How can architecture create spaces dedicated to bodily care and the pursuit of psychological well-being?
The course in Architecture for Wellness aims to train new generations of expert designers capable of generating refined and immersive architectural experiences that facilitate and support the pursuit of psychophysical well-being.
With this in mind, Yacademy envisioned an extensive program including special lectures, teaching modules, workshops, and visits focusing on diverse aspects of wellness and on how to create spaces for body care.
At the end of the course, students will acquire the ability to generate “therapeutic” spaces capable of enhancing users’ wellbeing regardless of function.
Such is the purpose of the course in Architecture for Wellness, which was conceived within the context of the Montecatini Terme Biennale, to contribute to the enhancement and revitalization of Montecatini’s architectural and cultural heritage. The result is an educational program meant for young designers and graduates who want to refine their architectural skills and sensitivity in wellness space design, responding to a need that goes beyond spaces traditionally associated with wellness and now permeates all areas of human life.
Key Information
- Multiple scholarships are available.
- The classes will take place in Bologna, Italy, in a medieval building located in the historical city centre. However, online attendance is possible as well.
- The course will start in September 2026 and finish in November 2026, with a frequency of around 3 days per week.
- All modules and activities – lessons, special lectures, workshops, and visits – can be held in Italian or English. In any case, translation into English is always available.
- The application deadline is 26 June 2026.
Structure: Special Lectures, Workshop, and Placement
Special Lectures by Álvaro Siza, Alejandro Aravena, GAD Architecture
Yacademy’s mission is to bring young, talented architects into contact with the greatest interpreters of contemporary architecture. With this purpose, the Architecture for Wellness educational program offers a series of special lectures held by the most renowned architects in the field.
Thus, the course will feature Pritzker Laureate Álvaro Siza as guest lecturer, who will focus on his notorious project Piscinas das Marés in Oporto.
Architecture for Wellness will also welcome Gökhan Avcıoğlu and Yusuf Cavdar from GAD Architecture for a special lecture on Eskişehir Hotel, explaining the project and the approach behind it, which was highly influenced and inspired by the underground thermal spring water resources of the region where it is located in Turkey.
A more general approach will be the one by Alejandro Aravena, President of the Pritzker Prize Jury and Founder of Elemental, who will explore architecture as a means of promoting social dignity and well-being.
Other moments will have Giulio Rigoni from BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, Michele De Lucchi, founder of AMDL Circle, Germàn del Sol, Martine Bedin from Jean Nouvel Design, and Kengo Kuma as lecturers. Some of them will also share their opinions about the projects students will be developing for the design workshop during the critique sessions.
Design Workshop: turning a disused hotel in Montecatini Terme into a contemporary Wellness Centre
Yacademy’s Architecture for Wellness course invites students to reflect on the role of architecture in shaping well-being experiences, developing proposals capable of integrating functional, sensory, and environmental aspects into a unified design vision. The design workshop meets exactly this purpose, being a crucial step of Yacademy’s educational program.
The design workshop for the course in Architecture for Wellness is tutored by Martine Bedin, Art Director at Jean Nouvel Design.
The workshop will focus on the reconversion of the former Hotel Paradiso, one of Montecatini’s most controversial architectural structures, into a Wellness Centre, conceived as a comprehensive system of spaces dedicated to the care of body and mind. Watch the video to learn more!
The workshop aims to interpret the concept of wellbeing in a broader sense, encompassing public spaces, areas for spa treatments, physical activities, sensory experiences, meditation spaces and areas dedicated to relaxation and socializing, restoring a space that has long been unused and neglected in the local area.
Divided into groups and tutored by the renowned architect, young designers will thus have the opportunity to enhance their personal and professional skills, refining their ability to work within a team on a real design challenge.
After the Course: Placement Opportunities
What do you do once the course is over?
Finding your own place in the labour market is one of the biggest challenges in architecture. To help Architecture for Wellness students unlock their career with a real job opportunity, Yacademy guarantees each designer a proposal of collaboration with one of its partner firms.
Some of the architectural practices with the greatest expertise in relation to the wellness field are BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group, Jean Nouvel Design, Kengo Kuma & Associates, NOA, and Studio Alberto Apostoli.
Yacademy’s placement program includes a collaboration proposal that has a minimum duration of 2 months and guaranteed remuneration, consistent with regulatory requirements.
The placement for the course will be activated between November 2026 and February 2027, after a thorough process. Yacademy’s placement office will take into consideration the preferences and inclinations of the students so as to find the best possible match. The collaboration is an opportunity for students to perfect their skills, work, and interact with some of the world’s leading firms, and have a real chance to build a solid network useful for their future.
How to Apply: Admission and Scholarships
Do you think Yacademy’s Architecture for Wellness course might be the right key to unlock your potential as a designer?
Here are some hints on the application process and requirements:
- To ensure a high level of educational experience and immediate placement of students in the most distinguished professional settings, the students will be selected by a committee comprising partners from some of the world’s top firms. The admission to the course is based on the evaluation of the curriculum vitae, a motivational letter, and a portfolio.
- The course in Architecture for Wellness is addressed to students and graduates in Architectural Sciences or other equivalent titles. The Selection Committee may, however, admit students with different qualifications.
- By applying for the Architecture for Wellness course, you will automatically become eligible for one of the eight scholarships, consistent with the Selection Committee’s evaluation.
For more information and to apply, visit Yacademy!
