Below you can find a selection of news related to traditional building, architecture and urban planning:
– Traditional Building Cultures Foundation –
The call for the 2025 Building Arts Awards is now open
These awards are organized annually by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation with the support of the Ministry of Culture and Sports and in collaboration with INTBAU Spain and the Institute of Architects of Spain.
The deadline for submitting applications is January 22, 2025. The awards recognize traditional construction trades, divided into four categories. Each category offers an annual prize of €10,000 and a commemorative plaque.
Category 1
Masonry and stonework: arches and vaults, vaulted stairs, stone carving, and more.
Category 2
Carpentry: timber frameworks and structures, furniture, muqarnas, woodturning, wood carving, door and window carpentry, and more.
Category 3
Finishes and other traditional construction techniques: tiling, mosaics, plasterwork, scagliola, sgraffito, decorative flooring, and more.
Category 4
Glass and metalwork: wrought iron grilles and fittings, leaded stained glass windows, and more.
Results of the 5th International Conference on Traditional Building, Architecture, and Urbanism
The 5th International Conference on Traditional Building, Architecture, and Urbanism was held from November 15 to 17, 2024, in Úbeda. It was organized by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation with the support of Richard H. Driehaus and in collaboration with INTBAU Spain, INTBAU Portugal, the Serra Henriques Foundation, and the City Council of Úbeda, the Foundation Casa Ducal de Medinaceli, the Association of Artisans of Úbeda, the Center for Renaissance Studies of Úbeda, the Foundation Huerta de San Antonio and the School of Arts Casa de Las Torres.
The in-person program included a series of lectures delivered by international architects, various demonstrations conducted by masters of traditional construction, and technical visits around the city of Úbeda. Among these was a guided tour of the Sacred Chapel of the Savior, led by architect Rafael Manzano Martos.
Rafael Manzano Prize and the Richard H. Driehaus Medal Ceremony
The 12th Rafael Manzano Prize for New Traditional Architecture was awarded by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation to Juan Luis Camacho Molina, while Carmen Añón Feliú received the 2024 Richard H. Driehaus Medal for Heritage Preservation, also granted by the same Foundation. The award ceremony took place on November 14, 2024, at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando in Madrid.
You can find the recording of the ceremony at this link.
The COAM and the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation join forces to promote traditional architecture
Both organizations have signed a collaboration agreement that includes, among other initiatives, cooperation in training programs on traditional architecture as well as heritage preservation and restoration. The agreement also outlines joint promotion of publications, exhibitions, and studies related to the topics addressed by the Foundation.
– News –
Homo Faber Fellowship 2025/26
The Michelangelo Foundation has opened applications for its “Homo Faber Fellowship” program, aimed at master artisans and young apprentices seeking to begin their professional journey in a craft.
The program includes one month of business training followed by six months of hands-on training in the workshops of master artisans.
The application deadline is February 20, 2025.
The Architecture of Place
From December 2024 to February 2025, the ICAA, INTBAU, and The King’s Foundation will jointly host The Architecture of Place: In Conversation with…, a series of interviews featuring various experts in classical and traditional architecture. In December the program will include John Smylie, Tiffany Abernathy, and Dr. Patricia Canelas. In February, Minty Sainsbury, Safoura Zahedi, and Sara Bega will participate.
The building arts behind the restoration of Notre-Dame
The restoration of Notre-Dame Cathedral in Paris, severely damaged by the 2019 fire, has brought together an extraordinary community of master builders. Carpenters, stonemasons, mural restorers, sculptors, organ builders, blacksmiths, and others have worked tirelessly to restore this historic monument to its former glory.
The project has been supported by the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation, a key patron of the public body Rebâtir Notre-Dame de Paris. To showcase the remarkable work of these master artisans, a nine-episode documentary series has been released. This production offers the public an in-depth look at the techniques and dedication of those who have contributed to the recovery of one of the most iconic landmarks in European history and architecture..
Schwarz Fellowship for Research on Urban Architecture
The Schwarz Fellowship for Research on Urban Architecture aims to support innovative and interdisciplinary projects addressing architecture, urban planning, and the history of the built environment in Greece from 1821 to the present.
Open to architects, Ph.D. candidates, or recent Ph.D. graduates of any nationality, the fellowship provides a $11,500 stipend, meals, and accommodation at Loring Hall.
– Education –
Bruges and Conques Summer Schools
La Table Ronde de l’Architecture has announced a new edition of its two summer schools:
– The Bruges Summer School on Architecture and Crafts, which will take place from August 1 to August 15, 2025.
– The Conques Summer School on Vernacular Architecture, France, which will be held from August 29 to September 6, 2025.
Applications for the Bruges Summer School will be accepted until March 15, 2025, while the deadline for the Conques Summer School is April 7, 2025.
Specialized Latticework Course for Structural Carpenters and Restorers
The course, organized by the Escuela de Carpintería de lo Blanco in Narros del Castillo, will be taught by Ángel María Martín. The first session will take place from January 7 to 10, 2025. The second session will run from January 23 to 26, 2025.
More information: 630144044
Mind Crafts
The Mind Crafts project aims to introduce young people aged 15 to 25 to traditional building crafts through observation and both theoretical and practical learning.
The program teaches traditional techniques and the use of local, sustainable materials through various educational modules. Practical workshops are complemented by guides, videos, and interviews with artisans.
As part of the program, six hands-on workshops will be organized by La Table Ronde de l’Architecture in Belgium and the Scuola Edile di Udine in Belgium and Italy.
Scholarships to participate in Oasis Campus
Terrachidia is offering four scholarships to participate in its upcoming workshop in Morocco, which will take place in M’Hamid El Ghizlane from February 1 to February 8, 2025.
These scholarships are funded through the “Grassroots” program, supported by INTBAU.
Interested applicants can submit a letter of motivation along with their CV to the email address: campus@terrachidia.es
Lecture: “Vulnerability to Sociocultural Issues in Traditional Earthen Architecture”
The UNESCO Chair “Earthen architecture, building cultures and sustainable development” has organized a new lecture titled “Vulnerability to Sociocultural Issues in Traditional Earthen Architecture”, delivered by Matilde Caruso (Universitat Politècnica de València).
