MAEBB is designed for a diverse group of professionals, including engineers, architects, artists, makers, designers, biologists, and ecologists. The programme attracts individuals from various disciplines involved in the crafting of the built environment, all seeking to lead the way in designing ecological buildings worldwide. Students collaborate with industry leaders and experts to gain practical insights into the future of sustainable architecture.
Master in Advanced Ecological Buildings & Biocities
MAEBB equips students to design and build the next generation of buildings and cities that address the planet’s urgent climate challenges.
Why MAEBB?
Conventional buildings often rely on resource-intensive systems that extend far beyond urban environments, leading to significant ecological impacts. MAEBB tackles this issue by training professionals in the design, prototyping, and fabrication of buildings as interconnected ecological and thermodynamic systems, capable of operating efficiently within natural cycles.
7
Editions of the Master Programme
134
Graduated students and counting
44
Nationalities. Multicultural environment
Programme Structure
Formats
MAEBB (One-Year)
90 ECTS
MAEBB + Thesis Project (Two-Year)
120 ECTS
Download Booklet
The MAEBB programme offers an immersive learning experience at IAAC’s Valldaura Campus, where students live, work, and build together in a natural environment. Following IAAC’s “learn-by-doing” philosophy, students design and construct a full-scale ecological building while engaging in interdisciplinary courses and workshops on ecological design and construction. All project work is documented on an open online platform, encouraging collaboration across a diverse, international community.
The one-year programme spans 10 months and is divided into three terms. Each term focuses on a specific area: ecological design, sustainable building techniques, and material experimentation.
Term 1 – Introduction to Self-Sufficiency
The opening course of the Master program incorporates a wide range of concepts and skills, as a means to introduce students to key elements of the program, and living in community. The workshop involves learning about the local production of resources (including food, energy and things), the management of the forest, material traceability and tree selection for material production, as well as design and construction at a 1:1 scale, with the intention of introducing students to critical skills related to using tools and equipment, construction schedules, team building and team working, project management and design-build. The workshop culminates in a 1:1 scale constructed structure built collectively by students.
Term 2 – Building Design
With the objective of equipping students with the necessary skills and knowledge required to master the intricacy of factors related to designing ecological buildings, phase 2 of the postgraduate program focuses on the conceptual design and design development of an advanced ecological building in the context of a biocity. Throughout a series of iterative and linearly progressive modules, students develop an advanced ecological building at a block-scale.
This process uses applied learning techniques with the objective of teaching students how to demonstrate the application of acquired concepts and subjects within the framework of advanced technologies and ecological design. Students have the opportunity to explore and investigate key aspects of ecological design development before implementing them in the design and construction of an ecological building later in the year.
Term 3 – Prototype Construction
This phase consists of the collective design, fabrication, construction, and testing of the self-sufficient buildings for a small unit to be deployed in the Valldaura Campus or elsewhere, after agreement with partner organizations.
COURSES
- Design, Fabrication, Construction & Testing
Note: The directors may adjust the subjects and their duration to adapt the programme to the circumstances and projects to be developed.
The first year of the MAEBB + Thesis Project follows the same structure as the MAEBB programme, consisting of three terms over 10 months.
In the second year, structured into three terms over six months, students focus on developing an Individual Thesis Project. During this time, they advance their knowledge in key areas, transform their research into viable, real-world solutions, and create prototypes that demonstrate the practical application of ecological and sustainable design principles.
Term 1 – Initial Studies & Investigation
Students begin their Individual Thesis by investigating three core themes: advanced design, material ecology, and metabolism. This research-driven phase is focused on developing a thesis that explores new frontiers in ecological building, positioning students to lead innovation in sustainable architecture.
- Advanced Design
- Material Ecology
- Metabolism
Term 2 – Development
Students translate their research into the development of a commercially viable prototype. This phase focuses on scaling ecological solutions for broader application in urban contexts, documenting research progress, and refining design strategies for practical implementation.
