Join the Master in Advanced Architecture
INTRODUCTION
IAAC’s Master in Advanced Architecture (1 or 2-year program) revolutionises current architectural approaches. By training professionals to take informed, creative and innovative actions, the program encourages them to become changemakers and pioneers in the arena of architecture and the built environment. Based on a “Learning by Doing” and a “Design by Research” methodologies the Master in Advanced Architecture nurtures critical thinking, ingenuity and the materialisation of ideas.
Following a multidisciplinary and multiscalar approach, the programme presents an unique academic structure, where students can create their own customised study agenda, according to their interests and their future career aspirations. Students can choose from a selection of different courses from technologies, to approaches and development methodologies allowing them to build meaningful proposals to face the challenges of architecture today.
The 4th Application Period for the year 2023/24 is now Open until the 31st of May 2023!
MAA01 |
MAA01 + 3DPA |
MAA02 |
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| Degree | Master in Advanced Architecture accredited by School of Professional and Executive Development at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia – European Higher Education Area (EHEA) | Master in Advanced Architecture + Postgraduate Diploma in 3D Printing Architecture. Both accredited by School of Professional and Executive Development at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia – European Higher Education Area (EHEA) | Master in Advanced Architecture accredited by School of Professional and Executive Development at the Polytechnic University of Catalonia – European Higher Education Area (EHEA) |
| Edition | 24th edition | 13th edition | 15th edition |
| Credits | 75 ECTS | 75 ECTS (MAA) / 45 ECTS (3DPA) | 130 ECTS |
| Duration | 9 Months – From October 2023 to June 2024 // Full Time | 15 Months – From October 2023 to February 2025 // Full Time | 18 Months – From October 2023 to June 2025 – Thesis Final Submission: September 2025 // Full Time |
| Language | English | English | English |
| Tuition Fee | Non-EU: 19.875€ EU: 16.500€ Spanish: 9.938€ |
Non-EU: 28.620€ EU: 23.760€ Spanish: 14.310€ |
Non-EU: 31.800€ EU: 26.400€ Spanish: 15.900€ |
| Admission | Bachelor of Science or a higher degree in Architecture or other related fields | Bachelor of Science or a higher degree in Architecture or other related fields | Bachelor of Science or a higher degree in Architecture or other related fields |
CONTEXT & AGENDA
The digital revolution coupled with the unforeseen environmental, economical and social challenges our world faces today, urge architecture to shake much of the traditions and basis upon which it operated for the last decades, if not centuries. Design combined with multidisciplinary science are the two powerful tools for architecture to revolutionarily innovate, and therefore bring a positive impact and change to the built environment. The programme offers a diversity of high-end content in Design Studios ranging from urban and building to material scale.
The Master in Advanced Architecture programme focuses on training architects, designers and engineers, acquiring multidisciplinary skills, to practice radical architecture that creates positive cultural, environmental and social impact.
The programme offers a diversity of high-end content in Design Studios ranging from urban scale to building, material and wearable devices scale.
The seminars and workshops offered by the programme aim to enhance the technical, computational and digital fabrication skills of new professionals that are able to work in the architectural field learning from advancements from computer science, advanced manufacturing, synthetic biology, or material science and ecology.
Each year, the programme connects its students with exceptional international practitioners, industries and institutions, all part of the faculty body and collaborative entities, with the aim of fostering the students’ development in applied visions of a more sustainable, resilient, self-sufficient, intelligent and responsive architecture.
TOOLS & SOFTWARE
Students of the Master in Advanced Architecture are introduced to a large variety of technological tools and software that are fundamental in order to change the way we think, design and materialise architecture. During the programme students are trained on the latest tools for digital fabrication, advanced computational design, physical computing, and developer tools.
Seminars on the following tools and software are conducted:
STUDENT'S PROJECTS
ACADEMIC STRUCTURE
The Master in Advanced Architecture is articulated in three different programmes: MAA01, MAA01+3DPA and MAA02.
Within the current global context of rapid change, integrated with the potentials of digital technologies, IAAC’s Master in Advanced Architecture (MAA) is committed to the generation of new ideas and applications for Urban Design, Self Sufficiency and Digital Matter.
In this context IAAC works with a multidisciplinary approach, facing the challenges posed by our environment and the future development of cities, architecture and buildings, through a virtuous combination of technology, biology, computational design, digital and robotic fabrication, pushing innovation beyond the boundaries of a more traditional architectural approach.
