Below you can find a selection of news related to traditional building, architecture and urban planning:
– Traditional Building Cultures Foundation –
Registration is still open for the 5th International Conference on Traditional Building, Architecture, and Urbanism
The 5th International Conference on Traditional Building, Architecture, and Urbanism, organized by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation, will take place from November 15 to 17, 2024, in Úbeda.
The Conference will offer both in-person and online formats. The in-person event will include a series of lectures by international architects, various demonstrations by master craftsmen in traditional construction, and technical tours around the city of Úbeda. You can find the full program on the Conference website.
Registration for the Conference, both for in-person and online participation, is free but required, and can be completed via this link.
The Donald Gray Grants for the Building Arts have been awarded
The two 2024 Donald Gray Grants, organized annually by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation as part of the Building Arts Awards, have been awarded.
The apprentice selected to train for six months with master craftsman Sebastián Pérez is José González Pérez, while the apprentice chosen to undertake a six-month apprenticeship with master carpenter Max Rutgers is Paul Schitckhofer. Both apprentices and masters will receive financial support throughout the training period.
– Other news –
Call for Entries: 2025 European Heritage Awards
The European Heritage Awards / Europa Nostra Awards aim to identify, recognize, and promote best practices in the protection and conservation of cultural heritage, as well as innovative developments and expertise in the care and promotion of tangible and intangible cultural heritage.
The deadline for submitting applications is November 20, 2024.
Counterproposals competition for the building located at Gran Vía 19, Madrid
You can now vote on the counterproposals submitted to the competition organized by Motín Arquitectónico via their Instagram account: @motin_arquitectonico
The voting period is open until October 31, 2024.
Philippe Rotthier Prize Exhibition
The projects of the winners, honorable mentions, and nominees from the 2024 edition of the Philippe Rotthier Prize, organized by La Table Ronde de l’Architecture, will be exhibited in two venues in Belgium.
The first exhibition will take place at La Loge in Brussels, from October 26 to November 10, 2024, with visiting hours from Wednesday to Sunday, 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM. The second will be held at the Beguinage of Bruges (Begijnhof 30, 8000 Brugge) from October 26 to November 4, 2024, open on Saturdays and Sundays from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
2024 TAG Awards
The deadline for submitting proposals for the new edition of the TAG Awards is October 27, 2024. The competition includes several categories, such as student projects, built projects by TAG members, and awards for master craftspeople.
The attached image shows the drawing of the 2023 winning proposal, by Luka Pajovic.
“The Rudofsky House, an architectural gem hidden in the Frigiliana landscape”
“The Czech architect, designer, and researcher who transformed the profession in the 1960s with an exhibition at New York’s MoMA built his last house in the mountains of Málaga, which has been declared a Cultural Heritage Site but remains neglected by the authorities.”
The newspaper El País has published this interesting article, written by Nacho Sánchez.
“Why We Don’t Build Beautifully”
At the following link, you can read the article “Why We Don’t Build Beautifully,” published by Ross Douthat in The New York Times.
“GARNATA: Living Ceramics”
The exhibition “GARNATA: Living Ceramics” will be open to the public from September 20 to October 18, 2024, at the Albayzín Center in Granada. The exhibition features a selection of pieces presented by Talleres Albayzín Cerámica, Alfarería Hermanos Casares, Cerámica Los Arrayanes, Fundación Fajalauza, and Grupo MRJ, all of which are still active today. These works are part of the inventory of what can be considered traditional Granada ceramics of the 21st century, incorporating new elements and colors into the traditional forms and typologies that have been preserved to this day.
2nd Meeting of Natural Fiber Artisans
The second Meeting of Natural Fiber Artisans will take place on October 26th from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM in Crevillent, Alicante, organized by the Asociación Amigos del Esparto Antonio y Matilde. The event will be held at Gaspar Lledó square.
Esparto Grass: Heritage, Culture, and Wealth
The 1st National Meeting on esparto grass, titled “Esparto Grass: Heritage, Culture, and Wealth,” will take place on November 9th in Jumilla, Región de Murcia.
