Caroline Cai_Architecture Portfolio

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ABOUT ME

As an Architectural Designer and Technologist my approach is grounded in a deep appreciation for the intricate relationship between people and their surroundings. Each project begins with a thoughtful exploration of the site, where I immerse myself in its unique characteristics and atmosphere. Whether it’s nestled in a bustling cityscape or nestled in a serene natural setting, I take the time to understand how the environment influences the space.

Central to my design philosophy is a commitment to environmental responsibility. I prioritize sustainable practices, choosing materials and designing spaces that minimize our impact on the planet. This conscientious approach not only respects our natural resources but also contributes to creating healthier, more resilient communities.

Human-centered design is at the core of my philosophy. I believe that successful architecture should enhance the lives of those who inhabit it. By listening to clients and understanding their needs, I craft spaces that not only meet functional requirements but also inspire and support their daily activities and aspirations.

Collaboration plays a vital role in my creative process. I value the perspectives and contributions of clients, stakeholders, and colleagues, believing that the best designs emerge from a shared vision. Together, we navigate challenges and seize opportunities, ensuring that each project reflects collective insights and aspirations.

Ultimately, my goal is to create environments that tell stories—spaces that resonate with people on a personal level and contribute positively to their lives. Through a blend of empathy, creativity, and technical expertise, I strive to design places that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional, sustainable, and enriching to the human experience.

PROJECTS

QUEEN STUDIO

Mix-Use | Mid Rise | Affordable Housing

Commercial | Adaptive Re-Use | Historical Conservation

LAKESIDE

Residential | Detached | Aging-in-Place

Institutional | Hospice Competition

STRING MATTER

Concept | Home of the Future | City of Mississauga

QUEEN STUDIO

Project Location: Mississauga, ON

The focus of this project was to challenge our understanding of Zoning as a form of boundary and re-evaluate the possibilities for merging a new built environment into the existing urban fabric. The Zoning of Toronto divides the land into separate blocks where the uses of each space are so far apart that it creates a division in time.

Project Duration: 14 weeks

The proposed built environment connects the existing urban infrastructure through three levels of the built form – base, middle and top. The base is a social hub for connection between the public and the private. The Middle provides an oasis for residents to focus on their creative works. The top embodies biophilic design elements to further extend the statement of harmony.

In collaboration with Veronica Blakey-Kellard, Karen Paez Zambrano, Jagdeep Kamboj.

1_Inspiration Image_ Japanese Zen Garden

2_A quick concept sketch

3_Massing & Form Diagram

4_Design Principles

Street View of Queen Studio
Summer Interior View of Restaurant
Winter Interior View of Restaurant
South Elevation - Scale 1:100
Day View from Queen St & Fennings St
West Elevation - Scale 1:100
Night View from Queen St & Fennings St
North Elevation - Scale 1:100
East Elevation - Scale 1:100
CAMH
Residential Lobby

Detail A: South Wall System

Vertical Section - scale 1:50

1- Green roof comprising 50mm grass, 100mm soil, 38mm water Proofing membrane, 200mm 2 layers of rigid insulation, 20mm bitumen roof felt, and 200mm concrete slab.

2- Typical residential floor comprising 15mm finishing wood flooring, 15mm subflooring, and 200mm concrete slab with paint finish.

3- Exterior metal wall construction system comprising 90mm clay brick, 25mm air gap, 50mm rigid insulation, 15mm plywood sheathing, 38mm x 150mm steel studs at 400mm on center, and 15mm gypsum board with paint finish.

4- Exterior wall construction comprising 90mm clay brick, 25mm air gap, 50mm rigid insulation,15mm plywood sheathing, 38mm x 150mm steel studs at 400mm on center, and 15mm gypsum board with paint finish.

5- Heated flooring construction system comprising 20mm finish flooring tiles, 300mm concrete slab, 300mm heated plenum space with studs, 150mm 2 layers of rigid insulation, 38mm metal furring channel, and 15mm gypsum board with paint.

6- Foundation wall system comprising wood lagging, 50mm rigid insulation, air barrier, 200mm cast in lieu concrete wall.

7- 200mm concrete slab on waterproofing membrane and 50mm rigid insulation.

SMALL ARMS INSPECTION BUILDING

Project Location: Mississauga, ON

Project Duration: 14 Weeks

The Small Arms Building in Mississauga, Ontario, holds a significant place in Canadian history, particularly during the World War II era. Originally established in 1918, the facility was pivotal in the production of small arms ammunition and equipment for the Canadian military during both World Wars. Its strategic location and specialized production capabilities contributed directly to Canada’s war efforts, supplying essential weaponry and munitions for the troops overseas.

Key elements of the design concept include: Preservation of Heritage; Adaptive Reuse; Integration of Art and History; Sustainability and Accessibility; Community Engagement. The project goal is to preserves its historical integrity but also evolves into a symbol of resilience, innovation, and community spirit. It honors the past while embracing the future, ensuring its continued relevance and contribution to Mississauga’s culture.

