Rui Cao's Portfolio

Selected works ‘19 - ’23

Syracuse University

RUI CAO

As an interdisciplinary researcher, I am driven to address real-world problems by synthesizing knowledge across fields to generate innovative and impactful designs.

The immense power of architecture to uplift communities, affirm cultural identities, and promote social justice has shaped my passion for creating community-centered designs that empower marginalized voices. My academic interests center around urban development and collective housing to strengthen cultural fabrics and public spaces.

This portfolio encapsulates academic works engaging diverse communities and contexts, from a contemplative monastery reinventing tradition to a community garden honoring neighborhood heritage. It provides a window into my vision as a designer seeking to create thoughtful architecture that heals divides, speaks to cultural traditions, and catalyzes progress in our ever-changing world.

I hope this collection conveys my ethos of designing to elevate the human spirit, foster equitable spaces, and make positive impacts on real lives. As an interdisciplinary thinker driven by architecture’s immense potential for social change, I look forward to continuing to learn across fields to tackle pressing world challenges.

THE

CONVENT FOR TWELVE NUNS AT EVEUX, FRANCE I

DUAL PARADISE

ARC409 . SPRING 2023 . SOA

Instructor: Professor Richard Rosa

Collaboration: Qi Liu

Role: I mainly focus on site strategy and church design, produced typology study, site analysis and plan, all church drawings, and wall sections for church and library.

What is the contemporaneous condition of cloistered living? How might spirituality and erudition be efficaciously harmonized?

How does architecture bolster one’s convictions? This project proffers a contemporary monastery at the Château de La Tourette, adjacent to the township of Eveux, France. The design thoroughly assays the site conditions, meticulously investigates the historical typologies of monasteries and churches, and tenders a complex of open-air steel frames ornamented with marble-clad spaces. The cardinal concept underlying our vision is to thoroughly explore and transform the multifarious elements of a church into a succession of edifices within the landscape.

TYPOLOGY ANALYSIS

Through analyzing the historical architectural plans of monasteries, this project aims to approach the design process with an understanding of the typologies of convents/ monasteries and the rituals of Christian life.

* Rhino 6, Adobe Illustrator

SITE STRATEGY | DISMANTLED CHURCH

Upon entering, the bakery functions as the narthex, skillfully guiding individuals into our project, while the central court serves as the nave, drawing attention to the ethereal church at its end. Two axes intersect at this central court. One connects the bakery and floating church to the court, emphasizing the secular and the divine, while another axis aligns the library and oratory, highlighting the interplay between knowledge and spirituality.

* Rhino 6, Adobe Illustrator

An open steel frame is utilized to structure the landscape, adhering to the traditional layout of monasteries, with steel comprising the foundational framework. Dramatically draped marble forms enclosed spaces over the frame, serving as a protective skin. The central court provides interconnection between all buildings.

SITE PLAN | STEEL MONASTERY

Typology Precedents:

Bramante’s Tempietto

Michelangelo’s Sforza Chapel

Bernini’s Church of Sant’Andrea al Quirinale

Borromini’s San Carlo

alle Quattro Fontane and Sant’Agnese in Agone

Taking on the concept of Baroque church, this design eschews perfect geometry to forge a mesmerizing and contemplative space. The exterior of the church assumes the form of an elongated circle, sit in between the frontal central court and cloister to the rear.

The church façade, ornamented with marble panels, features insulated glass to permit the interplay of light and air. Within, translucent marble panels sheathe the interior to emanate a soft, ethereal glow. Exterior features steel mash cage which locks the floating church and form a promenade with the Stations of the Cross. The choir and chapel situate at the end of the church, whilst private spaces and a sacristy nestle between layers of marble, proffering sanctuary for rumination and devotion.

* Rhino 6, Vray, Adobe Photoshop

The library reflects on the church design in various aspects, staging a conversation between spiritual and intellectual architecturally. While the church embraces the concept of deformation, the library maintains its purity by combining square and oval shapes. If you imagine the church as a solid object within a mesh, then the library can be perceived as a mesh within a solid.

LPC HEADQUARTER

IN TRIBECA, NYC II

Instructor: Professor Ivi Diamantopoulou

Collaboration: Jediel Henrik Ponnudurai, Jingge Zhao

Role: I focus on site analysis, story board, circulation axon, longitudinal and transverse sections, models. ARC408 . FALL 2022 . SOA

The project aims to design a new porous and publicly accessible headquarters for the Landmark Preservation Committee that facilitates community engagement in the agency’s decisionmaking processes. The design intends to transform the LPC’s daily functions into collaborative, interactive processes by situating hearing halls and offices on lower levels visible and open to the public. Overall, the project seeks to establish the LPC as an institution that actively reaches out to the community rather than just acting as a detached decision-making body. The design encourages civic participation and aims to empower future generations to have greater influence in shaping the city.

