The Master in Ecological Architecture & Advanced Construction 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 construction.


Master in Ecological Architecture & Advanced Construction
The Master in Ecological Architecture & Advanced Construction equips students with the skills and knowledge to lead in sustainable construction, design and build the next generation of buildings and cities that address the planet’s urgent climate challenges.


Why Choose the Master in Ecological Architecture & Advanced Construction? A Leader in Sustainable Construction and Architecture
Conventional buildings often rely on resource-intensive systems that extend far beyond urban environments, leading to significant ecological impacts. The Master in Ecological Architecture & Advanced Construction 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.
Programme Structure: Hands-On Learning in Sustainable Construction & Ecological Design
FormatsThe Master in Ecological Architecture and Advanced Construction offers an immersive learning experience at IAAC’s Valldaura Campus, where students live, work, and learn in a natural environment. Following IAAC’s “learn-by-doing” philosophy, students engage in interdisciplinary courses, workshops, and design studios focused on ecological architecture, sustainable construction, digital technologies and material experimentation. Students develop full-scale projects with a focus on digital tools, advanced construction methods, and ecological strategies that can be combined to generate scalable and replicable building solutions. T
The programme is available in two formats: a 9-month programme fully at Valldaura campus and an 18-month programme in which the final 9 months may take place at both Valldaura and Poblenou Campus.
The one-year programme is structured in three modules, each emphasizing key areas: ecological design, building systems and material strategies and advanced construction and fabrication.
The opening module of the programme introduces students to key concepts, skills, and collaborative living at Valldaura. Students explore local production of resources, forest ecology, and sustainable management, including tree selection for material use. Hands-on activities include workshops where students experiment with design and prototyping, complemented by digital tools and technology, such as scanning the forest, mapping trees, applying environmental analysis, and using digital fabrication with wood.
This module provides foundational ecological knowledge, teamwork experience, and applied skills, preparing students for the advanced design and construction challenges of later modules.
Courses:
- Ecological Interactions
- Digital Tools & Representation
- Digital Fabrication
- Design Studio
The second module of the programme equips students with the skills and knowledge needed to navigate the complexity of designing ecological buildings. Students focus on the development of urban ecological buildings, exploring strategies for industrialised construction, prefabrication, and climate-responsive design.
Through design studios, seminars, and workshops, students investigate key aspects of ecological architecture, including structural systems, building components, material efficiency, and integration of advanced technologies.
Emphasis is placed on digital tools, fabrication methods, and scalable construction strategies, enabling students to develop solutions that are both innovative and practical for broader implementation in the construction industry.
This module provides a foundation for applying theoretical knowledge, technology, and systemic design strategies in preparation for the advanced prototyping and construction challenges in later stages of the programme.
Courses :
- Advanced Digital Tools & Fabrication
- Systems Modules
- Design Studio II
- Ecological Intelligence
In this phase, students focus on the collective design, fabrication, and construction of a self-sufficient building prototype. The module combines advanced construction classes, design studios, and hands-on construction, emphasizing the integration of building systems, ecological strategies, and material efficiency. Students gain experience with digital fabrication tools and advanced manufacturing methods, which are applied during the construction process to realize efficient, precise, and replicable architectural solutions. This module provides the opportunity to test and implement the strategies and knowledge developed in previous modules, culminating in a fully realized prototype that demonstrates scalable and innovative construction practices.
Courses:
- Advanced Construction,
- Design Studio,
- Collective Construction
Note: The directors may adjust the subjects and their duration to adapt the programme to the circumstances and projects to be develop
During the second year of the master’s program, students have the opportunity to work hand-in-hand with a series of renowned experts in various fields to develop an in-depth research agenda and a Master Thesis.
The Master Thesis is typically developed in pairs, although individual work may be permitted in certain cases to align with specific research challenges offered by the industrial and research network of IAAC. A diverse range of Master Thesis topics is provided by IAAC, allowing students to pursue work that is relevant, contextualized, applied, and innovative in the field of architecture, ecology & construction. A varied group of professional and industrial experts serves as Thesis Advisors, leading Thesis Clusters focused on specific research agendas. Thesis Advisors support and guide students throughout the academic year.
