Jacob Gasper | Architecture Portfolio | 2021

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j a c o b g a s p e r
architecture selected works
2021

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Select Grants + Awards
2020 | lightfoot internship scholarship
+provides exceptional students with funding support to assist
in the pursuit of intern opportunities
2020 | university honors program grant
+for architectural clay formworks
2020 | bussard award - finalist
+1 of 4 finalists celebrating developed a conceptually
rigorous architectural response in the final studio
2019 | kalahar award - finalist
+1 of 5 finalists celebrating successful integration of research
and critical discourse
Select Conferences + Exhibitions
2020 | “pandemic pause” in the field notes session of
distributed proximities: 40th annual conference of the
association for computer aided design in architecture.
october 26-30, 2020.
2021 | forthcoming “architectural clay formworks” at ncur
2021: national council for undergraduate research w/ cyle
king
2020 | “parametric modeling of the church in studenica”at
dimensions reflected: mongeometrija 2020, belgrade, serbia
w/ leslie forehand + jelena bogdanović + charles kerton +
magdalena dragović + aleksandar cučaković + marko pejić +
travis yeager
jacob gasper
archigasper@gmail.com
319.538.2138
archigasper.com
Jacob Gasper is a 5th year Bachelor of Architecture student where he currently serves as an
undergraduate research assistant at the Computation + Construction lab and Study Studenica with
additional experience in landscape design, digital fabrication, and set design for the annual ISU
Fashion Show. Gasper’s work has been named a finalist in several department awards and exhibited
locally,nationally,andinternationally.Heiscurrentlyconductingongoingresearchtitled“Architectural
Clay Formworks” at the Architectural Robotics lab funded by the Iowa State University Foundation in
collaboration with Cyle King and Shelby Doyle.

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rome as found 5
observing air 15
architectural clay formworks 23
the water tower 29
the fashion show 39
pandemic pause 45
the new excess 49
resume 60
conference publication
architectural design vi
architectural installation
set design
architectural design iv
architectural design v
digital fabrication research

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Torrione Prenestino, as found, acts
as a detached member of Rome’s
strong and stratified urban fabric.
In an area constricted by train
tracks and high-speed roads, the
park creates this isolation by not
reaching out to its immediate
context. Creating contemporary
architecture in a city like Rome
requires the need for open, public
space as well as a relationship to
the existing ancient context of the
given site.
The design for a new social hub
for the neighborhood of Pigneto
serves as a contemporary example
of integrating architecture and
landscape. Several large examples
include the Capitoline Hill project
and the Markets of Trajan, in which
both projects are merged with an
existing natural hill.
The Torrione Prenestino’s existing
slope in the back of the site
welcomes a similar intervention.
By integrating our ground floor
into the existing slope and
extending the landscape onto the
roof, the hard line between the
existing landscape and our new
architecture becomes blurred.
The Nolli Plan visually explains
the continuity of public space
through the dense urban fabric of
Rome. Our public floors facilitate
this exchange through permeable
facades and no interior walls.
Permeability also connects the site
by creating easy paths through
the building. A simple design that
takes precedent from antiquity
informs the user about a fluidity
created between interior and
exterior space.
r o m e a s f o u n d
in collaboration w/
henry melendrez + andrew evans
instructor | simone capra
location | rome, italy
rome study abroad program
spring 2020

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S I T E P L A N
N
surrounding context carves the final massing

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N O R T H W E S T A X O N O M E T R I C
creating new public space
N
N

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permeable facades
public piazzas extended park space
D E S I G N D I A G R A M S
N
N
surrounding context carves the final massing
inhabiting voids landscape continuity
exterior/interior mobility

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G R O U N D P L A N
B
1. workshop 2. flex space 3. cafe 4. piazza
N
inset into the existing hill to preserve landscape continuity
A

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S I T E S E C T I O N S
section A
section B
continuity of circulation between interior and exterior

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E X P L O D E D A X O N
student housing
flex space
co working
park piazza
cafe
workshop
flex space
programmatic distribution

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P A R K P L A N
N
5. co working 6. park piazza 7. park
extension of the park blurs the hard line between architecture + landscape
B
A

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I N T E R I O R P E R S P E C T I V E
cert presentation
an open ground floor provides spatial flexibility for different programs