The event will feature various tours, lectures, a panel discussion, and will conclude with the opening of the exhibition “Creative Esparto Grass.”
Admission is free, but registration is required.
– Education –
Traditional Brazilian Architecture Workshop
Next December, INTBAU Brazil will host its first Summer School on Traditional Architecture. This event, designed as an intensive workshop, will take place from December 16th to 18th and will feature a program that includes lectures, specialized workshops, and guided tours of important historical monuments.
The program will offer an immersive experience focused on traditional Brazilian architecture. Classes will be delivered in architectural drawing, watercolor, and other essential disciplines to deepen knowledge of local architectural heritage.
This event will bring together 100 students and professionals from the field of architecture, fostering an environment for idea exchange and specialized training.
Introduction to the Traditional Dry Stone Construction Technique
This workshop will take place on November 1st, 2nd, and 3rd in Prádena del Rincón, Madrid, organized by the Center for Traditional Architecture Research (CIAT) in collaboration with the Sierra del Rincón Biosphere Reserve Office and sponsored by the Sierra del Rincón Municipal Association.
New edition of the Homo Faber Fellowship program
Among the master craftspeople selected for the new edition of the Homo Faber Fellowship program, organized by the Michelangelo Foundation, to train an apprentice for 7 months, is master carpenter Paco Luis Martos. Paco Luis was awarded the Richard H. Driehaus Award for the Building Arts by the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation in 2020. The apprentice selected to train with him is Florencia Iracema.
– Conferences, seminars and lectures –
Resilience & Revival
On October 27th at 5:00 PM (CEST), the panel discussion “Resilience & Revival,” organized by the Historic Preservation Program at Tulane University’s School of Architecture in New Orleans, will take place.
This event includes a panel discussion and a one-day workshop addressing the looming shortage of skilled craftspeople in traditional trades and building arts, as well as the impact this will have on the region’s ability to maintain and restore historic structures.
Among the participants is Alejandro García Hermida, Executive Director of the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation and Vice President of INTBAU Spain.
Traditional Building Forum
The ADIM (Association for the Defense of the Interests of Monsaraz) and AIAR (Association for Development through Culture) have organized a joint forum on traditional building techniques, crucial for heritage preservation (November 9-10 – International Conference in Elvas; November 16-17 – Meeting in Monsaraz).
This event, held in Monsaraz and Elvas, will include lectures, workshops, exhibitions, and guided tours. The goal is to promote best practices in the intervention and preservation of historical buildings, those which can ensure the environmental and structural quality of historic centers.
61st International Making Cities Livable!
The IMCL international conference, titled “The Ecology of Place: Learning From Nature, Culture, and History,” will take place from October 29 to November 1, 2024, in Cortona, Italy. This event will bring together experts from around the world to explore the relationship between nature, culture, and history in the development of the built environment.
14th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions
The deadline for submitting proposals for the 14th International Conference on Structural Analysis of Historical Constructions (SAHC 2025) has been extended to October 20, 2024.
The conference will take place from September 15 to 17, 2025, in Lausanne, Switzerland.
Sevillian Monasteries and Urban Space
From October 10 to November 7, 2024, the lecture series “Sevillian Monasteries and Urban Space” will take place at the Academia Sevillana de Buenas Letras.
The lectures will be held at 7:00 PM in the institution’s auditorium, and admission is free until capacity is reached.
“The Architecture of Place: In Conversation with Wesam Al Asali”
The ICAA, INTBAU, and the King’s Foundation continue their collaboration with “The Architecture of Place: In Conversation with…”. In this edition, María Fernanda Sánchez interviews Wesam Al Asali about his career and work.
Wesam Al Asali is an architect, educator, and researcher specializing in integrating digital and manual technologies with local artisanal systems and natural materials. His work spans the history of construction, building technology, and the study of traditional techniques, where he explores the role of culture and society in architectural practice.
