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.


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The Kinetic Node Pavilion

Architectural render of the final timber pavilion, showing integrated ramps for skateboarding and shaded areas for pedestrians.

The Kinetic Node proposes a dynamic pavilion located in the central pedestrian zone of Plaça de la Universitat, Barcelona. Developed within a computational design seminar, the intervention explores the intersection of generative algorithms and active public space. The design utilizes parametric tools to generate a fluid structure where architectural form seamlessly transitions into skateable terrain, … Read more

Casa Tosquella: The Mending of the Commons

Heritage is not memoryHeritage is Production + Community In the dense urban fabric of Sant Gervasi, Casa Tosquella sleeps a Modernista jewel originally conceived as a summer retreat, now stranded in a city grappling with permanent heat. This project explores the tension between heritage preservation and climatic urgency. The proposal views the building not as … Read more

The Can Ricart Regeneration Project

Design Ethos This project seeks to explore how issues of stagnation and obsolescence can be tackled whilst still enabling socio-economic and technological developments of our urban spaces. It will explore how they can be applied within architecture to evaluate how we can more effectively address issues of erasure whilst still permitting modern interventions and advancements … Read more

EGITTO SKIN

Team member(s):MAHMOUD MOHAMED Modified by  MAHMOUD MOHAMED  on December 12, 2025 SITE AND EXISTING BUILDING Egypt, often reverently hailed as the “Mother of All Lands,” stands as one of the oldest and most influential civilizations in the vast chronicle of human history. Its legacy is not merely a collection of ruins or artifacts; it is a … Read more

THE MANUFACTURED VERNACULAR 

Image of comparison between a vernacular structure and a modern structure

Turning time-tested vernacular intelligence into scalable, multi-hazard self sufficient building INTRODUCTION See this image above? yes, its comparison between two structures that survived a 6.8 rector scale earthquake in year 2005. The ironic part is , that these vernacular structures hold the carbon friendly intelligence responding towards climate adaptation and structural resistance against earthquakes, yet … Read more

Sentient Constructs:

An LLM-Driven and GAN-Inspired Workflow for Self-Evolving, Species-Responsive Adaptive Architecture Abstract Contemporary architecture remains predominantly anthropocentric, prioritizing human needs while neglecting the urgent ecological imperative to design for multispecies coexistence. In response to biodiversity loss and environmental degradation, this research advances a new framework for cybernetic architecture – an adaptive, intelligent, and ecologically attuned design … Read more

Ubuntu Sense

Imagine a classroom or clinic that doesn’t just shelter us but truly watches out for us. Ubuntu Sense is about letting spaces join the conversation: when noise, heat, or crowding gets too much, small signals lights, moving vents, real-time displays push back, help us notice, and restore comfort.This project is less about tech for tech’s … Read more

TOO BRIGHT!

Kinetic façade panels that move dynamically in response to sunlight, adjusting their angles to control light and shadow.

CONCEPT Creating a dynamic relationship between the building and its environment A responsive façade design inspired by the concept of living architecture  The geometric logic and panel behavior were first modeled in Grasshopper, where the movement angles and facade modules were tested digitally. Then, through Arduino’s control, this virtual logic was physically prototyped turning environmental … Read more

AutoAdapt

All seats in public areas are typically uniform in height; however, individuals differ in stature. When a seat is elevated, a child may find it challenging to access, whereas a low seat could cause discomfort for a taller individual. The optimal proportion is that the chair’s seat height should be approximately 25% of your total … Read more

Studio Silence.

stressed student studying in noisy environment

In today’s collaborative work environments, open and shared workspaces have become the norm. Yet while they promote connection and creativity, they also introduce a significant challenge: noise. This project seeks to address the problem of excessive noise in shared workspaces while maintaining flexibility and openness.  The Concept – The project is inspired by the shared … Read more

SolarShift

Concept What if our façades could react to sunlight? This project explores how architecture can respond to changing light conditions through simple automation. Using Arduino, it translates light intensity into movement, mimicking the adaptive behavior of a brise-soleil, and highlighting how design can respond to environmental change. REFERENCES – BRISE SOLEIL Schematics The Arduino code … Read more

INTERACTIVE LIGHTSCAPES

Creating Charismatic and Safer Public Spaces through Light RESEARCH QUESTION: How can experiential lighting features — ones that create interactive, changing, and flexible environments– be used in public spaces in order to create senses of community, safety, and improved mental and emotional health? HYPOTHESIS: If we integrate interactive lighting solutions as permanent fixtures in public … Read more

EMI: Engine for Morphological Integration

An algorithmic roadmap that converts self-organized settlement morphology into clean-energy action: the Energy-Morphology Index mines open roof- and density data, ranks each building’s readiness, and matches “Ready / Promising / Not-Ready” clusters to modular solar toolkits—turning self-organized settlements into engines of energy justice

SKYLOFT

MODULAR PODS VERTICAL EXTENSIONS To address urgent urban housing needs, this thesis explores modular rooftop pods using Digital Twins, CNC fabrication, kerfing, and timber joinery—enabling precise, low-waste, minimum tool required for assembling and sustainable expansion of aging urban buildings through scalable and prefabricated Modular systems Why Vertical extension required ? What’s the purpose of the … Read more

TÀN 58

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