Architectural ceramics
with Nadia Everard
5-day workshop · Westhoffen, Alsace
Application deadline : 1st March 2027.
5–9 April 2027
Nadia Everard, builder, ornamental artist and co-founder of La Table Ronde de l'Architecture, introduces you to ceramics in the service of architecture: tiles, friezes and terracotta ornaments.
Course content
• Architectural ceramics through history: tiles (floor, wall, stove), roof tiles, bricks, finials and terracotta ornaments
• From clay pit to architecture: clays, glazes, preparation, shaping, incising, carving, glazing, firing and applications
• A walk in the Westhoffen forest: choosing natural elements to inspire the ornamentation of the tiles
• Group project: drawing a frieze of naturalistic motifs together; each participant makes 2 to 3 incised tiles from a design prepared by Nadia. Shaped by the group, the frieze will be installed in the future dining room of the student house of the Westhoffen School of Architecture and Crafts
• Personal project: drawing a 20 × 20 cm tile, incised or carved (technique and subject of your choice), with organic or geometric motifs inspired by your local flora; drawn in H pencil on watercolour paper. You can prepare ideas in advance and bring a few dried plants or photographs
• Making and shaping the tiles, drying and first firing
• Making watercolours from natural pigments and gum arabic; colouring the drawings, which guides the choice of colours and therefore of glazes
• Glazing the tiles and second firing
• Visits to a traditional tile works and a ceramicist's studio
Practical information
• Dates: Monday 5 to Friday 9 April 2027
• Hours: 9 am – 5 pm, lunch break 12 – 1 pm
• Location: 1 rue Westerend, 67310 Westhoffen, France
• Languages: English and French
• Minimum age: 16 (applicants under 18 need a letter of consent from a legal guardian)
• Maximum 10 participants per session, so places are limited
• Fee: €1,075 per week
Included: 5 days of training, 5 nights in a gîte (including the night before), clay and glazes, lunches (sandwich and salad, vegetarian option available), drinks, fruit and biscuits throughout the day.
Not included but mandatory: accident insurance covering the workshop and suitable work clothing.
Scholarships: Partial scholarships are awarded at the discretion of the TRA’s Education Committee, based on applicants’ motivation letters and supporting documents (e.g. proof of a university scholarship, proof of income, proof of enrolment at a school or a short letter explaining your financial situation). We also encourage applicants to seek funding in their own country, through an unsolicited application to their university, a government body, a regional authority or a foundation.
University credits: Students may contact their university directly to have this course recognised for academic credit. Once the process is under way, our team will be happy to help with the documents required (programme, hours, certificate of attendance).
How to apply
Send your application to contact@latablerondearchitecture.com with the subject line "Application Ceramics 2027 – First name Last name", including:
1. your full name, postal address, phone number and date of birth;
2. your status or profession (architecture student, architect, ceramicist, craftsperson, teacher…) and your school or company;
3. a motivation letter in English or French (1 page maximum, as a PDF); you may also attach drawings or photographs of your projects.
Application deadline: 1 March 2027. Only complete applications will be considered.