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.
TÀN 58 is a seven-story student housing project located in Poblenou, an industrial district of Barcelona. The building’s form and orientation were shaped through computational studies that optimized daylight access and solar radiation across the site. This analysis led to the introduction of two central atriums, which act as vertical heat sources and organizational cores—spaces … Read more
SecondMatter upcycles 85% construction and demolition waste into low-impact building units using a hybrid ramming-jamming technique. With 9 MPa strength and 7% lower carbon emissions, it forms walls, panels, and columns. Integrated into municipal waste systems, its compaction method adapts to unpredictable debris, turning urban waste into resilient, structural architecture within existing material cycles. What if … Read more
Tierra Tower is a student housing project shaped by climate and material. Using earth sourced directly from site, it creates a vertical sequence of spaces that adapt to seasonal change and personal comfort. Thick earthen walls absorb and release heat, guiding movement through warm and cool zones. The building responds passively—through texture, temperature, and atmosphere—to … 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
Our goal for this Computational Design assignment was using Karamba along with Wallacei to optimize the mass and deformation of the timber frames of our construction system called KINXA. It is a modernized version of the vernacular technique used in Latin America called “Quincha” which consists of the use of a wood or cane frame, … Read more
This object functions as a sculptural lamp, where the complex lattice of organic openings serves both an aesthetic and functional role. The irregular perforations allow light to escape in unpredictable and dynamic patterns, casting intricate shadows and gradients onto surrounding surfaces. As light passes through the varying densities and scales of the geometry, it diffuses … Read more
Intro To Site Sagrada Família The Sagrada Família is one of the most iconic architectural works in the world, an emblem of Barcelona and a masterpiece of the visionary architect Antoni Gaudí.The basilica was meant as an atonement temple: a sacred offering for the sins of modernity and a monument to Catholic devotion.Gaudi embraced a … Read more
a harmonious integration of natural processes, technological design, and human (dis)comfort. The Location
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
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
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
Fractals are commonly found within nature. They are self-similar structures, where one aspect of the fractile is identical to the rest. This allows it to be scaled up or down while fitting within itself. Within trees, fractalization is found in the way the branches are grown from each other, always yielding smaller and smaller versions … Read more
This term’s Computational Design Seminar focused on leveraging optimization tools to explore and refine architectural designs. Our project aimed to generate a diverse catalogue of design iterations, systematically optimizing each iteration to meet specific performance criteria. Utilizing plugins such as Wallacei for optimization and Karamba3D for structural analysis, we developed a Play Area located in … Read more
