Urban Synthesis| Metabolic Systems: water| GAIA
GAIA Plot 1. About. Urban Synthesis | Metabolic Systems: water The goal of this course is to highlight the importance of implementing effective water management strategies early on in architectural projects, with a focus on minimizing ecological impact and enhancing infrastructure resilience. Throughout the course, students will explore innovative water management concepts and technologies that … Read more
Urban Synthesis| Thermodynamic Fabrication| GAIA
GAIA Plot 1. About. Urban Synthesis | Thermodynamic Fabrication The “Thermodynamic Fabrications” workshop explores how thermodynamics, ecology, and architecture intersect. It goes beyond just considering climate’s role in design and aims to blend both numbers and feelings in designing buildings. It focuses on aspects often ignored in sustainability lessons, linking daily life with architectural ideas. … Read more
Urban Synthesis| Ecosystemic Structures| GAIA
GAIA Plot 1. About. off-site to precise specifications, reducing on-site construction time and labor costs. Prefabrication also minimizes waste and disruption at the construction site, leading to faster project completion and improved construction efficiency.
Mycelium in Construction for Catalonia
Throughout this blog we will highlight each section and we hope to inspire others like the way we have been inspired. We will present a progressive material, then show how we get this material integrated into the construction world. Proposition “ We propose that the usage of Mycelium should be legalised in the Code for … Read more
Daylighting: Recuperación de los arroyos urbanos
La ciudad de Buenos Aires, con su vasta historia de barrios y su notable desarrollo edilicio y cultural, alberga una densa red de arroyos que ha forjado el subsuelo de su territorio y formó parte integral de la vida cotidiana de la sociedad hasta mediados del siglo pasado, momento en el cual comenzó a ser … Read more
Living Parts: Architectural Members for the Age of Biology
Transforming Conventional Architectural Element Compositions for CO2 Sequestration/ecological interactions Living Parts is a project that tries to bridge the gap between anthropocentric and nature-centric design. As we already know that that the building industry, in the past couple of centuries has caused major harm to the environment with things like producing toxic waste, waste energy, … Read more
RED SEA – 2050
G4-STUDIO, KIN INFRASTRUCTURE ABSTRACT: The Red Sea 2050 Architectural Project presents an innovative and sustainable approach to coral reef conservation. Focused on education and design interventions, the project addresses the urgent need to safeguard coral ecosystems. The conceptual framework involves the creation of modular panels—both large and small—deployed as coral farming plates. This approach allows … Read more
Farming on Barcelona’s rooftops | CDS Physical Models
Ensuring food security is a major challenge for cities worldwide. The vision of Bio-cities includes that of food self-sufficiency, tackling the environmental impact of current agriculture systems which contribute to environmental concern through food miles, land and habitat loss, soil erosion,and reliance on fossil-fuel derived fertilisers. The Àrea Metropolitana de Barcelona (AMB) has 636km3 of … Read more
Ascending Gallery
Ascending Gallery is a Wildlife conservation Museum to raise awareness about wild animal species extinction. This project is a dedicated exploration of mathematical surfaces within architecture, emphasizing their integration into natural landscapes. Set in the beautiful natural setting in Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy that served as a profound inspiration, the project delves into the intricate geometry … Read more
Inverting the Guggenheim – A wildlife museum
Drawing inspiration from our site’s location in Pozzuoli, Naples, Italy, our concept revolves around crafting a continuous journey that symbolizes history through the exhibition spaces. This approach fosters a symbiotic relationship with the surrounding context, effectively erasing the boundaries between the interior and exterior environments by bringing nature into the space. Our computational methodology can … Read more
The Arteries of Lombardy
Introduction In the past centuries, Milan used to be perceived as a water-city, with an economy propelled by canals that extended throughout it. However, as the city evolved, those waterways were gradually buried beneath roads, and the aquatic arteries that once defined Milan are now relegated to the periphery of the urban fabric. This covering … Read more
Coltura
Introduction Milan, Northern Italy’s epicenter, confronts economic and environmental challenges rooted in a shift from agriculture to manufacturing. To secure its future, Milan invests in knowledge, tourism, and place-based innovation, relying on revenue from high-income foreigners, students, and the European Union. Strategic efforts to transition to a green economy focus on renewable energy, waste reduction, … Read more
From Pollution To Pollination
1. Introduction Urban air quality is a pressing concern, being the result of both natural elements and human-induced pollutants. The city of Barcelona grapples with local pollutants like NOx and PM10, primarily caused by ground transport and industrial activities. While current policies focus on mobility solutions, the project questions the need for complementary approaches. The … Read more
Intensive organic farming at Valldaura Labs
Valldaura forest is a post-agriculture, post-industrial landscape which is now returning to native forestry. Cistercian monks turned the Valldaura (valley of the laurels) area of Colserolla national park into agricultural land in the 19th century, the evidence of which still remains in the terraced beds we will grow produce on as part of our Ecological … Read more
Ecology | Defining Biocities
The Defining Biocities course gave us a first insight on one of the main subjects of this master: “biocities”. During this course, we analysed and discussed several words related to biocities. These words were separated into three categories, food, energy and ecology. Through their analysis and discussion, we gained loads of knowledge, in terms of … Read more
Defining Biocities
In the ever-evolving landscape of urban planning, the concept of “Biocities” has emerged as a beacon of hope for a sustainable future. As we delve into the intricacies of creating urban spaces that harmonize with nature, it becomes imperative to establish a shared language— a lexicon that defines the essence of Biocities. This blog post … Read more
DecompAsper
Marine Oasis Creation Through Plastic Decomposition Implementing a Symbiotic Relationship with Aspergillus Fungi To Restore Ocean Deserts Keywords: Plastic decomposition | Aspergillus fungi | Lichen | Cyanobacteria | Marine ecosystem | Garbage Patch | Degrowth | Coral reefs | Ocean deserts | Habitat restoration The DecompAsper stands out as an innovative device that, through the synergistic … Read more
THE FOLD
PERE IV, SANT MARTI41.410461, 2.203936 MANIFESTO In the heart of Barcelona’s ecological transition, the project at Carrer de Pere IV, 380, embodies a vision of regenerative design that breathes life into the site, offering a diverse array of ecological services. It’s a living showcase of ecological culture, an oasis in the heart of cities where … Read more
Besòs reviving: Harmonizing Urban Landscapes and River Health through Nature
The Besòs River, an integral water source for Barcelona, encapsulates a narrative marked by both significance and environmental challenges. Since the 1970s, its crucial role has been overshadowed by persistent contamination, exacerbated by the rapid urban and industrial developments along its course. This study delves into the intricate correlation between Besòs River pollution, evolving land … Read more
Defining Biocities | Words defined by Hans Joachim Schellnhuber
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
X min city
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
