Traditional building techniques
with Jacques Bruderer
5-day workshop · Westhoffen, Alsace
Application deadline: 1 March 2027
10–14 May · 19–23 July 2027
Jacques Bruderer teaches traditional Alsatian building techniques, put into practice directly on the site of a former farmhouse that will become the Westhoffen School of Architecture and Crafts.
Course content
• From the forest to the building site: selecting wood in the Westhoffen forest, cutting 8 cm diameter wood with a hatchet or a saw for the staves (the primary structure of the wattle) and thumb-thick branches for the secondary structure
• Splitting the wood with a froe to make the staves, then shaping them with a drawknife on a shaving horse (pieces 2 cm thick with bevelled edges)
• Wattle: fitting the staves and weaving the branches into the panels of the timber frame
• Daub: preparing the earth-and-straw mix and applying it to the timber-framed walls
• Quenouille floors: the traditional technique of infilling between joists with staves wrapped in earth and straw
• Natural insulation: light straw-clay and building the secondary timber structure
• Masonry: pink sandstone rubble walls, lime mortars, repointing
• Lime renders and earth plasters: preparation, application and finishes
• Visit to a lime works (Chaux Boehm)
• Introduction to stonemasonry
Practical Information
• Dates: Monday 10 to Friday 14 May, or Monday 19 to Friday 23 July 2027 (each week is self-contained)
• Hours: 9 am – 5 pm, lunch break 12 – 1 pm
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• 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), materials, 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 Traditional Building Techniques 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, craftsperson, 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.