Master in Advanced Architecture – MAA01 (1-year Program)
Within the current global context of rapid change, integrated with the potentials of digital technologies, IAAC’s Master in Advanced Architecture (MAA) is committed to the generation of new ideas and applications for Urban Design, Self Sufficiency, Digital Manufacturing Techniques and Advanced Interaction.
In this context IAAC works with a multidisciplinary approach, facing the challenges posed by our environment and the future development of cities, architecture and buildings, through a virtuous combination of technology, biology, computational design, digital and robotic fabrication, pushing innovation beyond the boundaries of a more traditional architectural approach.
Throughout all three terms, the Master in Advanced Architecture students attend a Computational Design Seminar, oriented to developing practical knowledge and skills for parametric design skills. Students also follow the IAAC Lecture Series, a transversal activity that generates debates and an opportunity to network with other students and lecturers from around the world. Lectures count on diverse invited experts from the fields of Design, Architecture and Technology.
Computational Design Seminar (3×3 ECTS)
IAAC Lecture Series (2 ECTS)
FIRST TERM
The 10-week introductory term provides a common ground of knowledge and skills to incoming MAA students. Term 1 serves as a base, anticipating challenges and ideas that will appear during the programme, in relation to sustainability, design complexity, innovative forms of planning and contemporary culture. It is a toolbox of both theoretical and practical skills for further research work.
TERM 1 COURSES:
Introductory Design Studio (8 ECTS)
Introductory Seminar – Programming and Physical Computing (3 ECTS)
Introductory Seminar – Digital Fabrication (3 ECTS)
Theory Seminar – Expansive Theory (3 ECTS)
NOTE: Design Studio and Seminars of Term 1 are obligatory.
Starting from the 2nd Term, Master in Advanced Architecture offers an Open Educational Structure where students are asked to express their prefference and customise their study agenda, according to their specific academic interests and future career aspirations, by selecting one of each.
TERM 2 COURSES:
Research Studio // Chosen out of 3 Options: Digital Matter / Self Sufficient Buildings / X-Urban Design (10 ECTS)
Two-term Seminar // Chosen out of 3 Options: Experimental Structures / Computing Gaudi’s Logics / Digital Woodcraft (3 ECTS)
One-term Seminar // Chosen out of 3 Options: Robotic Fabrication / Interactive Environments / Advanced Algorithmic Design (3 ECTS)
NOTE: Research Studio and Seminars of Term 2 are obligatory.
The distribution of students for the Research Studios and the Seminars is done according to several criteria listed in the IAAC Terms & Conditions.
The above calendar refers to the Master in Advanced Architecture 2022-2023 edition. Calendar of 2023-2024 may be subject to slight variations.
The 3rd Term is structured similarly to the 2nd Term. During this term, students continue with their chosen Research Studio, as well as the Two-Term Seminar. Additionally, they are asked to choose their One-term Seminar, which offer diverse skills with respect to those in the 2nd Term.
TERM 3 COURSES:
Research Studio // Continue with the chosen studio (10 ECTS)
Two-term Seminar // Continue with the chosen seminar (3 ECTS)
One-term Seminar // Chosen out of 3 Options: Computing Gaudi’s Logics / Digital Woodcraft / Mixed Reality for Architecture (3 ECTS)
Final Project // The final phase of the MAA01 focuses on the production of drawings, prototypes, audiovisual material, and concludes with the final written document of the Research Studio Project developed during the 2nd and the 3rd Terms (13 ECTS)
NOTE: Research Studio and Seminars of Term 2 are obligatory.
The distribution of students for the Research Studios and the Seminars is done according to several criteria listed in the IAAC Terms & Conditions.
The above calendar refers to the Master in Advanced Architecture 2022-2023 edition. Calendar of 2023-2024 may be subject to slight variations.
Master in Advanced Architecture + Thesis Project (MAA02)
Master in Advanced Architecture + Thesis Project (MAA02) – FIRST YEAR
The first year of the Master in Advanced Architecture + Thesis Project (MAA02) is the same as the MAA01, following the structure of 3 terms, each 3 months long.
Master in Advanced Architecture + Thesis Project (MAA02) – SECOND YEAR
During the second year of the Master in Advanced Architecture + Thesis Project (MAA02), students have the unique opportunity to work for a period of 1 year on an Individual Thesis Project, focused on the development of a research or pilot project based on the student’s interest, and the learnings of the first year. IAAC supports the student in selecting their Thesis Project topic in order to better orient them according to their future career interests and opportunities. Each student, according to their specific topic, is assigned one or more Thesis Advisors that follow the development of the work throughout the year.
