IAAC – Advanced Architecture Barcelona kicked off its Lecture Series 2025/26 with a keynote by Carlo Ratti, one of the most influential voices in contemporary architecture and urban innovation.

An architect and engineer, Ratti is the Curator of the Biennale Architettura 2025, Professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and Director of the Senseable City Lab, as well as Founder of the internationally renowned practice Carlo Ratti Associati.

In his lecture, Natural, Artificial, and Collective Intelligence, Ratti explored how the convergence of nature, data and human behaviour is redefining our built environment. From sensing technologies to participatory urbanism, his work investigates how information and design can together create more responsive, equitable and sustainable cities.

Through his projects – from the Digital Water Pavilion to the Copenhagen Wheel and The Circular Garden at the Milan Design Week – Ratti continues to challenge the traditional boundaries between digital and physical space, positioning architecture as an evolving interface between technology and society.

By connecting computational thinking with environmental awareness, Ratti’s lecture resonated deeply with IAAC’s approach to advanced urban design and digital innovation, reinforcing the institute’s commitment to shaping the cities of tomorrow through hands-on experimentation, research and education.

If you’re interested in exploring these ideas further – from data-driven urban design to digital fabrication and environmental innovation – discover IAAC’s full range of master’s programmes here