Below you will find a selection of news related to traditional building, architecture, and urbanism:
– Traditional Building Cultures Foundation –
Course “Traditional Building Trades in Contemporary Architecture”
The course “Traditional Building Trades in Contemporary Architecture” is organized by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation in collaboration with the Institute for Continuing Education of the Official College of Architects of Madrid (COAM). The course, available in both on-site and online formats, consists of 12 sessions and will take place from November 5 to December 10, 2025.
Aimed at architects, urban planners, students, construction professionals, and anyone interested in expanding their knowledge, the course is founded on the conviction that traditional architecture, urbanism, and building trades provide a solid basis for addressing, from a contemporary perspective, the cultural, technical, and environmental challenges currently faced by the built environment.
The program combines theoretical sessions with hands-on workshops led by master craftspeople, where participants will be introduced to current applications of masonry trades, lime and plaster finishes, timber structures, traditional carpentry, and earth construction techniques. This practical training is complemented by the study of architectural designs that demonstrate how these trades can be successfully adopted and reinterpreted within contemporary professional practice.
Workshops of the Exhibition “Matter. Know-how. Place.”
On the occasion of the public reopening of the exhibition “Matter. Know-how. Place.”, which will take place on Thursday, September 18, at the IE Creativity Center, located in the Casa de la Moneda in Segovia, the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation, IE University, and the IE Creativity Center have organized a series of hands-on workshops led by renowned masters of traditional building trades.
The workshops will be held on September 22, 23, and 24 at the IE Creativity Center, and on October 2 and 10 at the Palacio de Mansilla, IE University’s new campus in the historic center of Segovia. The program includes:
- Workshop on thatched roofs, led by Manuel Monteserín.
- Workshop on carpentry and wood carving, led by Miguel Ángel Tapia.
- Workshop on blacksmithing, led by Elías de Andrés.
- Workshop on sgraffito, led by Carolina Alcalá (School of Art and Design of Segovia).
- Workshop on stonemasonry, led by Feliu Martín.
The workshops are free of charge, and registration for any of them can be completed through the form available at this link.
Sixth International Conference on Traditional Building, Architecture, and Urbanism
The new edition of the International Conference on Traditional Building, Architecture, and Urbanism will take place in person in Écija from November 14 to 16, 2025. The on-site program will include debates, lectures by international architects, and demonstrations led by masters of the traditional building trades. The presentations will address the various themes proposed within the framework of the conference.
The conference will also be available online, as all sessions will be live-streamed, recorded, and later published on the website in the weeks following the event. The in-person program will be complemented by a series of pre-recorded lectures based on the articles, essays, and built work that will form part of the upcoming issue of the Journal of Traditional Building, Architecture and Urbanism, to be released in conjunction with the conference dates.
This conference is organized by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation, made possible thanks to Richard H. Driehaus and with the collaboration of INTBAU Spain, INTBAU Portugal, the Fundação Serra Henriques, the City Council of Écija, and the Royal Academy of Sciences, Fine Arts, and Humanities “Luis Vélez de Guevara.”
Outcomes of the Iberian Summer School 2025
The Iberian Summer School took place from July 7 to 20, 2025, in the pueblos blancos region, between the provinces of Cádiz and Málaga, with Ronda as its main venue.
The program focused on the study of traditional urbanism, architecture, and construction details of the region, primarily through hand drawing. Its aim was to enable participants to become familiar with the character and qualities of the local architecture. Experts in vernacular architecture, history, landscape, and traditional building trades delivered lectures and led workshops on a variety of related topics.
During the first week several field trips were organized across the region, allowing participants to analyze and draw representative examples of local architecture in different settings. In the second week, building upon the work previously carried out, students collaborated in groups on an urban design proposal for Ronda. The process also involved local residents and the municipal team, ensuring that the proposal responded to real community needs.
Call for Applications for the Donald Gray Grant for Training with Master Carpenter Miguel Ángel Tapia
This grant is intended to support the training of one apprentice over a six-month period with master carpenter, sculptor, and cabinetmaker Miguel Ángel Tapia, who this year received the Building Arts Award in the category of carpentry trades.
The selected apprentice will receive financial support for a period of six months (or its equivalent if the training is carried out intermittently), starting from the beginning of the mentorship and apprenticeship process, with the start date to be agreed upon with the master. The total amount of financial support will be €6,000, to be received in full or in installments, always subject to the fulfillment of the training objectives established at the outset. In addition, the master will also receive financial support, both for his teaching work and to cover various expenses arising from it.
The deadline for applications is September 16, 2025.
– News –
INTBAU World Congress 2025
From October 22 to 24, the 5th INTBAU World Congress will take place in London, coinciding with the 25th anniversary of the network.
The event will bring together professionals, researchers, and other leading figures from around the world in a program that invites reflection on the past, present, and future of tradition in the built environment.
ENTRELAZAR Conference
On September 27 and 28, 2025, the ENTRELAZAR conference will take place at Os Casares (San Cristovo de Mouricios, Chantada, Lugo). Organized by the Galicia Craft Foundation and curated by Inés Sistiaga, the event will also feature the participation of the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation. The conference offers a space for dialogue to reflect on the past, present, and future of basketry, with contributions from professionals from a wide range of fields.
INTBAU Founds a New Chapter in Kenya
INTBAU recently announced the creation of a new chapter in Kenya, a milestone that marks the network’s expansion into the African continent and reinforces its commitment to interregional collaboration. Kenya, with more than 42 indigenous peoples and a dynamic international community, preserves a highly diverse architectural heritage, although in recent decades part of this architectural and urban identity has been weakened.