In parallel to the development of the Individual Thesis Project, the second year of the MAA02 offers a series of seminars enhancing the theoretical, practical and computational skills of the students.
Throughout all three terms, the Master in Advanced Architecture + Thesis Project (MAA02) students attend transversal sessions which bring them in direct contact with their thesis advisor(s) as well as front running professionals in the fields of research and development, innovation, economics, and sustainability.
Individual Thesis Project (30 ECTS)
Methods Seminar – Research & Methods (3 ECTS)
IAAC Lecture Series (2 ECTS)
During the first phase of the second year, students start the initial steps of their Individual Thesis project’s research development, including research contextualisation, analysis, as well as the first design iterations and prototyping. Additionally, the first term has four complementary courses, focused on research methodology, theory, economics of sustainability and advanced computation. The students also choose one elective seminar.
TERM 1 COURSES:
Theory Seminar – Theory and Knowledge I (2 ECTS)
Industry & Applied Research Seminar // Chosen out of 3 Options: Interaction and Prototyping / Robotic Fabrication / Urban Shift (3 ECTS)
NOTE: All seminars and thesis sessions are obligatory.
The above calendar refers to the Master in Advanced Architecture 2022-2023 edition. Calendar of 2024-2025 may be subject to slight variations.
This period dives into research through design and learning by doing principles and actuation, where students go deeper into scientific exploration and further prototyping for their Individual Thesis. Within this term, students continue with the methodological, theoretical, computational and fabricational seminars in a close relationship to their research. Additionally, the students continue with the elective seminar chosen in the first term.
TERM 2 COURSES:
Theory Seminar – Theory and Knowledge II (1 ECTS)
Industry & Applied Research Seminar // Continue with the chosen seminar (3 ECTS)
Advanced Computation Seminar // Chosen out of 3 Options: Collaborative Design Workflows / Interactive 3D Web Applications / Artificial Intelligence in the Built Environment (3 ECTS)
NOTE: All seminars and thesis sessions are obligatory.
The above calendar refers to the Master in Advanced Architecture 2022-2023 edition. Calendar of 2024-2025 may be subject to slight variations.
This term is structured around the development of the final design proposals, drawings and prototypes related to a student’s thesis project. Furthermore, students work on systemic design principles that could extrapolate the logic of their projects in a variety of contexts, scales and case studies. The final presentation and defence of the master thesis takes place before a jury panel in the month of June.
TERM 3 COURSES:
Content Workshop // Chosen out of 2 Options: Business Innovation / Circular Design in the Built Environment (1 ECTS)
Advanced Computation Seminar // Continue with the chosen seminar (3 ECTS)
NOTE: All seminars and thesis sessions are obligatory.
The above calendar refers to the Master in Advanced Architecture 2022-2023 edition. Calendar of 2024-2025 may be subject to slight variations.
The last phase of the program does not include presential classes, and is dedicated to the development of the complete written book of the Individual Thesis Project. The final submission includes 2 printed copies of the book and can also include the publication of a scientific paper.
STUDENT PROFILE
The Master in Advanced Architecture is for architects, engineers and designers from all over the world curious about how the world is changing and committed to driving this change. The programme is oriented at graduates who wish to commit and develop their design research skills in the context of new forms of practice within architecture and urbanism, ranging from large-scale environments to tectonic details and material properties.
Once successfully finished the master, IAAC students join the IAAC Alumni Community – an active and dynamic network of visionary professionals distributed all around the world, promoting principles and applications of Advanced Architecture, exploring new academic and research initiatives, leading award-winning practices and working for internationally acclaimed firms and institutions.
SCHOLARSHIPS
Our scholarship competition has now finished and we’re unable to accept any more scholarship applications for this year. If you would like to find out when the competition is reopening, please subscribe to our newsletter where we will make the announcement.
PROJECT PROPOSAL: “DIGITAL SUSTAINABLE ARCHITECTURE”
The theme of the scholarship offered by the MAA programme is focused on reflecting about the potentials of Computation and Digital Fabrication tools, which are embedded into the architecture design process: from concept to construction. In the contemporary context, in which the “unsustainable” is a great human problem:
1. What kind of computational and digital fabrication is possible to imagine for environmental, cultural, social and economic sustainability in architecture?
