Brief
Technology is the tool with which architecture is made.
Whether one is a technician or an architect, one needs deep knowledge - the former - and a solid understanding of the tools that make every project possible - the latter.
Like all human phenomena, technology evolves according to trends and advances with a common understanding of environmental, economic, and social events. In this regard, off-site is one of the undisputed leaders in modern construction technology, proving to be among the most effective methods of creating quality low-environmental-impact architecture.
In a world where the demand for architecture is growing exponentially - despite the urgency to reduce the anthropogenic load on the environment and ecosystem - off-site is one of the most viable alternatives to meet the current needs of the world's population without jeopardising the future of the planet.
This is why the course in "Off-site Technologies for Architecture" was created, to turn technicians and architects into experts in the latest trends in off-site construction technology and thus able to offer tangible solutions for a better and more sustainable future.
Thanks to their expertise in a modern culture of technology, designers will become valuable professionals in any design process, learning tools to shape their projects and becoming part of a trend marked by major investments by the world's major players.
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
History of modern engineering
Evolution in construction technologyThe executive design
Characteristics and challenges of the final stage of the designOff-site technologies
Challenges and opportunitiesThe building site
Processes and methods of production of the architectural workMaterial types
Wood, steel and concrete: correspondence between technology and projectSustainability & carbon neutrality
Calculation and mitigation of construction industry impactOff-site and seismic
Performance characteristics of steel architecturesAffordable Housing
Affordable housing models: balancing standardisation and architectural qualityDesign parameterization
Creativity and first industrialization of the projectBIM beginner
Essential design methodologies and toolsOff-site cityscape
Off-site as a tool for urban regenerationSite Visits
Manni production plant (Verona)
Eurac Research
Ex Mira Lanza, Rome
Special lectures and critiques
Production of complexity: from parametrics to the construction site
Tech in high-rise buildings
Sustainable research and technology
BIG's construction sites
Architectural scenarios in the USA
Baiziwan Social Housing: density and community
Research and new tech for sustainability
The future as reinterpretation of past techniques
Rome student housing
Design workshop
Paolo Matteuzzi / Zaha Hadid Architects
The workshop will provide an opportunity for practical synthesis in 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. Tutored by Paolo Matteuzzi, director at Zaha Hadid Architects, and developed in collaboration with AIPAI, the workshop will focus on the transformation of the former Mira Lanza area in Rome.
The project aims to define a student housing system, conceived as a contemporary residential infrastructure capable of meeting the needs of a young, dynamic and constantly evolving population. In this context, off-site technologies will be the primary design tool, facilitating the development of flexible, sustainable and highly efficient solutions capable of integrating with the existent with an approach of precision and reversibility.
Students will be asked to deal with a complex site, where the existing industrial structures are both a constraint and and an opportunity. The project must integrate new buildings, public spaces and facilities, creating a housing system that engages with its surroundings and fosters new forms of urban life.
Through the workshop, architecture will be explored as an industrialised and conscious process, in which technological innovation and spatial quality converge to define new models of contemporary living.
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.