Kemper Nomland
Encyclopedia
Kemper Nomland Jr. was a modernist architect
in Los Angeles
, California
and part of a father-son architectural team with his father Kemper Nomland. He was also a painter and printer of poetry and arts publications.
and studied architecture at Columbia University
before practicing in New York, Seattle, and then Los Angeles. He worked with Albert C. Martin
in 1922, Marston Van Pelt & Maybury (1923–1925) Austin, Martin & Parkinson (1926–1927); Kemper Nomland Jr. after 1928; and Hunt & Chambers from 1942-1944. His work included the building at 560 Laguna Road.
in 1938 and with a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Southern California
in 1941. He worked fro Albert C. Martin before joining his father to form a firm together.
He was a conscientious objector
during World War II
and was put to work in a Civilian Public Service
camp at Cascade Locks, Oregon, "Civilian Public Service Camp 21" in the Pacific Northwest
where he did forest-maintenance work and Camp Angel
near Waldport, "where he was involved with the fine arts group, designing several covers for books printed by the Untide Press
at the camp and working on Illiterati, a literary and artistic journal". He designed the chapel at Camp 21 in the Columbia River Gorge
on Gorton Creek in Wyeth, Oregon
, "a few miles east of Cascade Locks."
Seven of his framed paintings, including portraits from his time at the work camp, are held in a collection at Lewis and Clark College. One of his paintings was published in two of Coffield's books as well as the publication The Illiterati. Subjects of the paintings included Glen Coffield
, Windsor Utley
, Bill Webb, a waterfall, concert, and (from 1968) an anti-war rally. He also painted a portrait of Mark Schrock, the director of CPS Camp 21. Nomland also provided the illustrations for William Everson
's War elegies, published in Waldport, Oregon, by Untide Press
, 1944 and was involved in printing work with William Everson
. He also wrote to E.E. Cummings.
in 1947 at 711 San Rafael Avenue in Pasadena
. The home on a sloping corner lot "in the hillside neighborhood" "mirrored the descending line of the home’s site into the sloping roofline" and included "large walls of glass and a heated floor system" and used "industrial materials such as plywood and corrugated wire glass were also used throughout and the architects further specified large openings to the outside, which allowed for the fluid layout of interior spaces to be carried to the outdoors."
In 1950 he moved to Mt. Washington
section of Los Angeles and designed his own three-story hillside home, and about a dozen other nearby homes. He resided there with other pacifist friends and neighbors until his wife inability to get around well. Nomland also designed the Norwegian Seamen's Church, San Pedro
and did a conversion at UCLA's Moore Hall, including lighting work when it was converted to exclusive use by the University's School of Education.
After working with his father for several years he joined "several architectural firms, and at one point he designed a house for actress Jane Russell
" and designed at least a dozen other residence.
Nomland died of natural causes while residing at an assisted living home in Long Beach
, leaving behind a daughter, Erika Nomland Cilengir, and a grandson. His first wife Ella died in 1994 and he remarried Joan.
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and part of a father-son architectural team with his father Kemper Nomland. He was also a painter and printer of poetry and arts publications.
Nomland Sr.
Nomland Sr. was born in Buxton, North DakotaBuxton, North Dakota
As of the 2000 Census, there were 350 people, 133 households, and 96 families residing in the city. The population density was 1,735.1 people per square mile . There were 141 housing units at an average density of 699.0 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 98.00% White, 0.29% Asian,...
and studied architecture at Columbia University
Columbia University
Columbia University in the City of New York is a private, Ivy League university in Manhattan, New York City. Columbia is the oldest institution of higher learning in the state of New York, the fifth oldest in the United States, and one of the country's nine Colonial Colleges founded before the...
before practicing in New York, Seattle, and then Los Angeles. He worked with Albert C. Martin
Albert C. Martin, Sr.
Albert Carey Martin was an American architect and engineer.He founded the architectural firm of Albert C...
in 1922, Marston Van Pelt & Maybury (1923–1925) Austin, Martin & Parkinson (1926–1927); Kemper Nomland Jr. after 1928; and Hunt & Chambers from 1942-1944. His work included the building at 560 Laguna Road.
Studies and work camp
Kemper Nomland Jr. graduated from Pasadena City CollegePasadena City College
Pasadena City College is a community college in Pasadena, California, USA, located on Colorado Boulevard. PCC is the third largest community college campus in the United States. PCC was founded in 1924 as Pasadena Junior College. In 1954, Pasadena Junior College merged with another junior...
in 1938 and with a bachelor's degree in architecture from the University of Southern California
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in 1941. He worked fro Albert C. Martin before joining his father to form a firm together.
He was a conscientious objector
Conscientious objector
A conscientious objector is an "individual who has claimed the right to refuse to perform military service" on the grounds of freedom of thought, conscience, and/or religion....
during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was put to work in a Civilian Public Service
Civilian Public Service
The Civilian Public Service provided conscientious objectors in the United States an alternative to military service during World War II...
camp at Cascade Locks, Oregon, "Civilian Public Service Camp 21" in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
where he did forest-maintenance work and Camp Angel
Camp Angel
Camp Angel was Civilian Public Service camp number 56, one of many camps across the United States where conscientious objectors were given unpaid jobs of "national importance" as a substitute for World War II military service....
near Waldport, "where he was involved with the fine arts group, designing several covers for books printed by the Untide Press
Untide Press
The Untide Press, founded in 1943, attempted to bring poetry to the public in an inexpensive but attractive format.It was founded by writer William Everson, architect and printer Kemper Nomland, actor Kermit Sheets and editor / librarian William Eshelman, in a camp of conscientious objectors in...
at the camp and working on Illiterati, a literary and artistic journal". He designed the chapel at Camp 21 in the Columbia River Gorge
Columbia River Gorge
The Columbia River Gorge is a canyon of the Columbia River in the Pacific Northwest of the United States. Up to deep, the canyon stretches for over as the river winds westward through the Cascade Range forming the boundary between the State of Washington to the north and Oregon to the south...
on Gorton Creek in Wyeth, Oregon
Wyeth, Oregon
Wyeth is an unincorporated locale in Hood River County, Oregon, United States. It is the site of a campground area in the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area off Interstate 84 ....