The project site is situated in the Tribeca neighborhood of New York City, in close proximity to the Civic Center. Numerous civic and municipal buildings surrounding the location are dedicated to serving the public good. What should the architectural expression of a public agency convey?

* Rhino 6, Adobe Illustrator

MOVEMENT

Pedestrian and Public Transportation

PUBLIC SPACE

Private and Public Realm

Elevation

Impression of the Great White Way

URBANSCAPE

Urban Sunlight Obscured

SITE ANALYSIS| FACADE STUDY

Through studying the façades of existing governmental entities, the design aims to address the oft-cited uninviting and inhospitable nature of bureaucratic architecture. Instead, the project asserts that warmth, openness, and clarity of purpose in the building envelope and massing can signal a public agency’s commitment to transparency and civic duty. The design proves architecture’s power to transform rigid institutions into uplifting community assets.

AXONOMETRIC | CIRCULATION

The design of the office spaces and hearing hall aims to transform the Landmarks Preservation Commission’s daily functions into a more collaborative and interactive process. Situating the hearing hall and offices on the lower level allows for ease of access by the public.

HEARING HALL

OFFICE

ARCHIVE LIBRARY

GALLERY

ROOFTOP

* Rhino 6, Adobe Illustrator

PLAN | LANDMARK vs. EXPANSION

The arch openings visible from the ground floor of Broadway give passersby immediate awareness of the hearings taking place below. As pedestrians turn the corner to the adjacent plaza, they are invited to observe and take part in the hearings. This thoughtful configuration of openings and circulation provides visibility into the typically closeddoor dealings of the Commission, thereby promoting transparency and public participation in matters of historic preservation for the city.

* Rhino 6, Adobe Illustrator

MODEL | LANDMARK vs. EXPANSION

III

THE SPINE

PUBLIC HOUSING IN SYRACUSE

Role: I focus on housing design for transitional residents, all drawings are produced by me. ARC207 . FALL 2020 . SOA

Instructor: Professor Marcos Parga

Collaboration: Leonardo Frydman

The social housing project located in the southside neighborhood of Syracuse, New York aims to serve two homeless populations: permanant residents and transitional residents. It responds to both groups’ unique needs by providing not just housing, but also assistance with social connections, job opportunities, providing an uplifting environment. Different design strategies are incorporated to serve respective group. It holistically assists the homeless beyond housing, crafting supportive spaces that help transitional residents return to the workforce and attain self-sufficiency during a difficult life stage. The overarching goal is supportive, motivational housing that uplifts these groups in need.

SITE STRATEGY | PERMANENT vs. TRANSITIONAL

The permanent residents’ housing occupies the prominent facade facing the neighborhood, who will likely have stronger community ties. The transient transitional residents are situated further back where there is more privacy. The central spine fosters connection between all residents on each levels. The clinic situates on the ground level to be a shared resource for the community, while other shared amenities like the laundry are situated in between living units above ground.

Lounge

Communal Kitchen

Dining Area

Laundry

* Rhino 6, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop

LIVING UNIT DEFINITION

The transitional housing units are optimally designed for functionality and utility. Sleeping quarters are separated from living areas to maximize space efficiency. All units have a uniform layout, sans private kitchens. Instead, a communal kitchen is shared by residents to facilitate community engagement and bonding.

* Rhino 6, Adobe Illustrator

INTERIOR vs. EXTERIOR

* Rhino 6, Vray, Adobe Photoshop

FLOATING ARCHIVE IN SOGNEFJORD, NORWAY IV

ARC208 . SPRING 2021 . SOA

Instructor: Professor Julie Larsen

Individual work

The project constitutes an active archive situated in Sognefjord, Norway. The cardinal issues afflicting the site are noise pollution and depletion of piscine populations. The vessel and archive occupying the fjord waterway have been designed with the intention of attenuating the acoustic emissions projected into the water by transient cruise ships, whilst simultaneously fostering ecosystems beneficial to ichthyic populations. The porous edifice obstructs water in certain chambers to facilitate human activity including archiving the region’s species along with salmonid spawning. In alternant chambers, water can flow through so that sound waves are dissipated by the material as the ecosystem employs the structure as a locus for growth and protection.

The site is located in the Sognefjord region of western Norway, an area heavily impacted by human activity. The diagrams depict the section of Sognefjord from the mountains to the sea, showing the distribution of pollution throughout the fjord in relation to residential areas, aquaculture, and other human activities. Different types of pollutants represented include sewage, agricultural runoff, and industrial waste.