Property Line

Proposed Site Walking Path

Exiting Hiking Trails

Proposed Building Diagram

Existing Historical Building

Historical Small Arms Factory, Demolished

Site Analysis & Diagram

CONTRACTOR

CONTRACT

1- PARAPET TYPE EW4

92mm BRICK VENEER

10mm MORTAR

92mm BRICK VENEER

10mm MORTART

92mm Terracotta Block Flashing

2- ROOF TYPE R1

100mm GRAVEL PAINTED WHITE ROOF FELT

2 LAYERS 75mm RIGID INSULATION W STAGGERED JOINTS

WATERPROOFING MEMBRANE

16mm PLYWOOD SHEATHING

38mm x 300mm WOOD JOIST @ 406mm O.C. C/W BATT INSULATION

VAPOUR BARRIER

22mm METAL FURRING CHANNELS

PERPENDICULAR TO ROOF JOISTS

13mm ACOUSTIC GYPSUM BOARD

3- EXTERIOR WALL TYPE EW1

92mm BRICK VENEER

10mm MORTAR

92mm BRICK VENEER

10mm MORTART

92mm Terracotta Block

SMART BARRIER PAINTED ON EXISTING TERRACOTTA BLOCK, AIR TIGHT

2 LAYERS 75mm RIGID INSULATION WITH STAGGERED JOINTS

64mm STUCTURAL METAL STUD AT 406mm O.C. C/W BATT INSULATION

VAPOUR BARRIER

16mm GYPSUM WALL BOARD

4- FOUNDATION WALL TYPE F1

CONCRETE FOUNDATION WALL

19mm Draingage Board

100mm MIN. Gravel Backfill

LAKESIDE

Project Location: Mississauga, ON

Located on Lakeside Ave in Mississauga, Ontario, this project site is nestled near R.K. McMillan Park and Lake Ontario. The narrow plot presented design challenges, leading to a sustainable, three-story, two-bedroom home with LEED Gold+ certification.

The design emphasizes energy efficiency, with a service cavity system for insulation, triple-glazed Krypton gas windows to reduce heat loss, and thorough air sealing. An Energy Recovery Ventilation (ERV) system improves indoor air quality while recovering energy, and a tankless water heater and hydronic floor heating enhance comfort and efficiency.

Project Duration: 14 weeks

Water management draws inspiration from Japanese courtyard, utilizing a filtration system to collect rainwater and snowmelt, reducing reliance on municipal resources. Concrete tile flooring provides thermal mass, stabilizing indoor temperatures.

This home integrates sustainability, energy efficiency, and modern aesthetics to create a comfortable living space. Provisions for aging in place include thoughtful placement of essential spaces and potential future modifications such as converting the staircase into an elevator shaft to meet accessibility needs.

Site Analysis
Design Option 1
Design Option 2

SUPPORT YOUR LOVE

In collaboration with Taylor Pietrobon.

Project Location: Toronto, ON

This Hospice concept is a compassionate response to the challenges faced by those with terminal illnesses, transforming emotional support into an architectural experience. The design is inspired by the profound emotional resonance of a loved one’s embrace upon receiving lifealtering news, seeking to translate this

Project Duration: 8 weeks

into architectural form. The programming is organized using a public to private progression to embody the journey from life’s beginning to end—Alpha to Omega— while respecting that people with vastly different life experiences will share the same spaces, forming vibrant community spaces at the heart.

The Hospice is situated on an urban waterfront, a location selected to elevate the conversation around compassionate end-oflife care. The site offers breathtaking views of the city skyline, with the building’s curvature designed to capture the best vistas, from dramatic sunsets, to serene outlooks over the water. The landscape design thoughtfully balances privacy with public engagement. The Hospice is surrounded with calming trees and gardens, organized to provide tranquility for patients looking outward, while framing views of the architecture for the neighborhood looking inward from the nearby parks. Architecturally, the building is crafted to maximize natural light, with a form that sweeps lower on the southern side and rises to the north. This design choice

allows sunlight to flood the central spaces, including the chapel and sunroom, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere that enhances the patient experience. The layout of the hospice follows a clear progression from public to semi-private and private spaces. Upon entry, the centrally located public gathering area, kitchen and dining space are combined under one roof, encouraging interaction and community. Semi-private corridors offer patients quiet reflection on their path towards private treatment spaces. Sustainable design is essential, mass timber construction and energy-efficient systems minimize the building’s carbon footprint. Overall, this project aspires to set a new standard in compassionate care, seamlessly blending form, function, and sustainability.

Lake Grass
Building Blocks
Beaches
Mudland
View to Outside Sun Path Sun Direction
Pedestrian Access

1. Main Entrance

2. Gathering

3. Dining

4. Kitchennette

5. Sun Room

6. Prayer Room

7. Community Therapy Space

8. Treatment Room

9. Nursing Station

10. Janitor’s Room

11. Universal Washroom

12. Library

13. Physical & Sensory Therapy

14. Mechanical Room

15. Electrical Room

16. Exit Stair

17. Med & Clean Supply Room

18. Outdoor Common Area

of Treatment Room

Interior Rendering of Gathering
Community Therapy Space
Rendering

STRING MATTER

Project Location: Mississauga, ON

Project Duration: 14 weeks

Housing equity is fundamental to social progress, ensuring that everyone has equal access to safe, affordable, and adequate housing regardless of their socio-economic status. This project aims to re-examine the relationship between housing, home, and community, and to explore how the built environment can be collectively reshaped. Traditional housing approaches often result in physical forms that exacerbate socio-economic disparities, contrary to our goal of reducing them.

Designing homes with a focus on the physical and mental wellbeing of occupants is central to architectural psychology. This approach delves into how spaces and human psychology are interconnected and mutually influential. By incorporating human emotions into design, we can create environments that bridge socio-economic divides, fostering equilibrium among different social classes and strengthening community connections.

We are at a pivotal moment where conscious decisionmaking is more critical than ever. Economic factors alone cannot address the complexities of human problems. Thoughtful choices are essential for reshaping society and creating a better future.

Final Poster

©CAROLINE CAI. 2025. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

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