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Master in Advanced Ecological Buildings & Biocities 01

During the first six months in the program, students are comprehensively trained in the principles of design and construction of advanced ecological buildings through a series of focused and intense modules, which include material production, thermal and metabolic building systems, ecological structures and façade systems and much more. After developing the necessary skills and a holistic understanding of advanced and ecological design, students collectively draft and build a full scale ecological building prototype.

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Embracing Ecological Intelligence: Reconciling Anthropocentrism and Ecological Imperatives in Design


MAEBB 2024-2025 by
MAEBB 2024-2025

The exigency of the Anthropocene compels a fundamental reassessment of design paradigms. Traditional anthropocentric approaches, which prioritize human needs often to the detriment of ecological integrity, have precipitated a confluence of environmental crises. This discourse will explore the concept of Ecological Intelligence, a framework that necessitates a departure from human-centered design, advocating for a holistic … Read more

Ecological Intelligence – Vernacular Architecture


MAEBB 2024-2025 by
MAEBB 2024-2025

Vernacular architecture, with its deep roots in local contexts and traditional building practices, offers a compelling avenue for exploring sustainable design principles. I’ve always been drawn to the potential of simpler, ingenious solutions in architecture, especially as a counterpoint to the often over-engineered approaches prevalent today. From ingenious ventilation strategies to daylighting techniques, vernacular buildings, … Read more

Eco-Intelligence: Vernacular Architecture


MAEBB 2024-2025 by
MAEBB 2024-2025

For this exercise, I found vernacular architecture to be the most interesting topic to dive further into. This predominantly came from the concept that whatever other newer forms of design are trying to achieve, vernacular architecture did it first, and sometimes better. Whether it be bio-design, multi-species design, etc., vernacular architecture always holds the characteristics … Read more

BIOBASE(D) – Resilient Envelopes


MAEBB 2024-2025 by
MAEBB 2024-2025

BIOBASE(D) is a forest management and research center in the Pyrenees, dedicated to preventing forest fires through sustainable forestry and education. The building’s design—especially its structure—responds to the local climate, highlights the potential of timber as a construction material, and offers visitors and staff a unique experience in this remarkable forest base camp. REFERENCES Case Study … Read more

BIOBASE(D) – Urban Synthesis


MAEBB 2024-2025 by
MAEBB 2024-2025

MISSION STATEMENT BIOBASE(D) is a forest management and research center that serves as the first link in the timber transformation chain. Its mission is to transform the threat of forest fires into an opportunity through a threefold strategy: implementing sustainable forest management practices to enhance resilience, fostering a forest-based bioeconomy that adds value to timber … Read more

Resilient Envelopes: The Adaptive Skin of N.E.S.T. Research Center


MAEBB 2024-2025 by
MAEBB 2024-2025

In the face of climate challenges, architecture is evolving beyond static walls into dynamic, responsive systems. The N.E.S.T. Research Center embodies this shift through its resilient envelope, an intelligent skin designed to regulate environmental conditions, harness energy, and enhance structural performance. Envelope Development: A Multi-Layered Approach The building envelope is developed across four distinct facades, each tailored to … Read more

N.E.S.T: Timber Research Center: A New Urban Synthesis


MAEBB 2024-2025 by
MAEBB 2024-2025

The Final Step in Timber Transformation chain: The Nest Timber Research Center is the last stage in the timber process, where materials are questioned, tested, and developed further. The building spans 8,142 sqm, housing public functions, workspaces and residential units. The nine-story building features a highly permeable ground floor, integrating public interfaces like sculpture gardens … Read more

Boutique CLT Factory


MAEBB 2024-2025 by
MAEBB 2024-2025

boutique /buːˈtiːk/ small, sophisticated, or fashionable business or establishment. The CLT Factory is a part of the course that focuses on developing a comprehensive understanding of the Entire timber transformation chain, Through the design of five interconnected programs, students will address the principles of circular construction, sustainability, and innovation, while exploring the relationship between large-scale … Read more

The Treeline – Sawmill Factory: Resilient Envelopes


MAEBB 2024-2025 by
MAEBB 2024-2025

The façade design emphasizes verticality, reinforcing a connection to the surrounding forest and the natural growth patterns of trees. Inspired by the structural grid of the waffle roof, this vertical rhythm is expressed through the cladding, creating a cohesive architectural language. The use of natural materials, particularly wood, highlights the building’s relationship with the sawmill’s … Read more

ALINA: Sunbathing Chair


MAEBB 2024-2025 by
MAEBB 2024-2025

For our Collaborative Design Studio discipline we built LIANA, a nature-inspired play structure that reimagines traditional playground design for primary school children. You can read about the fabrication process here, and the installation process here. During our conceptual design stages we built a 1:1 scale prototype, using 17 planks out of the 137 that the final design … Read more

Resilient Envelopes for a Boutique CLT factory


MAEBB 2024-2025 by
MAEBB 2024-2025

This in this course we examined the fundamental relationships between skin and structure, as well as energy and materiality, to support us in refining our proposals. Throughout the course, we engaged with various strategies and concepts, including low embodied energy envelopes, durable envelope systems, mutable and demountable designs, and materials that were biodegradable, recyclable, or … Read more

Timber V4ult: Urban Synthesis


MAEBB 2024-2025 by
MAEBB 2024-2025

Objective The goal of this module was to take the final decisions in order to match the building design to the integrated facilities that optimize the circular economy in timber production, balancing large-scale industrial processes with small-scale habitational solutions and an holistic urban system. Chain of production Timber V4ult is the fourth in a chain … Read more