Would you like to discover the potential of terracotta as a building material?
Yacademy’s course in Earth Architecture, a project by Wienerberger, aims to train professional designers in the field of sustainable design in brick. Loved by the most prominent interpreters of architecture, this material is capable of providing creative answers to the demand for valuable architectural artefacts with a lower carbon footprint.
On such premises, Yacademy envisioned an extensive program including special lectures, teaching modules, workshops, and visits aimed at combining the knowledge of earth characteristics with the most modern architectural design languages.
How can a traditional material respond to the most contemporary challenges? How can terracotta inspire creative solutions for a better future?
Such are the questions behind the concept of Earth Architecture. The course is meant for young designers and graduates who want to boost their architectural skills in sustainable design with brick and enter the job market, or give their career a boost.
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 November 2025 and finish in February 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 5 September 2025
Structure: Special Lectures, Workshop, and Placement
Special Lectures by SANAA, Ateliers Jean Nouvel, BIG
Yacademy’s mission is to bring young, talented architects into contact with the greatest interpreters of contemporary architecture. With this purpose, the Earth Architecture educational program offers a series of special lectures held by the most renowned architects in the field.
Thus, the course will feature the participation of the best architectural studios, such as Manuel Herz Architects, Herzog & de Meuron, Dorte Mandrup, and David Chipperfield Architects Milan, to focus on some of the most influential design projects that exemplify the potential of bricks.
Thus, students will meet Andreas Fries, Senior Partner at Herzog & de Meuron, during a special lecture at the Tate Modern. This will help them study brick as an element of recovery in defining contemporary architecture. The same context – that of the museum – will be at the heart of Lyndon Neri and Rossana Hu’s speech, during which they will present the Qujiang Museum of Fine Arts to reflect on the materiality and warmth of architecture through terracotta.
Another perspective will be brought by Manuel Herz, who will delve into the value of vernacular architecture for the well-being of the communities, especially explaining his Tabacounda Hospital project.
Art, life, history, and spirituality are the major topics of these and other special lectures, which will be held by illustrious architects such as Benedetta Tagliabue, Zhu Pei, Lars Johan Almgren from Dorte Mandrup, Alberto Veiga, and Sameep Padora.
Design Workshop: Restoration of Italy’s most evocative ghost town with Aires Mateus
With Yacademy’s Earth Architecture course, students will become experts in how to enhance terracotta to its fullest potential to design the architecture of the future. The design workshop represents a framework within which designers can challenge themselves with a real design case and on-field teamwork.
The design workshop for the course in Earth Architecture is tutored by Jorge P Silva from Aires Mateus. Silva has been collaborating with the studio since 1998. His activity includes holding lectures and conferences all over the world, representing Aires Mateus, and coordinating international design competitions and projects.
The workshop, conducted in collaboration with Craco Ricerche, will deal with the development of hospitality buildings made of brick in Craco Vecchia, one of the most fascinating ghost towns in the world, perched on charming and sublime ravines. Watch the video to learn more!
With its uncovered vaults and abandoned towers, and its breathtaking landscape, the village of Craco is the perfect scenario to host large-scale, diffuse accommodation activities.
How would you use brick for the creation of contemporary design solutions that can effectively dialogue with historical architecture? Finding a way to interweave the potential of terracotta in terms of sustainability and creativity with issues of cultural heritage preservation and landscape protection is one of the main challenges posed by the Earth Architecture design workshop.
Divided into groups and tutored by Silva, 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 awaits you when the course has come to an end?
The Earth Architecture course includes a placement program aimed at providing students with a concrete connection with the labor market, bridging the gap between study and career. Yacademy’s answer to such a challenge is a guaranteed proposal of collaboration with one of its partner firms, including some of the most renowned architectural practices in the world. This ensures students in Earth Architecture a true job opportunity as well as a springboard to unlock their career in an increasingly competitive environment.
Some of the architectural studios with the greatest expertise in relation to brick architecture and participating in Yacademy’s placement program are Herzog & de Meuron, EMBT Miralles Tagliabue, Manuel Herz Architects, David Chipperfield Architects, Barozzi Veiga, and MVRDV.
The collaboration proposal lasts at least 2 months and provides for guaranteed remuneration consistently with regulatory requirements.
The placement for the course in Earth Architecture will be activated between March and May 2026, after a thorough process of interviews and discussions aimed at finding the best match for the student, also based on their preferences and inclinations.
During the placement, young designers can refine their skills with some of the world’s leading firms, building a solid network which they will benefit from in their future.
How to Apply: Admission and Scholarships
Do you think Yacademy’s Earth 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 latter can be submitted for a pre-evaluation carried out by the Yacademy management team.
- The course in Earth Architecture is addressed to students and graduates who have obtained a master’s degree in Architectural Sciences or other equivalent titles. The Selection Committee may, however, admit students with different qualifications.
- By applying for the Earth Architecture course, you will automatically become eligible for one of the three scholarships covering the entire enrollment fee, consistently with the Selection Committee’s evaluation.
Apply before September 5th, discover more at Yacademy!
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