The AAL pioneers applied research in architecture and cities by developing novel, decarbonising, and inclusive solutions that emerge at the intersection of creative design and digital technologies.
The Advanced Architecture Lab (AAL) is an interdisciplinary research laboratory bridging architecture with emerging fields of computational design, material science, manufacturing, and ecological systems, for redefining how cities, buildings, and public spaces are conceived, built, and inhabited.
With the goal to advance decarbonisation and circularity in architecture, AAL explores the convergence of digital technologies and scientific advancements, integrating AI, digital fabrication, bio-integrated design, and circular material systems. AAL is committed to redefining the future of architecture—one where built environments are metabolic, regenerative, and deeply attuned to planetary needs.
AAL’s expertise extends to R&D for innovative architectural solutions, digital design tools, sustainable urban strategies, and manufacturing consultancy. The lab also leads executive training programs, curates events and publications, and collaborates with industries, academia, and policymakers to foster cutting-edge research and implementation in the built environment.
Developing low-carbon, bio-based, and up-cycled materials for scalable, high-performance solutions that integrate advanced manufacturing techniques and promote design for disassembly and adaptive reuse.
Integrating nature-based solutions (NBS) to enhance biodiversity, renewable energy generation, and building metabolism through digital mapping, NBS prototypes and multi species cohabitation.
Developing novel AI-driven solutions and tools for sustainable architecture through urban analytics, predictive modelling, digital twins, and carbon or energy simulations for enhanced architectural and urban performance.
Designing and developing decarbonising, inclusive public spaces with innovative devices, novel materials, multifunctional mobile furniture, and layouts for diverse groups.
Developing novel AI-driven solutions and tools for sustainable architecture through urban analytics, predictive modelling, digital twins, and carbon or energy simulations for enhanced architectural and urban performance.
Training architects, and multidisciplinary professionals in design innovation, circularity, and entrepreneurship to tackle global challenges.
Areti Markopoulou is a Greek PhD architect, researcher, and urban technologist working at the intersection of architecture and digital technologies. Her work focuses on redefining cities through an ecological and technological spectrum, merging design with biotechnologies, new materials, digital fabrication, and big data. She is the Academic Director at IAAC in Barcelona, and she leads the Advanced Architecture Group, a multidisciplinary research lab exploring how design and science can positively impact the built environment.
Areti co-founded StudioP52, an art/tech gallery activating abandoned industrial warehouses, and served as co-editor of the digital platform Urban Next. She has consulted on and developed projects on topics including urban regeneration through data science, circular construction and multidisciplinary educational models in the digital age.
Markopoulou is the co-author and editor of “Learning Cities: Collective Intelligence Urban Design” (Actar, 2022), “Edible” (TAB, 2022), “ Black Ecologies” (Actar, 2019), and co-author of the forthcoming book “Building Metabolism” (Actar, 2025) supported by the Graham Foundation Grant for Individuals.
She is the Chair of Responsive Cities Symposium that she co-founded in 2016 and served as Head Curator of international exhibitions including co-curating the Tallinn Architecture Biennale (TAB 2022), Future Arena & On Site Robotics (Construmat 2017 & 2019), HyperCity (Shenzhen Bi-city Biennale, 2015), and MyVeryOwnCity (World Bank, BR Bcn 2011).
Areti Markopoulou is a Greek PhD architect, researcher, and urban technologist working at the intersection of architecture and digital technologies. Her work focuses on redefining cities through an ecological and technological spectrum, merging design with biotechnologies, new materials, digital fabrication, and big data. She is the Academic Director at IAAC in Barcelona, and she leads the Advanced Architecture Group, a multidisciplinary research lab exploring how design and science can positively impact the built environment.
Areti co-founded StudioP52, an art/tech gallery activating abandoned industrial warehouses, and served as co-editor of the digital platform Urban Next. She has consulted on and developed projects on topics including urban regeneration through data science, circular construction and multidisciplinary educational models in the digital age.
Markopoulou is the co-author and editor of “Learning Cities: Collective Intelligence Urban Design” (Actar, 2022), “Edible” (TAB, 2022), “ Black Ecologies” (Actar, 2019), and co-author of the forthcoming book “Building Metabolism” (Actar, 2025) supported by the Graham Foundation Grant for Individuals.
