Imagine being offered a centuries-old Italian estate as a canvas of architectural possibility. That’s exactly what’s happening at Karma Borgo di Colleoli, where students from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) are about to turn historical whispers into design poetry.
The UCLA architecture students have been invited to reimagine Karma Borgo di Colleoli in Tuscany, Italy in a groundbreaking initiative that brings together academic exploration and real-world architectural conservation, orchestrated by Karma Group Chairman John Spence in his capacity as a UCLA Visiting Fellow.
John brought the students over to Italy for an initial round of site analysis – an incredible experience for them all and many shared letters with John thanking him for the opportunity. Suitably inspired, this month, this month the students are diving deep into a hands-on project focused on adaptive reuse, challenging themselves to blend historical preservation with forward-thinking sustainable design. The initiative goes beyond traditional academic exercises, offering students a unique opportunity to transform a historic property while gaining practical experience in urban development.
The collaborative project follows a structured approach that began with site visits, developing initial concepts, and preparing to present their innovative ideas. A competitive element adds excitement, with the top project set to receive a coveted 7-night stay at a Karma Group resort with flight tickets included.
Scheduled across two rounds of presentations – an initial concept review in December and a final judging in January, where Karma Group Members will be invited to vote for their favourite submission – the project will showcase students’ creativity in reimagining how historic spaces can be thoughtfully repurposed for modern use.
Like last year’s architectural contest at Karma Chateau de Samary in Carcassonne, this project reflects Karma’s ongoing commitment to innovation, sustainability, and nurturing emerging talent in architectural and hospitality design.
Here’s a glimpse into the students’ sincere words of appreciation.
Dear John,
I wanted to express my sincere thanks for hosting our class research trip this week. It was a pleasure to meet you and have the opportunity to learn from your expertise. The trip was incredibly insightful, and I’m certain it will be an experience I won’t forget.
I look forward to meeting again during finals and in the meantime, continuing to build on the knowledge we gained during this experience!
Best regards,
Xen (Xen Pei Hoi)
Dear John,
I wanted to say thank you very much again for a memorable and once in a lifetime experience in Italy. Thank you for sponsoring the best trip, for the fun treasure hunt around Florence, and above all, for your amazing hospitality and kindness to us all. We all deeply appreciate it and know that this will be one for the books! We cannot wait to share with you our work at the end of the quarter, and hope that you will like it 🙂 Thank you for your thoughtful insights on my project and for the massive encouragement! I hope to be able to deliver an awesome project at the end of this 🙂
Similarly, if you find yourself in LA, please give us a shout out so we can take you around and return the favor. Looking forward to seeing you in December.
Many thanks,
Camille Castillo
Dear John,
Here is Mengru, one of the students from Georgina’s studio. I was so honored to be invited to Borgo di Colleoli to experience the beautiful countryside scenery in person, as well as the opportunity to visit several of Tuscany’s cities, which will be a wonderful and unforgettable memory and experience for me!
It is also a rare opportunity for me to be able to participate in this project. This trip has offered me a deeper understanding of the site environment and the surrounding culture, which I will dedicate myself to assimilating and applying as much as I can to my project. I hope that I will be able to present you with an impressive outcome in the final.
Thank you again and looking forward to seeing you soon in the final!
Best regards,
Mengru
Dear John,
I wanted to write and thank you for your generosity in sponsoring our trip to Tuscany. Not only this, but for visiting us in Florence, and for attending our midterm reviews. Your critical feedback and presence was highly appreciated and not taken for granted. The trip was informative, not to mention unforgettable, and it was enjoyable to get to know you some. You have a great property in Borgo di Colleoli.
Looking forward to catching up during our final later this year and sharing the work that happens between now and then.
Kindly,
Dusty Frye
Hi John,
I am student Jon from Georgina’s studio at UCLA and I wanted to take a moment to thank you for your invaluable insights and the wonderful treasure hunt during the recent field trip to Italy. Your expertise truly enriched our experience, and your perspective on our designs gave me a deeper understanding of the industry. Your jokes and stories are truly delightful. Thank you so much for your warm hospitality.
Once again, thank you for your time and for sharing your knowledge with us. It was a pleasure to learn from you, and I look forward to seeing you again during our finals.
Best regards,
Jon
Dear John,
I wanted to write to extend my gratitude for such a unique opportunity of traveling to Italy to study Italian architecture and way of life.
As someone from a small town in Ohio, this was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity that I never imagined would be a possibility for me. As I have pursued my education over the years, I understand the importance of traveling to further my cultural understanding of how the world influences the built environment, and the impact these experiences have on my personal development. While this trip was highly educational, it was also extremely fun! The scavenger hunt was a great way to see some of the best things Florence has to offer in such a short period of time. The restaurants you took us to were absolutely wonderful and I wanted to thank you again for ensuring we were well fed.
I cannot thank you enough for the experience you provided my colleagues and I. I thoroughly enjoyed meeting you and hearing your perspective on our projects, and am looking forward to the final review!
Best Regards,
Alix Wilson
It’s a wonderful thing to nurture education and widen people’s perspectives. I’m hoping this was purely an accademic exercise because I would hate for Borgo di Colleoli to be changed too much. It’s is in my opinion one of the nicest Karma resorts there is . Sure there could be tweeks made but the atmosphere of the place is just magical.
Thank you for sharing your thoughts! We agree, Karma Borgo di Colleoli is truly magical, and while we’re always open to improvements, we’re committed to preserving its unique atmosphere.