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.
Tree search. Pinus halepensis |Sustainable Forest management Sustainable forest management classes took place at Valldaura labs located in Barcelona’s Collserola Park. Trough different guest lectures, we where introduced to the parks history and biodiversity, focusing on the conservation of the forest and its diverse species. Cutting down some Pinus halepensis commonly known as Aleppo pine, … Read more
The Advanced Digital Tools course on the MAEBB program focuses on emergent parametric design rooted in algorithmic design principles. Throughout history, architects and designers have deployed tools and technologies to create, represent and communicate ideas relating to design of physical 3D space. As new technologies emerge – perspective, drawing utensils, for-finding techniques, the invention of … Read more
The purpose of this blog post is to showcase a selection of exercises conducted during the Advanced Computational Class of the first term of MAEBB. My personal interest was initially focused on the algorithmic logic of Grasshopper and its manifestations in nature (Ex. 01 & Ex. 02). As we progressively explored more complex concepts of … Read more
During the course, I discovered for myself the whole new world of scripting, 3D modelling and animation using Grasshopper. Scripting at first was a bit confusing as the UI of the program is not very user-friendly, but with time and help of our course curators I even started enjoying the process. The possibility of making … Read more
What is code art? In the world of architecture and design it could be hypothesised as the use of code to generate the creative ideologies one has into a more visible format. One of the tools that can be used to generate said thoughts and ideas is grasshopper, a computational design software. It is a visual … Read more
The worked developed for Design and Fabrication course focused on the construction and exploration of prototypes for the Shelves project, part of the Collaborative Design Studio discipline. Two different approaches The design process commenced with various ideas and structural concepts, eventually narrowing down to two options: double columns and double beams. To investigate strength, assembly … Read more
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
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
In the context of technology, Grasshopper refers to a visual programming language and environment. Unlike traditional coding languages, Grasshopper employs a graphical interface, allowing users to create and manipulate algorithms through a visual representation of code elements. Originally designed as a plugin for the 3D modeling software Rhinoceros, Grasshopper enables architects, designers, and engineers to … Read more
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 is set to be the second addition to the First series titled ” The Metapolis Dictionary of Advanced Architecture”. The book was published 25 years ago and since then the world has transitioned into the age of sustainability and regenerative design. For the same, the new edition looks into the compilation of words, … Read more
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
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
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
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
