MAUR is designed for Chinese professionals from diverse backgrounds such as urban planning, architecture, environmental engineering, economics, sociology, and data science. This programme is ideal for individuals with at least 5 years of professional experience who seek to deepen their understanding of urban regeneration and contribute to sustainable, human-centred city planning.
Master in Advanced Urban Regeneration
MAUR is an innovative programme aimed at fostering collaboration between China and Barcelona by training the next generation of leaders in urban regeneration.
Why MAUR?
MAUR responds to the growing need for renewable urban regeneration as cities face increasing environmental and social challenges. This executive programme, designed in partnership with the Urban Planning & Design Institute of Shenzhen (UPDIS), equips professionals with the tools and knowledge to shape cities that prioritise human and ecological well-being.
Through collaborations with international experts and institutions, MAUR integrates practical learning and industry-led projects, preparing students to lead the transformation of urban environments in China and around the world.
1
Editions of the Master Programme
10
Graduated students and counting
1
Nationalities. Multicultural environment
Programme Structure
Formats
MRAC (One-year)
60 ECTS
The programme is structured in two terms, one in Barcelona and the other in Shenzhen, offering students a global perspective on urban regeneration while tackling the unique challenges of two rapidly evolving cities. This structure provides a rich comparative approach, allowing students to explore both Western and Eastern methodologies in urban development.
Term 01
In Term one, students will engage with a wide range of subjects focused on urban history, sustainable urban development, mobility, infrastructure, and project development. The courses are designed to provide a comprehensive introduction to the key issues shaping cities today, particularly through the lens of Barcelona as a living laboratory.
COURSES:
Urban History And Planning:
1. Barcelona History and Context / 2 ECTS
2. Metropolitan Scale / 2 ECTS
Sustainable Urban Development:
3. Waterfront Regeneration / 2 ECTS
4. Public Space and Superblocks / 2 ECTS
5. Regeneration and Reactivation Of Historical Buildings / 2 ECTS
6. Public Facilities / 2 ECTS
7. Social Housing in Spain / 2 ECTS
8. Renaturalization and Biocities
Urban Mobility And Infrastructure:
9. New Forms of Urban Development / 2 ECTS
10. Planning With Data / 2 ECTS
11. Urban Infrastructures / 2 ECTS
International Perspectives And Comparative Studies:
12. Trip to Madrid, Valencia / 2 ECTS
Project Development And Innovation:
13. Urban Innovation / 2 ECTS
14. Besos River Project Workshop / 2 ECTS
15. Project Development / 6 ECTS
Term 02
In the second term, students expand their global perspective by exploring urban regeneration and social development in China, alongside further studies in sustainable urban development. This term takes place in Shenzhen, offering a unique opportunity to compare Eastern and Western approaches to urban challenges.
COURSES:
Chinese Urban Regeneration and Social Development
16. Chinese Urban Regeneration Workshop / 2 ECTS
17. Social Housing in China / 4 ECTS
18. Eastern International Urban Regeneration / 4 ECTS
Sustainable Urban Development
19. Circular Bioeconomy / 4 ECTS
Final project
This project would integrate lessons from Barcelona and Shenzhen, addressing key issues like sustainable development, social housing, mobility, and infrastructure. Students propose innovative, data-driven solutions that promote ecological sustainability and social inclusivity while considering both local and global contexts.
Technical Skills
Throughout the programme, MAUR students will gain proficiency in advanced tools such as Data Analytics, 3D Modelling, Computer Simulation, and Sustainable Urban Design. These technical skills will enable graduates to create impactful, data-driven solutions for modern urban challenges.
Student profile
Career Paths
MAUR graduates will have access to a vast professional network, including urban design firms, public institutions, and research centres. Career opportunities include roles in urban design, urban intelligence and analytics, policy development, and sustainable urban development in both the public and private sectors.
Graduates may work with leading organisations involved in urban planning, architecture, community-driven initiatives, and landscape urbanism, leveraging IAAC’s global network of professionals and alumni.
Director
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.
Vicente Guallart
IAAC Co-founder / Valldaura Labs Senior Advisor / MAEBB Co-Director / Board of Trustees Member (he/him)
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.
Faculty Name
Position
Maria Buhigas
Chief Architect of Barcelona
Xavier Matilla
Architect and urbanist, Chief Architect of Barcelona 2019-2023
José Antonio Gras
Urban architect and researcher
Andreu Ulied
Urban architect and researcher
Daniel Ibañez
Director and CEO of IAAC
Daniel Ibañez is a practising architect, urbanist, and educator. He holds a Doctor of Design from Harvard University and serves as Director and CEO of IAAC, as well as principal of the Urbanitree design studio. Since 2017, Daniel has been a senior urban consultant for the World Bank, advising on timber housing and urban development globally.
His work centres on timber construction’s architectural and urban implications. Daniel co-authored the book Wood Urbanism: From Molecular to Territorial (Actar, 2019) and co-organized a Harvard GSD conference under the same theme. His award-winning projects include the Fab Lab House (Madrid), Endesa Pavilion (Oslo), and the Voxel (Barcelona), with exhibitions at the Venice Biennale and Oslo Triennale.
Daniel has taught at institutions such as Harvard GSD, Rhode Island School of Design, and Universidad Pontificia Católica de Chile. He co-directs Margen-Lab, a design firm focused on ecologically and materially driven projects, and is an editor of New Geographies. His publications include Third Coast Atlas (Actar, 2017) and Wood Urbanism.
His work has been recognized by the La Caixa Foundation, the Real Colegio Complutense at Harvard, the Venice Biennale, and more.
Laia Grau
Former head planning department of Barcelona
Honorata Grzesikowska
Founder of Urbanitarian and JustHood
Eduard Martin
CIO Mobile World Capital Barcelona
Carles Casamor
Landscape architect
Javier Burón
Former General Manager Housing in Barcelona
Alan Organschi
Architect, ecological cities expert
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