Joseph Tomshe Architecture Portfolio 2024

Architecture Portfolio

Tulane University B.Arch 2020-24

Joseph Tomshe

Joseph Tomshe Phone (832) 326-2269 Email Jtomshe@icloud.com Website Jtomshe.com

Education Bachelor of Architecture Candidate Tulane University, 2020-25 - Cumulative GPA, 3.98 - New Orleans, LA

Work History

Internships Gensler, Architecture Intern; Chicago, IL. | June 2024 - August 2024 - Developed a detailed 3D model of an airport roof of using Grasshopper, integrating complex geometries and design elements to 3d print a physical model.

- Produced visually compelling diagrams for a hospital design competition in Illustrator, effectively communicating key design concepts and strategies.

- Supported the pre-design phase for a plastics manufacturing facility, conducting preliminary planning to establish project feasibility. Also developed initial spatial layouts of rooms and furniture.

Hanbury, Architecture Intern; Norfolk, VA | May 2023 - August 2023 - Worked with six other interns on a research project that examined future development of Virginia Beach; presented to the city council.

- Utilized Lumion to create realistic visualizations for a Tulane dormitory project, enhancing presentations for client and stakeholder review.

- Created detailed elevations for the renovation of a building facade using Rhino, capturing both existing conditions and proposed design updates.

Curious Form, Fabrication Intern; New Orleans, LA | May 2022 - August 2022 - Performed hands-on metalwork, including riveting, grinding, and welding, to fabricate and assemble custom sculptures.

- Gained insight into using Grasshopper in real world applications for custom sculptures.

Tulane University; Research/Teaching Teaching Assistant, Advanced Digital Media; Tulane University | August 2023 - December 2023 - Course dedicated to teaching Grasshopper for form finding.

Research Assistant, Ruben Garcia; New Orleans, LA | May 2023 - December 2023 - Developing four master plans on the Addis Ababa River in Illustrator.

Research Assistant, NO Office; New Orleans, LA | January 2023 - May 2023 - Made drawings and detailed digital models depicting research using Rhino 7.

- Designed/Fabricated two shelves for an exhibition.

- Modelled/3d printed scale model houses for an exhibition.

Awards, Honors, and Publications

Experience

Software

2020-24, Richard Koch Arc. Scholarship

2024 Tulane Architecture Curriculum Committee

2024 Tulane University Ten Student Research Projects, Dezeen

2024 Tokyo, Japan, Study Abroad

2024 Tulane Architecture Travel Fellowship Grant

2022-24 Tulane Cycling Club President

2023 Study Architecture Student Showcase - Part XXXIII, Studyarchitecture

2023 Tulane Senior Fund

2022 CELT Research Grant

2021-22 Tulane Architecture Peer Mentor

Rhino 7&8 Revit, User certified Adobe Photoshop Adobe Illustrator Adobe Indesign Blender V-Ray Grasshopper Creality

2022 Tulane Design Competition, 2nd Place 2021 NEF Design Drafting, 2nd in Nation 2020 Eagle Scout with Bronze Palm Award

2

Foreward As a grounding for the philosophy of my work, I believe that architecture is the embodied existence of our society. Buildings leave a permanent thought on the environment, intentionally crafted through the eyes of the architect. Pulling from all corners of our knowledge and dreams, it synthesizes the arts into one element that acts as the background to the lives of everyone and has the power to address urgent challenges of humankind.

01

Intertwining Blocks Urban Studio, Third Year Fall

02

Inserted Void

03

Jefferson Island Educational Center

04

Materials of Abolition

05

Grant Funded Research

Integrated Studio, Third Year Spring

Site Strategies Studio, Second Year Fall

Research Studio, Fourth Year Fall

Various Summers

3

01 Intertwining Blocks Fall 2022, Studio Project Professor Ruben Garcia Los Angeles, California Tasked with creating an urban catalyst on a previously designed master plan, Intertwining Blocks obtains its program from the historical impact of agriculture in Los Angeles. The proposal connects four rigid blocks with a more organic social condensing space with two circular bridge levels. Lighter elements in the between space allows for a juxtaposition of the four heavy masses. This language of circular geometry sometimes enters into the blocks, breaking up the rigidity of the spaces. Deriving from trees in plan view, the circles are also introduced into the roof section.

The roof contains integrated bioclimatic systems that protect the climate using automated louvres on the north faces that enable ventilation, water collection between valleys, and sun-reflecting louvres. The roof produces a syncopated rhythm due to repetitive louvres, adding distinctive shadow conditions to the interior. However, the facade aims to break up the rhythm with varyingsized stone panels. Some panels were removed for windows, and others on the south facade were turned into farming panels interacting with the farm in front.

4

Entry perspective 5

6

Isometric of intervention in master plan 7

1st Floor

8

2nd Floor

Automated panels allow for wind flow while blocking direct sun light.

3rd Floor

9

Social Condenser

10

Indoor Roof Garden

11

02 Inserted Void Spring 2023, Studio Project Professor Cynthia Dubberley New Orleans, Louisiana This proposal aims to maximize natural light by inserting a large funnel oriented toward the sun through the center. The idea comes from rarities in the New Orleans grid that create grids inside of grids, which are translated into the concept of a thing within a thing. Elements of the hostel also follow this same general concept, with each room having a disconnected lid that also assists with maximizing natural light. Following through the center of the project is a monumental staircase that weaves through the funnel to the fourth floor. On the project’s North side is a second funnel that voids out a balcony and creates a spatial relationship between the two objects on the interior. Beneath this balcony is a small courtyard with small rain gardens to utilize collected water.