- Working Prototype Development
Term 3 – Research Thesis & Prototype
In the final phase, students complete their thesis and present a commercially applicable prototype. The focus is on demonstrating the viability of ecological architecture in real-world contexts, supported by thorough research and practical design solutions.
- Research Thesis & Prototype
Note: The directors may adjust the subjects and their duration to adapt the programme to the circumstances and projects to be developed.
Technical Skills
Throughout the programme, students acquire advanced skills in digital fabrication, material experimentation, solar technologies, and more. These technical capabilities empower them to design, prototype, and construct innovative ecological buildings, preparing them to develop sustainable solutions that meet the demands of an evolving built environment.
Location / Accommodation
The Valldaura Campus offers on-site accommodation for MAEBB students, providing a fully immersive learning environment within IAAC’s self-sufficient research hub. Located in Collserola Park, just 30 minutes from Barcelona, the campus integrates sustainable living with cutting-edge research in architecture and ecology. While living on-site is encouraged, students also have the option to reside in Barcelona, with easy access to the campus by car, bike, or public transport.
Student profile
Career Paths
Upon completing the programme, MAEBB graduates join the IAAC Alumni Community a global network of visionary professionals. Alumni are involved in groundbreaking academic and research initiatives, leading award-winning practices, and working with internationally acclaimed firms and institutions to redefine ecological design on a global scale.
Directors & Coordinators
Vicente Guallart was the chief architect for Barcelona City Council from 2011 to 2015, where he was responsible for developing the strategic vision for the city and overseeing major development projects. He co-founded and directed IAAC from 2001 to 2011, leading notable projects such as the Media House Project (in collaboration with MIT’s CBA), HyperCatalunya, and the Fab Lab House.
Guallart’s professional practice, Guallart Architects, has delivered widely published projects, including the ports of Fugee and Keelung in Taiwan and the Sociopolis neighbourhood in Valencia. He is currently working on projects in China and Russia, focusing on innovative urban solutions. As an author, he has written books like Plans and Projects of Barcelona (2011-2015), Geologic, and The Self-Sufficient City, and he co-authored the Metapolis Dictionary of Advanced Architecture. His work has been exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Biennale of Venice and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, with a solo exhibition organised by the American Institute of Architects in Washington, D.C., in 2010.
Vicente Guallart
IAAC Co-founder / Valldaura Labs Senior Advisor / MAEBB Co-Director / Board of Trustees Member (he/him)
Michael Salka is the Co-director of the Master in Advanced Ecological Buildings & Biocities (MAEBB) and the Technical Director of Valldaura Labs at IAAC (2022–present). He is also a Gates Scholar PhD candidate in Architecture at the University of Cambridge (2021–2025). Michael’s career spans projects such as designing water infrastructure in rural Rwanda (2012–2014), developing net-zero neighbourhoods and urban infill projects in the USA (2014–2018), and working on engineered timber buildings and ‘Biocities’ in Spain (2018–present).
His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals (2013–present) and books such as Springer Nature’s Transforming Biocities (2023), commissioned by the European Forest Institute. He has also contributed reports on biobased social housing for the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). His work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times (2021). His PhD focuses on how geospatial data can inform nature-based value chains to address global climate change and related crises.
Michael Salka
VL Technical Director / MAEBB Co-director (he/him)
Esin Aydemir is a practising architect specialising in timber structures. After graduating from Istanbul Technical University, she worked at a construction firm focusing on timber structures. Esin furthered her studies with the Wood Program at Aalto University and a Master’s in Mass Timber Design (MMTD) at IAAC. She is currently the Academic Coordinator for the Master in Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities (MAEBB) program at IAAC.
Esin Aydemir
MAEBB Lead (she/her)
Vicente Guallart
IAAC Co-founder / Valldaura Labs Senior Advisor / MAEBB Co-Director / Board of Trustees Member (he/him)
Vicente Guallart was the chief architect for Barcelona City Council from 2011 to 2015, where he was responsible for developing the strategic vision for the city and overseeing major development projects. He co-founded and directed IAAC from 2001 to 2011, leading notable projects such as the Media House Project (in collaboration with MIT’s CBA), HyperCatalunya, and the Fab Lab House.
