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.
THE PROBLEM Wild pollinators are declining in Catalonia, and the regional plan PIPOL aimed to reverse this loss by 2030. In May 2025, the Barcelona City Council began installing 100 nests for wild bees and wasps across 25 parks (Barcelona City Council, 2025). But a nest is only a shelter. It is fixed, while a … Read more
Autonomous Environmental Guard and Intelligence System – A Physical Computing Prototype for Disaster Monitoring and Early Warning Team Members: Pratik Kurtarkar, Varad Hande Prototype Model The objective of the project is to create an intelligent system to monitor remote and inaccessible areas that are fragile, sensitive and vulnerable to natural disasters. In light of recent … Read more
Exploring responsive topography through physical computing and adaptive water management. Rethinking the Relationship Between Water and Terrain Water is one of the most fundamental resources on Earth, shaping landscapes, sustaining ecosystems, and supporting human life. However, challenges such as flooding, drought, and soil erosion highlight the increasing need for more adaptable approaches to water management. … Read more
Sunburn is a computationally designed urban shading pavilion for Plaça Universitat in Barcelona. The project explores how lightweight canopy structures can improve comfort in public space while creating an inviting social environment. Using parametric column placement, Kangaroo surface generation, Ladybug solar analysis, and Galapagos optimization, the canopy geometry is tested across different sun-hour periods to … Read more
TOTEM INTERFACE ELEMENT STONE WALLS SLOPE WALL INITIAL RAMMED PROTOTYPE FINAL RAMMED PROTOTYPE FINAL RENDERS WALKTHROUGH VIDEO
“If the architecture is any good, a person who looks and listens will feel its good effects without noticing.” — Carlo Scarpa Introduction The GreenInCities Seminar at IAAC explores the potential of circular construction practices and multispecies design within contemporary urban environments. Framed by the GreenInCities initiative in Barcelona, the seminar challenges students to rethink … Read more
– Reimagining the Northern Green Corridor of Lisbon – Location The project site in Lisbon is strategically located within a dynamic urban fabric characterized by a mix of historic layers and contemporary development. Positioned between key mobility corridors and densely populated neighborhoods, the area experiences a high level of pedestrian and vehicular activity throughout the … Read more
“Planetarity” is a philosophical concept that examines how the ways we visualize the Earth shape how we interact with it. Coined by Gayatri Spivak in her 2003 book Death of a Discipline, the term challenges us to move away from viewing the Earth as a controllable resource. Instead, Spivak argues that we must think beyond … Read more
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
Site introduction The project is a pavilion conceived for the Plaça Reial (Royal Square) in Barcelona, Spain, which is a renowned, sophisticated square adorned with porticos, located just off Las Ramblas in the Gothic Quarter. This square is celebrated for its palm trees, fountain, lively nightlife featuring bars and restaurants, and serves as a central … Read more
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
The goal of this project is to design a smart light maze that reacts to the movement or presence of people. In this system, the paths and walls of the maze are made of colorful LED strips (such as NeoPixel), which light up dynamically and interactively as participants move through the maze. When a person … Read more
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
Abstract Our project, addresses the need for Productive Justice for Self-Sufficiency in Mesquita, a municipality in Rio de Janeiro marked by socio-economic challenges such as food insecurity, water scarcity, infrastructure deficiencies, and a strong dependence on government subsidies. Our strategy transforms residual urban spaces-abandoned plots, unused corners, canal edges-into a Productive Web of interconnected hubs … Read more
This project reclaims abandoned silos in Rio de Janeiro as neighborhood-scale infrastructures for ecological justice. It builds a circular system where waste is not only recycled, but revalued through community collaboration. Organic and material waste become part of urban greening and pollination strategies, empowering catadores and youth as co-creators. Through reuse, education, and biodiversity enhancement, … Read more
DomusX is a modular pavilion designed using the Assembler plugin in Grasshopper, exploring parametric assembly systems for adaptive architecture. The structure consists of interlocking components that can be easily reconfigured or expanded, allowing flexibility in design and use. DomusX promotes sustainable, site-responsive design through modularity and digital fabrication. DomusX leverages Assembler’s generative capabilities to create … Read more
