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.
how can design unlock the architectural potential of materials that are currently underused or overlooked? Argo Waste materials offer more than environmental benefits. Material – Banana Biomass Total Annual Biomass – 675 Million Tonnes Carbon Emission Through waste “Every 1% of the 525MT of banana biomass we move from “waste” to “construction” prevents roughly4–9 million … Read more
“Carbon-breathing panels: a regenerative material system for climate-adaptive architecture.”
Abstract In the Anthropocene, the construction industry generates vast quantities of Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW), positioning cities as latent material reservoirs rather than endpoints of consumption. This research investigates CDW not as waste, but as a designed material system. Initial experiments explored rammed CDW composites, revealing strong compressive behavior but critical limitations under lateral … Read more
By Team – 41 Commons C40 Competition Brief “The City of Chicago and Chicago Housing Authority area seeking innovative design ideas that will help envision solutions for environmental concerns and prioritise a sustainable, inclusive urban living environment” “The key climate and environmental justice concerns at this site are: Air Quality Flooding Cohesive Community Green Spaces Heat … Read more
B. The Waves explores robotic additive manufacturing using ceramic clay to create a ripple-driven parametric facade. Developed in the IAAC Master in Advanced Architecture, the project utilizes an ABB IRB 6700 robot and WASP extruder to 3D print wall cladding tiles. The computational logic employs Grasshopper and attractor points to simulate water droplets, generating continuous … 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
A fast, dynamic, playful and chatty game AIM: To create a fun, engaging, and creative game to reveal and capture how tweens use and imagine spaces (in Trumbull Hall Park or other Chicago Housing Project). what is scribbly situation? Scribble a situation in 60 seconds, then find what’s similar and what’s unique in everyone’s drawings. … 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
Project Description Sunlight-Adapted Parametric Design: The sculpture’s reflective panels are parametrically arranged to interact dynamically with sunlight. Their angles can be calibrated to optimize light reflection, create dazzling visual effects, or provide shifting patterns of shade throughout the day. Functional and Adaptable Plaza: The installation transforms the plaza into a versatile space. Its adaptive light-reflecting and … Read more
Concept Inspiration Creating a tensile pavilion structure based on Felix Candela‘s arch and aisle geometric logistics and diagrams. Iterative design approach based on ‘anchor points’ on a frame. Exploring scalable methodology for Kangaroo based computational design processes. ‘Iglesia de la Medalla Milagrosa‘ Felix Candela – photo by Lola Alvarez Bravo, 1954 Felix Candela Drawings and … Read more
Good Day Sunshine is a lightweight canopy that shapes space through light and structure. A flowing membrane stretches between fixed frames, forming a series of vaulted bays that create shade while allowing controlled openings for sunlight to pass through. The surface is organized by a triangulated structural network that gives strength to the thin skin … Read more
This project introduces a high-performance terrace pavilion that merges environmental data with advanced robotic fabrication. The design process began with a comprehensive solar and circulation analysis, identifying thermal hotspots and vantage points to determine the optimal balance between shaded gathering areas and open viewing corners. The resulting structure features a complex, interlocking timber geometry that … Read more
The Urban Oasis Pavilion is a temporary installation in Plaça Catalunya that transforms one of Barcelona’s busiest urban nodes into a space for shade, rest, and social encounter. Its porous, flowing surface filters light, noise, and heat to create a more comfortable microclimate within the dense city environment, offering a place for pause and relief … Read more
