Tina Cai Architecture Portfolio

I always associate architecture with people’s experience and emotions. To me, architecture represents the embodiment of human existence and is intended to uplift and enrich our lives. I believe that the essence of any built environment lies in its cultural contents and environmental strategies. The thrill of problem-solving and creating innovative solutions has always captivated me while studying architecture. With my keen sense of aesthetics and my boundless creativity. I relish the opportunity to acquire practical experience as I continue to learn and grow.

01 CEREMONY

Year 1 Design Studio 2

“Celebration of life”

Weddings represent a celebration of ‘union’, partnership and a life to be Shared.

Whilst a traditional funeral tends to follow an established outline, a ‘celebration of life’ can be thought of as any funeral not in the traditional style.

A building designed specifically as a spiritual celebration venue affords the architect some exceptional opportunities. While a building for both weddings and funerals might initially feel contradictory on an emotional level, the idea here is that you are providing architecture for a memorial service that is very much a celebration of a life. The spaces should support a positive uplifting experience not a sombre one.

The symmetrical design brings a sense of harmony to the ceremony space

A spiral circulation creates a revolving experience for users, also shifts the focal point of the lower ground floor towards the southwest corner.

A newly planted tree, which can be celebrated as a symbol of new life and growth

Internal perspective —— Ceremony space

Solid oak threshold on aerated concrete support

Suspended ceiling

Reinforced concrete beam

Insulation foam

Thermal break

Waterproofing membrane

Reinforced concrete slab sloped for drainage

PVC raised floor pedestal

Flooring – 30mm granite

Flat roof outlet

Downpipe cover

Aluminium handrail

Laminated glass

Bifolding doors

Plywood finish

40mm sand cement screed

200mm reinforced concrete slab

Vapour control layer

150mm Rigid insulation

Damp proof membrane

50mm sand blinding

Hardcore

Rainwater drainage channel with galvanised grate

Slate tiling

Concete floor slab, poured in-situ

East elevation perpendicular to section

EAST ELEVATION 1:25 @A1

AR20012:

Structural and Detailed Design

Name: Xinhai (Tina) Cai

Project: CEREMONY

Candidate number: 10589

SECTION AA 1:25 @A1

1. Skylight, triple glazing: laminated safety glass

2. Gutter

3. Roof parapet

4. Capping support bracket

5. Metal capping

6. Damp proof course

7. Bath stone cladding panel

8. Substrate - concrete backing wall

9. 15mm plasterboard with skim coat

10. 150mm rigid insulation

11. Wall tie

12. Insulated flashing with sealant to cladding panel

13. Fixed triple glazed window detail, aluminium frame

14. Stainless steel bent plate

15. Stainless steel support bracket fixed to substrate

16. Zinc cladding panel fixed to cladding rail

17. Cladding rail

18. Window head panel. With weepholes and sealant to window head

19. Damp proof membrane

20. Polystyrene insulation

21. Oak door leaf

22. Solid oak threshold on aerated concrete support

23. Suspended ceiling

24. Reinforced concrete beam

25. Insulation foam

26. Thermal break

EAST ELEVATION 1:25 @A1

27. Waterproofing membrane

28. Reinforced concrete slab sloped for drainage

29. PVC raised floor pedestal

30. Flooring – 30mm granite

31. Flat roof outlet

32. Downpipe cover

33. Aluminium handrail

34. Laminated glass

35. Bifolding doors

36. Plywood finish

37. 40mm sand cement screed

38. 200mm reinforced concrete slab

39. Vapour control layer

40. 150mm Rigid insulation

41. Damp proof membrane

42. 50mm sand blinding

43. Hardcore

44. Rainwater drainage channel with galvanised grate

45. Slate tiling

46. Concete floor slab, poured in-situ

02 ARTISAN

Year 1 Design Studio 2

The secnted home of inspiration

A live work house layers dwelling, working, and cultivation. Located on an imagined island north-eastern coast of the UK. The introduction of live-work housing will serve as a stimulus for a new community and island-based economy.

The house is designed to be contained within a walled enclosure, function and efficient use of space are carefully considered.

Sketchup, AutoCAD, Enscape, Photoshoop, Procreate, Brown cardboard

Client profile

Award winning perfume designer would invite her clients to her residence for private consultations. Glasser’s clients are invited to stay with her and her husband for a relaxed “holiday”. The perfumer takes inspirations for bespoke perfumes for her clients during the time they spend together.

AZZI GLASSER | Bespoke perfume designer

Internal perspective

ROOF

1. Zinc Standing Seam Roof

2. 50 x 20mm Batten

3. 50 x 50mm Batten

4. Waterproofing Membrane

6.

7. Ventilation Gap

8. Gutter

9. 250 x 50mm Timber Rafter

10. 200mm Timber Joist

11. 150mm Insulation over Timber Joists

12. 250mm Insulation between Timber Joists

13. Wall Plate

14. Vapour Control Layer

15. 15mm Plasterboard and Skim Finish

INTERMEDIATE FLOOR AND INTERNAL WALL

1. 20mm Timber Floor Finish

2. 20mm Plywood

3. 150mm Insulation between Joists

4. 200mm Floor Joist

5. Joist Hanger

6. 100mm Service Cavity

7. 35mm Suspended Ceiling Structure

8. 15mm Plasterboard and Skim Finish

9. Skirting

x

5. Truss plate

Timber Sarking

03 MUSIC BOX

Year 1 Design Studio 1

A zen JOURNEY

Project brief

The University of Bath is seeking proposals for a new building on campus to provide an innovative and creative environmet for the enjoyment of music, and the benefit of students, staff, and the local community

Response to brief

- Not to repeat the functions of an existing art and music building on campus

- NIA is limited to 100 sqm

- There is a large group of Asian students in the university

- The building could turn into an Asian Culture Centre

- A space where people can relax, enjoy musical performance, and appreciate Asian culture

Sketchup, AutoCAD, Enscape, Photoshoop, Procreate, Card paper, Cardboard, Plaster for moulding

Inspiration

Drawing inspiration from my life drawing of a Chinese Garden in Suzhou, the image captures the serene beauty of the TingYu Pavilion, meaning ‘listen to the rain.’

As raindrops patter on the plants and fall into the pool, they create the music of nature, inspiring ancient poets and artists for centuries.

Concept sketches

The design of Chinese Architecture is not just about the building itself, but about the experience of the visitor Journey starts with the landscape, nature, trees, water, and at the end, is the building

Experimenting with Chinese Garden designs

Final model 1:50

04 ARTS AND DESIGN

Metaverse architecture team project

In this two week project, I practiced using Maya to design the form and Unreal Engine to render architecture we created for the metaverse space. This experience in designing metaverse architecture has made me wonder how the metaverse can help to make better decisions in real life.

Maya, Unreal Engine

Digital illustration

I have envisioned a scene inspired by my favorite science-fiction novel, The Three Body Problem. In this scene, humans are using the regular back-andforth motion of pendulums to pray for the regularity of the sun. However, despite their efforts, the pendulum remains stable because the sun itself is stable. The idea that a civilization might believe it is in control of the world is a poignant reminder of the vastness and supremacy of the universe.

Rhino, Photoshop

Ink drawing

Charcoal drawing from photo

Water colour of the Matterhorn

Water colour of a mountain range

Life drawing by pencil