Brief
A journey feeds primarily on architecture.
Whether they are stilts overhanging crystal-clear atolls or simple tents clinging to breathtaking landscapes, it is the architecture that provides the backdrop for one of humankind's most cherished and fascinating experiences.
Besides any poetry, tourism represents one of the most significant sectors of the global economy, and every year billions of individuals attend accommodation facilities for study, leisure, or work.
Designing accommodation facilities is therefore not only an opportunity to confront the dimension of the dream - of the home away from home, the escape from the ordinary - but also to place oneself in a sector rich in resources and growing opportunities.
For a similar reason, the course in "Architecture for Hospitality" was created to prepare young designers for a deeply demanding sector with high degrees of complexity, but also extraordinary growth prospects.
Through an understanding of the different types of accommodations and analysis of the related functional programs, designers will gain expertise in translating the most diverse receptive concepts into as many architectural designs, capable of generating the right atmosphere and ensuring the best experience for the related users.
Course info
15 In person
5 Online
Bologna
7.9.2026 - 6.11.2026
3 days/weekNovember 2026 - February 2027
3200 + VAT
Online9700 + VAT
In personTeaching modules & Workshops
Types of accommodation
Characteristics, services and organizational models of different hotel categoriesLayout of a hotel
Space organization and functional patternsFurnishings in interior design
Designing the soul of a hotelGreening design
Greenery inside and outside the hotelRestaurants and food spaces
Food at the heart of the projectBudget control and project management
The connection between economy and architectureStudent hotel
Collective space as the driving feature behind the projectNew trends and typologies
The 1000 possible nuances of hospitality businessHotel management
Operational models, organisation and strategies in the hospitality industryWellness spaces
Spa, gyms and swimming pools: spaces for the spirit and the bodyThe design of light
Light as a physical and perceptual phenomenon behind the concept of atmosphere of an environmentThe production of furniture
From raw materials to the finished productBranding through architecture
Understanding the identity of a hotel to design its spacesSite Visits
NOA Tour
Cesare Roversi Arredamenti
Oasyhotel
Special lectures and critiques
Hotels and the natural environment: from Alps to deserts
Juvet Landscape Hotel: experiencing nature
Desert Clubhouse: Shaping the Desert
Majara Residence: a blend of tradition, colour and modernity
The Biosphere: treehouse by BIG
La Muralla Roja: from architecture to global cinematographic icon
Amares: the monastery becomes a place of hospitality
Adrere Amellal: luxury as synonym of authenticity
Treehouse suites
Design workshop
Luca Braccini / BIG - Bjarke Ingels Group
The workshop will provide a practical opportunity to apply the knowledge gained in the other modules, offering participants the chance to tackle a real-world project in the field of contemporary hospitality. Led by the Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG), the workshop will focus on designing a treehouse suite at OasyHotel, in the heart of the Tuscan Apennines.
The treehouse has always been an intriguing and appealing archetype, for living suspended amongst the trees is not merely a typical childhood dream, but rather the echo of a primal experience that has shaped human life for thousands of years. Living amongst the trees offers a rich and complex tapestry of sensations: the rustling of leaves, the gentle swaying of branches, the muffled creaking of trunks and the song of birds. These elements constitute assets of particular value — including commercial value — for accommodation providers that make immersion in nature and experiential living their hallmark.
Through the workshop, students will have the opportunity to design one of architecture’s most fascinating archetypes, based on a concept of authentic and sustainable hospitality, which is now one of the leading trends in the high-end hospitality sector.
Particular attention will be paid to the relationship between architecture and the natural environment, to the sustainability and replicability of the solutions adopted (with a view to potential scalability within the OasyHotel context), and to the quality of the guest experience. Course participants will be asked to develop proposals that combine comfort, identity and respect for the landscape, with the aim of creating original and unforgettable experiences for guests.
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.