The MAA is a visionary master program with an innovative and open structure, mixing diverse disciplines, shaping professionals capable of producing theoretical & practical solutions towards responsive cities, architecture & technology.
Mimosa Panel is an innovative architectural solution that combines biomimicry, sustainability, and responsive design. Inspired by the movement of the Mimosa pudica plant, commonly known as the “touch-me-not,” the panel features dynamic flaps that autonomously open and close in response to the sun’s movement. This behavior mimics the plant’s natural folding mechanism, creating a visually … Read more
Reference: Façade of Messe Basel New Hall, Basel, SwitzerlandArchitect: Herzog & de MeuronYear: 2013 Photo © Messe Basel Description of the façade :The façade of the building is composed of a series of ribbons that unfold based on their proximity to attractors. Façade construction logic:Step 1: Extract the surface of the block façade.Step 2: Generate … Read more
PRECEDENTS Institut du Monde Arabe/ Enrique Jan + Jean Nouvel + Architecture-Studio Geometric Paper Sculptures by Anna Kruhelska CONCEPT The facade can be understood as a scaled-up, architectural expression of origami principles. Its design transforms static elements into an active, engaging interface between the built environment and its observers. Modular, geometric patterns and an emphasis … Read more
The environmental impact of the construction industry is a pressing concern. As architects, it’s essential that we shift from a linear model of consumption and production to a circular economy. In recent years, there has been notable progress in upcycling various construction materials and replacing high-emission materials like concrete with more sustainable alternatives, such as … Read more
FOR INSPIRATION Pseudo Code Forming the plane and base surface for Pavilion Grasshopper Code Iterations
How can we use irregular elements of reclaimed offcut-timber to challenge the methodology of using planar, Interlocking and stacking techniques which can then be utilized in the design of forms ? Data CollectionThis first starts with a collection of materials and the creation of a database. This database serves as a resource for the planning … Read more
Key words: Neoliberalism/ Critical Urban Theory/ Spatiotemporality/ Planetary Urbanization The accelerated development of communication and technological systems, and more precisely of intelligent technologies, has significantly changed the ways in which human and non-human coevolution is shaping. Implications for theoretical frameworks include broadening definitions of consciousness beyond the human, reshaping cognitive boundaries in an assemblage between … Read more
How can reclaimed timber waste from manufacturing be leveraged using robotic fabrication and computational design to develop sustainable, scalable and customizable urban installation? Process of Sorting & Splitting the Beams Geometry Distribution Workflow Assembly Robotic Setup for Processing Robotic Processing Concept Prototype AI-Generated Concept Renders
How to think of the notion of Utopia when articulating the futures embedded within phygital urban environments? ACT 1 – POWER Scene 1: Phone call between Patrick and Carmen. Patrick is in his sleek, high-tech San Francisco apartment . Carmen sits in a park in Seoul, a city filled with the hum of rapid urban … Read more
Is the author’s agency – singular, shared, boundless or authorless? ACT 1 [Music playing] Lily: Hey you two, haven’t seen you before, let me show ya around! The narrator: [At the annual Green Man festival lush forests surround the soft green clearing providing the perfect environment for such an event. A man of branch and … Read more
How do digital multi-platforms branch our sense of alter-ego? ACT 1 | SCENE 1 The Trans-Siberian train passes through the pastoral snowy landscape. Each second, the window is framing a different scene. The train represents the transition between fragmented digital identities and beneath the masks. A family of three is sitting in the compartment. MOM: … Read more
Too late capitalism: Does style become lost in immediacy? . ACT ONE It is late morning in the famous Khan el-Khalil market of Cairo, Egypt. (Fig 1) The air is filled with the aroma of the local spices and each stall is filled with different colors of fabric, textures and souvenirs. There is a steady … Read more
How redesigning the household through automation could inform emancipatory politics of domesticity? In a world where the boundaries between work and life are increasingly blurred, the notion of domesticity and automation are redefined through technology’s growing influence on our daily lives. Books like After Work by Helen Hester, The Care Manifesto, A Matter of Care, … Read more
How is citizens’ privacy affected by surveillance systems in urban mobility infrastructures? Credits Ameya ThopteManideep Mamidala Ragini ChakrawartiRishi Srinivasan Sakshi Adwani Varalika Sahu Setting: Beijing-Mongolia Expressway, 2024. It’s a warm afternoon, and the clear road promises an easy drive. Characters: 1. Astrid: Skeptical, Questions the effects of constant surveillance on freedom and identity2. Chen: Optimistic, … Read more
How do the figures of the planet through which we think of the Earth inform the design of Planetary Energetic Infrastructures? ACT 1 A deserted highway near Mount Clarke. Beside it, Ben, Sophie and Buddy the hitchhikers stand, shielding their eyes from the glaring sun (1)Avanessian and Falb. The Earth is in this condition because … Read more
What could it mean to be An Activist in a Post Anthropocene Planet? Abstract Set at Reggio School, Madrid, on Earth Day, this play critically evaluates the differing approaches to environmental activism in an Anthropocene planet. The narrative begins with a guest lecture by Margherita, a visiting environmental thinker, who introduces the concept of a-human … Read more
The aim of the design is to reflect the nature of the site. The facade has a topography which relates to the environment, texture of the plywood gives the atmosphere of the trees. Carvings on the facade are continues with the structure outside. Frame of the design follows the organic shape of the facade. Layered framing … Read more
This term, we explored three Digital fabrication techniques: CNC Milling, Laser Cutting, and 3D Printing. Our objective was to create A Cabin Integrating and investigating the characteristics of each technique. Concept The waffle cabin, designed for future human use, is tailored for different terrains, including beach, desert, forest, and plain regions. The primary structure of … Read more
DIGITAL FABRICATION 3D Printing | CNC Milling | Laser Cutting 3D PRINTING As we embarked on this three-week journey of digital fabrication, we began with 3D printing in the first week. Our goal was to create something that could be integrated with our other techniques in the weeks to come. To maintain flexibility and openness … Read more
Balance. Structure. Flow. Essentials in design and in life. Through an exploration of these concepts we have been able to create this cantilevered space with more complexity than what meets the eye. Modular 3D printed components give our Mobile Cabin the capacity to be placed or removed at any time. Through the usage of the … Read more
Throughout this class, we explored three key fabrication techniques: Laser Cutting, 3D Printing, and CNC Milling. For each method, we were challenged to develop and prototype digital fabrication solutions for a Digitally Crafted Cabin project. For laser cutting, we used a slicing technique with acrylic. Inspired by organic shapes like spines and bones, we aimed … Read more
Our concept Kit of Parts is inspired by homes that can be easily assembled and disassembled and adapt in size. We are living in an ever changing world that is under a lot of stress caused by climate change. We thought that a cabin that could move easily and become smaller or larger was a … Read more
Our cabin project is a public space for relaxation and meditation, constructed in three parts. The CNC-milled topographic base serves as a parametric bench, designed to mimic natural terrain and provide a comfortable, seamless seating experience that integrates with the surroundings. This precision-milled base offers ergonomic curves and a natural feel. Above, a laser-cut roof … Read more
