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.
Referential work’s logics Our referential framework is the Kring Kumho Culture Complex in Seoul by Unsangdong Architects, a building defined by large circular recesses that function as urban windows. The design exploits these spaces to break the flat exterior, as ‘Kring’ means ‘Circle’ in Dutch. We developed a concentric propagation approach to translate this logic … Read more
COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN I SEMINAR25/26 MAA01 (Level2) Abstract: Computational Weaving. This project, developed for the Computational Design I Seminar, explores the algorithmic generation of complex, recursive geometries through the logic of “Digital Craft”. Inspired by the material constraints of steam-bent timber, the design creates a “volumetric weave” rather than a simple surface. The computational workflow is … Read more
Computational Design Seminar Studio Ardete’s Headquarters Image credits: Studio Ardete’s Headquarters in Mohali, India by Parametric Architecture Facade Responds to Light, Wind, and Motion, with its ever-evolving appearance. At the heart of the design is MetaSequin, a modular, reflective parametric façade element. These circular sequins interact with natural forces like wind and light, creating a … Read more
Plaça de Sant Felip Neri The pavilion is a biomimetic structure, drawing inspiration from natural webs. Its design utilizes an interactive interface of touch and light, on touching the pavilion, the entire part of pavilion lits up with various rainbow colors .This creates a dynamic and interactive environment, where the colorful light patterns shift and … Read more
CREATIVE PROCESS The façade is conceived as a textile surface caught mid-movement, as if a piece of fabric were lifted by the wind and suspended in time. Waves, folds, and subtle curvature translate the softness of cloth into a controlled architectural geometry. This fluid motion becomes the organizing logic of the elevation, producing a rhythm … Read more
In today’s architectural landscape, digital fabrication has significantly expanded the way we design and construct building elements—offering unprecedented accuracy, efficiency, and formal freedom. Techniques such as laser cutting, CNC milling, 3D printing, and robotic manufacturing each bring distinct advantages in terms of material behavior, geometric complexity, and performance potential. RE:CELL Concept The Re:Cell is a … Read more
Digital fabrication enables designers to explore geometries that go beyond traditional construction constraints. The exercise focuses on translating complex geometries into constructible systems that integrate material behaviour, joinery logic, and mass customisation. Each technique allows experimentation with unique fabrication constraints, informing the evolution of the vertical element design. The outputs serve as material and geometric … Read more
Introduction to Digital Fabrication Team : Sejin Park & Hasan Hirji CNC Milling During the CNC Milling process, RhinoCAM software automatically creates bridges; a necessary milling process outside of commands that one might use to manipulate material. We began with the idea of testing the frequency and depth of 2-axis bridging path movement presets to … Read more
Introduction to Programming and Physical Computing Seminar Faculty: Daniel Mateos, Adai Suriñach, Antoine Jaunard Group Members: Amalia Anna Korgiala, Camilo Hernán Contreras Concept The project aims to design a sensor that can work with light or sound sensors, inspired by a library luminaire. The sensor can be placed in various areas and scales, such as … Read more
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
Concept This project features a dynamic façade that responds to joystick movements, allowing users to control the orientation of its panels toward the north, south, east, or west. Each direction activates a different sound and colored light, providing both auditory and visual feedback that complements the tactile control. For example, a high-pitched tone and red … Read more
A prototype for an interactive floor system that transforms human movement into light. The prototype consists of buttons representing movable floor tiles equipped with sensors that detect when someone steps on them.Each activated tile triggers an individual light source, creating a unique and dynamic composition that changes with every step.As people move across the surface, … 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
Carbon Envelopes Toward Carbon-Sequestering Architectural Systems through Biochar-Concrete and Hybrid Fabrication The construction industry is one of the biggest contributors to climate change.We’re facing a paradox: The materials we use and how the construction industry works today are destroying our chance of having a future. Besides the emissions, there are other problems that we need to … Read more
Self Sufficient Buildings The project investigates esparto grass as a natural humidity moderator within urban student housing. By analyzing its hygroscopic response and recording relative humidity variations, a passive air filtration system is developed. Anchored in a double landscape strategy, the design links material cultivation, extraction, and environmental performance across urban and ecological contexts. Carrer de … Read more
Vernacular architecture has steadily lost relevance in contemporary practice. Industrialized construction methods, aesthetic shifts, and the pursuit of perceived reliability in materials like concrete and steel have overshadowed traditional techniques. However, these modern materials often come at a high environmental cost. Among the overlooked methods is quincha, a construction technique common in Latin America. It … Read more
