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.
Prefabricated Slabs Embedding Structure and Finish Through Stress-Driven Geometry and Waste Aggregate Distribution This thesis challenges the conventional separation of structure and finish in floor systems, typically resolved through multilayer assemblies that increase thickness, material redundancy, and construction complexity. While such systems allow formal and technical flexibility, they externalize performance into discrete layers rather than … Read more
Reassembling matter. Rethinking structures. The construction industry generates billions of tones of construction and demolition waste every year, yet most of this material remains excluded from structural applications due to its irregularity, unpredictability, and incompatibility with conventional building systems. Granulith investigates an alternative approach, asking whether demolition waste can be transformed from a discarded by-product … Read more
MAA/MRAC Studio Term 3 — 2025/2026 | Robotics for Ecological Building When you think of wool, construction probably isn’t the first thing that comes to mind. But wool has a longer history as a building material than most people realize, and it carries inherent properties that make it genuinely compelling for architecture: moisture regulation, thermal … Read more
Dynamic Casting of Functionally-Graded Geopolymers Using Urban Excavation Waste Thesis Abstract It is estimated that in the next 15 years, the world will generate over 3 billion tonnes of waste; in the European Union alone, 35% originates from the construction sector due to demolition, excavation, and dredging (“28 Incredible Statistics About Waste Generation,” 2021). These … Read more
This research explores the use of Wallacei X to optimize a parametric facade for a site in Dubai, UAE. The study evaluates facade performance based on four objectives: maximizing sun hours, minimizing solar radiation, minimizing material consumption, and maximizing views. Through evolutionary optimization, hundreds of design variations were generated and assessed, revealing the trade-offs between … Read more
“ An AR-Driven Biomimetic Pavilion Generated Through Environmental Field Behavior “ Architectural pavilion design and fabrication often require complex digital workflows, technical expertise, and multiple visualization tools, making the process difficult for rapid concept development and real-world understanding. Designers also face challenges in translating organic, nature-inspired forms into fabrication-friendly structures. BIOMIMICRY PAVILIONS Organic Geometry Biomimicry … Read more
ELEMENT 01 – TOTEM – Species Selection ELEMENT 03 – RAMP – SPECIES SELECTION ELEMENT 04 – WAYFINDING – SPECIES SELECTION ELEMENT 05 – PARAPET – SPECIES SELECTION FINAL RENDERS
We identified the main problems while producing the roof of our Digital Matter studio, where we are making a system of bendable cork panels with jute and caesin, for that we needed molds to bend the panel according to curvature, To optimise the mold and reduce waste we used galapogos to define the bounding box … Read more
Using climate clustering, vernacular precedent research, and evolutionary optimisation to create climate-responsive design typologies when no established local precedent exists Overview Lovingly named after the very first test location, Project Michigan is a tool that provides climate-responsive design guidelines when no local vernacular precedent exists. Through scraping climate data and global vernacular information, it helps … Read more
An AR guidance system for pottery creation TRACE transforms pottery learning into an interactive guided experience. Instead of interrupting the making process with videos or tutorials, instructions are overlaid directly onto the clay in real time through AR guidance. Rather than replacing the craftsperson, TRACE acts as an apprenticeship layer: making expert knowledge visible, immediate, … Read more
Introduction — Intent Building a portal frame from reclaimed timber, focusing on splicing and shuffling techniques to adapt irregular pieces into a stable, structurally working system. Material Intelligence — Understanding the Stock Structural Logic — Portal Frame System Methodology — Overlay & Splice Strategy FABRICATION — Digital vs Physical The workflow was driven by existing … Read more
Site and Key Viewpoint Site and Key Viewpoint Core Project Keywords References FORM FINDING Final Form – Sketch Form Logic Variations and Catalog – Side Profile Form Finding Catalog Base Variation Catalog Convex concave Variation Catalogue Final Form – Levels OPENING & PLANTERS Opening’s Logic – Diamond Shape Opening’s Logics Catalog of Opening Opening Logic … 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
Robotic Disassembly & Reassembly with Spatial AI Abstract The project explores a circular construction workflow that integrates robotic systems with Spatial AI to automate the disassembly and reassembly of brick structures. Utilizing a Gemini Vision-Language Model (VLM) pipeline, the system performs autonomous material evaluation, identifying surface damages such as chipping, spalling, and staining, as well … Read more
Fa(ça)de explores robotic clay fabrication as a method for producing expressive, materially efficient façade modules. Starting from a 2D patterned surface, the project develops a parametric workflow that transforms mesh-based geometries into 3D printed clay elements with controlled relief, wave amplitude, and module rotation. Through iterative prototyping, the design responds to fabrication limits such as … Read more