2. How can these tools be used not only as digital parametric plugins but rather as a new anthropocentric paradigm?
REQUIRED MATERIAL
The documents to be submitted are:
- A pdf file, A3 format, 3 pages max (max 8MB) containing: a short description in English of the project and the strategy/rationale behind the proposal; images, plans or diagrams of the designed elements.
To apply the candidates should fill up the Scholarship Application Form at this link and upload their projects in there.
COMPETITION DEADLINES
Start and end dates to be released soon.
WORK AFTER MAA
Natalie Alima – MAA02 2013/15
Research Fellow at RMIT University Melbourne
Farshad Mehdizadeh – MAA 2011/12
Director of FMZD Architects
Alexandre Dubor – MAA 2011/12
Director of IAAC’S Master in Robotics and Advanced Construction
Utsav Mathur – MAA 2015/16
Founder & CEO at GMETRI studio
Maite Bravo – MAA 2007/08
Professor at the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT)
Peter Magnus – MAA 2015/16
Founder at Hable Studios & IAAC’s Teaching Assistant
Maria Cynthia Funk – MAA 2014/15
Associate Dean of the Environment Studies Cluster of the De La Salle College of Saint Benilde
Ali Basbous – MAA 2008/09
Founder of BAD. Built by Associative Data studio
Carlos Bausa – MAA 2013/14
Environmental Design Analyst at Foster and Partners
PROGRAMME DIRECTOR
Dr. Areti Markopoulou is a Greek architect, researcher and urban technologist working at the intersection between architecture and digital technologies. She is the Academic Director at IAAC in Barcelona, where she also leads the Advanced Architecture Group, a multidisciplinary research group exploring how design and science can positively impact and transform the present and future of our built spaces, the way we live and interact. Her research and practice focus on redefining the architecture of cities through an ecological and technological spectrum combining design with biotechnologies, new materials, digital fabrication and big data.
Areti is founder and principal of the multidisciplinary practice Design Dynamics Studio, and co-editor of Urban Next, a global network focused on rethinking architecture through the contemporary urban milieu. She is the project coordinator of a number of European Research funded Projects on topics including urban regeneration through technologies and multidisciplinary educational models in the digital age.
Sebastián Sallent – Academic Coordination Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (UPC)
PROGRAMME FACULTY
Head of Studies: Dr. Mathilde Marengo
Coordinators: Gabriele Jureviciute (MAA01) & Nikol Kirova (MAA02)
Faculty:
Dr. Areti Markopoulou – Advanced Materials & Building Performance
Dr. Mathilde Marengo – Research Methodology & Urban Design / Seminar Faculty and Thesis Advisor
Dr. Willy Muller – Urban Design (Urban Science Lab)
Edouard Cabay – Self Sufficient Buildings (Appareil)
Luis Fraguada – Advanced Interaction
Prof. Dr. Manuel Gausa – Advanced Architecture Concepts
Javier Peña – Metabolic Architecture
Dr. Oriol Carrasco – Metabolic Architecture & Advanced Manufacturing
Dr. Marco Poletto – Dynamic Ecologies (ecoLogic Studio)
Dr. Claudia Pasquero – Dynamic Ecologies (ecoLogic Studio)
Dr. Carmelo Zapulla – Future Housing (External Reference Architects)
Dr. Marcos Cruz – Biomaterials in Architecture (Bartlett School of Architecture)
Enric Ruiz Geli – Building Physics and Ecology (Cloud9)
Dr. Alessio Erioli – Advanced Algorithmic Design (CodeIT)
Andrea Graziano – Advanced Algorithmic Design (CodeIT)
Prof. Dr. Mark Burry – Applied Computation & Fabrication (Swinburne University of Technology)
David Andres Leon – Advanced Algorithmic Design
Alexandre Dubor – Additive Manufacturing & Robotics
Manja van de Worp – Experimental Structures (YIP Structural Engineering London)
Nicolay Boyadjiev – Platform Urbanism & Strategic Design
Dr. Tom Svilans – Digital Wood Craft (CITA)
Rodrigo Aguirre – Computational Design
Raimund Krenmueller – Digital Fabrication & Robotics
Dr. Pablo Ros – Advanced Interaction (Ros + Falguera Arquitectura)
Dr. Jordi Vivaldi – Advanced Architecture Concepts
Dr. Josep Perello – Physics & Simulation
Dr. Giovanni Perotto – Advanced Materials (IIT-Genova)
Dr. Chiara Farinea – Nature Based Solutions & Ecology
Angel Munoz – Programming & Interactive Design
Davide Rovera – Business Innovation (eWorks)
Nico Schouten – Circular Design (Metabolic)
Mateusz Zwierzycki – Artificial Intelligence in Architecture
Mireia Luzarraga – Performance & Ecology (Takk)
