During the second year of the Master in Advanced Architecture + Thesis Project (MAA02), students have the unique opportunity to work for a period of 1 year on an Individual Thesis Project, focused on the development of a research or pilot project based on the student’s interest, and the learnings of the first year. IAAC supports the student in selecting their Thesis Project topic in order to better orient them according to their future career interests and opportunities. Each student, according to their specific topic, is assigned one or more Thesis Advisors that follow the development of the work throughout the year.
In parallel to the development of the Individual Thesis Project, the second year of the MAA02 offers a series of seminars enhancing the theoretical, practical and computational skills of the students.
DECODING URBAN MOBILITY
ABSTRACT; Decoding Urban Mobility: This project evaluates the impact of AI-driven traffic management versus conventional fixed-timing methods on urban congestion. It analyzes real-time and historical data—including traffic patterns, weather, demographics, and incident reports—from cities like London, Barcelona, and Los Angeles and compares machine learning models (e.g., LSTM, GRU, XGBoost) with traditional techniques. The study identifies … Read more
EcoNodes
Introduction Urban areas are increasingly becoming impermeable, exacerbating environmental challenges such as elevated temperatures, flooding, and pollution. EcoNodes is designed to empower policymakers with a sophisticated tool for dynamically assessing and adapting urban environments towards increased sustainability by pinpointing and prioritizing areas for green interventions. Impervious Surfaces and Urban Heat Islands Cities today face the … Read more
Neo-textura A metamorphosis From textile waste to modular furnishing systems Neo-Textura is a thesis project that explores the transformation of textile waste into modular furnishing systems in collaboration with industrial companies. This way it is addressing the massive issues of textile waste accumulation. The project takes advantage of the self-binding process of cellulose to create … Read more
GENERATIVE AI – TIMBER PHYGITAL
This thesis explores the use of generative AI to transform 2D image prompts into fabricatable 3D pavilion designs using timber sheet-based CNC milling. By developing a workflow from AI-driven image generation to mesh segmentation and fabrication detailing, the research aims to bridge the gap between conceptual design and physical realization. The outcome is a phygital … Read more
FLOOD RESILIENCE TOOLBOX
Flood Resilience Toolbox: AI-Powered Solutions for a Sustainable Future Flooding is the most frequent and costly natural disaster worldwide, with annual damages exceeding €38 billion. By 2050, this figure could rise to $64 billion, impacting millions of lives. Coastal cities, particularly in Southeast Asia, are at high risk due to rapid urbanization, sinking land, and … Read more
PERCEIVED SAFETY IN URBAN SPACES
La Mina, Sant Adria de Besos Our project examines perceived safety in La Mina, Barcelona, by analyzing urban factors such as street lighting, tree density, street width for visibility, and large empty spaces. We develop a scoring system to assess these elements and use map-based analysis to visualize safe and unsafe areas within the neighborhood. … Read more
Soundscapes of denCity
Abstract Urban noise pollution significantly impacts public health and quality of life, necessitating innovative approaches for its analysis and visualization. This study employs Computational methods to examine and represent urban soundscapes by integrating spatial analysis, sound propagation modelling, and digital visualization techniques. The methodology involves categorizing urban tourist activities, and amenities in Barcelona, based on … Read more
Reinventing Bamboo Architecture
Bamboo, a sustainable and strong material, remains underutilized in modern architecture. My research explores new methodologies to optimize its structural potential, reinvestigating its bending properties and integrating digital fabrication techniques. Addressing durability and standardization challenges, I advocate for bamboo’s inclusion in European building codes, promoting it as a viable alternative to steel and concrete. By … Read more
