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# Urban Design

BIM as a part of smart data management in urban scale

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MaCAD 2023-2024

“Building Information Modeling (BIM) in urban scale data management refers to the strategic integration of digital modeling techniques, for the thorough organization and oversight of urban infrastructure and services. This process entails crafting 3D models that encompass sets of data layers—including architectural, infrastructural, and environmental aspects—to streamline city planning, design, and operation.” The use of … Read more

BIM and the Sustainable development of affordable communities for informal settlements in Egypt

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MaCAD 2023-2024

Abstract Informal settlements across all of Egypt are characterized by complex socio-economic situations aggravated by the immense size of the population and its rapid growth. As a result of lack of building regulations, extreme poverty and continuous need for expansion, the rise of uncontrolled informal settlements remains a significant challenge for Egypt. Our research explores … Read more

Tetris Town: Thermodynamic Fabrications Workshop

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MAEBB 2023-2024

To properly kick off the development of the Urban Synthesis project, researching and prototyping during the Thermodynamic Fabrications workshop ended up being both very fascinating and educational. For better understating of the relationship between the project’s building site and the forces of nature, namely, wind direction and sun path, we created a prototype of a … Read more

Urban Alliance: Metabolic Building Systems – Water

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MAEBB

The “Urban Alliance” is a mixed-use architectural design seamlessly integrating Industry 4.0 principles, featuring advanced photovoltaic production units. This visionary space harmoniously combines sustainable energy practices with residential and commercial areas, embodying a forward-thinking urban landscape that fosters eco-friendly living and innovative business practices. It exemplifies a holistic and tech-driven approach to urban planning. The … Read more

La Obertura | Metabolic Systems: Energy

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MAEBB 2023-2024

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

Mycelium in Construction for Catalonia

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MRAC-01 2023-2024

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

Art on air

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MaCT-01 2023-2024

Introduction Air quality is a problem in many cities around the world, yet it remains largely invisible to the naked eye. This reality struck us deeply when the four of us, having lived in Barcelona, Lagos, Bangkok, and Medellin – our four cities of origin – came together. Amidst our diverse backgrounds and experiences, we … Read more

The Future of Public Art

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MaCT-01 2023-2024

In the ever-evolving field of urban development, “The Future of Public Art” sets out to be a project that reimagines the role and impact of art in public spaces. At its core, the project seeks to quantify the value of public art through a systematic approach, anchored in three fundamental pillars: democracy, contextuality, and insightfulness. … Read more

Daylighting: Recuperación de los arroyos urbanos

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MaUP 2022-2023

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

Espacios Accesibles Universales Autónomos

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MaUP 2023-2024

Abstract. ¿Qué oportunidades para la recuperación de Espacios Públicos se están perdiendo al dejar de lado a las personas con Discapacidad, Adultos Mayores, personas del cuidado, infancia, adolescentes y sus familias cuando se trata de diseño urbano? ¿Qué estrategias se pueden precisar para anclar a la escala de las personas de a pie, del mundo … Read more

Wildlife Museum – an Architectural Cocoon

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MaCAD 2023-2024

Spanning across an expansive natural sanctuary in Pozzuoli, Italy, the site for our study was equally challenging and interesting. The valley-like topography was crowned by a lake in the middle. The programme of imagining a wildlife museum at this site prompted us to think outside the box, to incur minimum impact on the site while … Read more

Muerte y vida de ciudades mineras

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MaUP 2023-2024

El inminente fin de todo proceso extractivo plantea interrogantes sobre el futuro de las infraestructuras existentes y la remediación de su huella ecológica, puesto que, en este contexto, las operaciones mineras están intrínsecamente ligadas a la degradación y desterritorialización de los sistemas naturales, entre estos, el recurso hídrico pertenece entre los más afectados, pues en … Read more

Timber Lattice System – A Tale of Cairo’s Rooftops

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MaCAD 2023-2024

This research aims to explore the application of timber lattice systems on roofs in Cairo, Egypt. Before delving into the project itself, a thorough review of relevant references was essential for a better understanding of the system. The building analyzed was the Sunny Hills Cake Shop, designed by Kengo Kuma and Associates. Characterized by a … Read more

The Arteries of Lombardy

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MaCT-01 2023-2024

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

Design & Fabrication | A model of Urban Agriculture

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MAEBB 2023-2024

This terms collaborative studio project briefed the students at Valldaura to prepare material for the upcoming exhibition, Macquina Climatica, which presents a catalog of proposals for urban agriculture within the metropolitan area of Barcelona. One such proposal uses a scale model to demonstrate what rooftop urban agriculture in the city might look like, how it … Read more

From Pollution To Pollination

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MaCT-01 2023-2024

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

The Umbraculo Bench

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MAEBB 2023-2024

The umbraculo bench is designed to be placed in the Umbraculo, Parc de la Ciutadella, Barcelona. It is designed as an organic shaped bench focusing on materiality, ergonomics as well to be a state of art element. It is designed and constructed using CLT panels made using pine wood lamellas. The Umbraculo The Umbraculo translates … Read more