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.
Parametric Engineering: Collaborate with Structural Data on the Cloud
Topic brief In the AEC industry, building analysis workflows often operate in isolated software environments, causing structural data to lose meaning once it leaves its original authoring tool. This study argues that the value of structural analysis depends not only on computational accuracy, but on the ability of its outputs to remain consistent as they … Read more
Bab al-Luq Market: A Shell That Finds Light and Guides People
Bab al-Luq Market in Cairo was designed to be bright, legible, and hygienic—then decades of add-ons and wear turned it into a dim, confusing interior. This proposal makes one clear move: a parametric double-skin roof that diffuses daylight and defines a readable circulation spine. Location: Cairo, Egypt Climate: Hot, dry, sunny Typology: Historic market hall … Read more
Materia Assente: Engineering the Ghost of an Architecture
Abstract Architecture is often defined by mass, weight, and permanence. But what happens when we design for the memory of a building rather than the building itself? Materia Assente explores the intersection of poetic parametric design and rigorous structural integrity. The project seeks to answer a complex question: How can we create a structure that … Read more
THE ARTHROPOD PAVILLION
Design Concept | Horseshoe Crab–Inspired Lattice Structure Inspired by the exoskeleton of horseshoe crabs and the ITECH Research Pavilion 2024, this project explores a biomimetic lattice shell structure supported by discrete legs.A continuous mesh distributes loads efficiently across its surface, transferring forces to the ground through optimized supports.The parametrically generated lattice expresses structural performance, integrating … Read more
A.I. Morphogenesis
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
Integrative Structural Modelling
The Structural Innovation Behind Hyper-Building B As cities continue to grow vertically, the need for adaptive, resilient, and expressive structural systems becomes increasingly vital. The Hyper-Building B project, developed as part of the Integrative Modeling Seminar at MaCAD, embraces a forward-thinking approach that integrates Japanese aesthetics, parametric design, and high-performance structural engineering. The structural team … Read more
APEX RESIDENCES ASSESMENT – THEORY
Design Strategy The Apex project is designed by aligning structure and program into a single tower offering multiple configurations based on environmental optimizations. By approaching the structure as one of the main drivers of the tower, we decided to test what is the effect of the structure’s material on the carbon footprint of the project. … Read more
Parasyte: exisiting structure refit and expansion
System boundaries Results List of relevant sources for the Life Cycle Inventory
Parasyte: Growing exisiting structure
INTRODUCTION We approached our parametric project with a top-down methodology, emphasizing the importance of urban, climatic, social, and economic parameters. These factors, alongside the needs for project development, are crucial when discussing architecture that focuses on the reuse and recycling of existing structures in both established and developing contexts. CONCEPT & STAGES The algorithm is … Read more
Residential Tower – Karamba3D
SITE PLAN & ANALYSIS STRUCTURAL ELEMENTS The building has a total footprint of about 50 meters per 37 meters. The typical grid is of 8.4m, and becomes smaller towards the edge of the slabs. The core is centered with the grid and it is of about 16,8m x 12,6m. It occupies about the 12-15% of … Read more
System on a chip: Data Center modular aggregation structural optimization
Concept The architectural concept is based on creating a data center that expands over time, following a Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA) approach. At the core of the design is a superstructure, populated by smaller modular data halls. These are supported by a service program that includes operational spaces, storage, and MEP systems, particularly … Read more
Digital tools for Structural Optimization
Project Overview This structural analysis and optimization focuses on a studio project designed as an office and industrial hybrid typology housing creative industries, such as architecture studios and robotics fabrication labs. The building is generated through an aggregation process, resulting in variable building heights that generally fall within high-rise parameters. The structural system consists of … Read more
Reimagining Urban Spaces: Structural Optimization in the Parasite Studio Project
Urban landscapes are constantly evolving, with existing buildings often requiring new functions, sustainable upgrades, and modern aesthetics. In the IAAC’s course on structural optimization, our studio project, “Parasite,” embodies this transformative approach by exploring the potential of hybrid construction methods and adaptive reuse. Our goal was to breathe new life into existing reinforced concrete structures … Read more
Tower Structural Optimization
INTRODUCTION In an era where architecture must balance aesthetic expression with structural efficiency, parametric design and computational tools have emerged as transformative forces. Our project explores a mixed-use commercial building, seamlessly integrating advanced structural systems to achieve a dynamic, functional, and visually compelling design. By utilizing Karamba3D for structural analysis and optimization, the project redefines … Read more
The Perch – Analysis of Generative Glulam and Steel Beam Structure
Our generative building is a mixed-use typology with height ranging from 4 to 12 stories. The primary design focus is to create a transformable and adaptable structure that can respond seamlessly to changing functional needs. To achieve this, the building incorporates lightweight, recyclable, and circular materials, paired with modular connection elements that allow for easy … Read more
