The Master in Robotics and Advanced Construction (MRAC) seeks to train a new generation of interdisciplinary professionals who are capable of facing our growing need for a more sustainable and optimised construction ecosystem. The Master is focused on the emerging design and market opportunities arising from novel robotic and advanced manufacturing systems.
Through a mixture of seminars, workshops, and studio projects, the master programme challenges the traditional processes in the Construction Sector. It investigates how advances in robotics and digital fabrication tools change the way we build and develop processes and design tools for such new production methods.
Introduction This project orients around robotic drawing system that uses a brush to create adaptive visual results. It focuses on turning basic painting actions; such as dipping, stroking, and rotating—into clear, programmable steps. By combining digital design tools with robotic movement, the work explores how changes in brush angle, paint material, and surface conditions shape … Read more
Building on our previous analysis of a large clay-printed geometric form, this study evaluates the feasibility of its digital-fabrication workflow. Through modular breakdown, material and time estimation, non-planar slicing analysis, and production-logistics modeling, we assess whether the system can be manufactured efficiently and economically. The process concludes with the development of a complete production plan … Read more
The project involves a large geometric form designed for clay 3D printing, consisting of 6 identical sections. This article will present the results of our analyses that explore the technical challenges and opportunities of this geometric design during the clay fabrication process. The workflow begins by rationalizing the pavilion structure into 6 symmetrical parts, isolating … Read more
From Concept to Working Prototype Content research Before developing STARMI, research explored integrating electronic hardware into architectural design. The study examined responsive building systems, sensor technology, and kinetic principles, identifying origami-based folding facades as ideal for combining geometric adaptability with environmental responsiveness. This investigation into sensors, microcontrollers, and mechanical actuation established the foundation for an … Read more
‘Urban Sensing Begins: The City Meets Its Beacons’ PLACEMENT — The Sensing GroundThe first beacons are placed along the park’s circulation spine silent observers that begin listening to the city’s rhythm. Sound, motion, and presence data start forming an invisible map of human interaction.At this stage, the system is not reactive, it’s learning.It introduces itself … Read more
Introduction The Anatomy of a Machine: Stroke project explores the dialogue between human and robotic motion through painting. Conducted during the first MRAC studio, the exercise investigates how the physical behavior of paint, brush, and hand movement can be translated into robotic articulation. Over three weeks, we studied the anatomy of a brushstroke — first … Read more
The massage chair is an experiment in digital fabrication and hybrid workflows, using computational design, CNC milling, 6-axis robotic milling, and human assembly and finishing, to understand how different subtractive manufacturing processes can be combined to balance speed, precision, and material expression in digital fabrication. Materials Tools Used Early Designs Early explorations of designs in … Read more
So basically, these are the iterations we made with the first day at the workshop. These are the many iterations of the different topologies and chairs we made using SubDs. In the end, we decided to go with a simple shape, yet with a complex textile texture. For these diagrams, we conducted a draft angle … Read more
The Nidra Chair was developed within the framework of Workshop 1.1, where we explored robotic milling using the KUKA robotic arm. The design process was guided by a set of conceptual ideas—texture, nest, wings, and storage—which shaped the formal and tactile language of the piece. Inspired by notions of protection, warmth, and well-being, Nidra seeks … Read more
Abstract: The Elephant Chair project was developed during the workshop “Robotic Milling and Design for Subtractive Manufacturing Workflows.”This workshop explored hybrid fabrication methods combining 3-axis CNC milling and 6-axis robotic milling to translate digital geometries into precise wooden prototypes. Our team designed and fabricated a furniture piece inspired by organic anatomy, robust yet flexible, mirroring the mechanical elegance of the machines used … Read more
INTRODUCTION: In today’s era of mass customization, robotics play a key role in shaping a variety of materials. This research investigates the capacity of the ABB IRB 6700 robotic arm to perform metal forming operations on 6 mm steel rebars. Despite axis torque limitations, the process successfully yields horizontal balustrade components intended for architectural integration at … Read more
Crafting performative structures through robotic earth injection in dynamic fiber scaffolds Terraweave is an architectural research project that explores how robotic additive manufacturing can enhance the performance of natural building materials. Conducted as part of the Master in Robotics and Advanced Construction at IAAC, the project investigates the integration of willow scaffolds and earth injection … Read more
Hybrid Timber and Stone Constrcuction System Utilisng 6-axis Robotic Fabriction Our research begins with a critique of how we build today. Technological advancements have enabled rapid, standardized, and seemingly affordable construction. But these efficiencies hide deeper costs. In reality, we’re paying through the loss of cultural specificity, environmental integrity, and material identity. What emerges is … Read more
ABSTRACT Autonomous parametric furniture assembly using modular blocks and ROS-driven industrial robots promises to revolutionize on-demand manufacturing. In this work, we introduce DRDA (Dynamic Robotic Design Activities), a unified framework that seamlessly links customer-driven design to autonomous multi-robot execution. A user-defined geometry and style, which our custom block-selection and toolpath-generation engine converts into collision-free pick-and-place … Read more
whilst global temperatures are rising towards +4°c, building facades are a main contributors to the urban heat island effect within cities.2050 about 70 % of the world’s population will live in cities.The building sector globally consumes a significant amount of energy for heating and cooling. In fact, about half of the global cooling load is … Read more
