Brief
Cities are complex entities, dynamic systems in a state of constant flux, where social, economic and environmental dimensions intertwine. Today, more than ever, the issue of urban regeneration stands as one of the central challenges facing architecture, which is called upon to intervene in established urban areas, existing infrastructure and architecturaò heritage that often no longer meet contemporary needs.
In this context, artificial intelligence introduces new tools for analysis and design, capable of analysing vast amounts of data, simulating scenarios and supporting increasingly complex decision-making processes. AI is not merely a technology, but an operational tool that redefines the very way we conceive and manage urban transformations.
For these reasons, the course in “AI for Urban Regeneration” has been created, with the aim of training designers capable of integrating advanced analysis and design tools into urban regeneration processes. Through the study of urban systems, territorial dynamics and the potential offered by artificial intelligence, course participants will acquire the skills to approach urban design in a conscious, informed and innovative manner.
Starting from the experience of Urban Up | Unipol and drawing on insights from some of the most influential international organisations in the fields of design and research, the course will provide an up-to-date overview of the possibilities offered by AI, exploring its practical applications in urban regeneration processes. The programme will consist of lectures, design workshops and talks by renowned professionals, with the aim of training professionals capable of working within the most advanced practices of contemporary regeneration.
Course info
15 In person
5 Online
Bologna
23.11.2026 - 12.2.2027
3 days/weekMarch 2027 - May 2027
9700 + VAT
In person3200 -+ VAT
OnlineTeaching modules & Workshops
AI and the formation of designers
Training and learning models for designers in the age of AIAI and concept design
Generative algorithms for urban regeneration concepts and future urban morphologiesAI for the green transition
Mapping emissions, heat islands and biodiversityArtificial intelligence compared to natural intelligence
The relationship between human and machineAI and copyright
The topic of authorship in the human–machine relationshipThe impact of AI on human psychology
Scenarios and possibilities for coexistence between humans and AIAI and virtual realities
From gaming to urban designMachine learning for the monitoring of public spaces
Urban quality seen through the eyes of AIDigital twins of cities
BIM language and the digitisation of the built environment as a database for AI algorithmsRegeneration of the architectural heritage
AI vision and material recognitionAI-Driven Pipeline
Integrated workflows for design and visualisation using AIAI and visual media
The role of AI in visual communicationSite Visits
Via dei Missaglia, Milan
Fondazione Renzo Piano, Milan
FUSE Factory Lab
Special lectures and critiques
AI as a tool to support creativity
Performative cities: data, sustainability, and urban design
UNSense: technological integration in the built environment
AI and the Dream Factory
New urban environments: nature and density in the contemporary city
MIT Senseable City Lab
The extensive application of AI in architectural practice
Speculative Cities: imagining the urban future through AI
Milan, year 2100
Design workshop
Luca Bussolino / Carlo Ratti Associati
The workshop will provide an opportunity for practical synthesis through which to test all the notions made available through the other educational modules, offering students the chance to engage with a real urban regeneration project. Developed in collaboration with Urban Up | Unipol, the workshop will focus on the Missaglia district in Milan, an emblematic example of the transformations and challenges of contemporary suburbs.
Tutored by Carlo Ratti Associati, one of the leading international voices in research on the impact of data and digital technologies on the urban environment, the workshop will explore the role of artificial intelligence as a tool to analyse, interpret and design the city.
Through the use of urban datasets, predictive models and advanced analytical tools, students will be asked to develop intervention strategies capable of integrating social, environmental and economic dimensions, constructing evolutionary scenarios for the neighbourhood.
The project will not be limited to the design of built space, but will instead focus on the development of strategic visions grounded in the analysis of real data facilitated by AI, with architecture acting as a tool for their implementation and materialization.
Construction workshop
Construction is a fundamental step in architecture. For this reason, YACademy offers its students the opportunity to participate in the process of producing their own ideas. Thus, the students will gain practical experience on construction sites and, above all, the authorship of projects built for excellent commissions, destined for a major media echo and capable of defining a turning point in their professional career.
Placement
At the end of teaching modules and workshop, YACademy’s Placement office will guarantee every student an internship or collaboration proposal in one of our partner studios.
Teachers
Admission
Requirements
Students or graduates in Architecture/Design can apply to the course. The commission, based on the assessment of the application, may admit students with different qualifications.
Registration
To apply, it is necessary to register online and submit a Curriculum Vitae, a Portfolio, and a Motivational Letter. Moreover, it is necessary to pay the administration fee (60€ + VAT). The best 20 candidates will be admitted to the course according to the rules.
The administration fee payment does not bind the student to purchase the course.
Timeline
Complying with deadlines is a fundamental requirement to take part in the course. All students are encouraged to pay the utmost attention to the timeline and to complete each phase in advance.