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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La Obertura | Metabolic Systems: Energy

As part of the Urban Synthesis project, the “Metabolic Systems: Energy” class delved into the study of renewable energies, specifically solar energy, to explore its potential implementation in the design of self-sufficient residential apartments. To achieve this goal, we utilized spreadsheets and data provided by the faculty, along with the Sunny Design website, to calculate … Read more

Echo house | Water

Treatment of water through nature based solutions was chosen as it allows to maintain the initially intended amount of green spaces on the roof, while still providing space for food production and decreasing the amount of water required for irrigation. After going through primary treatment where all solids are removed from the wastewater it goes … Read more

Building in a local context – La Obertura

This is an architectural project nestled in the vibrant city of Barcelona, specifically in the district of Sant Adrià de Besòs. Our design is a testament to the synergy between thermodynamics and sustainable living, aiming to create a harmonious environment that adapts to the dynamic Mediterranean climate. The core concept of our project revolves around … Read more

Echo house | Thermodynamic fabrications

A musical, industrial & residential, advanced ECHOlogical project For the climate analysis data from Barcelona airport have been used, with the help of programs – Climate consultant and Lady bug tools in grasshopper. Barcelona, nestled along the northeastern coast of Spain, boasts a Mediterranean climate characterized by mild, wet winters and hot summers. The city … Read more

DZONGHA | Urban Interventions

The Site chosen is 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 by efficient, environmentally-sound choices. In the first layer of design, we studied and … Read more

“The Dawn of Everything” by David Graeber & David Wengrow | Ecological Thinking II

The Dawn of Everything” is a book that challenges the conventional narratives of human history and proposes an alternative way of seeing society development through a different perspective. Based on archeologic research as testimony, the authors present evidence of alternative complex and egalitarian societies that existed prior to the emergence of states and markets. Through … Read more

Development As Freedom | Ecological Thinking

Development as Freedom is a book written by Nobel prize winner and philosopher Amartya Sen, which argues that development should be measured in terms of people’s freedom to choose the lives they value. Some of the main concepts addressed by Sen in the book are: Sen also explores various aspects of freedom, such as: Overall, … Read more

Architecture Without Architects

The book, ‘Architecture without architects’, illustrates the vernacular architecture from different parts of the world and strives to acknowledge the ‘not so primitive’ techniques from various areas. Architecture history is not given as much acknowledgement as art history and the book is an attempt in the 1960s America to show the potential and the scope … Read more

AL HABIBITAT | Urban intervention

Aswan, Egypt being a desert city shows diurnal aspects of climate on a daily basis. The same also affects the day to day activity pattern of the community that adapts to the climate at any given time. This analysis indicates at a close relation between climate, people & their clothing & eventually it traces ahead … Read more

Finding the Mother Tree I Ecological Thinking II

Finding the Mother Tree by Suzanne Simard is a book that introduces the interdependent world of trees and their communication networks. Suzanne Simard, a forest ecologist with decades of experience in researching trees, shares her personal stories. Through this book, she shares her scientific research that uncovers the remarkable ways in which trees communicate and … Read more

THE NEST | Urban Intervention

The design began with the process of understanding the culture, the climate and the people of Accra, Ghana. The design is based in a tropical climate where the temperatures and the humidity are high. This design was then set in a Metaversal city that was a culmination of 6 sites from different regions of the … Read more

CRADLE TO CRADLE : Remaking the way we make things.

Authors : William McDonough (Architect) – “Design is a Signal of the Intention.” & Michael Braungart (Chemist) – “Nature does not have a design problem.” In 1995, they established McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry, a product and system development firm assisting clients in implementing sustaining design protocol. The framework details how to execute their Cradle to … Read more

Tabrizian Tapestry_Thermodynamic Fabrications

Our case study is located in Tabriz, the coldest region in Iran, with an average temperature between 1.1 C and 6.6 C during winter, and an average between 30.4 C and 17.9 C during summer. The climate widely corresponds to Central European weather conditions. With the following study, we have designed a our building Tabrizian … Read more

Tabrizian Tapestry: Metabolic Systems Water

Rated under the World Water Pressure Map, Iran has an extremely high risk level of water stress assessment and the ratio of withdrawls to supply in a 2040 forecast. For our building Tabrizian Tapestry, we have created the following study and water management assessment through the following strategies: 1. CONSTRUCTED WETLANDS: Through subsurface flow constructed … Read more