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
SecondMatter challenges architecture’s extractive processes and wasteful material cycles by upcycling Construction Demolition Renovation Waste (CDRW) into structural and non-structural applications. It blends ramming, which compacts granular materials into high-strength forms, with jamming-inspired interlocking of irregular aggregates. Large concrete waste pieces form a reinforced core, wrapped in a rammed mix of fine brick and concrete … Read more
Cascara
RICE PRODUCTION AROUND THE WORLD METABOLIC DIAGRAM OF RICE HUSK IMPLICATIONS IN SEVERAL INDUSTRIES STATISTICS OF RICE HUSK PRODUCTION PROPOSAL RICECRETE Rice Husk has good thermal insulation and is lightweight, and due to its high silica content, it is water resistant. Rice Crete is a natural building material from rice husks and natural binders. This … Read more
H/Rooftop?
Kangaroo Inflation / Reciprocal Framework Referential Work / Component and Parameters Form Finding Render / Immersion Animation / Process
Root Roof
The industrial warehouse building what was renovated and adapted to be a school with a variety of classrooms, offices, workshops and exhibition area. The Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) is a globally recognized research and educational institution based in Barcelona, Spain. It focuses on the future of architecture, design, and technology, with a … Read more
Sant Felip Neri Pavilion
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
Hexa-Pod
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
LOCKS + KEYS: Joinery Exploration
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
Taller Gaudí
The project is set in the left sacristy of the Sagrada Família, positioned on the Nativity façade side. As one of the key auxiliary spaces of the basilica, the sacristy serves as a preparatory and ceremonial area for religious functions.The sacristia adjacency to the Nativity façade, known for its intricate organic forms and symbolic storytelling, … Read more
Styrofoam Beam
Case Study CYCLOPEAN HOUSE Constructed in 2015, this project was designed by Ensemble Studio and resides in Brookline, Massachusetts. “Cyclopean House is built, using the vigor of the builder, and the ingenuity of the engineer, to start a journey from the place of its manufacture –Madrid- to the place where it can definitely lie … Read more
Structural Design Essentials: Wood beam
FABRICATION PROCESS BEAM TEST -Beam test with interlocking shear panels positions at splice in bottom and top flanges. -Failure is located in the shear panel where the bottom splice is located. -The physical beam test differs with the Karamba analysis due to the screws location and the wood quality. The karamba analysis does not have … Read more
Stability Split
Stability Split project explores sustainable construction using scavenged materials and recycled wood for a structural beam. In the first phase, a case study of the Google headquarters in London was analyzed using Karamba software to explore structural efficiency and redesign its system. Two design options—arched and stacked—were proposed as alternatives to improve structural performance and … Read more
Palette Beam
For the creation of our recycled beam we chose to repurpose parts of a wooden pallet that we found on the street, transforming discarded material into a functional structural element. This approach not only demonstrates the potential of upcycling in construction but also highlights sustainability by reducing waste and giving new life to materials that … Read more
BLOCK TRUSS
CASE STUDY – GOOGLE HQ Exploration from the Case Studies.` Diagram Analysis Set up – Load & Mass Distribution Beam Test Design Investigation Truss with blocks (Vierendeel) using reclaimed hardwood exploring amount of overlap, number of blocks and impact of gaps between blocks. Beam Test Design Reclaimed Timber Block Truss Beam Fabrication Testing Videos The … Read more
BIOGENESIS
TRANSFORMING WASTE INTO SUSTAINABLE MATERIAL RESOURCES The goal is to convert various types of waste into sustainable resources, establishing a circular economy that enhances environmental benefits by repurposing waste, promoting renewable energy, and encouraging innovation in bioproducts. This site, like many others around the world, holds the memories of a different time. What happens when … Read more
EntoNest
This project seeks to transform La Fira, an industrial zone in Barcelonès, into a sustainable insect farming hub. By embedding insect farming within the existing infrastructure, it will leverage local resources to efficiently produce high-protein insect products. Traditional agriculture faces growing pressures including water scarcity and limited space, especially in urban areas like Barcelona. Insect farming … Read more
