth finishes contribute to this atmosphere, with a variety of soft furnishings,
mixing both hospitality and corporate style furniture, to create a comfortable, inspiring,
yet pragmatic environment.
imaginet
I was inspired by Ainslie Murray’s work, Intangible
Architecture, and this art installation that she
created as a result. The occupant travels through the
installation, unaware of how the delicate cutouts,
string, and beads were created, but feeling the presence
of the beings that placed them exactly as they are. In
this same way, Imaginet will offer the occupant and
visitors a feeling of intangible excitement and idea
generation permeating the space.
Borrowing her visual language, I created a composition
that reflected the rhythm and movement through the
floor plan.
floor plan
The inspiration from Ainslie Murray’s work
can begin to be seen in the architectural
language of the floor plane.
presentation space
Flexibility in the presentation room is necessary, as
it can be used for client presentations or learning
sessions amongst the staff. Natural light was
prioritized in this space to emulate the feeling of
exciting new possibilities.
gaming space
The gaming room/movie night is also a part of the cafe/front of house area, and provides a large screen where they can play video games, watch movies, or present the town hall meetings. Seating from the other connecting areas can be arranged around the large screen, and the fabric panels can be pushed to the side, or fully enclose the space, depending on the activity.
cafe / event space
relaxation space
Just as an idea often needs time to formulate in
the deeper, shadowy parts of the mind, it was
important to include a space for employees to
breathe, stretch, and take time away from the
bright open atmosphere that occupies the rest
of the office. The employees are primarily male,
and during programming the women had stressed
the importance of including a place to stretch and
strengthen themselves physically in order to succeed
mentally, and it was crucial that the space allowed
men and women to perform their personal and
professional best.
“... it was crucial that the space allowed men and women to perform their personal and professional best”
This social space is fully integrated with the
workstations in the design corridor. The horizontal
slats work with Steelcase accessories to hold books,
post inspirational prints, and other personal items.
These are some of the items that I found in the
designers office, where they attempted to make
the space their own. I tried to use their natural
inclinations for personalization and incorporate
that into the new design. The carpet tile helps to
define the space, and the structure gives an intimate
feeling, for a quiet place to read or chat over a cup
of coffee.
social spaces
south elevationE4
west elevationE5
north elevationE6
private storage space with close access
Teknion’s Projek task chair
heigh adjustable table
The furniture chosen was Teknion’s “Journal” though it was rearranged slightly by rotating the desk and chair, and removing this seating bench, to add more surface area for paper work.There is a lot of storage in close proximity to the work space, which was important to include.
north elevation
workstations
The modern culinary experience is defined by convenience, aesthetics, and indulgence,
and has lost a sense of tradition that has surrounded the production, preparation, and
consumption of food for millenia. The project aims to restore the process of dining
by engaging the consumer in all stages. A gradual shift in elevation through the space
encourages the occupant to consider their own participation and take an active role.
re: food
photographic studysite _ exchange district of winnipeg
The existing architecture of the historic
building that we were working with played
a very important role in the development of
the floor plan. The columns along each wall
of the garage determined a grid, with rafters
spanning between them inspiring a form.
It was important to continue the language
that was already informed by the building,
and reinterpret that into a new spatial
design below the rafters, maintaining
a connection between the traditional
method of building and modern innovative
technologies.
concept
floor plan
wes
t ele
vatio
n _
mar
ket
east
ele
vatio
n _
coffe
e
west perspectivelevel one
north perspectivelevel two
west elevation _ cooking school
west elevation _ restaurant booth
southwest perspectivemarket
The historical nature of the building offered
an extremely playful opportunity to create a
hub of activity surrounding food production
and consumption in the cultural Exchange
District of Winnipeg.
conclusion
east / west building section
Fabrigami photography by Bret Gordon
Every winter in Winnipeg, Manitoba, a deep frost begins to settle over the prairie
landscape, and everything slows down, eventually freezing in a state of solid hibernation.
However, there is a place where two rivers meet, and for centuries people have continued
to meet there despite the extreme climate. Each year artists and architects compete for the
privilege to build structures on the frozen winter landscape, and facilitate the meeting of
people from across Canada and around the world.
Together with Lancelot Coar, Jason Hare, and Kim Wiese, as well as Caitlin Muller
and the Faculty of Engineering at MIT, the Fabrigami group attempted to integrate
the physical and digital design process to create an ice structure that would inherently
understand the harsh winter condition on the Red River.
fabrigami
diagram by photogrammetry team
The intial site was the boat docking station at the Forks. This site
was measured and documented by the photogrammetry team using
data points to 3D model the landscape. Due to unusually high
temperatures, the site was relocated to the pedestrain bridge, a short
walking distance from the original site. At the same time, three
dimensional origami forms began to take shape in model form.
Analogous materials were used to begin understanding the form and
how it will inhabit the space in 1:! scale.
process
The fabric was brought to the site, the steel cables
were assembled and attached to the bridge, and the
structure began to take shape.
construction
Grey felt was custom cut to
fit the top of weathered tree
stumps and the perimeter was
then nailed into the face of the
stump. The grey tones in the
wood and fabric compliment
the icy exterior, but the texture
completed the element of
warmth that completed the
project.
interior