She is the Chair of Responsive Cities Symposium that she co-founded in 2016 and served as Head Curator of international exhibitions including co-curating the Tallinn Architecture Biennale (TAB 2022), Future Arena & On Site Robotics (Construmat 2017 & 2019), HyperCity (Shenzhen Bi-city Biennale, 2015), and MyVeryOwnCity (World Bank, BR Bcn 2011).
Chiara Farinea is an Italian architect and urban planner. She holds a PhD in Urban Planning from IUAV (Venice), a Master in Advanced Architecture from IAAC (Barcelona), and an architecture degree from Politecnico di Milano. She also studied at ETSAB (Barcelona) through the Erasmus Programme and has been a member of the Association of Architects of Genova for over ten years.
Chiara’s research focuses on environmental planning and design. She is currently Head of European Projects at IAAC’s Advanced Architecture Group, coordinating several EU-funded projects related to education, research, and sustainable development. She also serves as faculty in IAAC’s educational programs.
Previously, she was a professor of Urban Planning at the Faculty of Architecture of Genoa and co-founded Gr.IN Lab, exhibiting installations at the Venice Arsenale and the Italia-China Art Biennale.
Her past experience includes managing international cooperation and smart city projects at D’Appolonia, where she led the award-winning proposal for the Rome City of Science competition. She has also worked as a Senior Architect at Open Building Research in Genoa and as a Junior Architect at KSP Engel und Zimmermann in Berlin.
Gabriele Jureviciute is a Lithuanian architect, specialising in sustainability & circularity. She holds a Master’s Degree in Advanced Architecture from IAAC, where she currently works as the Academic Coordinator for the Master in Advanced Architecture (MAA01), and as a faculty member in various courses, such as Circular Matter: Designing Circularity in the Built Environment; Fab.AR: Manual Fabrication Assisted with Augmented Reality; and the Advanced Manufacturing Thesis Cluster.
Her professional interests lie in sustainable and responsive architecture, material circularity, and vernacular construction techniques enhanced by digital technologies. Her master thesis, Plastic Emergency Architecture, explored low-cost, accessible architecture made from waste materials to improve liveability in areas affected by plastic waste. The project was exhibited at Barcelona Building Construmat 2019 and Architects@Work Madrid 2019, and further developed during a residency at Autodesk Build Space in Boston.
Before joining IAAC, Gabriele worked as an architect in Lithuania and Portugal. She has also been actively involved in the European Architecture Students Assembly (EASA) within multiple roles, including organiser and tutor.
Laura Ruggeri is an Italian economist specialised in International Relations. She currently coordinates the Master in Advanced Computation for Architecture and Design at IAAC. Laura’s career focuses on international education and exchange, with expertise in Asian culture, language, and Business Administration. She has worked across various countries, including China, Canada, Italy, and Spain.
In recent years, Laura has developed a strong interest in arts, design, and architecture. She has managed several international events and platforms, such as the Responsive Cities Symposium, part of the Active Public Space EU project, and ITmakES, a cultural design platform between Italy and Spain, powered by the Italian Consulate in Barcelona.
Akshay Madapura is a Computational Design Specialist and Architect from India, with a strong foundation in advanced digital technologies and their application in architecture. He is a graduate of the Master in Advanced Architecture at IAAC, where he has played a key role in numerous projects and seminars that explore the integration of digital tools with physical design processes.
His areas of expertise include algorithmic design, machine learning, computer vision, interaction design, and robotic fabrication. Akshay’s primary focus is on applying data-driven algorithms to real-world architectural challenges, aiming to create innovative, efficient, and sustainable design solutions.
With a passion for advancing computational methodologies, Akshay is committed to driving the evolution of architecture through the informed use of technology, pushing the limits of how data and algorithms can shape the future of design.
Ricardo Mayor Luque holds a Master’s in Architecture from the Superior Technical School of Architecture of Alcalá de Henares in Madrid and a Master’s in Advanced Architecture from IAAC, specialising in digital and robotic fabrication.
