The City and the Water ~ UNIPI

Language: English

Period: 24 August – 4 September 2026

Deadline: 21 February 2026

Program Intensity: Full-time

ECTS: 6

Tuition fees: 750€

IMPORTANT NOTICE: UNIPI e Circle U. students benefit from a 30% fee discount. For them the tuition fees amount to 525€.

Since 2014, the International Summer School “The City and the Water” has been a full-time design workshop that explores the complex relationships between the built environment and water, in its broadest sense as an environmental resource, including the sea, rivers, lakes and water resources.

The 10-day Summer School is organised by the Department of Energy, Systems, Territory, and Constructions Engineering, and the Master’s Degree Course in Architecture and Building Engineering at the University of Pisa.

Participants, coming from all continents, will be involved in developing a project based on a case study, with the support of lecturers and tutors from the University of Pisa and visiting professors from other national and international schools of architecture, engineering and landscape design.

The title of the 2026 edition is “aqua limen”. The first part of the Summer School is mainly dedicated to critical reading and learning about the areas of study in order to identify their value and critical issues. During the remaining days, students will work on developing a project to enhance the area chosen as a case study. Throughout the period, lessons will be organised to provide theoretical and methodological support for the development of the projects. The ideas and designs developed during the Summer School will be presented in a public exhibition.

The Summer School will be activated with at least 12 students. The maximum number of participants is set to 30 students.

The Summer School will be held on campus, in Pisa, at Centro Congressi Le Benedettine, Piazza San Paolo a Ripa D’Arno, 16.

Aim

The Summer School aims to provide theoretical skills and methodological tools for knowledge of the built environment and the architectural design linked to water’s landscape.

Participants, organized in groups composed by members of different nationalities, will be asked to develop a project of enhancement for an area chosen as acase study. The internationality of the group of students is fundamental for promoting cultural exchange and comparison, also in terms of approach, between different experiences in the field of architectural design, landscape conservation and enhancement at an international level.

Who can apply

The International Summer School is open to university students and PhD students of Architecture, Urban Planning, Design, Design Institutes, Landscape Design, Environment, and also to young professionals and artists from all EU and non-EU countries.

Application

Admission Requirements

The International Summer School is open to university students of Architecture, Building Engineering, Urban Planning, Design, Design Institutes, Landscape Design, and also to young professionals and artists from all EU and non-EU countries.

Each participant is invited to bring their own laptop and their preferred drawing materials; however, basic drawing materials will be provided.

Required documents

Identity Document (*PASSPORT in case you are a foreign student*)
Enrolment Form
Curriculum Vitae

All the documents must be in pdf format, in order to upload them on the portal when required.

Application has to be submitted via Alice portal following the instructions of the “How to apply” page.

Fees

Tuition fees: 750€

IMPORTANT NOTICE: UNIPI e Circle U. students benefit from a 30% fee discount. For them the tuition fees amount to 525€.

Pay fees by Debit/Credit Card or PayPal online using the following Payment Form

NOTICE:

these fees include: course fee, lectures and didactic material;
the rates are the same for Italian, EU and international students and professionals;
International students without Italian Tax Code: please tick the box ‘Anonymous’ in order to disable the field ‘Italian personal ID/VAT number’;
Please type your NAME and SURNAME next to the pre-filled text of the field ‘Reason’;
Please pay only after receiving the admission letter.

REFUND POLICY:

By 3 April 2026 reimbursement is permitted by paying a penalty corresponding to 60% of the tuition fee already paid.
After 3 April 2025 tuition fees are non refundable.

In case of cancellation of the Summer School, the fees already paid will be refunded net of bank charges.

Contacts

Coordinator
Prof. Giovanni Santi thecityandthewater@gmail.com

Website https://www.instagram.com/thecityandthewater/

Summer/Winter School Office support.summerschool@unipi.it

Attachments:

Poster

Didattica

Campus e Servizi

Ricerca

Innovazione

Università e Società

Ateneo

News

The City and the Water

Admission Requirements

Required documents

Contacts