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The observed flatness of Iowa’s
farmland is purely visual. In all
other aspects, this landscape is a
constantly shifting mass sculpted
by an ever present volume of
air. Rural architecture at Black
Contemporary does not exist as
volumes of mass placed on the
landscape, but instead wraps
the atmosphere in various skins.
Functionally, this invited air is what
makes these passive machines
operate.
Observing Air, seeks to reveal
the omnipresent atmosphere
moving through and around the
existing corn crib. Wind enters
through openings and is diffused
as it circulates throughout the
bin. Layers of translucency are
carved by the moving air creating
constantly fluctuating voids and
topographies. This consensual
destruction results in a subsequent
maturation of the sectional
qualities of the drawing assembly.
The distribution of vertical strings,
in plan, creates a forgiving
framework that gently anchors the
layers in space.
The drawing assembly is a
constructed framework that,
through continuous weathering,
articulates and brings clarity to
specific elements of the larger
context. An endless process
that is not limited to its current
spatial boundaries, the scale that
the installation is deployed in is
intentionally left to be perpetually
destroyed.
We did not construct an
atmosphere, we revealed one.
o b s e r v i n g a i r
black contemporary artists archive
fall 2020
in collaboration w/
mohammed alhoumandi
mary le + braden cooper
instructor | peter goche
location | ames, iowa
B U S S A R D A W A R D F I N A L I S T
E X H I B I T I O N F A L L 2 0 2 0

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S E E D D R Y I N G B I N S E C T I O N
air enters the building through vents and flows through the space

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M I D W E S T E R N A T M O S P H E R E
“observing air” brings an awareness to the ever present volume of air sculpting the landscape

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D E T A I L S
manifesting atmospheric spatial situations not usually seen

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This research develops methods
and mock-ups for unfired clay 3D
printing, both for its geometric
possibilities and limitations as a
reusable architectural formwork.
The hypothesis of this project is
that clay can be 3D printed to
produce a mold, poured into to
produce a concrete cast, then
dissolved, remixed, and then used
to produce new prints and molds.
The project methodology relies
upon iterative digital fabrication
to combine robotic fabrication
knowledge, computational design,
and ceramic knowledge. Resulting
work is evaluated for replicability
and aesthetics. The outcome is
mock-upsof architecturalelements
that reduce formwork material use
and demonstrate the viability of
the proposed methods.
a r c h i t e c t u r a l c l a y f o r m w o r k s
in collaboration w/ cyle king
instructor | shelby doyle
H O N O R S P R O G R A M G R A N T R E C I P I E N T
F O R T H C O M I N G N C U R 2 0 2 1 P R E S E N T A T I O N
honors capstone research
fall 2020 - ongoing

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K U K A I N D U S T R I A L R O B O T I C A R M S E T U P
architectural robotics lab in the student innovation center

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Threaded Steel Rod 3/8”
3’ x 3” Polycarbonate Tube
End Cap Assembly
3” x 2” PVC Flexible Coupling
2” x 1/2” Bushing PVC Fitting
Air Compressor Hose Coupling
5” x 5” Plywood
5” x 5” plywood
air compressor hose coupling
2” x 1/2” bushing fitting
3” x 2” pvc flexible coupling
3’ x 3” polycarbonate
end cap assembly
threaded steel rod 3/8”
C U S T O M C L A Y E X T R U S I O N S Y S T E M
utilizing pressurized air and plumbing parts

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print finished formwork
casting + removing formwork completed cast
C L A Y C A S T I N G W O R K F L O W
inital small scale casting prepping for future 1:1 scale expierments

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Notes:
- 10 mm/s robot velocity
- failure after 8 layers
- ran on T1 (manual control)
Notes:
- ran on T1 (manual control)
80 mm
40 psi
8 layers
6 mm layer height
1:2 Clay : H20
10 mm skirt distance 2 skirt layers
80 mm
10 mm skirt distance
1:2 Clay : H20
40 psi
16 layers
2 skirt layers
5 mm layer height
1

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Notes:
- tallest print at 100 mm
- ran on auto - resulted in less user error
Notes:
- although having more layers, the
overall cylinder was the same as 4mm
- ran on auto - resulted in less user error
40 psi
40 psi
24 layers 28 layers
80 mm
80 mm
1:2 Clay : H20
1:2 Clay : H20
10 mm skirt distance 10 mm skirt distance
2 skirt layers
2 skirt layers
4 mm layer height
3 mm layer height
I N I T I A L C L A Y C O L U M N T E S T S
testing height and clay limits

