During the MAEBB02, IAAC gives students the opportunity to create individual Studio agendas and develops Thesis Projects based on ecological design, thermodynamics applied to buildings, new fabrication techniques, material experimentation, solar technologies and more. In this way, IAAC puts together an experimental and learning environment for the training of professionals with both intellectual and applied responses to the increasing complexity and environmental pressures of contemporary urban environments.

Ecological Odyssey

During a week, 10 students from MAEBB, MAA, MaCT and MDEF got together as part of the Ecological Interactions class, that took part at the village at Benifallet, placed by the Ebro River. During this period, the students got in touch with the faculty’s land in order to come up with analysis, thoughts and solutions … Read more

Bio Diverse City

In the article ‘Coral Reefs of the Land’ Madhusudan Katti suggests we reimagine our cities as coral reefs. Coral reefs correlate with tropical rainforests concerning their biological productivity. These dynamic marine metropolises accommodate diverse species. Conversely, our cities offer limited spaces for species to build habitats. Could cities embrace coexistence and invite more species to … Read more

Bionook

This blog describes and showcases the second-term research and prototyping for Bionook. Research Topic: Investigating the Synergistic Potential Between Additive Manufacturing Methods and Engineered Timber in Reshaping Urban Design Paradigms. This research delves into precisely integrating sawdust and orange peels as industrial by-product additives for Soil Additive Manufacturing and locally sourced Engineered Timber, synergizing them … Read more

PEXEL: Exploring parametricism through the lens of modularity.

Research Topic:How can a system of modular units embedded with the ability to connect through a combination of joineries achieve a wide range of reciprocal forms, flexibility in design, and a simplified construction process? Keywords: design flexibility, reciprocal structures, interlocking joineries, efficient construction, modularity.The tectonics of parametric architecture using timber primarily stem from two processes: … Read more

Lumber Legacy : A Silent Tale of Dowel Laminated Timber

Starting with my master’s thesis, my primary objective was to delve into the realm of sustainable materials. Throughout my first year, I immersed myself in the study of timber assemblies, intrigued by their potential contribution to environmentally conscious construction practices. Researching concepts such as the circular economy and cradle-to-grave analysis, I gained a deeper appreciation … Read more

Defining Biocities

In the ever-evolving landscape of urban planning, the concept of “Biocities” has emerged as a beacon of hope for a sustainable future. As we delve into the intricacies of creating urban spaces that harmonize with nature, it becomes imperative to establish a shared language— a lexicon that defines the essence of Biocities. This blog post … Read more

Advanced Digital Tools: Introduction to Grasshopper

Embark on a transformative journey into the realm of digital design with our “Advanced Digital Tools” course, where innovation meets precision. Central to this exploration is Grasshopper, a visual programming language seamlessly integrated into Rhino 3D modeling software. This course propels students beyond conventional design boundaries, offering a hands-on experience in parametric design, algorithmic workflows, … Read more

Defining Bio-cities

Emergy/?n??d?i/[Noun] Emergy is the amount of energy consumed in direct and indirect transformations to make a product or service. Emergy is a measure of quality differences between different forms of energy. Emergy is an expression of all the energy used in the work processes that generate a product or service in units of one type … Read more

Defining Biocities

Accidental Sustainability [Noun] In the mid-1990s, Cuba experienced economic depression and a collective food crisis after the dissolution of the Soviet Union. In this ‘Special Period’ , the lack of capital and resources necessitated preserving and maximizing the island’s natural resources. It led to the introduction of organic agriculture. The citizens also started sharing and … Read more

Defining Biocities

Defining Biocities explores the concept of Biocities, urban environments designed in harmony with natural systems to enhance life, To simplify comprehension, we were introduced to key authors, delving into the terminologies they discussed. Through research and exploration, we enhanced our personal understanding of the words and concepts, making the intricate topic more accessible. “Design for … Read more

X min city

How long do you need to go to your school and office? I do 10 mins usually, but when I live in Japan, I need a commute time, over 1 hour. After modernization, The larger the city becomes, the longer our commute time is.Various urbanists and researchers have developed plans that match the scale of their … Read more

Introducing need for Bionook

Abstract In response to urgent carbon mitigation challenges and biodiversity loss, a paradigm shift toward manufacturing symbiosis and circular bio-economy is crucial for ecologically sensitive design in urban ecosystems. This study explores the transformative potential of a 3D-printed urban Bionook, incorporating layers of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) with a natural-locally sourced soil admixture, to enhance strength, … Read more

DEFINING BIOCITIES

MARC PALAHI Circular Bioeconomy: Circular economy is the economic framework that focuses on minimizing waste and  creating a cycle of disassembly, reuse. Bioeconomy is the concept that focuses on the use of bio-resources as a substitute for fossil-based, non-renewable and non-biodegradable material. Circular Bioeconomy is a fusion of the two concepts and can be defined … Read more

Defining Biocities

Defining Biocities seminar aims to explore the concept of Biocities – cities that follow the rules of natural system in order to promote life and engage students in the creation of a publication in the form of book.

Defining Biocities

Life cycle Assessment Synonyms: Life cycle analysis Noun Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a tool to evaluate possible environmental effects at every stage of a product’s (which can be commodities, technologies, or services) life cycle, from acquiring natural resources through production and consumption to waste management (including disposal and recycling). Four Components of Life-cycle Analysis  … Read more

Defining Biocities (Stefano Boeri)

In the process of creating this blog post dedicated to defining a Biocity, I played a crucial role in conducting comprehensive research and contributing to the compilation of a specialized dictionary. As part of a collaborative effort involving students from the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia (IAAC), and under the guidance of mentors Honorata … Read more

Defining Biocities

The ‘Defining biocities’ class revolves around studying different concepts of design for a ‘Bio-city’ at various scales and in a multi-disciplinary approach. The following words are identified by the author because there is potential in these words to be associated with designing Biocities. Food-sensitive planning and Urban design This is most likely one of the … Read more

LIFECYCLE OF WOOD

Deconstruction involves the systematic dismantling of buildings to recover valuable materials such as wood, metal, glass, and concrete. This approach prioritizes the preservation of materials for reuse, recycling, or upcycling, diverting a substantial amount of waste from landfills. The extracted materials form the basis of material banks, which act as repositories for salvaged construction elements. … Read more

BioCosm | The one stop shop for Nature-based Solutions | Business Innovation

Introduction Carbon Dioxide is the main contributor to global warming and climate crisis. CO2 traps the heat that is re-radiated from the Earth, thus, increasing the Earth’s surface temperature. The main causes of CO2 emissions are:1. 40% emissions made by burning fossil fuels for energy production. 2. 42% emissions made by the built environment. 3. … Read more