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.
Re Rio: Infrastructure Justice
What is Infrastructure Justice? Rio’s Context State of the Art Rio Maps Sao Goncalo Proposal Thank you!
SecondMatter
SecondMatter challenges architecture’s extractive processes and wasteful material cycles by upcycling Construction Demolition Renovation Waste (CDRW) into structural and non-structural applications. It blends ramming, which compacts granular materials into high-strength forms, with jamming-inspired interlocking of irregular aggregates. Large concrete waste pieces form a reinforced core, wrapped in a rammed mix of fine brick and concrete … Read more
FLOOD RESILIENCE TOOLBOX
Flood Resilience Toolbox: AI-Powered Solutions for a Sustainable Future Flooding is the most frequent and costly natural disaster worldwide, with annual damages exceeding €38 billion. By 2050, this figure could rise to $64 billion, impacting millions of lives. Coastal cities, particularly in Southeast Asia, are at high risk due to rapid urbanization, sinking land, and … Read more
ReQualificaSal
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
Towards Energy Justice in Informal settlements
A Methodological Approach to Urban Growth and Hybrid Energy Systems in the Global South Why Global South ? Urbanization in the Global South is a defining trend of the 21st century, with over 90% of urban growth expected to occur in low- and middle-income countries by 2050. This rapid expansion has led to a surge … Read more
TERRANOVA: Organic Waste to Ecological Wealth
Located in the quiet community of Sant Adria De Besos lies the Besos Power Station. This waste to energy power plant is responsible for providing power to over 10 municipalities of Spain and takes care of nearly half of the waste that comes into Barcelona. While this factory proves to be highly effective, several negative … Read more
BIOGENESIS
TRANSFORMING WASTE INTO SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL RESOURCES The goal is to convert various types of waste into sustainable resources, establishing a circular economy that enhances environmental benefits by repurposing waste, promoting renewable energy, and encouraging innovation in bioproducts. This site, like many others around the world, holds the memories of a different time. What happens when … Read more
EcoNodes
Introduction: Transforming Urban Junctions for a Sustainable Future Urbanization has drastically increased impervious surfaces in cities, leading to environmental challenges such as urban heat islands, stormwater runoff, and reduced access to green spaces. Junctions and intersections, often overlooked, are some of the most impervious and environmentally stressed areas in urban landscapes. This project aims to … Read more
Reconnecting Urban Fragments
“Reimagining Urban Corridors: From Rigid Infrastructure to Inclusive Green Networks” “Urban environments today face critical challenges—population growth, rapid urbanization, and the fragmentation of ecological systems. As cities evolve, their rigid infrastructure often alienates natural systems and creates barriers to inclusivity and sustainability. This thesis focuses on reconceptualizing rigid urban environments by integrating transportation and ecological … Read more
FLOOD RESILIENCE TOOLBOX
FLOOD RESILIENCE TOOLBOX FOR ADAPTIVE URBAN DESIGN IN COASTAL CITIES Flooding is the most frequent natural disaster worldwide. By the report from The OECD (Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development), floods cause more than 38 billion euro in damages worldwide per year. Due to climate change, floods are becoming more extreme and frequent. Coastal areas … Read more
Extending Habitats: Biotic Hut
Our studio project is focused on reinventing this site near the Bésos Rivermouth as a biodiverse public space. To approach this project, we started by studying the site through the lens of multiple species, both human and non-human. In understanding what the flora and fauna of this area look like we began posing specific questions … Read more
Intervening Carbon
Carbon Based Design | Designing Circularity in the Built Environment SITE EXISITING WAREHOUSE POINT CLOUD MODEL Material Flow Analysis PROPOSAL
Changing Landscapes
ReCitying is a Workshop hosted by IAAC and Parc Agrari del Baix Llobregat to explore sustainable design and creative recycling in rural spaces. The first phase of the Workshop, in October 2024, focused on developing proposals for an installation using waste from Parc Agrari and planting crops to integrate into the project. We explored initial … Read more
