MAA Student: Luz Michelle Lavayen (Panama) Research Studio: Self- Sufficient Buildings Studio Instructor: Vicente Guallart, IAAC Director Project Goal: Create a self-sufficient urban block for 22@, Barcelona. Student’s Summary: “The main concepts for developing a self-sufficient city block  were to free the ground level, create an underground patio and use it as a public green space in order to connect and give back interactive spaces to the city. Analyzing the structure of a tree and its growth I can relate thesis process to the project. Organizing the different programs according to better location for those activities and also connecting them. The inverted topography of the building will work as structure, vertical circulation and fluid system for sustainable elements, it also becomes the skin of the building. This metabolic structure will serve to harvest water to produce energy, clean grey water for farming and public green areas, waste management, geothermal system, wind power from turbines located in the top patios and solar photovoltaic panels on south side of the block where it can take advantage of the most of radiation.” About the MAA Final Projects In Final Phases of the Masters in Advanced Architecture program students attend one of three Research Studios: Self-Sufficient Buildings, Digital Tectonics or Emergent Territories. At the end of Phase II MAA Students presented their initial proposals. Throughout Phase III they will refine this research for their final presentations. In the time leading up to the week of presentations we will give a preview of each project on the blog. This year final presentations will be held the week of June 27. All presentations are open to the public. We invite you to come to see the students present. More information will be provided closer to the week of presentations.