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San Francisco, and most of
California, suffers from an ongoing
drought that was declared a state
of emergency in 2015. This project
responds to this issue as a mixed-
use housing project that serves
as the center of an urban-sized
desalination system.
Our proposal de-centralizes the
desalination plant into a urban
network of pipes that filter ocean
water from the bay into fresh
drinking water as it travels to
Nob Hill. The water is stored in
our architecture and distributed
throughout the city.
The city also faces a large homeless
population, currently handled
by shoving people into large
warehouse - like shelter spaces.
Throughout our selected
precedent observations, we have
looked at how architecture can
facilitate rehabilitation by having a
de-emphasis on private spaces in
favor of community social spaces.
An on site trade school focusing on
the reuse of materials would teach
the residents marketable skills and
encourage green practices.
This project serves as a monument
to a future that could facilitate the
areas current problems..
t h e w a t e r t o w e r
instructor | leslie forehand
location | san francisco, ca
culture of conservation in san francisco
fall 2019

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S O C I A L H O U S I N G P E R S P E C T I V E P L A N
emphasis on dynamic circulation and public spaces

seawater is drawn into the
system through an underwater
pipe.
seawater undergoes a two
stage mechanical filtration to
remove coarse and fine
particles
seawater is pumped at
high-pressure through these
semi-permeable membranes
to seperate dissolved salt
treated wat
potable b
chemicals suc
and flu

ter is made
by adding
ch as chlorine
uoride.
treated water is pumped to
the mixed housing complex
and stored, utilized, and
distributed to the rest of the
city
U R B A N D E S A L I N A T I O N S Y S T EM
N
aboveground pipe system dispersing the desalination process

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S E C T I O N
circulation
housing
trade school
programmatic distribution

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S E C T I O N D E T A I L S
1. public plaza 2. public + private space
desalination pipes street elevation

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C I R C U L A T I O N
public plazas created above the city

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P H Y S I C A L M O D E L
diagrid structure experimental model

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H O U S I N G P L A N
N
spaced thin towers create viewports for the existing context

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The Iowa State Fashion Show, the
largest student run fashion show
in the nation, hosted this year’s
guest designer Vans, in Stephens
Auditorium on Iowa State’s
Campus.
My co directors and I lead a
team of 15 individuals tasked
with designing, fabricating, and
installing two full scale fashion
show sets.
The sets are inspired by Vans
dedication to creative expression
and the eclectic cultures of Los
Angeles and New York City.
set one
|6| miles of string
|110| eye hooks
|200| feet of chicken wire
|350| cds
set two
|720| feet of wood
|100| 4’ x 8’ foamcore boards
|5| gallons of paint
date | 14 april 2019
attendance | 2,150
t h e f a s h i o n s h o w
in collaboration w/
hannah hogan + amelia brown
V A N S O F F T H E W A L L G U E S T D E S I G N E R
set design
spring 2019

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S E T O N E
inspiration | nyc graffiti

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S E T T W O
inspiration | sun on the beach

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The following field notes record the
physical space of the ISU Computation
+ Construction Lab (CCL) located in
Ames, IA during July 2020. The draw-
ings and text capture a space simulta-
neously frozen in time and transition-
ingtoanewfuture.Sincethepandemic
began the work of the CCL has shifted:
robotics labs and digital fabrication
seminars were transitioned to online
courses, research halted, and equip-
ment retooled to produce 2,000 face
shields for Iowa healthcare workers.
The collaborative work at the heart
of the CCL is fundamentally altered
by social distancing and masking.
The KUKA arms sit frozen in the posi-
tion they were left in on the last day
of in person class on March 12, 2020.
Zoom has become a verb. Clay pre-
pared for the Potterbots sits dry in
five-gallon buckets. Dust collects on
the CNCs. The following drawings are
artifacts of this moment in time, ac-
companied with text, drawings, and
notes. These field notes reveal the
culture and practice of computation-
al design relies not on equipment but
rather on the people who animate
spaces and work with these tools.
p a n d e m i c p a u s e
field notes
summer 2020
computation + construction lab
indivudual project
2 0 2 0 A C A D I A P U B L I C A T I O N + P R E S E N T A T I O N
F E A T U R E D I N T H E A R C H I T E C T S N E W S P A P E R
F E A T U R E D I N D A T U M I S S U E 1 2

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K U K A I N D U S T R I A L R O B O T I C A R M S
frozen in place 12 march - 3 august

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P A C K I N G R E S E A R C H M A T E R I A L S

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C O N C R E T E 3 D P R I N T I N G P R E L I M I N A R Y N O T E S

