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.
SecondMatter project’s core structure optimization SecondMatter is a material-driven design project that explores how construction and demolition waste can be repurposed into structural and non-structural building elements using digital tools and jamming/ramming fabrication techniques. The project optimizes the placement of fragmented stone geometries within a defined volume through Grasshopper Galapagos. The goal of this process … Read more
MANIFESTO In the tightly packed neighborhood of To Kwa Wan, space is limited and buildings are pressed close together, making it tough to design high-rises that feel light, breezy, and livable.This project uses generative design tools like Grasshopper and Wallacei to explore better ways of shaping a new tower near Kwun Shan Court.The goal is … Read more
Multi-objective optimization – a living panel grown from bio-waste, offering thermal and acoustic comfort. designed as a retrofit solution for the existing low-energy-performance building stock, it’s paired with a digital tool and suggests the best optimized panel for acoustics and thermal resistance, bringing sustainable design to your fingertips. This study introduces a form-finding method for … Read more
During our first visit to the Sagrada Família, we came to understand how and why it represents the culmination of Gaudí’s work—through the meaning imbued in every element, the intricate geometries, and the profound intentions he conveys to the public. The project draws inspiration from Gaudí’s architectural language, incorporating the dynamic flow of hyperbolic spiral … Read more
After Gaudí: From Computation to Composition Seminar 2024/2025 Welcome to Flora Sagrada at Sagrada Família. The alternative Sacristy offers an immersive journey through nature, art, and geometry. Gaudí’s Inspirations: Nature and Architecture Organic Forms: Gaudí’s designs mirror nature’s curves and shapes. Tree branches inspire arches, while flower petals suggest window designs. Mathematical Precision: Sacred geometry … Read more
After spending some time learning about timber joinery last term, this term was all about implementing these logics onto a larger and more complex system: a small chunk of a bird observatory. We designed and made all of the beams that comprised the chunk, which were all unique to one another. Some were straight, others … 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
USING CORK AS A DELINEATOR OF INTERNAL CLIMATIC PROGRAMS a. initial machine phenomena studies b. first iteration of phenomena recreated c. second iteration of phenomena model on column site d. photographs of second iteration
What is Infrastructure Justice? Rio’s Context State of the Art Rio Maps Sao Goncalo Proposal Thank you!
This Project explores how reflective, vernacular materials—such as ceramics—can be utilized in construction to manage infrared radiation and influence microclimates. By reflecting rather than absorbing heat, these materials contribute to passive cooling, reducing urban heat island effects and enhancing thermal comfort. We analyze the physical properties of ceramics, their historical applications in traditional architecture, and … Read more
Kangaroo Inflation / Reciprocal Framework Referential Work / Component and Parameters Form Finding Render / Immersion Animation / Process
Project by Saad Khan and Gustavo Calderone The final task for the term was to design a 100-square-meter pavilion in Plaça de Sant Pere, Barcelona, using computational design logic through Grasshopper. This project explores generative design strategies to create an adaptable pavilion using parametric methodologies, ensuring a responsive and dynamic architectural intervention within the urban … Read more
Computation Design Seminar-Term II The project envisions a dynamic tensile structure on a terrace, integrating tensegrity to create a lightweight yet structurally efficient space for public interaction. Designed as a multifunctional hub, the pavilion provides a space for relaxation, lunch breaks, social gatherings, and contemplation. By leveraging computational design tools such as Kangaroo, we explore … Read more
