The MaCAD is a unique online programme training a new generation of architects, engineers and designers ready to develop skills into the latest softwares, computational tools, BIM technologies and AI towards innovation for the Architecture, Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry.
The Purpose of AI in the Age of Resource Scarcity Introduction: Redefining the Question The question “What is the purpose of AI in AEC?” often elicits a predictable response focused on speed. For years the industry has viewed Artificial Intelligence primarily as a mechanism for automation. It is seen as a faster way to produce … Read more
Introduction Floating Grounds proposes a flood-resilient urban model for Jakarta that merges housing, public programs, and a stadium into a single floating system. Instead of resisting water, the project accepts it as a permanent condition and uses it as an organizing element. The work explores how large-scale infrastructure can support community life while addressing land … Read more
Case Study Site Context The site is located at 46.2330, 6.0556 in Meyrin, Geneva, Switzerland. It includes the Esplanade des Particules, within the CERN campus, and covers an area of 45.000 sqm, surrounded by a urban residential area with low-rise buildings. The primary land uses in the vicinity include grass and allotments. The site’s location … Read more
Introduction This project, developed by Group D (Giovanni Carlo Volpe, Nihan Malkoç, Sushmitha Ravi, Zeynep Sezen Dursun) as part of the Master in Advanced Computation for Architecture & Design at IAAC, explores a computationally driven strategy for creating environmentally responsive architecture in the challenging climate of Ahmedabad, India. Through a rigorous process utilizing Digital Tools … Read more
Introduction Group Async A, comprised of Charles Abi Chahine, Emilie El Chidiac, María Sánchez, and Lakzhmy Zaro, conducted an environmental analysis of a redevelopment project in Tokyo, Japan. We focused on a 19-hectare plot that was historically the site of the Tsukiji fish market. The Challenge of Dressing for TokyoAnyone who has visited Tokyo’s famous … Read more
Team members: Nguyen Vu Tue Minh (Chloe), Eduardo Martinez Toribio, Symon Kipkemei Modified by Nguyen Vu Tue Minh on December 12, 2025 //CONTEXT //SITE INFORMATION //CLIMATIC ANALYSIS //DESIGN PARAMETERS 1. Precedent Study & Early stage explorations 2. Form Study 3. Design Exploration To test our ideas effectively, we simplified our design proposal into clean, minimal … Read more
Saint Julian’s City in Malta Saint Julian’s is Malta’s nightlife and tourism epicenter (Paceville), causing extreme population density and infrastructure strain in summer. Its coastal development makes it highly vulnerable to climate change impacts like sea-level rise, while its energy-intensive industry contributes to Malta’s emissions. Environmental Analysis to Inform Design Environmental Analysis Workflow The workflow … Read more
Toward Net-Positive Architecture MASTER IN ADVANCED COMPUTATION FOR ARCHITECTURE & DESIGN 2024/2025 Anji, Christina & Will Thesis – Supervisor: Gabriella Rossi We are facing an urgent climate crisis, one that demands architecture to move beyond conventional sustainability toward regenerative, net-positive approaches. Current design practices often struggle to integrate environmental and context-aware analysis seamlessly because they … Read more
Andromeda is a Rhino-native copilot that turns briefs, context, and massing into a single, interpretable graph so designers can enrich masterplans, evaluate KPIs, and bake results back to Rhino, without leaving their workflow. Built for early-stage masterplanning, it aims to raise social value, connectivity, accessibility, and overall urban quality by unifying data, guiding program allocation, … Read more
ABSTRACT This thesis investigates the relationship between urban development patterns and outdoor thermal comfort, with a focus on Mean Radiant Temperature (MRT), a key factor in calculating the Universal Thermal Climate Index (UTCI). While graph-based approaches have long been used in spatial analysis (e.g., space syntax, circulation networks), this research extends the application of graph … Read more
A sustainability CoPilot Gaia is an intelligent design assistant, a copilot that supports architects in navigating the early stages of design with real-time environmental feedback. Named after the ancient Greek personification of the Earth, Gaia reflects both the ecological focus of the tool and its role as a guiding presence in the creative process. The … Read more
Nestled within IAAC’s Master of Advanced Computational Design program, our recent investigation of Graph Machine Learning (Graph ML) sought to reimagine how we perceive, evaluate, and improve architectural spaces. Our team of Andrea, Leila, Lennart, and Mahnoor worked on a courtyard prototype to create a seamless process that combines parametric modeling, semantic data interchange, and … Read more
GWP-data enriched graphs Imagine being able to see the carbon footprint of a building, not after it’s built, but while it’s still a sketch. What if architects and engineers could get real-time sustainability feedback the moment they decide on a material or tweak a wall layout? That’s the vision behind Visual GWP. We combined Graph … Read more
Bridging Carbon estimations in early design stages The built environment accounts for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions, the urgency to integrate sustainability into architectural and engineering processes has never been greater. Yet, decisions made in the earliest stages of building design often lock in the majority of a structure’s lifetime carbon footprint, long before … Read more
Introduction In this episode of the MaCAD Theory podcast, we explore with our guest Mr. Alessandro Grossi the growing importance of sustainable practices in the AEC sector, driven by climate change and resource scarcity. We dive into how integrating sustainability principles early in the design process can impact lifecycle costs and environmental outcomes.Listen to how … Read more
What & Why ? OptiBIPV is an app designed to enhance an integrated design approach for photovoltaic facades right from the early design stages. In today’s building design, balancing aesthetics with the growing demand for energy production is more important than ever. OptiBIPV enhances collaboration for a more sustainable environment, helping architects, facade designers, and … Read more
