Open letter to Yacademy by Ananda Rigonatti

Dear Yacademy,

When I first discovered Yacademy, I was amazed by the opportunity it offered. It made me believe that I could reach something that had always felt so distant. Being here in person has only strengthened that feeling.

As architects, we spend countless hours researching projects and studying references. We
learn from architects all over the world, even from those who seem too distant or too accomplished to ever truly connect with.

But the truth is that we don’t completely understand their work until we have the opportunity
to hear them. Carla Juaçaba made me realize that. I had seen many of her projects before,
but I only truly understood them after listening to her speak. That made me reflect on education itself: what is the most effective way to actually understand and learn architecture if I can’t experience it in person?

Back in Brasil, I had seen Snøhetta’s projects countless times. Yet it wasn’t until Martin Gran
shared their creative process and the backstage of their office during his workshop that  genuinely understood the sensitivity and care behind their work. Suddenly, those beautiful buildings had a completely different meaning.

Learning directly from those who create is what ambitious young architects are looking for. The students at Yacademy represent a generation that genuinely cares about creating meaningful architecture. They are curious, eager to learn, and motivated to improve the world through design.

Arne Emerson himself said in the class something like: I wish I had Yacademy when I was younger, I need my 55 years old version telling my 18 year version what exists out there and the ways of reaching my dreams. I think that deeply summarizes all young generations, not only architects, we want to hear people with knowledge and experience until we find something that speaks with our purpose, and then understand the ways to act.

That’s why I chose the Concept Design for Architecture course. I wanted to understand the backstage scenario and mind of those who design powerful architecture. That’s something that resonates with me personally and what I search for in life. When I discover a new
project, understand what it means, how it was made and the importance it has in the surroundings, especially in the people that use the space, I feel something. I still can’t quite
describe it… excitement? Thrilled? Hope? It’s a happy feeling that something beautiful exists, and an inner strength that guides me.

Unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to come here, and what is taught at Yacademy is, in my opinion, some of the most valuable information available for shaping the future of architecture.

In São Paulo, I often feel that we are gradually losing the value of sensitive and meaningful architecture because of market pressures. Or perhaps we are still creating it at private
institutions, but in a way that has become inaccessible to most people. As a consequence, I see many young architects around me slowly losing their faith in the profession.

How can we reach more young architects and help shape that future? 

Which architects are willing to share the knowledge they have built over years of experience?

The scale you have created preserves proximity, meaningful conversations, and an environment where real learning happens. When I find myself a few meters away from someone like Kengo Kuma, together with only a small group of students, I understand how unique and valuable that experience truly is. And that connection is what your students look for, sometimes even more than the classes themselves.

The true value of Yacademy lies in what can be experienced on campus: direct interaction with world-renowned architects, hands-on workshops, meaningful connections with classmates and professionals, a sort of career guidance, and internship placement opportunities. The in-person experience is not just about attending lectures—it is about becoming part of a community that can shape both personal and professional growth.

Like me, I believe that most people who discover Yacademy wish they could attend every course you offer. I have never found this kind of connection and education anywhere else. 

When I first discovered Yacademy, I felt I had found a place where architecture is taught not simply as a profession, but as a cultural responsibility. After five months as a student, that
conviction has only grown stronger.

If we truly want to build a better future grounded in these values, education is the most powerful place to begin.

Thank you for creating a place that reminded me why I chose architecture in the first place. 

Ananda Rigonatti