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.


THE NEST | Resilient Envelopes

The design of the envelope plays a vital role in the design. The roof and the facade are part of the metabolic systems to aid with generating solar energy and collecting rainwater. The envelope is also efficiently designed keeping the thermodynamic analysis in mind. FACADE DESIGN: The facade is designed using a cane facade. The … Read more

Arctic Onion | Digital Tools

(01) Core *(02) Sleeping Shelves (N)(03) Sleeping Shelves (S)(04) Cluster Shelves (N)(05) Cluster Shelves (S)(06) Envelope (N) *(07) Envelope (S) *(08) Roof(09) Core (Ground Floor)(10) Ground (N)(11) Ground (S) * Unconditioned ZonesCore/Bathhouse – Equipment Load : 600 W/m2 In order to simulate the energy consumption of the layer system, we decided to isolate 1 cluster … Read more

Arctic Onion | Metabolic Building Systems – Water

Water Context in Reyjkavik(1) Volcanic Zones & Geothermal Fields in Iceland (2) Monthly Rainfall Data of Reykjavik (3) Geothermal Water Consumption in Iceland (4) Hellisheiði Power Plant, Reykjavik (5) Water Conservation Area, Reykjavik Water Metabolism MapHeated, Rainfall and Fresh Drinkable Water Systems Rainwater Harvesting: Table | Diagram Water Consumption Stategies: Conventional Consumption | Optimized Consumption [45,46 % of Water Saving]

Arctic Onion | Resilient Envelopes

- Material Catalogue : Collecting & Cataloguing materials around Valldaura; Simulating real-time construction process of procuring material from waste sources.- 1:20 Model of Weather & Cluster Shelf Envelopes - Multiple Layers of the Weather Envelope: Wind Turbines, Water Channels & Raincoat - Front Elevation: Raincoat of the building made of Upcycled Sails & Fabrics - ... Read more

DZONGHA | Thermodynamic Fabrications

Larsen Bidstrup, Shruti Sahasrabudhe, Nishanth Maheshwaran, and Antoni KostrzewaMaster In Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities 2022-2023, IAAC Paro, Bhutan is a place of rich culture, high environmental values, and beautiful nature. For the design of a place to learn and exchange traditional handicraft techniques and knowledge, our building follows design values to enhance the space … Read more

THE NEST | Metabolic Systems: Energy

With the design of the Nest, the idea is to best utilise renewable energy to offset the electric loads in the building. The goal is to use photovoltaic cells on the roofs of the building and design the structure to be as self-sufficient as possible. CLIMATE ANALYSIS: ENERGY CONSUMPTION: DESIGN ANALYSIS FOR SOLAR ENERGY: To … Read more

THE NEST | Metabolic Systems: Water

The region of Accra, Ghana receives heavy rainfall and has two wet seasons. As a result, through the design, the goal is to trap as much rainwater as possible and utilise it in an optimum manner. The Site is also located in close proximity to a natural lagoon. Hence, ground water and stormwater treatment become … Read more

AL HABIBITAT | Ecosystemic Structures

Basant Abdelrahman, Disha Arora, Pradyumna Vikharankar and Raffaele SchiavelloMASTER IN ADVANCED ECOLOGICAL BUILDINGS AND BIOCITIES 2022-23, IAAC CONCEPT Inspired by the Nubian Architecture, we conducted in depth research on the characteristics and structural elements of Aswan Villages. ASSEMBLY Assembly process highlighting the important elements in each step STRUCTURAL GRID CLUSTER PLAN 01 CLUSTER SECTION 01 … Read more

THE NEST | Advanced Digital Tools

THERMAL QUESTIONS: Q1. Having studied the sun path diagram, it is observed that there are low sun angles in the east and the west throughout the year. How can thermal heat gain be prevented from the east and the west direction? – To prevent the heat gain from the lower angle of the sun from … Read more

Arctic Onion | Ecosystemic Structures

We don’t wantWe don’t want to FEEL LONELY We don’t want to WASTE RESOURCES We don’t want to DEMOLISH structures We don’t want to EMIT Carbon Dioxide into the atmosphere We don’t want UNIVERSAL and HOMOGENEOUS structures We don’t want to LOSE CONNECTION to our environment We wantWe want to LIVE in COMMUNAL settings We … Read more

Arctic Onion | Thermodynamic Fabrications

Site > Bríetartún 5, 105 Reykjavík, Iceland | Arctic Climate Zone (1) Temperature Range always below Comfort Levels. Comfortable hours indoors are only achievable with additional measures. (2) Constant High Humidity (3) Strong Winter Winds Climate | People > History | Everyday Living(1) Long Lasting Tradition of Wool Washing & Knitting (ca. 1934) (2) Icelanders ... Read more

MEDITERRANEAN l Thermodynamics

01. Introduction Venice is a city in northeastern Italy and the capital of the Veneto region. It is built on a group of 118 small islands separated by canals and linked by over 400 bridges.According to the Köppen climate classification, Venice has a mid-latitude four-season humid subtropical climate, with cool, damp winters and warm, humid … Read more

THE NEST | Thermodynamic Fabrications

A new look on a a Tropical Residential Scheme where 40% 0f the building program is used for Recreational and Commercial Activities. LOCATION & SITE The site chosen is that of Kpeshie Lagoon, in Accra, Ghana. The site over looks the lagoon and is surrounded by trees. The site is close to the sea and … Read more

AL HABIBTAT | Thermodynamics

Basant Abdelrahman, Disha Arora, Pradyumna Vikharankar and Raffaele SchiavelloMASTER IN ADVANCED ECOLOGICAL BUILDINGS AND BIOCITIES 2022-23, IAAC LOCATION The Urban social housing studio aims in finding ecological and social design solutions for urban housing, with a special focus on various climate zone this semester. In our specific case, we found a site in a hot … Read more