The MAA is a visionary master program with an innovative and open structure, mixing diverse disciplines, shaping professionals capable of producing theoretical & practical solutions towards responsive cities, architecture & technology.
Studio: Term 2 – MRAC + MAA For our third term MRAC paired up with MAA students to investigate how vernacular materials and techniques of Catalonia could be modernised with robotic precision to create new typologies. Our group chose to work with Canya; more specifically Arundo Donax, Giant Reed. Two vernacular techniques we looked to … Read more
The Living Fibers MAA/MRAC, Studio Term 2, 2025/2026 Group 1: Brooklyn Edsall, Elias El asmar, Leonard elias Böker, Nikolaos Kalaitzidis, Nisanth Anil Menon Abstract:This project challenges the hyper-standardization of modern construction by investigating the architectural potential of raw, locally sourced Catalan wool. Our research elevates wool from a passive insulation material into an active, rigid, … Read more
“Carbon-breathing panels: a regenerative material system for climate-adaptive architecture.”
Designed for the IAAC rooftop, this pavilion merges computational design with advanced robotic fabrication. The geometry originates in Grasshopper, where a basic mesh is transformed into an optimized vault using Kangaroo’s physics-based dynamic relaxation. A reciprocal frame pattern is then applied, translating the continuous shell into short, mutually supporting timber pieces. Because every interlocking element … Read more
This project, titled Recursive Shell, is located at Plaça del Pi. The pavilion explores form-finding through inverted arch logic and modular timber shells. Using a Kangaroo Bouncy Solver, the design optimizes structural stability via parameters like pressure, edge lengths, and vertex loads. The system consists of interlocking triangular panels and joint discs extracted from a … Read more
A Model for Connected Stewardship Context The Montseny landscape is shaped by terraced slopes, a system that historically functioned as both agricultural infrastructure and ecological stabilization. These terraces were carefully constructed to retain soil, slow water, and create productive microclimates along steep terrain. Stone walls regulate moisture. Layered planting stabilizes slopes. In this system, humans … Read more
Core Concept and Architectural Language The subject of this computational design studio project is hyperbuildings on 1 million SQM GFA each in the heart of Tokyo. The brief called for focus on data driven design, with emphasis on the positive impact of each hyperbuilding on the adjacent urban realm, and this time financial drivers were … Read more
ROLE FINAL INPUTS AND OUTPUTS TEAM ROLES AND COMMUNICATION STREAMS COMMUNICATION COLLABORATION REFLECTIONS CARBON FOOTPRINT OBJECTS TRACKER APP We imagined a smarter way to design façades—one that doesn’t just generate new materials but maximizes the potential of what already exists. That’s why we developed a custom parametric tool that helps architects and designers track, organize, … Read more
Recalificación de Áreas Degradadas por la Industria de la Sal, con base en el Patrimonio Cultural y Ambiental, Cabo Frio – RJ, Brasil Introducción La sal es una materia prima de suma importancia para la humanidad, desde el principio el hombre utilizó esta fuente para sazonar y conservar los alimentos y su importancia la ha … Read more
The Master’s in Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities (MAEBB) program at Valldaura Labs features the Collaborative Design Studio in its first term, also known as the Introduction to Self-Sufficiency. In recent years, the Collaborative Design Studio has engaged students in designing for and with diverse groups, working across various age groups, from school children to … Read more
WHY USE RECLAIMED WOOD RESEARCH Reclaimed wood is a sustainable and unique material that can be used in almost any project. It offers strength, character, and originality that you cannot find with any other building material. It helps preserve the past while upcycling materials that would otherwise go to waste. TYPE – WOOD-PALLETS Mapping the … Read more
Keywords: Mass timber city, Sustainable forest management, smart cities, Vernacular, Local species wood ABSTRACT: The capital city of Nepal- Kathmandu, like many urban cities globally, is undergoing uncontrolled urban expansion, neglecting its natural-based construction heritage, particularly timber. This research advocates for a paradigm shift towards mass timber, particularly multispecies Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT), to address environmental … Read more
(I) Vaporization of water (2)Thermal inertia ELECTRONIC FOUNDATION. MAKE ENERGY VISIBLE MAKE ENERGY FLOW. CONTROL THE EXTREMES MATTER MATTERS Scalability Thermal inertia Phase shift Dampening ROOM 1 ROOM 2 THE PROCESS
Reimagining a Human Settlement on the Red Planet Envisioning a self-sustained colony on Mars, our primary focus is on revolutionizing transportation within the red planet. Sustainability is our guiding principle as we design an efficient transportation system that seamlessly connects habitats across various clusters. Incorporating Tensegrity moving parts, Inflatable lightweight structures, and a Hexagonal Grid framework, our approach embraces a Kit-Of-Part methodology. Following … Read more
