Architecture Portfolio
James Jesmer LEED Green Associate
James Nicholas Jesmer
jamesjesmer@gmail.com 304.669.7401 1223 First Street NW, Washington, DC 20001
Design Death In The Round, Thesis Estuarine Field Research Station Children’s Camp Natatorium Art and Models Drawing Ceramics Models
Contents
Design
This project seeks to combat society’s negative association with death and the environmental detriment of the funeral industry. Combining multiple programmatic elements: a mortuary, alkali crematorium, funeral halls, dining, and recreation, this complex promotes sustainable interment practices, serving as a model for multi-use cemetery sites. The grounds offer a variety of landscape typologies that accommodate the needs of natural burial, while providing programming for a waterfront park. This project rests at the future urban edge of Port Covington in Baltimore, remediating a brownfield site and instilling values of environmental stewardship in the community.
100
Burial Cremation Ground Pollution
90
Air Pollution
80 Percent of Interments Nationally
Traditional cemeteries are known for their groomed, grass lawns with headstones denoting rows of graves. These environments often use vast swaths of land and serve as biological monocultures with one purpose—to hold people who have passed. Spaces like these are only activated when a burial takes place or when friends and family visit the deceased.
70
20 years
100 years
300 years
0.24 sqmi
1.21 sqmi
3.63 sqmi
30 20 10 0
2005
2010
2015 Year
2020*
2025*
2030*
Cemetery Space Needs in Baltimore Over Time
*Projected
Endless Expansion
Distance from Population 1 year 2.8 sqmi
10 years
28 sqmi
Overcrowding 33 years
Efficiency Over Individual
Square Miles of Trees Needed to Offset Carbon from Cremations
Program Elements
M.Arch Thesis: Death in the Round
92 sqmi
Contaminants
Funeral Hall Space Progression
Project Site: Baltimore City Scale
Project Site: Harbor Scale
Project Site: Patapsco River Scale
Entrance Progression From Parking
g . Divide Sacred And Profane e
Extend Prominence to Sacred
er
Define Program Elements
e Separate Element Volumes
Floor Plan With Context
ts .
Rotate to Define Space e
Align to Curve of Site
Unite Under Canopy
Entry Portico
Landscape Iterations
Site Plan and Context
Western Waterfront Path
Funeral Hall Waiting
Large Funeral Hall
Western Woodlands
Eastern Meadow
Longitudinal Section Through Sacred Wing
Visioning Sketches
Waterfront Boardwalk
The Monie Estuarine Scientific Habitat (MESH) was part of an integrated design studio that produced a book of design strategies for the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve’s future field station on Maryland’s Eastern shore. The field station housing and lab space for researchers and serves as an interactive learning space for K-12 field trips.
SINGLE BED
BEDROOM
WC
WC
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
BEDROOM
KITCHEN
STORAGE
CUST. CLOSET
MECH
A/V
STOR.
LAB
SWMP LAB
WC
OFFICE
EVENT
MUD ROOM TELEPHONE/ ELECTRICAL
SCREENED PORCH
Floor Plan
Team: Eric Bos and James Jesmer Exterior Perspective (Graphite)
Estuarine Research Field Station
MECH.
W/D
MESH was designed as two interlocking buildings. Their overlapping space is a metaphor representing the convergence of ecosystems in estuaries. This common area, lined with skylights, acts as a spine to organize the rooms of the building while also serving as a flexible space for different activities. To the north are bunkrooms, kitchen, living space, and the property keeper’s quarters. On the south side are the laboratories, offices, and event space. Raised on piles nine feet above groundlevel, MESH is accessible by points of entry around the perimeter. Terminating the wrapped the porch at the entrance creates a better distinction between the public and private areas.
BEDROOM
Site Section Across the Historical Farm Site
STOR.
CEDAR SHINGLES DRAINAGE LAYER WEATHER RESISTANT BARRIER 10” BAMCORE PANEL FILLED WITH CELLULOSE (R-33) VAPOR BARRIER 5” XPS (R-25)
ALUMINUM CAP GUTTER BEWTEEN SANDWICH OF TRUSS
South Elevation
SLIDING STORM SHUTTER
STEEL CONNECTOR PLATE
2X6 SANDWICH
SHIP LAP CEDAR CLADDING
GYP BOARD
AIR SPACE 3” XPS (R-15) WEATHER RESISTANT BARRIER 10” BAMCORE PANEL FILLED WITH CELLULOSE (R-33)
LIGHT FIXTURE
HEART PINE FLOORING 1 1/8” PLYWOOD 24” TRUSS
6X6 POST
12” CELLULOSE FILL (R-33)
WEATHER RESISTANT BARRIER 4” XPS (R-20) AIR SPACE 1” TONGUE AND GROOVE
West Elevation
Column/Truss Integration
Wall Section
Section Perspective Through Lab and Bunks
This site is part of a property in Upper Marlboro, MD that is intended as the future site for Children’s National Hospital’s residential summer camp for children with chronic health conditions. This natatorium was part of that future program.
1'225 1'225 32 22/
In concert with this project were several case studies and a course focus into healthy building materials with low embodied energy, referred to as “low heat.” These principles were important to this course as the quality of building materials could adversely affect the health of these campers more than other individuals. The complex provides an indoor pool with gradual entry for unviersal accessibility. The wall at the west end of the pool opens to create an open air pool when weather permits. A pond water pool offers shallow outdoor space for wading and entry for other water activties. A mix of hard and soft barriers control access to all sources of water and keep children in range of chaperones.
2:
Site Plan
The main structure for the natatorium is a laminated truss system design to be exposed and allow light to filter through the space.
Children’s Camp Natatorium
Scheme Development
Entrance to Pool
Section Through Site Expresses Relationship of Water
Pond Water Pool Looking Across The Site
Art and Models
Animal Skull Charcoal, 2015
Reduction Figure Study Black Charcoal, 2015
Jubilee Church Graphite, 2014
Drapery Study Charcoal, 2015
Self-Portrait Charcoal, 2015
Of Curves and Cloth Graphite, 2014
Foot Study Charcoal, 2015
Hand Study Charcoal, 2015
Figure Study NuPastel, 2015
On display at Gallery 517 in 2015
Girl with Orb Charcoal, 2015
FSU Juried Art Exhibition 2015
Figure Study NuPastel, 2015
Tea for Three Stoneware, 2014
FSU Juried Art Exhibition 2015 1st Place Ceramics
Turquoise Sphere Stoneware, 2015
FSU Juried Art Exhibition 2016
Seed Pouch Stoneware, 2014
FSU Juried Art Exhibition 2015
Form Follows Dysfunction Stoneware, 2015
Rough Cut Sphere Stoneware, 2016
Stress in Bone Stoneware, 2016
Profile Study No. 1 Stoneware, 2016
Cup.Saucer.Plate.Bowl. Stoneware, 2015
FSU Juried Art Exhibition 2016
Profile Study No. 2 Stoneware, 2016
James Jesmer,LEED Green Associate 1223 First Street NW, Washington, DC 20001 | 304.669.7401 | jamesjesmer@gmail.com