, "a few miles east of Cascade Locks."
Seven of his framed paintings, including portraits from his time at the work camp, are held in a collection at Lewis and Clark College. One of his paintings was published in two of Coffield's books as well as the publication The Illiterati. Subjects of the paintings included Glen Coffield
Glen Coffield
Glen Coffield was an American poet and conscientious objector. He was born in Prescott, Arizona, and received a B.S. degree in education from Central Missouri State Teachers College in 1940...
, Windsor Utley
Windsor Utley
Windsor Utley was an American musician, artist, teacher and gallery owner, closely associated with the painter Mark Tobey.Utley was born in Laguna, California in 1920...
, Bill Webb, a waterfall, concert, and (from 1968) an anti-war rally. He also painted a portrait of Mark Schrock, the director of CPS Camp 21. Nomland also provided the illustrations for William Everson
William Everson
William Everson , also known as Brother Antoninus, was an American poet of the San Francisco Renaissance and was also a literary critic and small press printer.-Beginnings:Everson was born in Sacramento, California...
's War elegies, published in Waldport, Oregon, by Untide Press
Untide Press
The Untide Press, founded in 1943, attempted to bring poetry to the public in an inexpensive but attractive format.It was founded by writer William Everson, architect and printer Kemper Nomland, actor Kermit Sheets and editor / librarian William Eshelman, in a camp of conscientious objectors in...
, 1944 and was involved in printing work with William Everson
William Everson
William Everson , also known as Brother Antoninus, was an American poet of the San Francisco Renaissance and was also a literary critic and small press printer.-Beginnings:Everson was born in Sacramento, California...
. He also wrote to E.E. Cummings.
Architectural work
Together with his father Nomland designed one of the Case Study HousesCase Study Houses
The Case Study Houses were experiments in American residential architecture sponsored by Arts & Architecture magazine, which commissioned major architects of the day, including Richard Neutra, Raphael Soriano, Craig Ellwood, Charles and Ray Eames, Pierre Koenig and Eero Saarinen, to design and...
in 1947 at 711 San Rafael Avenue in Pasadena
Pasadena, California
Pasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. The home on a sloping corner lot "in the hillside neighborhood" "mirrored the descending line of the home’s site into the sloping roofline" and included "large walls of glass and a heated floor system" and used "industrial materials such as plywood and corrugated wire glass were also used throughout and the architects further specified large openings to the outside, which allowed for the fluid layout of interior spaces to be carried to the outdoors."
In 1950 he moved to Mt. Washington
Mt. Washington, Los Angeles, California
Mount Washington is a neighborhood located in the hills of northeastern Los Angeles, California.-Geography:The boundaries of Mount Washington are roughly defined by Division Street on the west, El Paso Drive and Avenue 50 on the northeast, Marmion Way on the southeast, and Isabel street on the...
section of Los Angeles and designed his own three-story hillside home, and about a dozen other nearby homes. He resided there with other pacifist friends and neighbors until his wife inability to get around well. Nomland also designed the Norwegian Seamen's Church, San Pedro
Norwegian Seamen's Church, San Pedro
The Norwegian Seamen's Church is a Norwegian Church Abroad that doubles as the Church of Sweden Los Angeles , also known as the Swedish Seamen's Church. It is located in the San Pedro area of Los Angeles, California and is also part of the Church of Sweden Abroad...
and did a conversion at UCLA's Moore Hall, including lighting work when it was converted to exclusive use by the University's School of Education.
After working with his father for several years he joined "several architectural firms, and at one point he designed a house for actress Jane Russell
Jane Russell
Jane Russell was an American film actress and was one of Hollywood's leading sex symbols in the 1940s and 1950s....
" and designed at least a dozen other residence.
Nomland died of natural causes while residing at an assisted living home in Long Beach
Long Beach, California
Long Beach is a city situated in Los Angeles County in Southern California, on the Pacific coast of the United States. The city is the 36th-largest city in the nation and the seventh-largest in California. As of 2010, its population was 462,257...
, leaving behind a daughter, Erika Nomland Cilengir, and a grandson. His first wife Ella died in 1994 and he remarried Joan.
Projects
- Case Study House No. 10 (1947) by Kemper Nomland and Kemper Nomland Jr. at 711 S San Rafael Avenue in Pasadena, CaliforniaPasadena, CaliforniaPasadena is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. Although famous for hosting the annual Rose Bowl football game and Tournament of Roses Parade, Pasadena is the home to many scientific and cultural institutions, including the California Institute of Technology , the Jet...
. A wood framed post and beam house with "large walls of glass, set over a concrete slab." - West Hollywood house at 1030 North Kings Road
- A house at 3635 Shannon Road in Los Feliz, a French Normandy style residence
- Norwegian Seamen's Church, San PedroNorwegian Seamen's Church, San PedroThe Norwegian Seamen's Church is a Norwegian Church Abroad that doubles as the Church of Sweden Los Angeles , also known as the Swedish Seamen's Church. It is located in the San Pedro area of Los Angeles, California and is also part of the Church of Sweden Abroad...
(1951)