The Model of Madrid (1830) by León Gil de Palacio Returns to Display
Since August 15, the Madrid History Museum has once again been exhibiting the model “Model of Madrid” (1830) by León Gil de Palacio, following its restoration and relocation. Created by the military engineer (1788–1849), the model is a key piece in the museum’s collection and ranks among the oldest and most significant historical urban models in Europe.
The commission originated from King Ferdinand VII on November 13, 1828, through the mediation of his brother, Infante Francisco de Paula, and the General Director of Artillery.
AIA Florida Awards the 2025 Design Medal of Honor to Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk and Andrés Duany
AIA Florida has awarded its 2025 Design Medal of Honor to Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk and Andrés Duany. Both architects had also been honored in 2008 with the Richard H. Driehaus Prize, granted by the University of Notre Dame.
Call for Entries: Arthur Ross Awards 2026
The Arthur Ross Awards, organized by the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art (ICAA), are annual prizes that recognize excellence in the classical tradition. Nominations may be submitted in various categories. Entries must be submitted electronically following the guidelines available on the ICAA website.
The deadline for submissions is 12 December 2025.
Exhibition in Mexico City
Mexico City will host a group exhibition dedicated to works in watercolor on architectural and urban themes. Organized by INTBAU Mexico, the call is open to artists, architects, and visual creators who may submit works representing spaces and ornaments inspired by Mexico’s building traditions.
The deadline for submissions is 6 October.
More information: comunicacion.intbaumexico@gmail.com
– Education –
Marmorino Course in Atalbéitar
Casa Violeta has announced the 4th Traditional Building Course, dedicated to an introduction to the technique of scagliola applied in construction. The course will take place on November 8 and 9, 2025, in Atalbéitar (Granada). Combining theory and practice, it will cover the history of the technique, materials, mixing, and application for wall finishes, ornamental elements, decorative objects, and sculptural pieces.
The training is limited to 14 participants and will be taught by master artisan Silvia Álvarez López-Dóriga.
Carpentry and Joinery Course
The School of Arts and Crafts of Valladolid has announced the opening of the Carpentry and Joinery Course, which will run from 22 September to 3 October, with a total duration of 36 hours.
The course will be delivered by Miguel Ángel Tapia, winner of the 2025 Richard H. Driehaus Building Arts Award, and will cover topics ranging from the use and maintenance of hand tools and machinery to joinery techniques, construction processes, and occupational and environmental safety measures.
Rammed Earth Architecture: Traditional Building Technique and its Restoration
The Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage (IAPH) will host in Seville, from 1 to 3 October 2025, an intensive course on rammed earth construction, taught by Fermín Font Mezquita, building engineer and specialist in this traditional technique, and coordinated by the Cultural Association Hornos de la Cal de Morón. The course will run for three days, with a maximum of 20 places available. Registration will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis until full capacity is reached.
Building Beauty 2025–26
The Building Beauty 2025–26 academic program will run from 15 September 2025 to 15 May 2026. The fall term will be taught online, while the spring term will be offered both online and in person at the Sant’Anna Institute in Sorrento. The course introduces Christopher Alexander’s approach and applies it to design proposals.
More information: hello@buildingbeauty.org
– Conferences, seminars and lectures –
KERPIC’25: Earthen Architectural Heritage
The National School of Architecture in Rabat will host the 13th International Congress KERPIC’25 from 25 to 27 September 2025, dedicated to earthen architectural heritage. The event will bring together international experts in conservation, research, and traditional earthen building techniques.
Figueres Hosts the 4th Conference on Traditional Techniques in Contemporary Architecture
On 9 October, the fourth edition of the conference Traditional Techniques in the Construction of Contemporary Architecture will take place at the Auditori dels Caputxins in Figueres, organized by the Architects’ Association of Catalonia (COAC) and the Group for the Study and Recovery of Architectural Tradition (GRETA). The event will feature lectures and panel discussions led by renowned architects and academics, including Oriol Roselló, Coque Claret, Tiziana Monterisi, Roger Tudó, Montserrat Bosch, and Jordi Mitjans, among others.
Registration is open until 24 September through the COAC portal.
14th World Congress on Earthen Architecture
Terra 2026 has opened registration for experts and professionals in earthen architecture. The international congress will be held in Al Ain (United Arab Emirates).
Early registration is open until 1 January 2026.
City Renewal and Urban Archaeology: The Morphological Values of City Traces
The University of Naples “Federico II” (DiARC – Department of Architecture) will host the international conference “City Renewal and Urban Archaeology: The Morphological Values of City Traces” from 13 to 17 October 2026, as part of the International Seminar on Urban Form (ISUF Italy).
The call for abstracts is open until 13 October 2025.
6th International Conference on the Culture of Traditional Raised Granaries
Liébana (Cantabria) will host the 6th edition of the International Conference on Traditional Raised Granaries on 19, 20, and 21 September 2025.
All activities are free of charge until full capacity is reached, although prior registration is required for the lunch on 20 September and the bus trip on 21 September.
Registration is open until 15 September.
More information: programacion@caminolebaniego.com
9th International Seminar of the Ibero-American Network on Colonial Urbanism
San Cristóbal de La Laguna will host the 9th International Seminar of the RII_UC from 14 to 16 October 2025, under the theme “European Colonial Urbanism in the First Globalization: Challenges in Research and Management”, as part of the 25th anniversary of the city’s designation as a World Heritage Site.
The call for abstracts is open until 15 September 2025. Notification of acceptance will be sent no later than 29 September 2025, and the proceedings are expected to be published in a collective volume after peer review.
International Making Cities Livable (IMCL) 2025 in Potsdam
The next edition of the International Making Cities Livable (IMCL) conference, founded in 1985 by Suzanne Lennard and Henry Lennard, will be held from 15 to 19 October 2025 in Potsdam, Germany.
