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.
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
Solid vs. Soft How can an object low in inherent solidity still be structurally present and define architectural space? This question lies at the heart of The Pneumatical Incrustation. Developed for the Complex Forming Seminar, this project explores the fundamental contrast between the solid and the soft. The goal was to investigate how “soft” forms … Read more
Timber is booming in architecture, often framed as a climate solution. But carbon is only part of the story. Forests are living systems whose shape matters: edges, cores, perforations, and bridges all affect biodiversity, microclimate, and resilience. Timber Trace asks: What does logging monitoring really tell us about the hidden impact of timber in architecture, … Read more
ABSTRACT The integration of generative AI into architecture is transforming early-stage design processes, particularly by enabling rapid and automated floorplan generation. These tools increase efficiency by exploring large design spaces and producing multiple layout options in a short time. However, current workflows struggle to integrate critical performative analyses such as daylight availability, thermal comfort, and … Read more
ABSTRACT LAYOUT GENERATOR This research introduces a computational framework for early-stage architectural design that automates the generation and evaluation of building layouts. The approach begins from basic inputs—program requirements, site boundary, and context—and produces alternative spatial arrangements that are assessed against architectural and regulatory constraints. The framework ensures that generated layouts respect programmatic adjacencies, daylight … Read more
Semiocity — Semiotic-Aware Urban Image Generation This is part of the Academic work at Iaac Barcelona for the Master’s Program im Advance Computation for Architecture and Design 2024-2025 Repository for the Master Thesis “Semiocity: Generating Semiotic‑Enriched 3D Models from Text Inputs” Degree: Master in Advanced Computation for Architecture and Design (MaCAD), Institute for Advanced Architecture of … Read more
Multidimensional Regression-Based Model for Early-Stage Architectural Feedback traditional daylight simulations, while accurate are extremely time-consuming, often taking hours per design option. This slows down the creative process and limits how many alternatives we can test, which ultimately impacts design quality and performance. By narrowing the scope to room-scale inputs and structured presets, we ensured our … Read more
A Multi-Agent, Socratic, Cognitive-Preserving Tutoring System for Architectural Education The Silent Crisis Picture this: A design student faces a challenging architectural problem. They need to create a sustainable community center that harmonizes with its urban context while meeting complex programmatic requirements. In 2023, they would likely turn to ChatGPT, type their question, and receive a … 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
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
Simulate. Forecast. Outpace failure. Abstract AssetPulse is an advanced asset management simulation tool and synthetic data generator designed to optimize resource allocation, improve decision-making, and facilitate research through realistic scenario modeling. Building on a graph-based approach, AssetPulse models asset lifecycles, calculates remaining useful life (RUL), and applies business rules for budget planning, risk management, and … 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
How AI is Revolutionizing Architectural Decision-Making Abstract – When Vision Meets Reality Every architect knows the moment. A bold design, full of light and ambition, hits a brick wall: the budget. The client’s face falls, and the project spirals into endless redesigns and frustrated compromises. This isn’t a failure of creativity, it’s a failure of … Read more
