Carpentry
with Martin Lefort
5-day workshop · Westhoffen, Alsace
Application deadline : 1 March 2027
29 March–2 April · 5–9 April · 10–14 May · 19–23 July 2027
Carpenter Martin Lefort introduces you to the carpenter's craft, from forest to structure, directly on the site of a former farmhouse that will become the Westhoffen School of Architecture and Crafts.
Course content
• Site visit: history of the farmhouse, the change-of-use project, construction techniques and materials
• Timber species and their uses in traditional carpentry
• The carpenter's tools: use, maintenance and sharpening
• The first two and a half days: participants work in pairs to build a workbench, which will then be used in the school's other workshops, from the full-size setting out to cutting traditional joints (mortise and tenon, halving, birdsmouth, pegging)
• Once the workbench is finished: hands-on exercises on the construction site, defined during the workshop depending on the progress of the works (repairing or altering timber-framed walls, roof framing, floor framing)
• On site: recording existing timbers, cleaning them and cutting out decayed wood, full-size setting out and templates, scribing joints and marking out peg holes, trial assembly, moving the timbers and raising the frame
• Discussions with Martin about your own projects
• The four weeks are independent and each offers different hands-on exercises on site: you can attend one or several
Practical information
Dates: 29 March – 2 April, 5 – 9 April, 10 – 14 May or 19 – 23 July 2027 (independent weeks, with different hands-on exercises on site each week)
• 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), lunches (sandwich and salad, vegetarian option available), drinks, fruit and biscuits throughout the day.
Not included but mandatory: accident insurance covering the workshop, safety shoes, protective gloves, safety glasses and suitable work clothing. Without this equipment, you will not be able to take part in the workshop.
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 Carpentry 2027 – First name Last name", including:
1. the week you would like to attend;
2. your full name, postal address, phone number and date of birth;
3. your status or profession (architecture student, architect, carpenter, stonemason, teacher…) and your school or company;
4. 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.