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Through the examination of the
potential of excess and excessiveness
as architectural methods, we have
found possibilities using waste as
tools of creating architecture and
urban systems.
This leads us into the theory of creating
a “new excess”, and conceivably
redetermining the negative narrative
that follows excess.
Serving as the backbone of our
infrastructure is a high speed rail
network creating fast and easy
transportation from urban center to
urban center, which in this project are
architecturalized as sectional places
of plastic waste exchange. Inhabitants
of Des Moines gather here and drop
their plastic waste to be collected,
processed, and transported along the
network for construction.
Utilizing c02 direct air capture fans
dispersed on our infinite facade, our
imagined future aims to not only cut
down on our emissions but to capture
them and displace the gas into both
our constructed concrete and into its
natural form underground.
By utilizing byproducts of modern life,
plastic and carbon, as construction
materials, we imagine a future in
which current speculations and
experimentations of sustainability
become our future reality.
t h e n e w e x c e s s
instructor | shelby doyle
location | des moines, iowa
K A L A H E R A W A R D F I N A L I S T
wpa: architecture and the green new deal
fall 2019

casted column models with crushed plastic as a replacement aggregate
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P L A S T I C A G G R E G A T E C O N C R E T E C O L U M N S

an open ground floor provides spatial flexibility for different programs
E X C E S S C A R B O N D I O X I D E M A T E R I A L W O R K F L O W
N
D E S M O I N E S S I T E P L A N
intersection of housing and transportation lines

repurposing one use plastic as a future construction material
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3 | excess plastic utilized
as concrete aggregate and
interior elements
2 | excess plastic transport via
train system
1 | excess plastic collection at
waste collection sites
E X C E S S P L A S T I C M A T E R I A L W O R K F L O W

collecting carbon dioxide for storage in concrete and the ground
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E X C E S S C A R B O N D I O X I D E M A T E R I A L W O R K F L O W
3 | excess c02 piped into
the ground for permenant
storage
2 | excess c02 distributed into
concrete for storage
1 | excess c02 collection via
collection fans

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C A R B O N D I O X I D E C A P T U R E H O U S I N G S E C T I O N
“infinite” facade of spaced out carbon capture fans
concentrated c02 for storage and transporation
carbon dioxide
clean air
carbon capture fan

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T Y P I C A L H O U S I N G P L A N S
typical plans for level 1-4

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T Y P I C A L E L E V A T I O N
new architecture becomes a collector and archive of modern excess

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jacob gasper
archigasper@gmail.com
319.538.2138
archigasper.com

59
e d u c a t i o n
b arch. professional degree
iowa state university | may 2021
ames, iowa | rome, italy
3.79 gpa
g r a n t s + a w a r d s
lightfoot internship scholarship |2020|
university honors program grant |2020|
bussard award - finalist |2020|
kalahar award - finalist |2019|
honors summer research grant |2017|
honors mentor program grant |2017|
isu research symposium |2017|
college of design dean’s list |2017 - |
cardinal leadership scholar |2016 - |
university honors program |2016 - |
c o n f e r e n c e s
acadia 2020 distributed proximities
annual conference of the association for
computer aided design in architecture
+accepted publication
+presenter
ncur 2021
national council for undergraduate research
+for architectural clay formworks
+forthcoming presentation
e n g a g e m e n t
covid - 19 ppe
ames, iowa | march - may 2020
+Fabricated 2000 face shields for Iowa hospitals
the fashion show
ames, iowa | 2019;2021
+TFS2019 set director
+TFS2021 set director
datum journal of architecture
ames, iowa | 2018 - present
+graphics editor
+contributor
cornerstone church
ames, iowa | 2018 - 2019
+bible study leader
+international bible study leader
e x p e r i e n c e
startt *remote due to 2020 pandemic*
rome, italy | july 2020
+developed competition vizualizations
reinaldo correa studio llc.
ames, iowa | august - december 2018
+developed visualizations + models for
the traveling toy exhibition nature of the game
outdoor escapes
ames, iowa | may 2018 - may 2019
+designed and implemented domestic
and commercial landscape projects
design studies 115
college of design | fall 2018;fall 2019
+teaching assistant for design orientation course
design studies 102
college of design | spring 2017;fall 2018
+supported first-year introductory design studios
a r c h i t e c t u r a l r e s e a r c h
architectural robotics lab
ames, iowa | august 2020 - present
+support the development of 3d printing workflows for clay
and concrete
+ongoing support of the development of robotic hardware
and software
ames, iowa | april 2019 - present
+research assistant
+maintained digital fabrication equipment and workflows
study studenica
ames, iowa | may 2020 - present
+ongoing development of graphics + presentations models
of the studenica monastery for national/international
conferences
r e f e r e n c e s
simone capra
principle | startt
rome, italy
simone.capra@startt.it
deborah hauptmann
professor + chair | department of architecture
iowa state university, ames, ia
deborah@iastate.edu | 515.203.5757
shelby doyle
assistant professor | department of architecture
iowa state university, ames, ia
doyle@iastate.edu | 540.454.4390

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