Guallart’s professional practice, Guallart Architects, has delivered widely published projects, including the ports of Fugee and Keelung in Taiwan and the Sociopolis neighbourhood in Valencia. He is currently working on projects in China and Russia, focusing on innovative urban solutions. As an author, he has written books like Plans and Projects of Barcelona (2011-2015), Geologic, and The Self-Sufficient City, and he co-authored the Metapolis Dictionary of Advanced Architecture. His work has been exhibited at prestigious venues such as the Biennale of Venice and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, with a solo exhibition organised by the American Institute of Architects in Washington, D.C., in 2010.
Michael Salka
VL Technical Director / MAEBB Co-director (he/him)
Michael Salka is the Co-director of the Master in Advanced Ecological Buildings & Biocities (MAEBB) and the Technical Director of Valldaura Labs at IAAC (2022–present). He is also a Gates Scholar PhD candidate in Architecture at the University of Cambridge (2021–2025). Michael’s career spans projects such as designing water infrastructure in rural Rwanda (2012–2014), developing net-zero neighbourhoods and urban infill projects in the USA (2014–2018), and working on engineered timber buildings and ‘Biocities’ in Spain (2018–present).
His research has been published in peer-reviewed journals (2013–present) and books such as Springer Nature’s Transforming Biocities (2023), commissioned by the European Forest Institute. He has also contributed reports on biobased social housing for the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank (IDB). His work has been featured in outlets like The New York Times (2021). His PhD focuses on how geospatial data can inform nature-based value chains to address global climate change and related crises.
Esin Aydemir
MAEBB Lead (she/her)
Esin Aydemir is a practising architect specialising in timber structures. After graduating from Istanbul Technical University, she worked at a construction firm focusing on timber structures. Esin furthered her studies with the Wood Program at Aalto University and a Master’s in Mass Timber Design (MMTD) at IAAC. She is currently the Academic Coordinator for the Master in Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities (MAEBB) program at IAAC.
Faculty Name
Position
Bruno Ganem
Green Fab Lab Manager
Bruno Ganem is a Brazilian architect and researcher from Brasília. He currently serves as the Green Fab Lab Manager at Valldaura Self-sufficient Labs.
Bruno holds a Bachelor’s degree in Architecture and Urban Planning from the University of Brasilia (UnB), a Master’s in Advanced Architecture, and a Postgraduate degree in 3D Printed Architecture from IAAC.
With a strong interest in the intersection between architecture and craftsmanship, Bruno has gained experience working with various materials at different scales, from furniture production to the construction of timber structures.
Oliver Needham
Architectural and Fabrication Research & Design
Olly is a multidisciplinary designer, researcher, maker who obtained his Bachelors degree in Industrial Design from the University of Leeds, before working in the design industry for a deacde. He is an alumni of the Ellen MacArthur Foundation Circular Economy course and ran a sustainability team at a leading design consultancy in the UK. He has worked on a variety of design and innovation projects, as well as gaining experience in natural material building design and construction. In 2024, he graduated from the Master in Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities from IAAC, and now co-runs the zero agriculture course and intensive organic gardens at Valldaura labs.
Alkiviadis Avarkiotis
Architectural and Fabrication Research & Design
Alkiviadis is an architect and researcher from Greece focused on bioregional and circular construction. With an Integrated Master’s in Architecture from the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (2019) and a Master’s in Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities from IAAC (2024), his expertise centers on sustainable design and ecological building practices. Alkiviadis has experience in various hospitality and residential projects and has engaged in architectural competitions. He currently contributes to architectural and fabrication research and design at IAAC’s Valldaura Labs.