Graduating in 2012 with awards for both his academic performance and final project, Ricardo is one of the four founders of Design of Architectural Territories (DAT Pangea), which won the Best Young Architects in Europe prize for sustainable construction, awarded by the LafargeHolcim Foundation.
His professional experience spans architectural and engineering offices in Madrid, Ljubljana, Paris, and Barcelona, where he has collaborated on renowned international projects with architects such as Frank Gehry, Kengo Kuma, and OMA.
Ricardo’s research focuses on design, fabrication, and politics, with a particular interest in addressing social issues through his professional and academic work.
Iacopo Neri conducts research at the intersection of architecture, computer science, and urban planning. He holds a Master of Science in Architecture with Distinction from the Polytechnic University of Milan and completed the Master in City and Technology (currently Master in Advanced Urban Planning & Data Analytics) at IAAC. During the Responsive Cities Symposium (2017, Barcelona), Iacopo presented a paper on Swarm Intelligence for crowd-based analysis.
Since 2015, he has been a teaching assistant at the University of Florence, the Polytechnic University of Milan, and currently at IAAC, where he is part of the City and Technology computational research team. Iacopo also works as a computational designer at External Reference Architecture Bureau in Barcelona.
Shreya Rangholia is an Indian architect and designer with a Bachelor’s Degree in Architecture. She has developed expertise in project design, construction, and on-site management. Shreya began her career at JT & Associates, where she advanced to senior architect and later associate, gaining five years of experience in designing and managing building projects, from single residences to luxury resorts.
Her passion for Indian art and textiles led her to freelance in textile art installation projects. In 2022, Shreya joined IAAC, where she now serves as Student Services Secretary and MAA Coordination Assistant.
Pilar Xiqués is from Havana, Cuba, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Teaching English as a Foreign Language from the Pedagogical University of Havana.
She has worked as an Educational TV teacher for primary schools and as a high school teacher in Cuba. Pilar also has experience as a secretary and academic coordinator, and spent seven years teaching at a private institute in Barcelona.
David Andres Leon is an architect specialising in the research and development of computational tools for architecture, construction, and design.
He serves as the Director of the Master in Advanced Computation for Architecture and Design and is a senior faculty member for the Master in Advanced Architecture at IAAC, where he co-teaches the Digital Matter studio alongside Areti Markopoulou. David also teaches programming for architects in the MPDA Master’s program at UPC.
David holds a Master of Science from the Institute for Computational Design and Construction (ICD) at the University of Stuttgart and a Master’s in Advanced Design and Digital Architecture from Elisava. His research experience includes participation in the German research platform FAT-LAB in Stuttgart and working as a research assistant at the Centre for Information Technology and Architecture (CITA) for the EU-Horizon 2020 Flora Robotica project. He is also a co-author of various publications in architectural research and robotics.
Kevin Matar is an architect, urbanist, and environmentalist. He studied at l’Académie Libanaise des Beaux-Arts in Beirut and completed a Master’s in Advanced Ecological Buildings & Biocities at IAAC in Barcelona. His research has focused on construction waste, natural materials, and mycelium. As an activist, he has worked on environmental projects with NGOs, communities, and companies in Lebanon.
Currently based in Barcelona, Kevin coordinates the second year of the Master in Advanced Architecture and the CIEE – Global Architecture & Design Programme at IAAC. He was part of the team that led theOtherDada’s expansion from architecture into urban afforestation, turning what began as pro-bono work into a core part of the business.
A member of Recycle Lebanon since 2017, Kevin has contributed to campaigns like “Break Free from Plastic” in the Dive into Action program. In 2021, he served as a data outreach consultant for Regenerate Hub, and he is now the lead architect of Terrapods Green Fab Lab in Lebanon.
Secil Afsar graduated from Koc University’s Chemical and Biological Engineering department in 2016. She worked as a process development engineer at an H2020-funded biotechnology company, focusing on generating enzyme mixes from microorganisms for hydrolysis experiments on paper sludge waste. Her work contributed to biogas production and green technology, including using hydrolyzed paper sludge as a cement substitute in mortar. Secil also participated in H2020 SME applications and was a Cleantech Open Global finalist.