Dr. Nuria Conde Pueyo – Synthetic and Computational Biology (Fab Lab Barcelona)
Shyam Zonca – Digital Fabrication
Jonathan Minchin – Ecologic Design
Cristian Ruzzuti – Interactive Design
Eugenio Bettucchi – Computational Design (Noumena)
Nikol Kirova – Novel Materials & Research Methodology
Gabriele Jureviciute – Circular Design & Fabrication
Ashkan Foroughi – Computational Design & Robotics
Sebastian Amorelli – Computational Design (External Reference Architects)
Ricardo Mayor – Digital Fabrication & Robotics
Miguel Guerrero – Digital Fabrication (Miwa Studio)
Daniil Koshelyuk – Mixed Reality in Architecture
Ariane Lima – Circular Economy in Architecture (Eco Inteligence Growth)
Vincent Huyghe – Digital Fabrication & Robotics
Marielena Papandreou – Digital Fabrication & Robotics
Oana Taut – Computational Design (BuildFlow AI)
Fiona Demeur – Bio Design & Fabrication
Uri Lewis – Computational Design (BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group)
Shahar Abelson – Programming & Interactive Design
Eduardo Chamorro – Digital Fabrication & Robotics
COLLABORATIVE ENTITIES
SWINBURNE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
Swinburne University of Technology is a public research university based in Melbourne, Australia. It focuses on the development of career-ready graduates in business, health, science, design, technology and innovation, with a broad field of expertise and first rate facilities. IAAC is an off-shore PhD partner of Swinburne.
CENTRE FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND ARCHITECTURE (CITA)
CITA [Centre for IT and Architecture] is a research centre at the Royal Danish Academy of Fine Arts, Schools of Architecture, Design and Conservation. CITA examines how new information and communication technologies fundamentally challenges architectural practice as a tool for design, fabrication and communication.
HASSELL STUDIO
Hassell Studio is a leading international design practice with studios in Australia, China, South East Asia, the United Kingdom and the United States of America. With a multidisciplinary team of architects, interior designers, landscape architects, urban designers, planners and specialist consultants, Hassell Studio focus their main attention on people and how to create better, more meaningful experiences for them. Studio does that through creative, holistic thinking, a deep knowledge base and a rigorous design process.
CLOUD 9
Based in Barcelona, Cloud 9 works at the interface between architecture and art, digital processes and technological material development. Their multifaceted projects include stage designs and buildings, installations and patents, and are realized together with collaborative partners. While looking at pilot Projects in Global Warming Scenarios, Cloud 9, led by Enric Ruiz Geli uses new technological developments for digital fabrication and the performative character of architecture, which creates intelligent structures in emulation of nature.
McNEEL EUROPE
Founded in 1980, McNeel is a privately-held, employee-owned company with development, sales support, and training offices and affiliates all around the world. McNeel’s mission is to enrich its clients, employees, suppliers, community, and stockholders – in that order. Started by replacing drafting tables with productive AutoCAD systems, McNeel is currently focused on using AutoCAD drawings and related data in all business processes, including design, planning, marketing and maintenance as well as developing, publishing, and supporting specialty software for designers, engineers, and fabricators, and their related support staff.
KUKA ROBOTICS
KUKA AG is an internationally active company with sales of around 3.5 billion euro. Every day, roughly 14,200 KUKA employees at their headquarters in Augsburg and around the world work to ensure that they remain one of the world’s leading suppliers of intelligent automation solutions. Their international customers come from, among other sectors, the automotive industry and general industry. KUKA offers you everything from a single source: from the individual components to fully automated systems.
Other entities include: City Council of Barcelona, IIT Smart Materials Group, Bofill Architects (RBTA), External Reference Architecture Bureau, Foster and Partners, Studio Fuksas, Heatherwick Studio, Miralles Tagliabue EMBT, EcoLogic Studio, Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) Barcelona, MaterFAD, Leitat Technological Center, Eurecat – Technology Centre of Catalonia and many others.