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.

WindWave

Wind Wave is a secondary facade system engineered in response to the escalating environmental demands faced by our planet. Climate change is resulting in an increase in heat waves, with some reaching lethal intensities. As global temperatures rise, reliance on air conditioning systems has surged. However, these systems exacerbate external environmental heating by expelling hot … Read more

THF // MICRO-CITY

The proposed vision for Tempelhof is articulated as a ‘city within a city’ arranged along the two airstrips of the former airport, extending perpendicularly to emphasise a dual directionality. Buildings are conceived as flexible micro-communities built on organic/biodegradable materials, with the possibility of growing or ‘de-growing’ through time.The design strategy aims to trigger a need … Read more

THE HORIZON

The Horizon is an open space, spanning 110m x 37m (length of a whole block of Barcelona) that guides human behaviour around changing shadow patterns, which are driven by the sun’s heat. It rests on the top of the student housing building, housing all the communal areas.  Communal activities around the Horizon shift, with moveable … Read more

TREE WISE

TIMBER SENSING TECHNOLOGY A material system combining timber and graphene, replacing traditional sensors through graphene’s sensing capabilities. This innovative approach allows first, real-time tracking of deformations inside the wood. Second, creating a digital twin that improves maintenance efficiency in the operational phase. Third, providing a detailed service life passport, this system supports reuse and reduces … Read more

Decharbonization

From exterior soil remediation to interior acoustics enhancement The goal of this project is to create a non-cementitious geopolymer, using as the main component biochar, an worldwide abundant material, and amplify its qualities to sequester carbon in order to make carbon sink architecture. Through the process of material engineering and testing, it was possible to … Read more

ChromaEnergon

ChromaEnergon represents an innovative approach to student housing architecture that transcends conventional design paradigms tapping the potentials of climatic energy and thermochromic pigments. This concept leverages verticality, slenderness, and dispersed tower structures to create dynamic living environments. By strategically mapping energy into various spaces through the skin which the facade, ChromaEnergon aims to generate unique … Read more

Tiny Topographies

Optimizing Bar Buildings for Sunlight and Pathways The aim of this project was to design a typology of housing is needed that resembles small, artificial terrains. The Bar Building typology will have set of long, dense buildings that will mimic the form of a topography. The forms will need to be optimized to allow for all the … Read more

SWARM_FACADE

SWARM_FACADE investigates using swarm intelligence principles (separation, alignment, and cohesion) in architectural design and façade construction. By employing multi-agent-based swarm intelligence algorithms, a conceptual design method was introduced. Evolutionary optimization and parametric control were applied to define solid-void elements in the building façade. The resulting façade variations were optimized and evaluated based on relative daylight … Read more

Mushroom Façade

Facade optimization based on Sunlight   Two layers of the facade: one is stable, and the other layer grows based on the points that are warmer or receive more  sunlight to reduce heat and sunlight. The design objectives Environmental Sustainability Energy Efficiency: Reduce energy consumption for heating, cooling, and lighting. Climate Adaptation: Design to adapt to … Read more

F1 Horizons

This optimization uses computational design to achieve the best placement of the Grand-Stand around a predefined F1 racetrack and topology for maximum visibility for spectators using Grasshopper and Galapagos Evolutionary solver.

Karambug

Design optimization strategy of a garage in London based on Karamba and Ladybug Sensitivity Analysis Total (average) fitness iterations Catalogues load distribution in ceiling in different iterations

WOOD ID mockups

Site The city of Porto Alegre in Brazil has faced recently the largest flood in the recorded history. The 2nd place happened 80 years ago across the span of 22 days. This year, this record was broken in 4 hours. As for now, only for the city of Porto Alegre, more than 242 thousand homes … Read more

PHYLLOTACTIC TOWER

PHYLLOTAXIS The arrangement of leaves or floral parts around a stem or axis is called phyllotaxis. The term comes from the Greek phullon – ‘leaf’ and taxis – ‘arrangement’. The model was first proposed by Wilhelm Hofmeister in 1868. IMPORTANCE: The objective of the phyllotaxis is to avoid overcrowding. So that all leaves get maximum … Read more

OPTIMIZED WELLNESS

harnessing genetic algorithms for better living In a neighborhood where high-rise buildings are becoming more prevalent, can we still prioritize and design for wellbeing? In an exploration of the interplay between architecture, the environment and human wellbeing, this project utilizes genetic algorithms to optimize the design of mixed-use residential towers, based on key environmental factors … Read more

The Rippled Facade

Optimizing the building skin inspired by Rippled droplets Meta balls as an isomorphic surfaces constructed as composite assemblages of the mutually infecting parametric objects with internal forces of mass and attraction.region of influence,which could be additive (positive) or subjective(negative)Isomorphic architecture(Bubble) Blobitecture , blobism and blobism are terms for a movement in architecture in which buildings … Read more

RETHINKING URBAN FORESTRY

Through a meticulous analysis of data extracted from the site and a comprehensive understanding of Barcelona’s climatic conditions, our visionary project sets its sights on the future, envisioning Barcelona in the year 2050 as a harmonious blend of urban living and natural serenity. At the heart of our exploration lies the theme of urban forestry, … Read more