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.
suro+ explores large-scale additive manufacturing with biomaterials by upcycling post-consumer cork stoppers into modular acoustic panels for temporary spatial applications. from post-consumer cork stoppers collected from restaurants in Barcelona, transforming a locally available waste. the stoppers are transformed and mixed with bio-based binders to form a printable composite used to fabricate modular acoustic panels through … 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
ESTADO DEL ARTE Inspired by the movement of water and the ripples created by raindrops, our design replicates these natural patterns in its structure. The goal was to create a smooth, continuous surface where elements flow into each other without visible connections, reflecting the fluidity and harmony found in nature. DESIGN EXPLANATION FABRICATION METHODOLOGY ASSEMBLY … Read more
CONCEPT Double-Skin Façade STRATEGY TO CURVE CURVE ITERATIONS FINAL DESIGN THERMAL SIMULATIONS LOAD APPLICATIONS ROBOTIC FABRICATION Layer Height – 2.0 Clay thickness – 10mm Pressure – 3.95 Nozzle Diameter – 6mm FINAL BLOCK FABRICATION FRAME ASSEMBLY Final Assembly
This workshop explored robotic trencadís through a pick and place system. Broken tiles were scanned and organized using a Grasshopper ruleset inspired by traditional weaving logics. Squares with 90 degree corners, straight edges, and alternating colors structured the design. A looping algorithm selected tiles from the dataset and placed them without repetition, allowing the robot … 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
Our concept is about designing a pavilion that works with the wind instead of against it. We wanted to create a space that feels light, open, and alive a structure that shows movement even when it stands still. We see wind not just as a natural force, but as something that shapes space. The pavilion … Read more
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
Inspirations Chill.Point is a lightweight timber and fabric pavilion designed for Plaça Universitat, creating a shaded urban pause within the city. Inspired by exposed timber frames and tensile scaffold structures, it combines structural clarity with soft, breathable enclosure. Using computational and parametric design tools, the pavilion responds to sun, wind, and pedestrian flow, optimizing geometry, … Read more
Our project for the Large-Scale 3D Printing with Biomaterials workshop focuses on the transition from conventional, high-emission construction to a circular, bio-based architectural model. Utilizing a 6-axis robotic arm, we have developed an acoustic envelope system composed of a cork-based bio-composite sourced from recycled stoppers. The research prioritizes a “File-to-Factory” workflow where computational geometry is … Read more
Digital fabrication enables designers to explore geometries that go beyond traditional construction constraints. The exercise focuses on translating complex geometries into constructible systems that integrate material behaviour, joinery logic, and mass customisation. Each technique allows experimentation with unique fabrication constraints, informing the evolution of the vertical element design. The outputs serve as material and geometric … Read more
This term’s digital fabrication explorations investigated the expressive and technical potential of multiple fabrication methods laser cutting, CNC milling, robotic clay extrusion, and 3D printing. While each technique demanded a different workflow and material logic, a common thread emerged: the use of material duality to create depth, contrast, and spatial effect. By combining two materials … Read more