* Rhino 6, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop

SITE CONDITION | WATER vs. LAND

The archive will be the main body that store information and research about fjords’ species, as well as reproducing fish population and providing shelters to various species to balance the ecosystem. The vessels are tools that situate along the water to help filtering and reducing noise to create a better environment. The phased timeline illustrates the accumulating positive impact of introducing the vessels over a 100-year vision, ultimately transforming the fjord into a revitalized habitat and knowledge bank for future generations. The proposal provides a framework for sustainable human-nature coexistence through ecological redemption and education.

INTERIOR VIEWS

* Rhino 6, Vray, Adobe Photoshop

VNESTED CLIMATE

COMMUNITY GREENHOUSE IN SYRACUSE

ARC207 . FALL 2020 . SOA

Instructor: Professor Marcos Parga

Individual work

The Nested Climate project endeavors to cultivate multiple interior microclimates through the strategic use of various materials, passive systems, and the site’s existing climatic conditions. Responsive to the social and natural context, the design aims to craft welcoming, eco-conscious spaces emphasizing sustainability. Given Syracuse’s climate, the educational facilities are enveloped in thermal concrete masses to provide constant radiant heating. The architectural volumes are oriented to shelter exterior courtyards featuring specific microclimates that meet the needs of diverse agricultural planting zones. By harnessing the local climate, implementing passive strategies, and specifying climate-responsive materials, Nested Climate creates a rich tapestry of interior and exterior spaces tailored to foster community and nourish the land.

SITE ANALYSIS | ACCESSIBILITY

The site is situated adjacent to private residences along the western boundary and public property to the east. In designing the site layout, careful consideration was given to dialoguing with the surrounding context. A rigid delineation is established along the private edge to maintain privacy and separation. Conversely, the public edge is openly accessible and seamlessly integrated with the adjacent pavement, forest garden, and clinic through porous boundaries. This Creates a welcoming streetscape along the public frontage while respecting the privacy needs along the western private residences. The scheme aims to appropriately dialog with the diverse adjacent conditions through sensitive urban design interventions.

PUBLIC vs. PRIVATE

POLYCARBONATE

STEEL FRAME

CONCRETE

TINY GREENHOUSE

SECTION A

SECTION B

VIFOLD PAVILION

AT DOWNTOWN SYRACUSE

ARC107 . FALL 2019 . SOA

Instructor: Professor Greg Corso

Individual work

Fold Pavilion is a public space design in downtown Syracuse inspired by the architectural theory of Raumplan in Adolf Loos’ Villa Müller. As an analytical study of this seminal work of early modernism, Fold Pavilion extrapolates Loos’ Raumplan theory of interior spatial organization into a contemporary civic structure. Appropriating the layered geometries, split levels, and doubleheight voids of the iconic Villa Müller residence, Fold Pavilion translates these devices into an engaging urban intervention.

CIRCULATION

PRECEDENT ANALYSIS | RAUMPLAN

A defining feature of Loos’ Raumplan is the use of split levels and double-height voids to create dynamic interior spaces and volumes. Thresholds between rooms become blurred through the continuous spaces, challenging traditional notions of division between interior rooms. Circulation is key to tying these spaces together, with ramps and staircases threading through the volumes to link sunken living rooms and raised dining areas. The floorplate steps up and down to tie the spaces together in section. Dramatic double-height voids carved through multiple floors accentuate the layered geometries. Loos’ mastery of threshold conditions and circulation routes to tie together a rich spatial composition of split levels and dramatic voids creates his unique Raumplan interior landscapes, manifested beautifully in the Villa Müller.

THRESHOLD

NEGATIVE SPACE

PAVILION GEOMETRY | RAUMPLAN

The pavilion is situated within a circular plaza in downtown Syracuse. Designed as a public gathering space for the city, the pavilion accommodates sitting, passage, and respite within the urban core. Shifting floor plates create a dynamic interior landscape, guiding occupants along ramps and staircases that fluidly traverse up and down. Oriented responsive to the surrounding urban fabric, the pavilion integrates itself seamlessly into the existing downtown context.

OTHER WORKS

ITALY ABOARD, COMPETITION, DRAWINGS

The former part showcases my project, Hidden Therme, which creates a thermal bath that completely merges into the site. By carving out various scales of spaces from the mountain to introduce a thermal bath guided by experience and light. The whole project focuses more on the interior than the exterior, uses water in a sustainable way, and celebrates hot spring water.

Later this section demonstrates my work for competition, personal interest, and on-site survey work for my semester in Italy.

THERMAL BATH SITE PLAN | Rhino 6, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Photoshop

THERMAL BATH MODEL | Foam, Foamcore, Plaster, Pigment

CAFETERIA

MEDITATION ROOM

CHANGING ROOM

ZEN GARDEN