Javier García-Germán
MAEBB Faculty
Javier García-Germán studied architecture at the School of Architecture of Madrid (ETSAM), Oxford School of Architecture and Harvard University Graduate School of Design, where he was Fulbright Scholar. In 2005 he founded ToTem arquitectos. Since 2008 he is Associate Professor at ETSAM and since 2010 Director of the Energy and Sustainability module in the Master’s Degree in Collective Housing and The New School of Architecture (PUPR). He has edited several books linked to energy and sustainability, among others De lo Mecánico a lo Termodinámico.
Elena Orte and Guillermo Sevillano
MAEBB Faculty / Suma Arquitectura
Guillermo Sevillano is an Associate Professor at the Polytechnic University of Madrid (ETSAM) and he has been teaching at Camilo Jose Cela University. He studied the MS in Advanced Architectural Design, GSAPP at Columbia University. Elena Orte has been Assistant Professor at ETSAM and has studied the MS in Advanced Architectural Design in ETSAM. Together they are the directors of SUMA architecture. SUMA is currently developing the largest cross-laminated timber public building in Spain, located in Barcelona.
Honorata Grzesikowska
MAEBB Faculty / Urban Projects Research
Honorata Grzesikowska is an urban designer, architect, and researcher currently based in Barcelona, founder of Urbanitarian.com.
She is a co-author of the projects, among others: ‘The New Urban Fabrik: Torrent Estadella Eco-Industrial Park’, commissioned by the Municipality of Barcelona, that explores strategies for the regeneration of a 30ha decaying industrial site in the central city through the development of urban manufacturing dedicated to clean, green economy-related activities; mixed-use residential masterplan of 28ha for the extension of the city Malacky in Slovakia.
She has also co-authored the entries that won 1st prize in Europan 12-Barcelona, with the project Green Ramblas and 2nd Prize in Europan 13-Barcelona with Sustainable Interface. Honorata gained professional experience in internationally renowned urban design and architecture offices in Rotterdam and in London.
She studied Architecture and Urban Design at Poznan Technical University (PL) and Urban Design at Avans University of Applied Sciences in Tilburg (NL). She has taught as an expert reviewer in the urban design master courses of the University of Liechtenstein, Institute for Architecture and Urban Planning.
Her work has been extensively published in specialized media and books such as ‘Barcelona Plans and Projects 2011-2015’, published by the Municipality of Barcelona.
Jonathan Minchin
Civic Ecology Strategic Advisor
Jonathan Minchin is a multidisciplinary designer and architect, working between the built environment, digital fabrication with a particular focus on rural contexts. He founded the Green Fab Lab at Valldaura Labs, IAAC Campus in Barcelona in 2013 and is currently the Project Manager of an EU Horizon 2020 program that develops tools for Climate Resilient Agriculture. (ROMI, Robotics for Microfarms.) He founded ‘Open Source Beehives’ in 2015 and directs the research organisation ‘Ecological Interaction’.
In the field ‘International Cooperation, Sustainable Emergency Architecture’ he has worked on housing and development projects alongside ‘UN habitat’ in Barcelona, ‘Habitat for Humanity’ in Costa Rica, ‘UNESCO’ in Cuba and with ‘Basic Initiative’ in Tunisia. He holds a particular interest in appropriate technology and local manufacturing. His writing on “Geographic referencing for Technology Transfer” was published in the book “Reflections on Development and Cooperation”. He has studied and taught in the Fab Academy, Bio Academy and set up the Zero Series workshops in Biology, Agro Ecology and Forestry. He has co-founded the Open Lab platform for technology transfer.
Miquel Rodríguez
MAEBB Faculty
Miquel is a building envelope consultant. He is director of xmade Barcelona and co-owner of xmade Basel. Currently based in Barcelona after working in Basel, Hamburg and Madrid as an associate of Herzog & de Meuron (1999-2011). He also collaborated with Josep Lluís Mateo, MAP architects (1992-1997). Architect (ETSA) he is specialized in envelope technologies. He is Design Studio Professor of the Barcelona Architecture Centre since 2016 and Professor on the Master of Integrated Architectural Design (MIAD), Barcelona, on the subject “Energy and Envelope”.
