Abstract : In recent years, urban cores across the world have entered a period of uncertainty. Accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the widespread adoption of hybrid work, many central business districts (CBDs) have experienced declining footfall, rising commercial vacancy, and shifts in social life—while others have demonstrated surprising resilience. This project investigates how foundational … Read more
Introduction — Where My Interest Began My interest in AI and its application in the AEC industry started before this course. During the IAAC GSS, I worked on a study in Bogotá using GIS and image‑recognition tools to map sensory criticality in care-focused urban zones. What surprised me most was how accessible the process was. … Read more
The aim of the project is to map the sky visibility in New York City as one walks from one public park to another with an added analysis layer of Heat Vulnerability Index (HVI) to neighbourhoods. HVI is an index of the likelihood of someone from a neighbourhood to die due to excessive heat exposure, which … Read more
Design Ethos This project seeks to explore how issues of stagnation and obsolescence can be tackled whilst still enabling socio-economic and technological developments of our urban spaces. It will explore how they can be applied within architecture to evaluate how we can more effectively address issues of erasure whilst still permitting modern interventions and advancements … Read more
Referential work’s logics Our referential framework is the Kring Kumho Culture Complex in Seoul by Unsangdong Architects, a building defined by large circular recesses that function as urban windows. The design exploits these spaces to break the flat exterior, as ‘Kring’ means ‘Circle’ in Dutch. We developed a concentric propagation approach to translate this logic … Read more
Throughout the course of Urban Data, we learnt several different ways of handling multiple datasets to finally form a dashboard for the same. In this exercise, we worked using VS Code to create a Dashboard for the comparison of Barcelona’s available rental or buyout housing like what idealista does but the also have it depended … Read more
Opening a business is a bold investment. Factors (many out of business owners’ control) can determine whether or not local businesses thrive or struggle. Location matters, especially for businesses that depend on foot traffic. But the bigger questions are tough to answer: where should the business open? What is a fair rent to expect? Which … Read more
Introduction This project investigates the dialogue between human gesture and robotic motion through painting. Over three weeks, students study brush behavior, paint flow, and stroke dynamics, beginning manually and progressively translating gestures into robotic trajectories. The final outcome is an A2 robot-made painting, accompanied by a vectorial drawing and a 60-second video, reflecting the anatomy … Read more
PROBLEM SOLUTION CoolStreets Lab provides scalable, practical micro-scale heat-risk maps that help cities identify where to cool, shade, and protect their most vulnerable areas. COMPETITION BUSINESS MODEL Target Customers Business Model Early Validation Expert Interviews Key Insight Municipality Feedback Unit Economics TEAM FUNDING NEED WHAT THIS COVERS WHY THIS AMOUNT This is the minimum budget … Read more
Acoustics is the field of physics studying the mechanics of waves such as vibrations, sounds, ultra- and infra-sounds. Room acoustics is a sub-branch focusing on the behavior of sound in a room. The following diagrams showcase the acoustics reflection from the ceiling of the Valldaura lab basement. In both drawings, the initial sound is initialized … Read more
Architecture is entering a moment where the boundaries between design, technology, and material production are dissolving. As cities demand faster construction, customized spaces, and environmentally intelligent solutions, traditional methods alone no longer match the pace or precision required. Digital fabrication has emerged not just as a complementary tool, but as a transformative force reshaping how … Read more
In the age of digital urbanism, cities are no longer understood only through streets, buildings, or neighbourhoods—they are interpreted, navigated, and governed through layers of pixels, data points, and algorithmic models. Our visualization project, Cities in Pixels: Mapping, Moving and Meaning in the Digital Era, examines this transformation using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) as its … Read more
Introduction to Programming and Physical Computing Seminar Faculty: Daniel Mateos, Adai Suriñach, Antoine Jaunard Group Members: Amalia Anna Korgiala, Camilo Hernán Contreras Concept The project aims to design a sensor that can work with light or sound sensors, inspired by a library luminaire. The sensor can be placed in various areas and scales, such as … Read more
What can it look like to design spaces with empathy? In late October, our class had the opportunity to visit Parc del Pins in Santa Coloma de Gramenet to reimagine its public space during a one-week workshop. We spoke with members of the municipality, who generously offered their time and perspective on how Santa Coloma … Read more
Problem Tersa is a public company that runs a waste incineration plant in Sant Adrià del Besòs, serving much of the Barcelona metropolitan area. Over the years, local associations and residents have raised concerns that the plant may exceed emissions limits of toxic substances and caused pollution. Despite all the concerns, the investigating judge archived … Read more
Abstract Environmental conditions are more often than not invisible and something that is felt rather than visually perceivable. The ClimaCode provides our spatial surroundings with their own language that enables them to better communicate with us as humans. By translating climatic conditions, such as temperature and humidity, into light, the device communicates its climatic ‘mood’ … Read more
