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.
Welcome to Panton vs Lumon, the app we built during the GenAI course to explore what happens when you pit two aesthetic extremes against each other, then hand over control to the user. Think Verner Panton meets Severance’s Lumon Industries. This isn’t just style transfer – it’s a design identity crisis turned into a creative … Read more
How two architects transformed the way we present architectural projects by creating an AI-powered storytelling interface that turns technical drawings into compelling visual narratives. The Genesis: Beyond Plans and Sections Traditional architectural presentations often fail to bridge the gap between professional technical documentation and client understanding. James discovered that: So who is this storyteller platform … Read more
Predicting Building Energy Performance: A Machine Learning Approach to Energy Use Intensity (EUI) In the world of sustainable architecture and building design, understanding energy consumption is crucial for creating efficient, environmentally responsible structures. Energy Use Intensity (EUI) serves as a fundamental metric that tells us how much energy a building consumes per square meter per … Read more
Intro Designers know the pain: a perfect image—ruined by one wrong material. A distracting object. A missing texture. An awkward composition. You could retouch it manually, but how long will that take? And will it ever really blend? What if you could just circle the problem area and ask for something better? Something that fits … Read more
Why “Faster” Matters A single photorealistic render can quickly be very expensive and take days to produce, locking design changes behind hefty bills and long waits for architects. Generative AI, through models like Stable Diffusion and custom LoRAs, slashes both cost and time, turning sketches into near-final visuals in seconds. By democratizing high-fidelity imagery, it … Read more
Introduction In this blog, we walk through the complete data science process applied to a unique challenge: predicting the acoustic comfort index of apartment units based on architectural and environmental features. This includes data preprocessing, feature engineering, model training, interpretation, and tuning—with tools like XGBoost, Neural Networks, and SHAP for explainability. The workflow is split … 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
1 — Project OverviewOur project is based on the building geometry model that is provided with three apartment types and spaces in between them. We chose to focus on the shared spaces: the courtyards, terraces, and balconies. The building is located in Barcelona, so we rely on fixed environmental conditions and don’t re-run simulations. We … Read more
A tool that transforms any architectural sketch into the style of Hassan Fathy using AI. Introduction Our app takes a simple sketch as input and automatically renders it in the hand-drawn style of Hassan Fathy.This enables users to visualize their ideas as if sketched by the master himself, in just seconds. We trained our model … Read more
Fire Spread Prediction in Building Layouts Project Goal The goal is to predict fire safety risk at the unit level in a building. We are conducting a fire spread analysis for building layouts by examining spatial, structural, and material features. The objective is to model and understand how fire propagates through different parts of a … Read more
+ Talking with Nicolas Catellier reveals how much of BIM’s evolution isn’t just about software, it’s about people. His journey from architect to educator, and from internal tutorials to a public platform, shows how valuable simplicity and clarity can be in a field often dominated by complexity. + What stood out most is his awareness … Read more
Leveraging Advanced BIM Strategies for Complex Architectural Realization Contextual Framework – Traditional BIM workflows often struggle to accommodate the complex, fluid geometries characteristic of avant-garde architectural designs, creating a gap between conceptual vision and buildable reality. Key Insight – Customized BIM workflows incorporating AI, computational design, and bespoke coding can enable the realization of complex … Read more
Coralis Lumina is a 3D-printed light installation inspired by the organic beauty of coral reefs. Designed for immersive interaction, it merges parametric design with advanced fabrication techniques, offering endless possibilities in form and illumination. This innovative system allows users to generate unique 3D-print-ready models tailored to their preferences. A Smarter Way to Create Organic 3D-Printed … Read more
The Role of Online Educators in BIM Adoption: The Balkan Architect In this episode of the MaCAD BIMSC Theory Podcast Series, part of the BIM and Smart Construction module at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), students Joaquin Broquedis and Marco Durand interview Milos Temerinski, founder and CEO of Balkan Architect, one of … Read more
In the ever-evolving world of architecture, Hyper A is an exploration into the limits—and freedoms—of structural design. We, the Structure Team, consisting of Joaquin Broquedis and myself, Marco Durand, are excited to present the structural concept that supports not just a building, but a multi-neighborhood urban vision. This blog offers a deeper look into our … Read more
Introduction In an era of rapid urbanization, the Hyper-Building concept emerges as a response to the complexities of modern city life. Rather than viewing it as a single architectural entity, we approached it as an interconnected urban system—a city within a city. Like any urban environment, it must address challenges related to accessibility, functionality, and … Read more
