The Master in City & Technology’s academic structure is based on IAAC’s innovative, learn-by-doing and design-through-research methodology which focuses on the development of interdisciplinary skills. During the Master in City & Technology students will have the opportunity to be part of a highly international group, including faculty members, researchers, and lecturers, in which they are encouraged to develop collective decision-making processes and materialize their project ideas.
Rising heat is an increasingly critical global condition driven by climate change, urbanization, and deforestation. Average global temperatures have climbed due to greenhouse gas emissions, leading to more frequent and intense heatwaves that threaten ecosystems, economies, and public health. Urban areas, in particular, experience exacerbated effects due to the urban heat island phenomenon, where concrete, … Read more
Multidimensionality of Time for Inclusive Urban Lives This project explores urban inclusivity through the multidimensional lens of time, using Barcelona as a case study. The analysis considers three temporal dimensions: time of day, time of year, and time of life, recognizing how these factors shape access to essential urban amenities. Proximity serves as the first … Read more
Sprawl is broadly defined as “dispersed low-density urban development applying to the physical pattern of low-density expansion of large urban areas, under market conditions, mainly into the surrounding agricultural areas” (European Environment Agency, “Urban sprawl in Europe: The ignored challenge” EEA Report, Vol. 10, 2006). Further, it is described as “an excessive use of the open … Read more
It is natural for the climate to changes over the millions of years, it is a way in which the planet regulates itself. The problem is that before the industrial revolution, before all the gas emissions started (around 1870), the planet would heat up one degree every 1000 years. Now it’s one degree every 100 … Read more
The Sundarbans Reserve Forest is the largest contiguous mangrove forest in the world. A wildlife sanctuary with an area of 139,700 ha, considered as a core breeding area for a number of endangered species (The Sundarbans, n.d.). and home of the Bengal Tiger. STUDY AREA The Sundarbans is a shared protected area between India and … Read more
Circular Economy Integration The integration of circular economies into local frameworks can revolutionize sustainability in urban development. This approach not only redefines waste management but also fosters economic resilience by promoting the reuse and recycling of resources. By implementing a circular economy, cities can create environmentally sustainable structures that extend the lifecycle of products and … Read more
The learning process presented in the table demonstrates a profound reflection on emerging economies and their impact on the future, structured across six thematic sessions: circular economies, massive collaboration, natural economies, social regeneration, impact entrepreneurship, and the future of work. Each session allowed participants to explore their prior knowledge, set learning objectives, reflect on new … Read more
Over the course of 6 weeks we had the opportunity to be introduced to emerging economies, a concept that from my initial perspective was outside of urban design, but as the classes progressed, I realized its relevance to urban planning and to the current world in general. CIRCULAR ECONOMIES AND VALUE FLOWS The circular economy … Read more
The Emerging Economies course explored diverse themes surrounding sustainable development, ecological futures, social innovation, and economic transitions. Each session was anchored by critical lectures that combined theoretical understanding with practical insights, culminating in collective knowledge applicable to real-world challenges. This essay reflects the key lessons derived from the lectures, organized into themes. 1. Circular Economies … Read more
The seminar has been divided into a series of workshops on:– Circular Economies and Value Flows– Distributed Economies and Massive Collaboration– Ecological Interactions and the Economies of Nature– Regenerative Economies and Social Sustainability– Social Entrepreneurship and Impact Economies– Emerging Economies and the Future of Work
New economic models offer opportunities to create just, sustainable, and vibrant systems in the face of climate crises, social inequality, and profit-seeking cultures. Over the course of the Emerging Economies series, various experts shared novel frameworks for exchanging goods and knowledge, how these can and have been implemented, and their impacts. Marion Real spoke with … Read more
Circular Economies and Value Flows with Marion Real I entered the session with a foundational understanding of resource loops, local production, and sustainable consumption. My goal was to discover circular models for urban infrastructure, particularly exploring how waste management, water, and energy systems could be redesigned. The key takeaway from the session was the importance … Read more
Introduction: Emerging Economies at the Vanguard of Change As we navigate a world in flux, emerging economies stand poised to rewrite the rules of global progress. From technological leaps to reshaping the nature of work, these economies embody resilience and innovation. But they’re not just about catching up—they’re charting entirely new paths. This exploration takes … Read more
The Seminar opened new perspectives on several fields of Emerging Economies. The topics at stake ranged from circular economic models to ways to include ecosystem thinking into economic ventures. My key learning center around the possibility to think economies in terms of different network structures, the inclusion of the common approach into design and planning … Read more
The course on Emerging Economies explores transformative approaches to fostering sustainability, equity, and resilience in economic systems, focusing on circular, distributed, regenerative, and inclusive principles. Inspired by different economical frameworks and interdisciplinary design philosophies, the course examines how innovative thinking can create a thriving balance between ecological integrity and human prosperity. Towards Regenerative and Interconnected … Read more
The Future of Work and Emerging Economies: How Design Can Shape Resilient Labor MarketsIn a world where emerging economies are increasingly intertwined with technological advancements, the future of work is rapidly evolving. The intersection of automation, digital platforms, and shifting economic paradigms presents both immense challenges and exciting opportunities. As an architect and student at … Read more
Parking is an important element of urban infrastructure, influencing the functionality, accessibility, and sustainability of cities. In Barcelona, where neighborhoods vary widely in character, density, and urban design, parking serves as a lens through which we can better understand the city’s transportation dynamics and spatial planning. This research began with an exploration of key questions … Read more
The exploratory analysis performed by Josefina Ovalle, Maja Mawusi and Michał Modelski We present you an exploratory analysis on the New York City’s Citi Bike network in New Jersey. We chose the latest dataset, from October 2024, that gives us data on bike stations, bike types, bike users, and bike usage over time. The choice … Read more
ABSTRACT Derived from the 2020 pandemic sanitary measures for Covid-19, Google created the Community Mobility Reports, which provide valuable insights of how people’s mobility changed as a result of the established health policies. The objective of this analysis was to understand how United States residents’ mobility behavior changed over time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. … Read more
The Backbone of Modernity – Since its invention in 1842, Portland cement has become a cornerstone of modern construction. Its role in shaping cities, infrastructure, and economies is unparalleled, but this comes at a cost. Cement production is energy-intensive, emits significant carbon dioxide, and has become a key driver of global greenhouse gas emissions Cement … Read more
As an introduction to Python, this course explored the foundations of data analysis and visualization using a variety of powerful libraries, including pandas, geopandas, contextily, matplotlib, numpy, seaborn, and plotly. The project below demonstrates the practical application of these tools. Inspired by the recent U.S. election, we focused on analyzing voter behavior and the factors … Read more
