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# Design Research Studio

Thermocrest – Heat as a spatial design tool

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MAA-01 2024-2025

This Project explores how reflective, vernacular materials—such as ceramics—can be utilized in construction to manage infrared radiation and influence microclimates. By reflecting rather than absorbing heat, these materials contribute to passive cooling, reducing urban heat island effects and enhancing thermal comfort. We analyze the physical properties of ceramics, their historical applications in traditional architecture, and … Read more

HyperBuilding A – Data Team Collaborative SlackBot

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MaCAD 2024-2025

Project Statement For our Collaborative assignment, we created a Slackbot that sends teams weekly or daily updates on their metric health and an abbreviated summary of the project.  Project Context The Data Team was responsible for the management of data flow and organization throughout the process, ensuring other teams could navigate through the dashboard and … Read more

DESIGN FLEX- PHASE- II

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MAA-02 2024-2025

Abstract Parametric design tools like Grasshopper empower architects to create adaptive and efficient spatial layouts, but their complexity presents a barrier for non-experts. This research proposes a community-driven design tool that leverages Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) and Large Language Models (LLMs) to learn from expert-authored Grasshopper scripts, enabling prompt-based parametric layout design. By encoding design … Read more

DECODING URBAN MOBILITY

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MAA-02 2024-2025

ABSTRACT; Decoding Urban Mobility: This project evaluates the impact of AI-driven traffic management versus conventional fixed-timing methods on urban congestion. It analyzes real-time and historical data—including traffic patterns, weather, demographics, and incident reports—from cities like London, Barcelona, and Los Angeles and compares machine learning models (e.g., LSTM, GRU, XGBoost) with traditional techniques. The study identifies … Read more

Collaborative Workflows: Hyper A – Facade

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MaCAD 2024-2025

Collaborative Workflows and Techniques for Façade Design . We explored both internal and external collaboration strategies with all design teams at HYPER A. Our team focused on three key areas: adaptive façades, energy efficiency, and smart architectural systems. To guide our design process, we established clear performance metrics, including Daylight Factor, Panelization strategies, and Energy … Read more

RE_SHAPE

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MRAC-01 2024-2025

Digital  Transformation  of  Discarded  Logs  for  Structural  and  Design  Applications Re_Shape is a design and innovation project that addresses a major blind spot in the forestry industry: the waste of tree trunks that are curved, bifurcated, or otherwise irregular and therefore excluded from traditional processing systems. These logs are typically downgraded into low-value products like … Read more

Learning From Sants

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MaCT-01 2024-2025

When we locate Sants within Barcelona, it appears to be on the city’s edge. However, when considering the metropolitan area as a whole, Sants is actually closer to the center. Historically, Sants was one of the towns surrounding Barcelona until its annexation in 1897. Its agricultural and industrial roots contribute to a unique neighborhood identity—one … Read more

Literary Landscapes &AI-Driven Urban Design

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MaCT-01 2024-2025
tres tombs

A speculative approach to Design through data, literature, and participatory AI in Sant Antoni Our urban issue: The Lack of Narrative-Driven Urban Design in a Data-Driven City Contemporary urban design increasingly relies on AI and big data, often sidelining human stories, cultural narratives, and historical context in shaping urban spaces. While data-driven design optimizes efficiency, … Read more

Digital tools for Integrative Modelling – Hyper A Facade

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MaCAD 2024-2025

The Facade Team Team Vision Group Topic Kinetic Component  Envelope Development Hyper Building A is a self-sustaining, energy-efficient project designed to seamlessly integrate into Japanese culture. The design follows the 15-minute walk theory, organizing the building into distinct neighborhoods to promote accessibility and community interaction. The vision for this project is centered around energy efficiency, … Read more

Paraísos Artificiales

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MaUP 2024-2025

Hacia un modelo territorial para ciudades balnearias La costa Este de Uruguay se presenta como un territorio de oportunidad, donde la fragilidad ambiental, la presión del turismo y el crecimiento urbano requiere una visión de urbanismo resiliente. El proyecto propone un modelo que apuesta por la hibridación entre lo natural y lo artificial. En este … Read more

Software II _ Scanning Wood Waste

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MRAC-01 2024-2025

Github : https://github.com/j-albo/scanning-wood-waste INTRODUCTION Currently, only 15% of wood waste is recycled globally, while up to 60% of felled trees remain unused. Many irregular pieces that do not meet industrial standards are discarded without leveraging their structural and aesthetic potential. Our goal is to rethink these waste materials through scanning, analysis, and digital transformation, converting them into … Read more