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.
“Metabolising waste into habitat in a resource-scarce future” “Mining the City” reconceives legacy industrial infrastructure as an active force for urban regeneration and material resilience. Rather than treating waste as a problem to be discarded, this project positions Barcelona’s material flows from household refuse to industrial by-products as the resource base for a new metabolic … Read more
Group includes: Nguyen Vu Tue Minh (Chloe) & Eduardo Martinez Toribio //OVERALL DESIGN OBJECTIVE //PRECEDENT: TEMPORARY PARAMETRIC PAVILION //COMPUTATIONAL DESIGN SYSTEM USING CRYSTALLON //MATERIAL RESEARCH: GLASS-REINFORCED RECYCLED PET (GR-RPET) //ANALYSIS Total Mass: 191.8 (kg) Natural Vibration Analysis Frequency: 9.45 (Hz) Max Displacement: 0.125 (m) //OPTIMISATION: GOALS & TARGET //OPTIMISATION: RESULTS //OPTIMISATION: LIGHTNESS VS STIFFNESS Baseline: … Read more
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
A dynamic forest pavilion. Plaça del Pi, Barcelona, Spain Design Concept Form Finding Psuedo Code The script relies on the organic undulation of sine and catenary curves to reflect the organic nature of our inspiration as well as provide a real-life simulation of the suspended fabric forming the canopy reacting to gravitational logic in both … Read more
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
Exploring Low-Tech, Sustainable Construction Methods and Manual Strategies for Community Empowerment The use of bamboo in construction is emblematic of an ongoing tension between traditional knowledge and the global imperatives of sustainable development. Despite its traditional use in many regions, the potential as a resilient, self-sustaining construction material remains largely underexplored in the contemporary architectural … Read more
Structura X is a low-cost structural health monitoring system that tracks vibration patterns and foundation shifts to detect early signs of instability in buildings. Using a 3-axis accelerometer and ultrasonic distance sensing, the device provides real-time feedback through visual and acoustic alerts, enabling proactive maintenance and long-term structural safety. Why This Matters Buildings appear static, … Read more
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 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