Driven by her interest in sustainable environments, Secil earned a Master’s in Biodigital Architecture from the International University of Catalonia. During her studies, she interned at Fab Lab Barcelona, worked on European projects like Foodshift and Siscode, and was part of the Remix el Barrio team, which won the Grand Prize for Innovative Collaboration at Ars Electronica.
Secil now teaches as an Associate Professor at UIC Barcelona, focusing on 3D printing with biocomposites, while pursuing her doctoral degree. She also works as a fabrication laboratory assistant at IAAC, specialising in robotic fabrication and biomaterials for design. She has co-authored several book chapters and academic articles throughout her career.
Valentino Tagliaboschi is an architect and building engineer passionate about digital fabrication technologies for the AEC industry. He currently works as a Digital and Robotic Fabrication Expert at IAAC.
Valentino graduated from the University of Pisa in 2020 with a thesis on the design and robotic fabrication of the HexBox Canopy—a rapid assembly timber shell structure. This project, developed with an international research team from the University of Kaiserslautern and the University of Sydney, led to a conference paper that won the Tsuboi Award for the most outstanding paper at the IASS Annual Symposium 2020/21.
Following his graduation, Valentino worked at Matter Make in Malta, where he focused on the engineering and fabrication of complex architectural and interior design projects. He utilised computational design methods and digital manufacturing processes, including robotic and CNC milling, 3D printing, and laser cutting.
Dídac Torrent is an industrial engineer and product designer from Barcelona, with extensive experience in digital fabrication and rapid prototyping. He holds a BA in Industrial Design and Product Development Engineering from Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC) and a Master in Design for Emergent Futures from Fab Lab Barcelona (IAAC) and ELISAVA.
In recent years, Dídac has worked at LaMáquina by Noumena, Ateneu de Fabricació de Nou Barris, and as a Precious Plastics researcher. He currently serves as Fabrication Lab Manager and Assistant at IAAC, where he also teaches and assists in various seminars and workshops.
Passionate about overseeing projects from ideation to final fabrication, Dídac is a strong advocate of collaborative work. His projects are driven by a social mission, aiming to develop functional and meaningful ideas that benefit others.
Sheikh Rizvi Riaz is an architect and researcher focused on data-driven design and digital fabrication processes across scales. His work explores innovative building technologies based on additive manufacturing strategies. Sheikh holds a Master’s in Advanced Architecture and a Postgraduate degree in Large Scale Additive Manufacturing, both from IAAC.
He has been actively involved in various applied research projects, with a focus on developing new design tools, computation, and robotics to automate the production of design models and assist in the fabrication of finished constructions.
Lora Fahmy is an architect and computational designer specialising in the design of tall and supertall buildings. A former student of the Master in Advanced Computation for Architecture and Design at IAAC, she has worked on projects across Asia, the US, and even space-related initiatives.
Her professional focus lies in integrating advanced technological tools with architecture to create a sustainable built environment. Currently, her work centres on data analysis, machine learning (ML), artificial intelligence (AI), and user experience (UX) to design more efficiently, sustainably, and consciously.
Andrea Conserva is an Italian architect, building engineer, and researcher. He currently serves as the EU Project Manager at the Advanced Architecture Group at IAAC in Barcelona, where he coordinates and contributes to various EU R&D projects focused on urbanism and sustainability.
Andrea holds a Master of Science in Architectural Engineering from the Politecnico of Milan (2013) and began his career as a technical researcher and project manager at the Research Centre for Energy Resources and Consumption (CIRCE) in Zaragoza, Spain. There, he managed several EU-funded projects, including FP7 and H2020, and gained expertise in energy efficiency and sustainable building modelling, simulation, and assessment.
His research explores how design, advanced technologies, and innovation can help architects and urbanists create more livable and efficient cities.
Aleyna Gültekin is an architect, researcher, and designer from Turkey with a Master’s degree in Advanced Architecture from IAAC, Barcelona. She earned her BSc in Architecture with Honours from TOBB University of Economy and Technology in Ankara. Aleyna’s professional interests span sustainability, digital fabrication, robotics, machine learning, and material intelligence.
