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Master in Advanced Ecological Buildings & Biocities

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.


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Designing for More Than Humans: Exploring Multispecies Futures in a Changing Climate

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MAEBB 2024-2025

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

Opportunities and Gaps in Climate Adaptation & Mitigation

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MAEBB 2024-2025

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

Ecological Intelligence – Adaptation and Mitigation

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MAEBB 2024-2025

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

Eco-Intelligence: Vernacular Architecture

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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

Boutique CLT Factory

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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

Timber V4ult: Metabolic Building Systems – Energy

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MAEBB 2024-2025

We are developing an innovative mixed use project in the Sant Adria de Besos area of Barcelona, the project will hose a modular wood building factory with offices and two floors of residential units as well as public green space. The project represents Besos’ transition from an old industrial area into a cutting edge neighborhood … Read more

Water Management for a CLT factory

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MAEBB 2024-2025

The boutique CLT Factory in Solsona consists of a large 40.000sqm factory volume and a tarraced roof that accommodates offices, amenities, green spaces and the covered living area. Within the context of Catalonia that has been grappling with severe drought conditions over the past few years, leading to significant water scarcity issues, a special focus … Read more

BIOBASE(D) – Ecosystemic Structures

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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 basecamp. CONCEPT Location The building … Read more

Thermodynamic Fabrications for a CLT Factory

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MAEBB 2024-2025

Project Located in Solsona, Spain, near the Centre de Ciència i Tecnologia Forestal de Catalunya. Situated at an elevation of 700 meters above sea level, the site experiences a continental hinterland climate, characterized by cold winters, hot summers, and significant temperature variations between day and night. Rainfall is moderate, with drier summers and wetter autumns. … Read more

Bridging comfort, affecting the environment

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MAEBB 2024-2025

McKenzie Wark, during the chapter “Adventures in Third Nature” of the book “New Geographies #9” uses her own family vacation as a sociological observation study to address the distantiation between humanity and nature. Everything built that shapes the natural environment and promotes comfort for mankind is part of the so-called “second nature”, like the own … Read more

Nature’s pallete in the Built Environment

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MAEBB 2024-2025
Material Cultures - Circular biobased construction

Could bio-based materials be the key to transforming the building sector and reducing its impact on climate change? The articles described present a compelling set of arguments on timber industry, sustainable forestrynonconventional materials and innovative technologies. TIMBER Timber is highlighted as the biggest widespread potential of low-carbon alternative to steel and concreteespecially referred to in … Read more

Ecological Intelligence 1. Trimester 2024/25

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MAEBB 2024-2025

In our seminar with Michael Salka and Mariano Gomez Luque, we explored the meaning of ecology and the multifaceted challenges of sustainability, materiality and humanity’s relationship with the planet. Over eight weeks, we delved into two distinct but deeply connected approaches to build with ecological thinking and addressing climate change as well as envisioning a … Read more

Redefining the Urban

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MAEBB 2024-2025

MICRO-ESSAY BY REUBEN DIAMOND “ A new conceptual lexicon must be created for identifying the wide variety of urbanisation processes that are currently reshaping the urban world” (“Planetary Urbanization,” Brenner, N., & Schmid, C., p. 13) BOUNDARIES DISSOLVED As planetary urbanization reconfigures social, economic, and spatial relations, the traditional frameworks of urban studies encounter profound … Read more