BUILDING COMMONS
AA VISTING SHOOL https://www.aaschool.ac.uk/school/programmes/visiting-school BUILDING COMMONS @aavsbuildingcommmons
Building Commons explores the relationship between architecture, performance and collective making through construction of a temporary installation.
Set within the courtyard of the former San Francesco Convent in Bagnacavallo (Ravenna, Italy), participants will develop and assemble a structure that will work simultaneously as stage, scenography and exhibition space, transforming the convent courtyard into an urban theatre. Structural modules will be prefabricated in collaboration with local craftsmans, and the participants will engage directly in the assembly process and the reuse of reclaimed materials. Construction details, material strategies and methods of connection will be developed in response to locally available resources.
The completed installation will become part of the Festa di San Michele, Bagnacavallo’s annual cultural festival. The workshop will therefore engage directly with the life of the town and its wider cultural context, contributing to a festival that brings together theatre, music, exhibitions and community activities across the historic centre.
Building Commons offers the unique opportunity of experiencing first-hand the communal life of the convent, in an intense week of collaboration where self-construction becomes both a design and relational tool. Alongside the construction process, the group will visit significant architectural, cultural and productive sites in the area of Ravenna, gaining insight into the region’s incredibly rich heritage.
SKILLS
Building Commons is first and formost a collective act that celebrates cooperation, solidarity and inclusivity through building. We believe that memorable learning experiences demand an environment where everyone can contribute to something larger than the sum of its parts.
Following this ethos the participant will gain:
- Experience in the design and construction of a full-scale temporary architectural installation.
- Practical knowledge of timber construction, assembly techniques and material reuse strategies.
- An understanding of scenography and spatial design as tools for performance, exhibition and public engagement.
- Skills in collaborative design-build processes, working collectively with peers, local craftspeople and cultural institutions.
- Insight into the architectural, cultural and productive landscapes of the Ravenna region through site visits and direct engagement with local contexts.
AA VISITING SCHOOLS
The Visiting School encompasses diverse learning programmes, workshops and site-based agendas shaped by participants working intensively in small groups over varying periods of time from one to two weeks.
Central to each programme is the idea that experimental, new and provocative forms of architecture are best learned by doing. These programmes take place all over the world, including Bedford Square in London and Hooke Park in Dorset.
The Visiting School welcomes applicants in any moment of their studies and careers, from within and outside of the architectural realm. The AA Summer School Programme, also part of the Visiting School, is equally open and takes place for three weeks during the summer period.
Participants will be staying in the Antico Convento di San Francesco, where the installation will be built. The 13th-century convent, originally a vital crossroads for travelers of the past, today is a unique exhibition venue and hotel facility where medieval architecture meets culture and hospitality.
The participants will stay 6 nights (6-11 September) in rooms of 4 to 8 people. Single or double rooms are available upon inquiry, with an extra charge.
For any inquiry on the accommodation
davide.sacconi@aaschool.ac.uk
For information and photos of the accommodation
https://www.anticoconventosanfrancesco.it
Fees
Full Fee: £950
Early Bird Fee: £700
Deadlines
Early Bird application: 31/07/2026
Full Fee application: 28/08/2026
Fee includes
– materials and tools to build the project
– accommodation and breakfast in the Antico Convento San Francesco (see accommodation)
Fee does not include
– Flights and local transportation
– Meals (other than breakfast) and other trip expenses.
APPLICATION
Eligibility
Building Commons is open to all aged 18 or over, including students and professionals of design-related disciplines that want to experience an intense week of collaboration in design and self-construction. Previous experience in woodworking and making is a plus.
How to apply
To apply send an email to davide.sacconi@aaschool.ac.uk
Please include in the email
– 3 images of your work (JPG format)
– a brief personal statement
Places are limited and early applications are prioritised.
