Ghella Renews Its Participation in the Pininfarina Architecture Summer School

For the second consecutive year, Ghella is supporting the Pininfarina Architecture Summer School, contributing its expertise in infrastructure and tunnelling to the programme.

The 2026 edition took place from 6 to 17 July at Pininfarina’s headquarters in Cambiano, just outside Turin, and brought together a selected group of international architecture students for an intensive two-week programme dedicated to Advanced Design and Design for Manufacturing and Assembly (DfMA). The Summer School was created to provide participants with an advanced learning experience, introducing them to the design methodologies, tools and culture developed by Pininfarina.

The programme combined keynote lectures, hands-on workshops, visits, opportunities for discussion with architects, designers and technologists, and collaborative activities. It also explored some of the key principles of the Pininfarina approach to architecture, with particular emphasis on integrating aesthetics, functionality and innovation to transform abstract ideas into tangible solutions.

For the second year running, Ghella contributed to the programme with a workshop dedicated to the world of infrastructure and, in particular, to the design and production of precast concrete segments for tunnel linings.

The session featured Margherita Ghella, Massimo Maffucci, Tunnel Division Manager Overseas, Alessandra Tana, Precast Concrete Tunnel Lining Manager, and Beatrice Benella, Communications Assistant.

During the workshop, the students were introduced to the distinctive features of our work in tunnelling, with a focus on the technologies, production processes, innovation and sustainability involved in segment manufacturing. Precast concrete segments are a tangible example of how the industrialisation of production processes, viewed through a DfMA approach, can generate sustainable, efficient and technologically advanced solutions.

Ghella’s participation in the Pininfarina Academy reaffirms its commitment to supporting education and engaging with younger generations, fostering dialogue between design, architecture, engineering and construction, and bringing together those who imagine the infrastructure of the future and those who make it a reality.

The 2026 Summer School was supported by Ghella as a sponsor and held under the patronage of ADI – Associazione per il Disegno Industriale and Fondazione per l’Architettura / Torino.