Impluvium O’Connor is the first outdoor installation of the “Impluvium Redux” prototype, an interdisciplinary, ecological research model integrating structural, environmental, and architectural thinking. Repurposed from the “2025 Time, Space, Existence” Venice Biennale, it sits on the terrace of the O’Connor Building.

This prototype proposes a novel structural system based on CNT yarns, combining lightweight, strength, and conductivity. A central hollow mast, 3D-printed spacers, and a woven pattern of CNT fibres create a customizable component that can function as beam or column.

This prototype is proposed as a design implementation of the smooth poly-hypar surface structure is a new type of doubly curved freeform shell developed by Dr. Cao in her doctoral thesis at ETH Zurich.

This structure consists of a sun-shading façade system, which is exemplarily applied to the glass curtain wall of one of the office buildings of the ETH Science City Campus in Zurich (Switzerland), with the aim of improving the thermal and visual comfort of the building’s occupants.

The research project aims to explore the potentials of space trusses and folded plate systems in the field of ultra-lightweight structures. Its form is generated by folding a surface virtually within a predesigned tetrahedral grid.

Impluvium Redux Venice showcases a modular ceramic and kinetic membrane prototype for urban water harvesting at the 2025 Time Space Existence exhibition. The project highlights interdisciplinary design in sustainable infrastructure and was shortlisted for the 2025 ECC Awards.

This prototype proposes a flexible module that can be deployed onto any pre-existing urban rooftop or public area. Hollow ceramic columns are topped with a foldable membrane structure to provide shade and water collection.

POST Houston 2023 installation to psopose new models of urban infrastructures and collective spaces for social interaction based on the integration of material, structural, and environmental systems

The Hypar Pavilion was built in Nanjing (China) as a temporary installation during a two-week workshop organised by the Southeast University and ETH Zurich in June 2018.

The goal of the research is to introduce a novel design method to consistently integrate structural folding in architecture.

The “Cooling Column” was created through a collaborative effort with French architect Victor Maréchal (MANERA) during the “Rice University Global Workshop 2025.” Students from the architecture and engineering departments joined forces to transform hollow ceramic pieces into an innovative outdoor cooling column.

The research question relies on how to design sectional hollow structures that can integrate multiple functions using contemporary manufacturing technologies applied to ceramic materials as an alternative to reinforced concrete.

SBAU Seoul Biennale 2021 installation that encapsulates an urban farming and water collector membrane system that captures rainwater through its expansive surface.

Research project in collaboration with Prof. Delia Dumitrescu at Swedish School of Textiles, Boras University, Sweden.

The research project is focused on the development of a parametric construction system based on the assembly of a limited amount of ceramic nonstandard bricks combined with honeycomb mesh reinforcement.