Prototyping Labs

The Automation Lab explores automation, computation, and material intelligence in architecture. Using robotic arms, collaborative robots, drones, and mobile platforms, the lab develops processes including robotic milling, additive deposition, painting, weaving, and adaptive assembly. Custom end-effectors enable work with viscous materials, composites, and modular systems. Combining parametric design, real-time control, and automated workflows, the lab supports experimentation in construction logics, performative fabrication, and full-scale prototyping.

The Matter & Bio Labs investigate alternative, bio-based, and composite materials for sustainable architectural applications through hands-on experimentation and prototyping. Processes include extrusion, pellet printing, casting, curing, and lamination using fibers, clay, recycled matter, and bio-resins. The Bio Lab operates as an experimental environment for biomaterial exploration, supporting wet processes, material growth studies, and paste-based 3D printing to test fabrication methods integrating organic and living materials.

These labs support rapid and precise fabrication through laser cutting and additive manufacturing workflows. Laser systems cut and engrave wood, plastics, textiles, and composites for models and components. Additive manufacturing includes thermoplastic, pellet, and clay-based printing across multiple scales for prototyping and material testing. Integrated digital workflows enable fast iteration, geometric experimentation, and fabrication research for architectural and design applications.

The Wood & CNC Workshop combines traditional carpentry with digital fabrication processes. Large-format CNC milling, routing, and cutting operate alongside manual woodworking and assembly techniques to produce components, furniture, and architectural prototypes. By linking computational design with material knowledge and construction workflows, the workshop enables efficient transitions from concept development to full-scale fabrication and hands-on experimentation.

The AI Lab is a computational facility supporting machine learning, computer vision, generative AI, and large-scale simulation workflows applied to architecture and urban systems. Equipped with high-performance computing infrastructure, it enables AI model training, inference, and deployment while remaining connected to robotics and fabrication spaces. The lab supports research, advanced studios, and collaborations integrating data-driven design, material experimentation, and prototyping workflows.

This lab explores architectural-scale additive manufacturing using locally sourced and sustainable materials. A crane-mounted extrusion system enables direct printing of full-scale building components and structures. Integrating computational design, material formulation, and robotic control, research focuses on adaptive toolpaths, structural performance, and circular construction workflows, enabling on-site fabrication with reduced waste and environmentally responsible construction strategies.

The Advanced Digital Wood Lab integrates robotic fabrication, CNC machining, and traditional carpentry for timber architecture and material research. Combining robotic milling, digital workflows, and hands-on woodworking, the lab produces structural components and full-scale prototypes using locally sourced materials. Linked to experimentation with wood, earth, and mineral-based materials, the facility connects craftsmanship, robotics, and sustainable construction methods for innovative timber systems.

Forest Labs, IAAC’s campus in Collserola Park, functions as a living laboratory for innovation in fabrication, energy, and sustainable living across 140 hectares. Hosting facilities for digital wood construction, renewable energy research, and food production, the campus supports experimentation and hands-on learning in self-sufficient systems. Research and real-world testing converge to develop ecological and productive solutions for contemporary living environments.

The Agro Lab supports food production and cultivation research through experimental growing systems connected to surrounding gardens. Facilities include seedling nurseries and hydroponic environments using nutrient-controlled delivery and LED lighting to enable continuous production cycles. Combining agricultural knowledge with innovative cultivation methods, the lab operates as a living platform demonstrating efficient and ecologically focused approaches adaptable to both local and urban food systems.

The AR/VR Lab explores immersive media and interactive visualization using virtual and augmented reality technologies. Supporting research in video mapping, immersive environments, and urban data visualization, the lab integrates spatial interaction, sensing, and computational design to create responsive experiences. It enables experimentation connecting digital information, human interaction, and architectural space through real-time visualization systems and interactive environments.

The Electronic Lab explores embedded systems and sensor-driven design for interactive architectural applications. Supporting experimentation with microcontrollers and programmable platforms, the lab enables development of responsive prototypes, interactive installations, and smart components. By combining circuitry, sensing technologies, and computational logic, the space connects digital intelligence with physical environments and fabrication workflows.

The Sensing Lab supports citizen sensing and open environmental data practices through development of low-cost sensing devices and community-driven monitoring tools. Integrating electronics design, calibration, data analysis, and software workflows, the lab enables communities and researchers to observe and interpret environmental conditions. It supports the lifecycle of sensing technologies while connecting research, education, and public initiatives around shared environmental data production.