Within the current global context of rapid change, integrated with the potentials of digital technologies, IAAC’s Master in Advanced Architecture (MAA) is committed to the generation of new ideas and applications for Urban Design, Self Sufficiency, Digital Manufacturing Techniques and Advanced Interaction.
In this context IAAC works with a multidisciplinary approach, facing the challenges posed by our environment and the future development of cities, architecture and buildings, through a virtuous combination of technology, biology, computational design, digital and robotic fabrication, pushing innovation beyond the boundaries of a more traditional architectural approach.
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
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
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
Master in Advanced Architecture Computational Design Seminar Yetkin Demir / Giovanny Gordillo SITE Placa De Sant Felip Neri is a small square located in the Gothic quarter. Bearing scars from the Spanish Civil War in 1938, this plaza holds a tragic past. Surrounded by the church and mixed use buildings, this square serves as a … Read more
can robots and humans work hand in (hand) to create beautiful architecture? KOMA is a contemplative space, designed to be set in the landscape and allow for peaceful viewing, the form of KOMA is parametric and is able to sway with the wind through the use of tensile cables. The vertical timber elements were placed … Read more
Robot-Assisted stacking of Wooden blocks Design concept In this experimental project, we explored the intersection of aesthetics and structural logic by designing a parametrically controlled wooden column assembled using robotic fabrication. The column starts with a square base and gradually transforms into a triangular top, demonstrating a seamless geometric transition. By stacking precisely cut wooden … Read more
The Hexa-Pod is an innovative hexagonal wooden stacking pod designed to serve as an enclosed seating space. Inspired by organic geometric forms, this structure is composed of systematically arranged wooden slats, creating a dynamic and immersive shelter. The wooden members provide both structural integrity and aesthetic fluidity, making it a functional yet sculptural addition to … Read more
What is craft? Craft as an area of exploration. Seeking to push our boundaries of fidelity and artistry with an acknowledgment of use; The merge between form and function, allowing for endless opportunity. With this project our group’s aim was to explore the intricacies of craft in joinery, and to gain an appreciation of the … Read more
The idea of ‘craft’ for us is a blend of traditional hands-on skills and modern digital techniques. The experience reinforced that craft is an evolving dialogue between hand and machine, where both bring unique strengths to the process. PROCESS – JOINT PROTOTYPES JOINT 1 (CNC) JOINT 2 (CNC) JOINT 3 (CNC) JOINT 4 (MANUAL) JOINT … Read more
How can we map the confluence of humans and architecture? concept sketches design flow bill of materials arduino schematic code trial: distance / angles open position closed position
Case Study The Inverted Truss Retail. Taipei City, Taiwan B+P Architects Martha’s Vineyard Airport Terminal West Tisbury, MA Fennick McCredie Architecture Design Proposal Perspective View – Frame Only Perspective View – With Roofing Maintenance Roof Load: 270 kgf Frame Mass Weight: 635 kgf Wind Load: 1 kN/m2 Front View Section Axonometric View
Exploring the unique properties of timber and the fabrication methods associated with it, enabling us to work with complex geometries and find appropriate strategies to realize them. We started out looking at different situations to apply our geometry and potentially make a gapahuk (a building made of wooden materials, originally intended for emergency accommodation), forest … Read more
The goal of this project is to comprehend the pick-and-place robotic fabrication process using timber members and how to optimize the process using design choices. By experimenting with various twist, rotate, shift, mirror, and scale actions, column typologies that eventually took the form of a zipper-like column were created. The exercise helps us to understand … Read more