After graduating, she founded NERA ECO CONSTRUCTION, a startup revolutionising the construction industry through bio-based materials, energy efficiency, and carbon sequestration.
Currently, she works as a Junior Project Manager and Researcher at the Advanced Architecture Group of IAAC, contributing to EU-funded projects. Her recent research focuses on upscaling bio-based and upcycled materials, digital fabrication, bio-photovoltaic microbial cells, and nature-based solutions to create environmentally conscious architecture.
Shyam Francesco Zonca is a product designer focused on creating durable and richly detailed goods throughout the creative process. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in Industrial Design from Politecnico di Milano, with academic experiences in Brazil and Portugal, and a Master’s in Product Design for Innovation.
Since moving to Spain in 2017, Shyam has worked with digital manufacturing in academic settings, including IED and IAAC, and on projects that combine digital technologies with handcrafted finishes.
In Milan and Rio de Janeiro, he served as a Creative and Project Manager across various design fields, including product design, furniture, digital fabrication, events, and visual merchandising. He has not only led creation work but also collaborated with craftsmen and managed production.
Tim Bruder is a designer, architect, and researcher working with complex geometries, biomaterials, and living matter. He holds a Master’s degree from the Computation in Architecture studio at the Royal Danish Academy in Copenhagen. Before joining IAAC as a design and fabrication expert on the EU Project Team, he worked at CITA, contributing to several research projects and exhibitions.
Tim’s work bridges research with industrial production and speculative scenarios, integrating complex design systems in both materials and geometry. His projects include the development of 3D-printed urban furniture exhibited in Barcelona, studies on biophotovoltaic batteries powered by algae and plants, a 3D-printed bone glue panelling system, and exploring plant roots as architectural-scale composite materials.
He has led workshops at CITA and the University of Pennsylvania, focusing on conceptual development and visual representation of new material ecologies, incorporating natural processes like decay and growth.
Fiona Demeur is an architectural designer passionate about working with nature to find architectural solutions for cities and rethinking architectural education. She currently works as the project manager for Erasmus+ EU projects at IAAC’s Advanced Architecture Group, contributing to several EU-funded research initiatives. Fiona also teaches across IAAC’s Master programs, focusing on seminars related to start-up education, nature-based solutions, and research methodologies for second-year thesis development.
Fiona has been involved with two start-ups: eiria, developed during IAAC’s BUILDs program, and add.apt, based in Lagos, Nigeria. Both start-ups merge sustainable solutions with technological strategies.
She holds a BSc in Architecture from the University of Bath (2018), a Passivhaus Designer certification (2018), and a Master’s in Advanced Architecture (MAA02) from IAAC (2020), where she focused on food circularity, nature-based solutions, and living systems.
Her involvement in EU-funded projects includes Urban Shift, Green Skills for Cities, CoCoon, and CiD.
Alice Bazzica is an anthropologist with expertise in sociology, urban and regional planning, and urban governance. She holds a Master’s degree in Urban Resilience for Sustainability Transitions from UIC Barcelona. Alice has worked with Placemaking Europe, a network that promotes collaboration among diverse stakeholders in placemaking, and has contributed to several EU-funded projects focusing on urban resilience, community engagement, and Smart City initiatives.
Her vision is to integrate diverse perspectives in urban transformations, prioritising human-centred approaches that address the needs of people, the environment, and non-human actors for just and inclusive transitions. Alice is also part of an activist group in Barcelona, raising awareness about the urban heat island effect in local neighbourhoods.
Currently, Alice works as a Junior European Project Manager within the Advanced Architecture Group at IAAC, where she also organises events and conferences.
Matteo Ferrari is a strategic designer and place-maker passionate about community engagement and urban regeneration. He currently works as a Junior Project Manager for Horizon EU projects within the Advanced Architecture Group at IAAC, contributing to research on mobility, circular economy, and gamification in various EU-funded projects.
Matteo earned his BSc in Management of Creative Industries from Bocconi University in Milan (2017) and completed his MSocSc in Strategic Design and Entrepreneurship (2021), with a focus on circular urban systems.
He has been involved in diverse initiatives, including a climate education start-up focused on gamification and a cultural festival. His contributions to EU-funded projects include P2Green and Elaborator.
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