Academy of Architecture: Graduation Ceremony 2025

The Academy of Architecture graduation ceremony took place on Saturday, 21 June 2025, in the Villa Argentina park in Mendrisio. Monica Duca Widmer, President of the University Council of Università della Svizzera italiana, opened the ceremony, followed by speeches by Luisa Lambertini, Rector of USI, the Mayor of Mendrisio Samuele Cavadini, the Director of the Academy of Architecture Walter Angonese, and Professors João Nunes and João Gomes da Silva, who directed the 2025 Diploma dedicated to the city of Lisbon. A total of 139 Master of Science in Architecture diplomas, 3 Doctorate diplomas and 8 Master's diplomas in History and Theory of Art and Architecture were awarded.

The 139 architecture graduates, of 25 different nationalities, completed the 6-year training cycle at the Academy of Architecture. The academy employs an innovative, interdisciplinary, and comprehensive teaching model designed to impart skills and foster critical awareness in various areas. These areas include the design of different architectural types, urban and landscape design, the reuse of historical heritage, and innovative, sustainable construction practices.

The four graduates in History and Theory of Art and Architecture completed a course of study that places architecture at the centre of art-historical studies with in-depth studies of architecture criticism and theory, museology, digital humanities and restoration.

The Ceremony continued with the awarding of the prizes:

The "City of Mendrisio Prize", which rewards the best achievements in academic curriculum, was awarded to Elena Lina-Sabrina Gisela Starke (Switzerland).

The Prize, established in 2022, is intended to be a sign of recognition by the City of Mendrisio for promising young scholars in the field of architecture who have spent their formative years in contact with the region of the USI Academy of Architecture.

The Boni 2025 Prize, which has been conferred since 2002, was awarded to Sangmin Kim (South Korea).

The Prize is aimed at projects that integrate sensitivity to the territory, the quality of life of individual and collective spaces, research into constructive and structural features and the quality and effectiveness of representation.

Graduates Elena Lina-Sabrina Gisela Starke (Switzerland), Francisco Noites Seriot De Oliveira (Portugal), and Jules Moritz (Switzerland) received the SIA Ticino Master in Architecture 2025 Award.

Vittoria Betti (Italy) and Emanuele Varalli (Italy) were awarded the Kosmos 2025 Prize for the creation of architectural models made of sustainable materials.

The Ceremony was accompanied by musical interludes performed by the string quartet of Conservatorio della Svizzera italiana composed of Ernesto Campagnaro, violin; Margherita Gimelli, violin; Marko Thanasi, viola; Marina Pavani, cello.

Some photos of the event are available at www.copyrightfree.ch