The facade facing each street is made of channel glass and relates to the history of the creation of Jazz on the site. This connection is seen by allowing the facade to take on a “loud” ephemeral appearance at night, but quiet intake of light during the day. The VRF mechanical system tries to hide itself by resting on top of lids on each room, or hovering over the circulation path. Finally, circulation is either found by taking the vertical cores or a monumental stair case which goes through the center of the project and weaves through the funnel.

12

Front facade/entry 13

14

The funnel collects water uses it to reflects light. 15

Level 2

16

Level 1

The facade is made out of channel glass to allow light to flow in during the day and out during the night.

Window Frame Detail

Storefront Connection Detail 17

Stair Sequence Series ~ 1,2,3

18

1/4” Section Scale Model, 7.5”x7.5”x7” ~ Cement, Basswood, 3d print PLA, Chipboard, Cellophane, and Mylar

19

03 Jefferson Island Educational Center Fall 2021, Studio Project Professor Nimet Anwar Jefferson Island, Louisiana The site is situated above a three-level abandoned salt mine with an extensive history that once defined the area. Overgrown with trees, the owner removed all the invasive species and has left only plants native to the marshlands. The proposal uses the orientations from the three salt mine levels to create a form that avoids the pre-existing trees to protect the site’s vegetation.

By embedding itself into the ground, the museum emulates the experience of the original mine and takes advantage of some of the only elevation changes in south Louisiana.

20

Perspective redone in Blender after the studio was complete. 21

Museum situated between native trees.

22

Museum board, bass wood, dowels, and foam core; 24” x 28”

23

04 Materials of Abolition Fall 2023, Studio Project Professor Emilie Taylor Welty Partner, Jackie Sumell - Solitary Gardens Located at the original solitary garden site, a garden bed that enables incarcerated people to grow their own plants, this project’s goal was to create a structure that harmonizes natural/ sustainable materials with contemporary modes of fabrication. The pavilion utilizes homegrown mycelium tiles for the roof (or “hat” as it’s known in natural building), marine grade plywood that was locally sourced, cob with locally sourced material, and oystercrete with local oysters which acted as the “boots” of the project.

My role in this project was the initial conception of combining the new and old methods of construction together, the initial shape/form of the structure, material selection, growing of mycelium, and final assembly.

24

Built pavilion in the original Solitary Garden 25

1 Dig holes for footings

2 Find placement of J-hooks

3 Pour oystercrete footings

4 Assemble

5 Cob over the oystercrete

6 Drape recycled sail over the frame

Assembly instructions

26

8 Attach mycellium shingles to the roof

frame

7 Nail in reclaimed cedar strips over the sail

Construction of the wooden frame

Mycelium shingle prototype

Installation of mycelium shingles, I am in the pink hoodie 27

28

29

01 Phenomenology in Contemporary Practices Summer 2024, Grant Funded Research Tulane Architecture Travel Fellowship Pages: 44, Word Count: 3,900

This booklet investigates Northern European phenomenological architecture, focusing on the sensory and experiential connection between humans and their built environment. Through a travel fellowship, the study examines works by architects like Peter Zumthor and Steven Holl, offering insights into how architectural spaces evoke emotions, embody cultural narratives, and resonate with their contexts. It highlights phenomenology’s role in shaping meaningful, embodied interactions with architecture, proposing it as a foundation for future design practices.

30

31

02 Dissecting the Present “Missing Middle Housing” Summer 2022, Grant Funded Research Tulane Celt Grant, guided by Nimet Anwar Pages: 106, Word Count: 5,350

For nearly a century, the typical American urban sprawl has become the standard Drone Photography: Nick Licausi for housing in the United States. However, this form of housing has been criticized in architectural discourse since its first implementation. Presently, concerns about negative impacts on inequality and climate change plague its existence and arise as the catalysts of most arguments against single-family houses. The existing built environment of residential housing has slowly begun to see new, denser proposals take its place. This research aims to study and dissect the new built environment to comprehend contemporary housing standards in cities.

32

33

03 Evolutive Housing Spring 2023, Research Assistant NO Office, Nimet Anwar & Omar Ali Exhibited at Tulane’s Small Center

“Evolutive Housing,” curated by Omar Ali and Nimet Anwar, is a designresearch project initiated by New Orleans-based practice, NO OFFICE. The project considers the effects of gentrification and displacement through the lens of housing in the city of Houston. Housing availability in the city is not unlike the typical offerings of a suburb: single-family homes and multi-family apartment complexes of various sizes and scales, but as housing needs grow Houston is increasingly looking to middle-scale housing types.

After conducting research with Nimet, I was invited to become a research assistant for their exhibition. My main role was as a fabricator, which entailed 3d modeling all the neighbourhoods we were studying, 3d printing them, and designing/constructing the shelves for the gallery.

34

Student Collaborators: Olivia Vercruysse & Jose Varela Castillo Exhibit Photography: Jose Cotto

All 3d prints and both wooden shelves were constructed by me. 35

Jtomshe.com

Thank you for your consideration!