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.


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GENETIC OPTIMIZATION / Walla Shade

Manifesto This project is a development of a previous redesign of the Serpentine Pavilion 2017. It aims to use Wallacei to optimize the form of the pavilion to achieve maximum shading according to Ladybug. The design is divided into structure, roof and wall. The parameters are set to be the axes and openings of the … Read more

Genetic Optimization: DIAS 365

Manifest A monolithic tower structure which is exposed to lightning and attracts their immense energy. The aim of the project is to harvest and invest their electric potential into a structure which will be sheltered and protected to allow visitors to live in. The skin of the building will be lightning-based: the high voltage discharges … Read more

Genetic Optimization

Project Manifesto The project explores three main topics that represent a global concern within the present times: growing population, climate crisis and food production. Following these concepts, the main intervention is based on designing a city of the future, located in the actual site of Copenhagen’s North Harbor. In the past 10 years, the population … Read more

DESIRE – DESIgn for REassembly

Abstract The project’s purpose is to design two different proposals where bricks and timber if cross-section 45mmx90mm are used as materials for both constructions. A study of fabrication process, creating connections and ways of assembly-disassembly structures. Proposal A CONCEPTBrick and Timber Concept Design – V3 Digital Exploration Design objective: Use the same amount of material … Read more

ARCHIBUDDY – The World Is Your Friend

Introduction Archibuddy is a unique and innovative project that aims to create adaptive architectural elements to make environments emotion-responsive. Archibuddy will leverage the latest technologies to provide personalized experiences to users, optimizing their well-being and productivity using Emotion Detection Technology and the Algorithmic workflow that was developed over the course of the Master’s Research Thesis … Read more

HYBRI-FORM

Can the use of active bending in wood in combination with a tensioning system increase the structural stiffness of a multilayered double curved skin while also acting as an alternative assembly system? context_wood construction context_active bending context_behavior based geometry state of art_ analysis state of art_conclusions design_characteristics future steps

AER – Artificial Empathic Response [DIGISCAPES ver 2.0]

AER – Artificial Empathic Response [DIGISCAPES ver 2.0] is a project of IAAC, Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia developed in the Master in Advanced Architecture 02 – by the student: Preetam Prabhakar and Research Thesis Advisor: David Andres Leon during the course MAA02 22/23 Thesis under the Algorithmic Design research thesis cluster.

Forces of Nature: Tensile Structure

CONCEPT The project aims to tensile structures that are architectural designs which use tension to provide structural support and stability, often characterized by their lightweight and flexible nature. These structures are used in a wide range of applications, from large-scale event venues to small-scale residential and commercial buildings. Frei Otto The research begins with a … Read more

DRIVING TOWARDS SUSTAINABILITY

THE FUTURE OF PARKING In this one-term seminar of Decarbonise built environment the main goal was to develop carbon-capturing strategies and study how can we shift to renewable energies. In this particular project, Barcelona city was taken as a built environment, and based on that we developed urban planning strategies and parking design strategies. COSMOGRAM … Read more

ALTER-VERTICALITY

In the field of architecture, verticality is often considered the ultimate achievement, the culmination of various attempts, experiments, conceptual speculations, and styles. Architects such as Yona friedman, Rem Koolhaas, Peter Cook have investigated this concept resulting in questionable outcomes. Our analysis explores their work, examining its pure geometry with speculative experimentation. This concept is exemplified … Read more

FROM WASTE TO TAP

REIMAGINING WATER TREATMENT INFRASTRUCTURE THROUGH BIO-BASED SOLUTIONS PROJECT OVERVIEW WATER STRESS Due to the climate change, inefficient irrigation systems for agriculture, population growth and inefficient water infrastructure, the water stress in the world is increasing. But we question ourselves if water is really a scarce resource or is it just the issue of how the … Read more

Forces of Nature

HYPERBOLIC PARABOLOID ROOF This research project in the field of architecture aims to investigate the application of physics simulations in the form-finding process of designing live-interactive installations using Kangaroo, located in IAAC’s rooftop. The design strategy is creating a simple geometry based on forces in compression and tension on different points. The pavilion’s sail-like plane … Read more

FORCES OF NATURE: BLUE SADDLE ROOF

This project was developed in the Computational Design Seminar with the goal of proposing a new installation for the roof of IAAC’s main building using parametric design through Grasshopper and Kangaroo components. The resulting structure aims to improve the quality of the open area, adding shade, light, and shadow effects and creating a base for … Read more

Digital woodcraft

Exploring the unique properties of timber and the fabrication methods associated with it, enabling us to work with complex geometries and find appropriate strategies to realize them. We started out looking at different situations to apply our geometry and potentially make a gapahuk (a building made of wooden materials, originally intended for emergency accommodation), forest … Read more

FORCES OF NATURE / Flower Power

The aim of the design was to create a space that evokes a sense of enclosure but is still open and lightweight. This led us to the concept of designing our pavilion from minimal surfaces inspired from geometries exhibited in nature such as plants, mushrooms and corals. The intention was to fabricate it using strip … Read more

Forces Of Nature

The Prismatic Pavilion Site Context ?The Institute of Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC) is located in the city of Barcelona, Spain. ?The institute is situated in the Poblenou neighborhood, which is known for its innovation and technology industries. ?The institute is easily accessible by public transportation, with several bus and metro lines running nearby.  ?The campus is also located close … Read more

Timber Zipper

The goal of this project is to comprehend the pick-and-place robotic fabrication process using timber members and how to optimize the process using design choices. By experimenting with various twist, rotate, shift, mirror, and scale actions, column typologies that eventually took the form of a zipper-like column were created. The exercise helps us to understand … Read more

BALANCED STRUCTURES

Balances Structures uses the ABB robot to develop a column through a pick-and-place strategy. Pushing robotic precision to its limits and minimizing human error, this project showcases how a structure in a state of delicate balance can be produced. The balance of the column was showcased not only through the placement of the structure on … Read more

TOWER TWIST

Concept Catalogue Main Catalogue Weekly Catalogue Catalogue of the digital exploration Parameters Digital input and ABB Fabrication Physical Limitation of fabrication Design Analysis Rules of the Proposed Geometry Layers: 30N. of Sticks: 120Pivot angle Increment: y = sin (x)Total Rotation: 160* Rotation’s Logic Column Making: The 3 modules Comparison Physics Simulation | Robot Simulation | … Read more

IN_(TERLOCK) CHAOS 

Abstract This project will focus on using the pick & place operations to develop column geometries stacked out of timber elements. Below we present the development of a parametric system capable of integrating fabrication constraints and architectural goals. The aim was to create a natural geometry with a simple linear element, a catalog of multiple … Read more

ALGOSurfboards: how design drives performance

Over the last decade, the surf industry has been rapidly expanding, as an increasing number of people worldwide are embracing the sport. However, despite the rising demand, traditional surfboard design approaches have yet to fully embrace the potential of tailored equipment that takes into account the unique needs and preferences of individual surfers. As a … Read more