Guided tour and Open Lab at Accademia Italiana for Open House 2026

Rome, May 11, 2026 - Come discover the history of this place and how it evolved into a new vision of design.

Open House Roma was born from the idea of a group of architects and communication professionals focused on socio-cultural innovation. It is an annual event celebrating design and architecture in the capital city. Around 200 sites — from every historical period and usually inaccessible to the public — are opened through free guided tours.

Rome, May 11, 2026

Built in 1925 under the supervision and prestigious signature of architect Angiolo Mazzoni, the former Railway Customs House (Ex Dogana Ferroviaria) served as a freight control hub for rail transport and played a major role in boosting employment and road infrastructure throughout the surrounding area.

Today, the complex is listed by the Cultural Heritage authorities in the Carta della Qualità as one of the most significant examples of early 20th-century industrial architecture. Spanning 24,000 square meters of outdoor courtyards and indoor spaces, it is now home to the future professionals of Italian design.

The program includes a guided tour of the former Customs offices building, now home to Accademia Italiana, offering visitors the chance to discover how the historic structure has been transformed into a creative hub. From pattern-making classrooms and prototyping labs to the photography studio and teaching spaces, the tour explores environments where architectural heritage meets educational innovation. Fashion, Design, Photography, and Jewelry departments will showcase their everyday activities, revealing the new face of one of the Capital’s symbolic buildings through an immersive morning dedicated to the future of Made in Italy.

As part of the Open House program, Accademia Italiana will also host the photographic exhibition Visioni di Architettura, promoted by A.I.D.I.A. Roma and created through a photography competition aimed at highlighting the contribution of women to the construction and transformation of the city.

Through a curated selection of images, the exhibition offers a unique perspective on Rome, shedding light on the work of female professionals who have shaped — often invisibly — its urban development. The photographs, featuring cityscapes, architectural details, and the relationship between spaces and people, reveal the design quality and innovative vision behind these female-led works. The exhibition invites visitors to rediscover the city by recognizing the value of women’s contributions and their sensitive dialogue with urban space and the community.