Brief
Architecture is among the disciplines that most strongly influence people’s wellbeing: built environments are not merely containers, but active systems capable of affecting the body, mind, and emotions.
In a time increasingly marked by psychological fatigue, social fragmentation, and a crisis of natural resources, the demand for spaces dedicated to bodily care and the pursuit of psychophysical wellbeing—one of the most intrinsic human aspirations—is constantly growing. This need goes beyond spaces traditionally associated with wellness and now permeates all areas of human life; workplaces, educational environments, and living spaces are expected to impact personal wellbeing just as much as spas, gyms, or wellness centers.
It is precisely in response to this demand that the “Architecture for Wellness” course was conceived, with the aim of training designers capable of shaping space to generate refined and immersive architectural experiences that facilitate and support the pursuit of psychophysical wellbeing. Through the study of clinical and perceptual foundations of wellbeing, as well as the technical and design characteristics of the elements involved in the creation of spaces for body care, participants will explore compositional strategies applicable to wellness, leisure, and fitness environments, with the broader objective of translating these principles into “therapeutic” spaces capable of enhancing users’ wellbeing regardless of function.
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
Case history
Examples of successful wellness architecturePhysical and mental well-being
The interplay between body and mindMaterials and technologies for health and wellness
The choice of finishes as a tool for well-beingWellness and hospitality
Creating wellness experiences through hospitality designWellbeing in housing
Body care spaces in the householdWell-being and communal spaces
The spa and thermal baths projectThe fitness facilities project
Gyms and sports facilitiesWellbeing through lighting
Light, perception and quality of lifeWellness facilities and equipment
Saunas, steam rooms, hammams, swimming poolsAcoustic well-being
Sound as a qualitative feature of spaceSite Visits
Montecatini Terme
Technogym Village
NOA tour
Special lectures and critiques
Vinterbad Brygge: the playful dimension of well-being
Architecture as a means of promoting social dignity and well-being
Design and wellness
Les Bains des Docks: the space as a sensorial experience
Piscinas das Marés: an architectural symbol of wellbeing
Eskişehir Hotel & Spa: architecture for contemporary relaxation
The essence of Eastern well-being
Transformation of the former Paradiso Hotel
Design workshop
Martine Bedin / Jean Nouvel Design
The workshop will represent an opportunity for practical synthesis through which students will test all the notions provided through the other teaching modules, offering participants the opportunity to engage with a real project of transformation and adaptive reuse. Tutored by Martin Bedin, art director at Jean Nouvel Design, the workshop will focus on the reconversion of a disused hotel located in Montecatini Alta, in a dominant position overlooking the valley.
Montecatini is one of Italy’s leading thermal towns, and the only one of its kind to boast a rich architectural heritage ranging from Art Deco to works by Portoghesi, Michelucci, Porcinai and Aldo Rossi.
In this context, students will be given the opportunity to reflect on the future of the former Hotel Paradiso: one of Montecatini’s most controversial architectural structures, given its impact and presence within a historic and landscape setting of significant value and importance. The aim of the workshop will be to reimagine the old hotel and transform it into a contemporary Wellness Centre, conceived as a comprehensive system of spaces dedicated to the care of body and mind. In this context, the concept of wellbeing will be interpreted in a broader sense, encompassing public spaces, areas for spa treatments, physical activities, sensory experiences, meditation spaces and areas dedicated to relaxation and socialising, with the aim of restoring a space that has long been unused and neglected to the local area.
Through the workshop, participants will be invited 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.
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.