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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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Zero Waste Project| Project Media

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MAEBB 2023-2024

An important tool for illustrating a project’s potential is visualization. Architectural visualization clearly conveys the project’s design concept through intricate 3D renderings and animations, enabling stakeholders to understand the development’s potential and vision. Through the use of sophisticated rendering techniques, visualization offers viewers accurate representations of architectural elements, materials, and lighting conditions, allowing them to … Read more

Urban Synthesis| Resilient Envelopes | GAIA

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MAEBB 2023-2024

GAIA Plot 1. About. Urban Synthesis | Resilient Envelopes This course explores the design and construction of modern and sustainable building envelopes. These envelopes must be strong yet adaptable, capable of being disassembled, transported, and reused with minimal energy consumption. They should also withstand various environmental elements like air, wind, sun, water, and temperature changes. … Read more

Zero Waste Project | Resilient Envelopes

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MAEBB 2023-2024

This module focused on developing an envelope for the building, enhancing its functional as well as aesthetic qualities. The building envelope is pivotal in enhancing a structure’s functionality and performance. A well-designed envelope minimizes heat transfer, reducing energy consumption for heating and cooling. Effective insulation and air sealing maintain consistent indoor temperatures, ensuring occupants’ comfort … Read more

Zero Waste Project | Metabolic Building System: Water

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MAEBB 2023-2024

This module emphasized understanding and optimizing water consumption by building and utilizing various strategies to improve it. Firstly, we calculated the water consumption of the building. After accounting for the intensive housing system’s average, we arrived at a daily total of 54,051 L used by the building in its entirety. We calculated the consumption for … Read more

Zero Waste Project | Metabolic Building System: Energy

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MAEBB 2023-2024

This module emphasized understanding and optimizing energy consumption and generation by building and utilizing various strategies. Calculating energy and power consumption per function per unit area for our projects was the first task of the course. In accordance with this mandate, we submitted suggestions on Sunny Design to assist in designing rooftop solar panels in … Read more

Ecological Intelligence: Industry

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MAEBB 2023-2024

The State of Climate Action study shows that Greenhouse Gas Emissions (GHG) from the Industry sector have increased faster since 2000. The study reveals that Global Industry emits 12 Gigatons of carbon emissions, and 40% of Industry emissions are caused by the production of cement (1.6 GtCO2e) and metal (3.4 GtCO2e). There is an urgent … Read more

Project Media | La Obertura

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MAEBB 2023-2024

The Project Media class had two different focuses: video production and image production. Both are related to narrative, how videos and images are capable of telling a story and enhancing an architectural project in order to make it more powerful. The first task we had was the video footage. In order to relate with our … Read more

VeloVerd la Verneda: Metabolic Building Systems – Energy

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MAEBB 2023-2024

Incorporating the principles of Industry 4.0, our architectural project redefines urban living by seamlessly integrating sustainable design strategies with advanced manufacturing techniques. With a focus on promoting bicycle culture and health, our industry manufactures bikes. In this module, we understood energy consumption of the building and implemented strategies to generate the required amount of energy. … Read more

Urban Synthesis| Metabolic Systems: Energy| GAIA

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MAEBB 2023-2024

GAIA Plot 1. About. Urban Synthesis | Metabolic Systems: Energy In this module, you’ll delve into the fundamentals of energy and power systems within buildings, exploring the various components involved. You’ll gain insight into user energy consumption patterns and have the opportunity to develop a personalized energy use case for your projects. A significant focus … Read more

Proximity Food: Resilient Envelopes

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MAEBB 2023-2024

In these workshop, we’re diving deep into the world of resilient building envelopes, showcasing how contemporary design can intertwine with sustainability. Our project is a testament to this, blending innovative materials like corrugated hemp panels, ceramic pots for plant growth and rainwater filtration, wood for balcony structures, and compressed earth blocks for thermal mass. Through … Read more

VeloVerd la Verneda : Metabolic building systems – Water

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MAEBB 2023-2024

Incorporating the principles of Industry 4.0, our architectural project redefines urban living by seamlessly integrating sustainable design strategies with advanced manufacturing techniques. With a focus on promoting bicycle culture and health, our industry manufactures bikes. In this module, we understood water consumption of the building and implemented strategies to conserve water. We explored different water … Read more

Proximity Food: Structural Strategies

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MAEBB 2023-2024

The team is introducing a self-sufficient residential and industrial plot designed to revolutionize urban living while addressing pressing environmental concerns and celebrating Barcelona’s rich food heritage. In architectural design, structural organization plays a critical role in shaping the form and function of buildings. The adoption of innovative structural systems not only enhances structural efficiency, but … Read more

Proximity Food: Thermodynamic Strategies

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MAEBB 2023-2024

Our site is located in St. Adria De Besós, a district nestled in the northeastern part of Barcelona’s urban area, positioned at the mouth of the Besós River. It lies between the cities of Barcelona, Badalona, and Saint Coloma de Gramanet. Barcelona has a Mediterranean climate with mild, relatively rainy winters and hot, sunny summers.The … Read more

VeloVerd la Verneda: Thermodynamic Fabrications

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MAEBB 2023-2024

Incorporating the principles of Industry 4.0, our architectural project redefines urban living by seamlessly integrating sustainable design strategies with advanced manufacturing techniques. With a focus on promoting bicycle culture and health, our industry manufactures bikes. We present a visionary housing project that integrates thermodynamic principles to ensure the comfort and well-being of its residents while … Read more

Tetris Town – Metabolic Building Systems: Energy Workshop

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MAEBB 2023-2024

Energy Consumption Rate The course started with calculating energy and power consumption per function per unit area for out projects. Following this requirement, we made proposals on Sunny Design to help design rooftop solar panels based on this energy requirement. Finally, cost comparisons were made to analyze the proposal with respect to reality Climate Analysis … Read more

Tetris Town – Resilient Envelopes

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MAEBB 2023-2024

To solidify both the thermodynamics principles and the overall image of the Urban Synthesis project we took part in yet another workshop: Resilient Envelopes. Experimenting with new and controversial ecological materials by making 3D and physical models alike helped us develop uniform façade guidelines that continue the idea of pixelation. To better understand the impact … Read more

Tetris Town – Project Media

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MAEBB 2023-2024

At the project media class, we were introduced to the various ways of presenting any project by means of different types of storytelling. We were shown that videomaking alone offers countless pathways to telling one’s story. To name just a few, this may be done by documenting the whole design process by videoing it, by … Read more

Tetris Town – Urban Synthesis

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MAEBB 2023-2024

The idea of synthesizing a timber furniture manufacturing facility with a residential property to create a dynamic relationship between the building’s dwellers, factory workers and the city of Barcelona as a whole is at the core of this project. To better navigate the challenges of creating a sustainability-driven structure in Barcelona’s Verneda district, we took … Read more

Urban Alliance – Resilient Envelopes

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MAEBB 2023-2024

The “Urban Alliance” is a mixed-use architectural design seamlessly integrating Industry 4.0 principles, featuring advanced photovoltaic production units. This visionary space harmoniously combines sustainable energy practices with residential and commercial areas, embodying a forward-thinking urban landscape that fosters eco-friendly living and innovative business practices. It exemplifies a holistic and tech-driven approach to urban planning. The project is … Read more

Tetris Town: Ecosystemic Structures Workshop

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MAEBB 2023-2024

Continuing from the Thermodynamic Fabrications workshop we move on to the Ecosystemic Structures to further improve our Urban Synthesis project and refine the form of our building, according to the building materials of our choosing and the methods of construction we’d want to employ. This structural design further empowers the idea of dynamic adaptability and … Read more