How can architects make the most of an ancient, yet alive material?
Yacademy’s course in Wood Architecture, a project by Klimahouse, aims to train professional designers in generating sustainable architecture with a great visual impact, which represents the balance between human needs and nature.
With this in mind, Yacademy envisioned an extensive program including special lectures, teaching modules, workshops, and visits focusing on diverse aspects of designing with wood, from the production process to its various essences and characteristics.
At the end of the course, students will learn techniques and composition of wood architecture and acquire specific knowledge of the topics of decarbonization.
Such is the purpose of the course in Wood Architecture, an educational program meant for young designers and graduates who want to refine their architectural skills and sensitivity to imagine and construct woodworks.
Key Information
- 3 scholarships are available, each covering the entire enrollment fee.
- 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 June 2026 and finish in August 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 13 March 2026.
Structure: Special Lectures, Workshop, and Placement
Special Lectures by Kuma, Fujimoto, Snøhetta
Yacademy’s mission is to bring young, talented architects into contact with the greatest interpreters of contemporary architecture. With this purpose, the Wood Architecture educational program offers a series of special lectures held by the most renowned architects in the field of sacred architecture.
Thus, the course will feature Kengo Kuma as a guest lecturer, focusing on the Yusuhara Wooden Bridge Museum, an attempt to create new public architecture capable of bridging a wide range of issues, including the rejuvenation of regional culture, urban design, structural technology, materials, and traditional expression.
Another lecture with a slightly more general approach will be that by Marie de France from Sou Fujimoto, which will focus on the relationship between nature and architecture.
On the other hand, Martina Meier from Snøhetta will delve into the design of the Reindeer Pavilion, an observation pavilion for the Wild Reindeer Foundation educational programs in Norway, which is open to the public.
Other moments will have MAST, Atelier Brückner, Dorte Mandrup Architects, BIG, AMDL Circle, IBUKU, and Studio Precht as protagonists. Some of the guest lecturers will also share their opinions about the projects students will be developing for the design workshop during the critique sessions.
Design Workshop: Creating a Visitor Center in Japan for the Regeneration of Forested Areas
Yacademy’s Wood Architecture course aims to provide students with knowledge of environmental topics and skills to design, calculate the environmental impact, and manage the construction site of architectural productions using wood. The design workshop meets exactly this purpose, being a crucial step of Yacademy’s educational program.
The design workshop for the course in Wood Architecture is tutored by Taro Okabe, art director of Shigeru Ban Architects Paris, who has worked on a variety of international projects, working in design, technical coordination, and project leadership roles.
The workshop will focus on the design of a visitor center in the heart of the Yoshino forest region, an area that symbolizes the Japanese tradition of wood craftsmanship. Watch the video to learn more!
The main objective of the workshop is to address key themes of contemporary wood architecture, such as structural lightness, the relationship with context, the regeneration of rural landscapes, and the ability of design to shape new models of human presence within forests.
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 labor market is one of the biggest challenges in architecture. To help Wood Architecture students unlock their careers with a true job opportunity, Yacademy guarantees each designer a proposal for collaboration with one of its partner firms.
Some of the architectural practices with the greatest expertise in relation to sacred architecture are Shigeru Ban Architects, Snøhetta, Kengo Kuma and Associates, AMDL Circle, and BIG – Bjarke Ingels Group.
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 September and November 2026, 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 Wood Architecture 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 Wood Architecture 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 Wood Architecture course, you will automatically become eligible for one of the three scholarships covering the entire enrollment fee, consistent with the Selection Committee’s evaluation.
For more information and to apply, visit Yacademy!