Jochen Scheerer
MAEBB Faculty / Water
Jochen is an expert on the cycle of water. Partner- director of ASEPMA, company specialized in the treatment and decentralized management of water in the domestic and urban environment. He is co-author of the largest green facade or vertical garden in Spain, the Tabacalera building, in Tarragona. In total, 185m wide and 18m high, which represent more than 3000 m2 of green space. Schreer tries to arise awareness on the importance of water, in all its forms, as a valuable resource.
Jesus Bueno
MAEBB Faculty / Energy
Thatcher Bean
MAEBB Faculty
Thatcher Bean is a film director leading MASS Design Group’s media production since 2013, documenting the impact of the built environment. He directed MASS’s first feature film, Made In Ilima (2017), which premiered at the New York Architecture and Design Film Festival.
He has spoken at SXSW Eco, Columbia GSAPP, Harvard GSD, and Yale School of Architecture, among others. A 2019 Graham Foundation grantee, he co-produced MASS Design Group’s 2023 Venice Architecture Biennale exhibition. He holds a BFA in Film Studies from the University of Colorado.
Projects & Partners
Since completing her Master’s degree in Advanced Ecological Buildings and Biocities at the Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia, Spain, Suwapat Rodprasert has been actively contributing to the field of sustainable architecture. Following her graduation, she worked as an architect at Urbanitree, led by Daniel Ibañez and Vicente Guallart, where she focused on designing innovative mass timber architecture. This experience deepened her expertise in ecological building techniques and reinforced her passion for sustainable design.
In 2023, Suwapat moved back to Asia to continue her career and joined Snøhetta Asia as an architect. At Snøhetta, she has been involved in a variety of architectural projects across the region, ranging from small to large-scale developments. These projects have allowed her to explore and refine the relationship between spatial design, functionality, and sustainability, further enriching her professional journey.
Her master’s degree has significantly influenced her approach to design, equipping her with the skills to integrate ecological principles into her work. Suwapat remains committed to creating architecture that not only meets functional and aesthetic demands but also contributes positively to the environment and the communities it serves.
Suwapat Rodprasert, MAEBB.
In 2023, Suwapat moved back to Asia to continue her career and joined Snøhetta Asia as an architect. At Snøhetta, she has been involved in a variety of architectural projects across the region, ranging from small to large-scale developments. These projects have allowed her to explore and refine the relationship between spatial design, functionality, and sustainability, further enriching her professional journey.
Her master’s degree has significantly influenced her approach to design, equipping her with the skills to integrate ecological principles into her work. Suwapat remains committed to creating architecture that not only meets functional and aesthetic demands but also contributes positively to the environment and the communities it serves.
Latest news – Student life
IAAC Graduation Day 2024: A Celebration of Collaborative Accomplishments
Discover students’ speeches reflecting on their unique experiences at IAAC, shared during the IAAC Graduation Day 2024.
MAEBB Students Present the Kuka House
Discover the final presentation of the Kuka House, a project made by students of the 2023-2024 MAEBB programme.
MAEBB Students Showcase Projects Integrating Industry 4.0 with Residential Design
The exhibition of MAEBB students, located on the first floor of Casal Dalt de la Villa, will end on April 15th, 2024.
The Institute
IAAC is an innovative centre dedicated to prototyping the future. We don’t see the future as a distant horizon awaiting us. We understand the present as a moment to influence what comes next. The future is our daily inspiration, our driving force, and our biggest commitment: our minds live in the cities, the technology and the problems of the future. We stand at the intersection of imagination and reality, where every prototype holds the potential to shape the next era of habitat. We are architects of change.
Fee & Scholarships
Review important information regarding our programme fees, average cost of living in Barcelona and scholarships opportunities available for eligible applicants.
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