The Institute for Advanced Architecture of Catalonia is a latest-generation education and research centre dedicated to the development of an architecture capable of meeting the worldwide challenges in the construction of habitability in the early 21st century. Based in the 22@ district of Barcelona, one of the world’s capitals of architecture and urbanism, the IaaC is a platform for the exchange of knowledge with faculty and students from over 25 countries, including the USA, China. India, Poland, Italy, Mexico and Sudan. Students work simultaneously on multiple scales (city, building, manufacturing) and in different areas of expertise (ecology, energy, digital manufacturing, new technologies), pursuing their own lines of enquiry on the way to developing an integrated set of skills with which to act effectively in their home country or globally.

The IaaC has carried out research projects in Brazil, Taiwan, Croatia and Romania. In 2008 it was chosen to take part in the official section of the Venice Biennale with the project Hyperhabitat, and in 2010 will present a 1:1 scale house entirely produced at the Institute at the Solar Decathlon Europe in Madrid. The IaaC has the most advanced digital production laboratory of any educational institution in southern Europe, with laser cutters, 3D printers, milling machines and a platform for manufacturing chips.

The IaaC organizes the Masters course in Advanced Architecture, directed by Vincent Guallart, Willy Müller and Marta Malé in conjunction with the UPC Polytechnic University. September 2009 will see the start of the Open Thesis Fabrication course, open to Masters’ architecture students from around the world. September 2009 will also see the launch of Fab Academy, part of the global network of Fab Labs affiliated to the MIT’s Center for Bit and Atoms.

Since 2004 the IaaC has run the Self-Sufficient Housing and Self-Fab House design competitions, and later this year will present the Your City 2109 competition with the aim of generating new paradigms for architecture and the construction of the city in this time of change.