portfolio.
Hello,
My name is Joshua Cao.
I’m an Archhitecture student studying at the University of Sydney. This portfolio includes selected works that reflects my journey and passion towards archiecture. I hope to contribute the same passion to your firm.
Thank you and enjoy.
Harbourlight Theatre
Public Pool / Floating / Modular / Timber Structure
Left: Axonomatric diagram showing the transformation between public pool and theatre.
Bottom: The theatre transforms between day and night, from a public pool into a theatre, that features a pool in the middle of the stage. (Rendered with Lumion.)
Top: Cafe
Right (from top to bottom): Back of the theatre, Stairs, First floor
Clark Island
Right: Exploded diagram of the theatre
Combining Public pool and Theatre
The Harbourlight Theatre project is an immersive, floating theatre designed to move between various islands across Sydney Harbour as part of Architecture Studio 3B. Inspired by Aldo Rossi’s Teatro del Mundo, this theatre reimagines performance on water, transforming Sydney’s iconic harbour into an evolving stage. Floating near historically and culturally significant islands, the project integrates the natural beauty of the harbour, adapting to shifting tides, reflections, and environmental conditions.
The brief, known as the Sydney Harbour Drama House, calls for a 250-seat theatre that blends artistic and public spaces. Harbourlight Theatre features a central pool used
both for performances and as a public pool, enhancing community engagement. With a flexible layout that brings audiences close to the actors, the theatre offers an intimate, participatory experience. This design book documents the journey of Harbourlight Theatre, from concept to realization, celebrating a unique fusion of culture, community, and the maritime landscape of Sydney Harbour.
*Program used: Rhino 7, Procreate, Lumion, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign
Top: Collage of the building showing exterior view
Left: Physical models
Bottom: Perspective section
AquaMotion
Urban Commercial / Crematorium+Nightclub / Concrete
Left: Render for buildiing facade (group work)
Right: Axonometric exploded diagram
Bottom Left: 1st Floor
Top right: 2nd Floor
Bottom
right: Roof top
Redefine and Co-existence
Located in the centre of Sydney CBD, AquaMotion is a place where the sterotypical idea of crematorium and nightclub gets re-defined. The traditional fire cremation is replaced by aquamation, with the nightclub fully merged into the shared space of crematorium during night time, creating an unique experience.
Symbolizing a cycle of human’s life, cycling water is one of the main concept of the building, where there’s water flowing through the entire building. It helps people to overcome the grief from lost with calming still water, or to escape from the stressful urban life and emerge into the disco lights reflected by the pools and waterfalls.
*Program used: Rhino 7, Procreate, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign
From top to bottom:
- Conceptual models using plaster and metal
- Conceptual models using laser cutted timber and screenboard
- Site model using cardboard and laser cutted timber
- 1:20 Detail model with plaster and water
The Sunrise
Co-housing / Inner Sydney / Elderly Women / Affordable
Cafe
Affordable & Accessible housing for Elderly Women
The Sunrise is a co-housing living space specifically designed for elderly women, with the ambition of providing them a comfortable and safe place to live in. Located near Redfern station in Inner Sydney, one of the main goal for this design is to provide affordable houses, that one can settle down without much concerns. Many women have experienced domestic violence or happen to move house constantly. The lack of safe housing and privacy is a main reason for them to feel insecure.
The Stair-shape of the building was designed to maximize sunlight for the residents, which is essencial for positive mental health. Considering the steep slope of Cope St. and accessibility accross the entire community, I decided to utilize the bottom shaded area of the building for cafe
and car park.
SInce the unit is designed for single elderly woman or potentially with their family, pravacy within the house would not be the main concern. Circulation is centralized for better accessibility, while each activity still have their separated space.
*Program used: Rayon Design, Rhino 7, Procreate, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Indesign
Micro House Design (Group work)
Petersham House Alteration
Top: Proposed Ground & First Plan (Group work)
Top right: Proposed Sections
Bottom right: Exterior & Interior Renders
House of Celebration (Group
work)
• 20mm steel roof
• 45mm x 90mm timber perline is bolted to the rafter
• rain pipe
• 50x200 upper wall plates
• steel glass frame is bolted on the timber plates
• 20x200 flat glass
• 200x100 crossing timber beam
• 13 batts insulation filling
• vapour barrier
• 20mm fiber-cement cladding board
• 40x25 timber stud
• 20 plastic board cladding
• 20 thick fc board cladding
• timbe deck with 45x95 batten in crossing patten
• 250 ml concrete ground slab with pad footing
• 2000x 1000 underground water tank for collecting raindrop
• custom shape 40x50 timber plates to close up gap between timber plates and rafter
• 20 plaster cladding is bolted between rafter to hide perlin
• two 35x45x5000 timber rafter are fixed together with steel timber composite structure
• Tapered beam at two ends enable greater extension of the roof
• composite steel structure rafter is fixed to the timber post with a T shape steel filling
• 45x300 timber post with timber-steel composite structure
• 18x450x300 timber trusses are bolted through steel plate at 2 side of timber post
• 105x10x6500 timber beam are bolted with the post wit L shape metal plate
• 200x20 upper timber plates
• 5mm steel glass lourve frame is bolted to the timber plates
• 300mm x 20mm glass lourve x 4
• 130mm x 200mm timber beam
• 20mm fc board to block sunlight at afternoon
• slidding door frame is bolted to the crossing beam
• 10mm x 2500 glass slidding door
• pipe stainless steel fence, high 1100 railling
Thank you, for staying with me.