Within the current global context of rapid change, integrated with the potentials of digital technologies, IAAC’s Master in Advanced Architecture (MAA) is committed to the generation of new ideas and applications for Urban Design, Self Sufficiency, Digital Manufacturing Techniques and Advanced Interaction.
In this context IAAC works with a multidisciplinary approach, facing the challenges posed by our environment and the future development of cities, architecture and buildings, through a virtuous combination of technology, biology, computational design, digital and robotic fabrication, pushing innovation beyond the boundaries of a more traditional architectural approach.
A sun-chasing system is a mechanism that automatically tracks the movement of the sun across the sky to maintain the optimal angle for capturing sunlight. When applied to solar panels, this technology can increase energy efficiency by up to 30–40% compared to fixed panels, as it maximizes exposure throughout the day. Beyond energy generation, the … Read more
The rising incidence and intensity of wildfires represent a pressing issue. Driven by climate change, prolonged droughts, and poor land management, these fires are no longer isolated incidents but massive, destructive events that regularly surpass human control. Given the scale and speed of these megafires, traditional response methods are often too slow. We must shift … Read more
Problem Tersa is a public company that runs a waste incineration plant in Sant Adrià del Besòs, serving much of the Barcelona metropolitan area. Over the years, local associations and residents have raised concerns that the plant may exceed emissions limits of toxic substances and caused pollution. Despite all the concerns, the investigating judge archived … Read more
The goal of this project is to design a smart light maze that reacts to the movement or presence of people. In this system, the paths and walls of the maze are made of colorful LED strips (such as NeoPixel), which light up dynamically and interactively as participants move through the maze. When a person … Read more
This project explores how technology can transform everyday architectural spaces into interactive environments. The concept focuses on an alarm system that reacts to human presence through light and sound, creating a sensory dialogue between the user and the space. This experiment merges architecture, design, and electronics to question how spatial security can also become an … Read more
CONCEPT Cymat-E explores the concept of an acoustic radar, a device that can detect and visualize the ideal audible range, or the distance where sound is heard most clearly and comfortably. The idea takes inspiration from how radar systems map physical space, but instead, we are mapping sound space. Using microphones and sound analysis, the … Read more
by Francisco Pinel on October 26, 2025 The Quiet-o-Meter is an interactive sound awareness prototype designed to promote mindful noise behavior in shared environments. Inspired by the need for greater awareness of how our collective sound levels can affect others, this project transforms ambient noise into visual and auditory cues that encourage quieter, more considerate spaces. Built on … Read more
Introduction to Programming and Physical Computing Seminar This project focuses on developing a smart air quality monitoring system using a Seeed Lotus microcontroller, an MQ-135 air quality sensor, a 0.96” OLED display, a buzzer, a small motor or fan, and a panel with three LEDs to indicate air quality levels. The system continuously measures CO₂ … Read more
Introduction to Programming and Physical Computing Seminar Leonard A. Rieck CONTEXT Ultrasonic Counter System – Explanation This system uses an ultrasonic sensor to detect when an object passes in front of it.Every time something comes closer than x cm, the Arduino counts one pass and lights up fewer red LEDs, showing how many passes … Read more
Rainwater Harvester The project proposes a regenerative infrastructure for runoff water collection, treatment, and reuse within the built environment. Conceived as a responsive system embedded in architecture, it seeks to transform excess rainwater often perceived as waste into an active resource within a closed ecological loop. During episodes of heavy rainfall, the system captures surface … Read more
Concept What if our façades could react to sunlight? This project explores how architecture can respond to changing light conditions through simple automation. Using Arduino, it translates light intensity into movement, mimicking the adaptive behavior of a brise-soleil, and highlighting how design can respond to environmental change. REFERENCES – BRISE SOLEIL Schematics The Arduino code … Read more
Programmed Shading devices for humans 1 > References 2 / The integration of interactive architecture and responsive technology opens new frontiers in design, as exemplified by the Hylozoic Ground installation and its envisioned evolution into autonomous systems. Hylozoic Ground serves as a reference point, showcasing an immersive spatial installation that mimics nature’s behaviors. Through architectural … Read more
PHYSICAL COMPUTING & PROGRAMMING Ultrasonic Sensor with Alarm, LCD and Temperature CONCEPT This project gives me the info I need about the water level in a water tank. When the level is low, the green LED is ON. When the level is medium, the yellow LED is ON. When the level is HIGH the red … Read more
Keys have become obsolete. With the exponential growth of technology there has come a time for new alternatives. Some exist such as fobs, cards or keypads, but those still come with the same issue: the opportunity for them to be stolen or lost. So how about a solution that requires ownership of absolutely nothing, but … Read more
Introduction to Programming and Physical Computing Student – Saad Khan INTRODUCTION– ORIGINS AND THE USE OF SOUND IN ARCHITECTURE Cymatics is the study of how sound vibrations create visible patterns on a medium such as sand, water, or a solid surface. Coined by Swiss scientist Hans Jenny in the 1960s, cymatics builds on earlier discoveries … Read more
Cycle Navigation Aid – A Safer, Hands-Free Solution Arduino – Based Navigation Device for Cyclists NavBand is a compact navigation aid for urban cyclists, combining an 8×8 LED matrix display with a tactile vibration feedback system to provide clear, hands-free directional guidance. Designed to attach to a bicycle handlebar, it visually displays arrows for navigation … Read more
