Below you will find a selection of news related to traditional building, architecture, and urbanism:
– Traditional Building Cultures Foundation –
2026 Building Arts Awards Winners
For the tenth consecutive year, the Building Arts Awards, endowed with a total of €40,000, have been presented to four outstanding craftspeople and workshops. The award ceremony took place at the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid. The Building Arts Awards are organised by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation with the support of the Spanish Ministry of Culture and in collaboration with INTBAU Spain and the Spanish Council of Architects (CSCAE).
This year’s awards recognised the achievements of master stonemason Gaëtan Chapel in the Masonry and Stonemasonry category; carpenter Ramón Cañil González in the Carpentry category; brothers Manuel and Jacinto J. Pérez Entrena, specialists in traditional pebble paving, in the Traditional Finishes and Other Building Trades category; and the Toledo-based workshop Hijos de F. Potenciano in the Metal and Glass category.
Video features showcasing the work of each award recipient are available on the initiative’s YouTube channel.
Sites Selected for the Richard H. Driehaus Architecture Competition
Aracena (Huelva), Frigiliana (Málaga), and Sahagún (León) are the three municipalities selected in the first phase of the 2025–2027 edition of the Richard H. Driehaus Architecture Competition.
The three sites were officially announced during the Building Arts Awards ceremony, held on 18 June 2026 at the National Archaeological Museum in Madrid.
The Richard H. Driehaus Architecture Competition is one of the initiatives organised by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation with the support of the Spanish Ministry of Culture and in collaboration with INTBAU Spain and the Spanish Council of Architects (CSCAE).
New Call for the Donald Gray Building Arts Grants
The Traditional Building Cultures Foundation, thanks to Richard H. Driehaus, with the support of the Spanish Ministry of Culture and in collaboration with INTBAU Spain, has launched the 2026 call for the Donald Gray Building Arts Grants.
This year’s programme offers two six-month grants. The first provides the opportunity to train with master carpenter and cabinetmaker Miguel Ángel Balmaseda, a leading expert in the traditional carpentry techniques of Écija and recipient of the 2019 Building Arts Award. The second offers training with master stained-glass artist Anna Santolaria Tura, a specialist in the preservation and restoration of stained glass and also a 2019 Building Arts Award recipient.
Selected fellows will receive a gross grant of €7,200 to support their training. Payment, in whole or in part, will be subject to the successful completion of the learning objectives established at the beginning of the grant. The participating master craftspeople will also receive financial support for their teaching work and to cover expenses associated with the training process.
The deadline for applications is 8 September 2026.
– Education –
Fundamentals of Spherical Geometric Carpentry
The School of Traditional Timber Carpentry in Narros del Castillo will host the course “Fundamentals of Spherical Geometric Carpentry” from 24 to 26 July 2026, taught by Ángel María Martín López. The course will focus on the drawing, setting out, and construction of geometric timber domes (lacería).
Through a practical approach, participants will gain an introduction to one of the most sophisticated expressions of historic timber carpentry.
More information and registration: +34 630 14 40 44
Applications open for five traditional building craft workshops in Alsace
La Table Ronde de l’Architecture has opened applications for five weekend workshops in traditional building crafts, to be held between August and October 2026 in Westhoffen, Alsace (France). The workshops will take place in a 17th-century farmhouse that is currently being transformed into a school of architecture and craftsmanship.
Led by master stonemason Jacques Bruderer, the programme will provide practical training in traditional building techniques, including earth and lime construction, masonry, pink sandstone carving, and traditional wattle-and-daub floor construction. Participation is free of charge thanks to the support of the INTBAU Grassroots programme, and participants will be selected based on their motivation. The initiative is organised in collaboration with the Association pour la Sauvegarde de la Maison Alsacienne (ASMA).
Course: “Fundamentals of Earth Construction: History and Contemporary Practice”
The Taph Taph Professional Association, in collaboration with the Andalusian Institute of Historical Heritage and the University of Seville, has opened registration for the course “Fundamentals of Earth Construction: History and Contemporary Practice.”
The course will take place from 21 September to 29 October 2026 in a blended learning format. It will provide an introduction to the historical, technical, and professional aspects of earth construction and is intended for professionals and students in architecture, engineering, archaeology, preservation, restoration, and related disciplines.
Tile Vaulting Workshop at Domaine de Boisbuchet
From 19 to 26 July 2026, Domaine de Boisbuchet in France will host the workshop “Tile Vaulting: The Art of Structural Ceramic,” led by architect and researcher Wesam Al Asali and master mason Salvador Gomis, a member of the Spanish Network of Traditional Building Crafts Masters. Together, they are the co-founders of CERCAA.
The course will explore the traditional techniques of tile vaulting, a construction system renowned for its structural efficiency and low environmental impact. Throughout the week, participants will design and build a full-scale vaulted pavilion at Boisbuchet. The workshop will also examine the relevance of traditional building techniques in contemporary architecture and their potential contribution to more sustainable construction practices.
New Online Courses from the School of Traditional Arts
The School of Traditional Arts at The King’s Foundation has opened registration for a new programme of online courses covering traditional arts, geometry, painting, and design.
Running between June and October, the programme includes courses on Islamic geometric patterns, Mughal architecture, Indian and Persian miniature painting, and creative processes related to the traditional arts.
Introduction to dry stone construction workshop
The Centre for Research in Traditional Architecture (CIAT) in Boceguillas (Segovia, Spain) is hosting an Introduction to dry stone construction workshop, dedicated to teaching the basic techniques and tools of this traditional craft. The programme is held in two sessions: 23–25 June, which has now concluded, and 30 June–2 July 2026.
The course provides practical training in one of the most emblematic construction techniques of traditional architecture, recognised for its cultural and landscape value. It takes place at the CIAT, a leading centre for the study, research, and dissemination of traditional building systems.
More information: ciat.arquitectura@upm.es
