The Master in Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities (MAEBB) postgraduate program is an 11-month immersive academic program focused on learning how to design and build a new generation of buildings and cities to respond to the planet’s emerging climate challenges. The program is carried out in Valldaura Labs, in Barcelona, a 135 He property located in the Collserola forest. Here, students will live and work surrounded by nature while using the most advanced technologies and design techniques in the pursuit of what is also IAAC’s long term initiative, to create self-sufficient and ecological environments.
Thermodynamic invariants as architectural constraints on machine learning for recycled-aggregate mix design Santhosh Shyamsundar · MAEBB02 · Valldaura Labs, IAAC · 2024–2026 The micro-scale matter the kernel’s thermodynamics, transport, and strength engines must keep mutually consistent. SEM image after Kafedra434, Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0), recoloured by the author. An irreversible material under a reversible … Read more
In the Augmented & Mixed Reality class learnt how to work with unity game engine to create an individual projects that would support our thesis investigations in an interactive way. This project explores how digital tools can reintroduce play, creativity, and spontaneity into the contemporary city. Developed as part of my urban play thesis, the … Read more
In our final project for the Large-Scale 3D Printing with Biomaterials workshop at IAAC, we developed a temporary acoustic barrier made from recycled cork and bio-based binders. The proposal rethinks permanence in architecture by designing a material system that can serve a specific event, then return to the soil after use. Project Concept The project … Read more
Santhosh Shyamsundar · IAAC / MAEBB02reMIXED REALITY Seminar · Advanced Manufacturing 2025/26 Beyond the 28-Day Blind Spot In contemporary construction, concrete quality is traditionally verified by “crushing cylinders” 28 days after pouring. This lag creates a critical information asymmetry: by the time a defect is confirmed, the material is already structural. MaOS Unity XR addresses … Read more
As the generations who have grown up around video games reach an age where they are beginning to buy homes, architects should provide advanced and easily navigable interfaces for people to interact with architecture. We should provide basic information on project mission and sustainability etc. and then allow potential customers to explore the designs in … Read more
In the shadowed canyons of our cities, where steel and glass rise like silent titans, the air hangs heavy—each breath a subtle pact with progress. Urban heat islands amplify this weight, pushing temperatures 5-10°C higher than surrounding areas, choking the atmosphere with invisible heat (McDonald et al. 2016, 48). Yet, amid this urban monochrome, a … Read more
Among the topics explored in this course, Multispecies Design stood out as the most transformative and thought-provoking. It challenges the core assumption that humans are the sole users—or beneficiaries—of designed environments. Instead, it calls for recognizing other species as co-inhabitants and co-participants in shared spaces. This approach not only widens the ethical scope of design, … Read more
Among the various topics explored during our mapping activity, I found myself drawn most powerfully to vernacular architecture. Not only as a stylistic or historical lens, but as a living, breathing practice—a philosophy that pulses beneath the surface of modern architectural dilemmas. It speaks quietly, yet persistently, about rootedness, slowness, community, and the dignity of … Read more
In today’s climate-conscious world, industries and governments alike are actively aligning their strategies toward climate adaptation and mitigation. The urgency of the climate crisis has unified efforts across disciplines, yet many responses tend to focus on highly specific, niche areas of research and intervention. While such targeted approaches are undoubtedly valuable, they often risk overlooking … Read more
Multispecies design as we know it is designing human dominated spaces to be occupied by more species than just humans in an effort to mitigate the biodiversity losses due to human development and territorial expansion. However, multispecies design as it is often practiced, through building facade systems and interventions in the built landscape, can have … Read more
Learning Ecological Design is the very reason I applied for this master’s program at Valldaura Labs. We constantly talk about ecology, yet I feel that many—including myself—haven’t truly explored what it means beyond surface-level choices like buying “eco-friendly” products or taking shorter showers. Studying ecological design has pushed me to reconsider my role within ecological … Read more
The Gaia theory suggests that Earth functions as a self-regulating organism. Whether we consider humans an integral part of this system or a disruptive force, we must acknowledge that our actions have caused significant harm to the planet. As architect Tadao Ando stated, “We borrow from nature the land upon which we build.” This idea underscores … Read more
Biomaterial is a concept that is already late to be implemented. In the article “Principles of biological design as a model for biodesign and biofabrication in architecture,” the ideas around the use of biomaterials in the construction sector are carefully explored and evaluated. It is stated that they are a great replacement for conventional standardized … Read more
For the class exercise, the topic that caught my attention the most and felt the most important was mitigation vs. adaptation. It stood out because it shows two different ways of tackling climate change: one that aims to prevent it from worsening (mitigation) and one that helps us adjust to its effects (adaptation). This is … Read more
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
ADAPTING AND MITIGATING: THE FOUNDATIONS OF ECOLOGICAL DESIGN For my ecological intelligence mapping activity, I chose to focus on the theme of Adaptation vs. Mitigation. I was drawn to this topic because it feels like the backbone of all ecological thinking. Before we can dive into innovative materials, multispecies interactions, or green cities, we first need … Read more
