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.
Turning Natural Language into Architecture Designing a house is never just about walls and windows—it’s about translating human stories into spaces that feel alive. Clients describe routines, aspirations, and cultural practices. Architects then face the challenge of turning those narratives into coherent layouts that also respond to site, climate, and context. Most computational tools fall … 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
ABSTRACT Recent developments in generative artificial intelligence, particularly diffusion models such as Stable Diffusion and DALL·E, have enabled the creation of visually compelling architectural façades from text-based prompts. While these outputs are expressive and stylistically diverse, they remain fundamentally unstructured, lacking spatial intelligence, semantic clarity, and geometric editability. This limits their integration into architectural design … Read more
By Jose, Giorgia, Paul, Francesco, and Mohammed Rethinking Urban Design Through Acoustic Intelligence Cities today must manage noise for public health, productivity, and urban well-being. Streets, parks, towers, and public spaces all face constant noise challenges. Yet, traditional urban design often treats acoustics as an afterthought. Most teams evaluate sound issues only after making key … Read more
HaBiCoM is an AI-powered copilot designed to assist architects, designers, and users in shaping smarter, more responsive interior spaces. At its core, HaBiCoM redefines the way we approach furniture placement within residential environments by aligning each design decision with the user’s unique daily habits, lifestyle rhythms, and thermal comfort needs. Unlike traditional layout tools, HaBiCoM … 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
A copilot for intelligent facade design DEMO A SNAPSHOT OF THE PROJECT: INTRODUCTION: FUNDAMENTAL Meet John, an experienced architect working late in his studio, surrounded by sketches, coffee cups, and the familiar glow of his computer screen. He’s facing a challenge that keeps countless architects awake at night – designing a facade that’s both beautiful … Read more
Consider yourself a local architect or urban planner dealing with the all-too-common Barcelona problem: Its too hot here! and the courtyard outside feels like a desolate oven. Imagine now that your co-pilot is a pixel-art cat that is friendly, understands the climatic conditions and works with you to create a courtyard that is actually comfortable, … Read more
Project Objective The project objective is to develop an interface where users can batch upload images of an established design, usually in the Design Development phase when materials and small tweaks are being considered. The goal is for a user in a traditional architecture office to batch upload images of their 3d model to quickly … 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
Abstract This project is a speculative and critical exploration of human-AI intimacy inspired by Spike Jonze’s film Her. The story of a man falling in love with his AI assistant prompts an urgent contemporary question: can current large language models (LLMs) such as GPT-4o or LLaMA 3 convincingly simulate emotional intimacy? More importantly, what does … Read more
The Algorithmic Epoch Modern advertising was born out of propaganda techniques developed in World War I by Edward Bernays. He realized that by manipulating symbols and emotions, it was possible to shape mass behaviour, a concept that now forms the backbone of our algorithm-driven economy. The Internet, once heralded as a tool for global connection, … Read more
Framing the Dilemma: Access vs. Autonomy The Promise of AI for Inclusive Learning Artificial intelligence (AI) is starting to gain traction as a tool to bridge educational gaps for people with disabilities. AI-powered learning assistants – from chatbots to adaptive tutoring systems – have emerged as a promising solution to provide personalized support at scale … Read more
This project introduces a graph-based machine learning system designed to automate furniture placement in apartment layouts. The workflow was developed as part of an architectural design studio and played a key role in generating comfort-driven interior configurations. At its core, the system encodes spatial and functional rules such as placing a sofa near a window … Read more
In modern residential architecture, acoustic comfort is as vital as daylighting or thermal performance. In our latest studio research at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, Group 09 tackled the challenge of mapping and optimizing sound behavior in homes using graph-based machine-learning workflows. Over the next five minutes, you’ll discover how we combined city-scale … Read more