The academic structure is organised around the master thesis and includes a series of seminars that students can choose to attend to support their thesis development. Covering topics from computational design to advanced manufacturing, theory, business, and research methods, these seminars are designed to enhance the theoretical, practical, and technical skills of the students.
Additionally, 2nd year students have the opportunity to work alongside the IAAC team in the development of a series of 1:1 scale projects and prototypes to be deployed throughout the city of Barcelona.
During the first phase of the second year, students start the initial steps of their thesis project’s research development, including research contextualisation, and analysis, as well as first design iterations, and prototypes. The first term has complementary courses, focused on Theory & Practice, Applied Research & Advanced Technologies.
Thesis Clusters (One to be selected)
- 3D Printing Architecture
- Advanced Materials in Architecture
- Algorithmic Design in Architecture
- Metabolism & ecological architecture
- Robotic & Advanced Construction
Theory & Practice seminars:
- Research and Methods
- Business Innovation
- Sustainability Impacts
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 Theory & Practice, Applied Research, as well as Advanced Technologies in a close relationship to their research.
Advanced Technology Seminars (Two to be selected):
- Advanced Computation
- AI in the Built Environment
- Augmented & Mixed Reality
- Sensors for Digital Twin
- BIM for Smart Construction
- Human Machine Collaboration
This phase is structured around the development of the final design proposals, drawings, and prototypes related to the Thesis Project. Additional support sessions are organised to enhance the final deliverables. The final presentation and defence of the Master’s Thesis takes place before a jury panel at the end of June
Applied Research Seminar (One to be selected):
- Interaction & Prototyping
- Robotic Fabrication
- Ecological Interaction
The final phase of the programme takes place over the summer and does not include in-person classes, allowing students to focus entirely on developing the complete written document or book for their Thesis Project. The final submission requires two printed copies of the thesis and may also include the publication of a scientific paper.
*Note: The directors may adjust the subjects and their duration to adapt the programme to technological evolution and industry collaboration opportunities
Technical Skills
Throughout the programme, students acquire advanced skills in digital fabrication, material experimentation, and construction systems. These technical capabilities empower them to design, prototype, and construct innovative ecological buildings, preparing them to lead in sustainable construction while develop solutions that meet the demands of an evolving built environment.
Location / Accommodation
The Valldaura Campus offers on-site accommodation for first-year students of the Master in Ecological Architecture & Advanced Construction, 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 in Sustainable Architecture & Green Building
Upon completing the programme, the Master in Ecological Architecture & Advanced Construction graduates join the IAAC Alumni Community, a global network of visionary professionals in sustainable construction and ecological design. 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.

Alexandre Dubor is an architect and researcher integrating new technologies to improve how we build and live in cities. He holds a Master’s degree in Architecture & Engineering from EAVT & ENPC (France) and a Master’s in Architecture from IAAC (Spain), specialising in robotic fabrication and large-scale additive manufacturing (FabBot 3.0). Alexandre is also a licensed architect (HMONP) in France and has worked in various architectural firms, including Libeskind, Atenastudio, iDonati, and AREP, from competition to delivery stages. In parallel, he explored coding and scripting through his practice at Collectif277.
Since 2012, Alexandre has been working at IAAC as an expert in digital and robotic fabrication. He currently leads the Robotics Lab and co-directs the Master in Ecological Architecture & Advanced Construction. Alongside IAAC staff, students, and industry partners, he investigates how advancements in materials, digital fabrication, and computational design can create a more efficient, affordable, sustainable, and personalised construction ecosystem.

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 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.
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.
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 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 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.
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 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 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 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 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.
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.

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.

IAAC Graduation Day 2024: A Celebration of Collaborative Accomplishments

MAEBB Students Present the Kuka House

MAEBB Students Showcase Projects Integrating Industry 4.0 with Residential Design
The Institute
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