During the second year of the Master in Advanced Architecture + Thesis Project (MAA02), students have the unique opportunity to work for a period of 1 year on an Individual Thesis Project, focused on the development of a research or pilot project based on the student’s interest, and the learnings of the first year. IAAC supports the student in selecting their Thesis Project topic in order to better orient them according to their future career interests and opportunities. Each student, according to their specific topic, is assigned one or more Thesis Advisors that follow the development of the work throughout the year.
In parallel to the development of the Individual Thesis Project, the second year of the MAA02 offers a series of seminars enhancing the theoretical, practical and computational skills of the students.
In the past years, the number of 3D Concrete Printed projects has been increasing exponentially. Even though it is becoming an important part of the construction industry, large-scale 3D-printed buildings have shown a lack of aesthetics, as flat walls are normally used, and sometimes even plastered. On the other hand, small-scale printed projects have shown … Read more
Morphology_Designer is a research project that demonstrates a data-driven approach to offer valuable insights for architects, urban designers, and planners by emphasizing the significance of morphological analysis, through building footprint data, and in understanding the spatial characteristics and composition of residential buildings within cities. The derived typologies offer a systematic framework for evaluating the diverse … Read more
The world’s coral reefs face significant threats due to rising ocean temperatures. They play a critical role in supporting biodiversity, providing habitats for marine species, and acting as natural barriers against storms and erosion. However, coral bleaching caused by the rising ocean temperatures are causing substantial risks to their survival. Efforts to address these challenges … Read more
Empowering Architectural Design with AI Diffusion This research explores the use of ControlNet with Stable Diffusion to enhance architects’ control over AI generated designs made by diffusion models. The objective is to expand the creative scope in architecture and transform the perception of AI from a potential threat into an opportunity for innovation and increased … Read more
Create a design interface where you can visualize columns from gothic, islamic and neoclassical styles, translated into a contemporary proposal that can be fabricated using additive manufacturing with concrete. Using JSON files to work with predetermined parameters which allow the files to load faster in the Shape Diver platform. follow this link to Shape Diver: … Read more
The 3D printed wall panel design offered by Shapediver provides several key interactive features for users. Firstly, it includes a library of sgraffitto patterns that users can choose from, and they also have the option to upload their own patterns for personalized designs. Users can adjust the pattern resolution to achieve finer or coarser details … Read more
Posidonia Oceanica: The Aquatic Seagrass Species Posidonia oceanica is a species of aquatic seagrass that belongs to the Posidoniaceae family. It possesses roots, a rhizomatous stem, and ribbon-like leaves, resembling those of terrestrial plants. These features allow it to anchor itself to the seabed and spread horizontally, forming extensive meadows in the Mediterranean Sea. These … Read more
As the world continues to develop rapidly, the problem of noise pollution, especially in metropolitan cities, cannot be eliminated. Not only outside but also inside the old houses. “Corteza” is an experimental design proposal to tackle the noise pollution problem inside Barcelona’s buildings with 3d printed natural cork furniture. What is noise pollution? And what … Read more
Second Slice Giving bread waste a second chance START-UP Second Slice is a start-up dedicated to transforming the sustainability landscape through the upcycling of bread waste into vegan leather using bread and mycelium. Our mission is to provide an eco-friendly alternative to traditional leather production while simultaneously reducing food waste. By harnessing the power of … Read more
At UrbanCork, we are a passionate team of four young individuals from Barcelona and Stuttgart, united by a shared vision of creating sustainable solutions for urban environments. We are committed to transforming cities into more liveable, eco-friendly spaces from car-centric to people-friendly cities. Our focus is on developing innovative cork tiles that not only enhance … Read more
ShapeDiver is an online platform which allows one to share and interact with Grasshopper files online. The objective was to utilize the platform to demonstrate the proximity network of sugarcane fields in the South African context, which is the central theme of my thesis. To achieve this, I obtained the gradient field data of the … Read more
SustainaBite aims to address the issue of food waste, specifically focusing on household food waste, which accounts for over 55% of the total. This household waste is majority linked to over-purchasing, over-preparing and lack of meal planning. To tackle this problem, we have developed an app that empowers customers to discover current discounted food products … Read more
ShapeDiver is an online platform that simplifies hosting and sharing Grasshopper files online. This project is aimed at creating a pantong chair in shapediver platform where the users, partners, clients, or other non-technical stakeholders can customize the design by using the provided parameters like The Size of Seat, The Material Thickness, the Chair’s Width or … Read more
What behaviour in our daily life cause energy waste. The sun that comes into the home is harsh and hot, drawing the curtains makes the room dark, which then requires light to be turned on in the day, wasting energy. Typical Solar Panels are Deterrent to User Deployment. Normally it is Large, bulky and installed on roofs and … Read more
Context 1 (2022) Europe’s air quality status 2022 [Preprint]. European Environment Agency. Available at: https://www.eea.europa.eu/publications/status-of-air-quality-in-Europe-2022/europes-air-quality-status-2022 2 WHO global air quality guidelines. Particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), ozone, nitrogen dioxide, sulfur dioxide and carbon monoxide. Geneva: World Health Organization; 2021. Licence: CC?BYNCSA?3.0?IGO Problem Statement Urban designers and city planners are not able to predict the impact … Read more
Causal loop diagrams is tool that is used to tell stories about the complex issues within the fast fashion industry. By identifying the interrelationships within the system’s structure, these diagrams helps to understand the impacts and trade-offs associated with different factors. The resulting visual representation then is used to effectively communicate this understanding and facilitate … Read more
The Problem According to the World Bank, approximately 68% of the population in Sub-Saharan Africa resides in urban areas. Similarly the International Finance Corporation (IFC) highlights the concentration of furniture imports in urban areas, causing a surge in furniture prices. For locally fabricated furniture, high production costs and inefficient supply chains contribute to expensive furniture … Read more
Picture this: Its sunday morning and you are taking a shower after a long saturday night. You have the water running, still trying to wake up from the night before then Crash! You are now having a mini panic attack, scrambling to get the soap out of your eyes and turn off the water all … Read more
