Les tables de l'artisanat
BRUGES SUMMER SCHOOL OF
ARCHITECTURE & CRAFTS
July & August 2023 ⎮ Bruges & Domaine du Château de Bellem ⎮English & French ⎮ TRA & INTBAU BE
La Table Ronde de l'Architecture (TRA) trains the next generation of builders in the art of building: architecture, urban planning and the traditional building crafts. It is a unique place of transmission and learning, a haven for the preservation of know-how and a centre of excellence in architecture, nourished by the crafts and knowledge of history. During the summer, the teachers train students (16+) and professionals (25+) from all over the world in the learning of a beautiful, humane and sustainable architecture. Participants discover the rigour of drawing and the rules of composition; they exercise their eyes and their judgement on ancient architectural forms; they are free, finally, to dip their pencil in any era to conceive an architecture worthy of our own.
MODULES
&
FEES
Applicants aged between 16 and 25 must apply for the "Core Curriculum" (July - 4 weeks) and are strongly encouraged to participate in the full program (7 weeks).
On demand, professionals (25+) can choose to apply for the week(s) of their choice (see below) - fees/week: 350 EUR
Fees include:
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Lectures, studio sessions, workshops and visits (tickets included) given in English and French;
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Materials for drawing, painting, engraving, sculpting, etc;
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Train tickets between Bellem and Bruges station (the only the travels included in the program);
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Access to a fully equipped kitchen, common rooms (dining room, drawing room, reading room, craft room and the orangery) and the park of Bellem Castle Estate during your stay;
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Afternoon snack every day (tea, coffee, fruits and biscuits).
The fees do not include your accommodation.
Several accommodation options are available below.
WEEK 1
Introduction to architecture and urban planning
Debate, lectures, visits, geometry, observation & measured drawing
Lectures (Bellem & Bruges): The future of architecture / Great architecture of the XXIst century around the world / Learning from the architecture and urban planning of Bruges
Study visits (Bruges): Urban studies and studies of remarkable buildings
Teachers: Noé Morin, Nadia Everard, Colum Mulhern, Mieke Bosse & Peter Drijver
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WEEK 2
The Art of drawing
Debate, lectures, visits, observation drawing, measured drawing & perspective
Lectures (Bellem & Bruges) & studio sessions (Bellem): Drawing observation in the TRA archives / The Art of drawing of Viollet-le-Duc / The Flemish primitive painters / Cavalier & in-situ perspective / Shadow & light / Colors
Study visits (Bruges): Urban studies, studies of remarkable buildings and museums of the Flemish primitive painters.
Teachers: Conor Lynch, Nadia Everard & Noé Morin
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WEEK 3
The Art of building
Debate, lectures, visits, observation drawing, measured drawing & design project
Lectures (Bellem & Bruges) & studio sessions (Bellem): Durability in construction: natural materials and long lasting construction / Building local / The Art of building Bruges / Pavilion projects for the city of Bruges (drawing)
Study visits (Bruges): site study
Teachers: Jean-Marie Tong, José Baganha, Nadia Everard & Ricardo Buratti
***
WEEK 4
The Art of embellishment
Debate, lectures, design of an architectural project for the city of Bruges, exhibition & summer party in Bellem
Study visits (Bruges): site study
Teachers: Robert Adam, Jakub Ryng & Nadia Everard
II. CORE CURRICULUM +
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE
Duration: 5 weeks ⎮ Date: 2nd to the 6th of August ⎮ Fees: 1 600 EUR
WEEK 5
The Art of gothic architecture
Debate, lectures, visits, gothic geometry, observation drawing, measured drawing, painting, engraving, sculpting & design projects
Lectures (Bellem & Bruges) & studio sessions (Bellem): Gothic: Spirit & Form / the Gothic thought of Eugène Viollet-le-Duc / Gothic geometry: arches, moulding profiles, elevation principles and floorplans / Loppem and the neo-gothic movement / Ornamentation projects on paper, wood and stone / Door projects
Study visits (Bruges & Loppem): studies of remarkable buildings
Teachers: Patrick Webb, Nadia Everard & Noé Morin
* On request, professionals (25+) can choose to register for this week only - fee/week: 350 EUR
III. CORE CURRICULUM +
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE + HANDS ON CRAFTS
Duration: 6 weeks ⎮ Date: 2nd to the 13th of August ⎮ Fees: 1 920 EUR
WEEK 6
Hands on craft
Debate, lectures, observation drawing, measured drawing, painting, engraving, ceramic, material fabrication & scale model projects
Lectures & workshops (Bellem): Solid brick walls / Natural mortar, plaster & concrete / Mouldings / Natural paints / Sgraffito / Terracotta tiles
Study visits (Brussels): studies of remarkable buildings designed by Victor Horta, Paul Hankar, Paul Saintenoy, Jean Van Ruysbroeck among many others.
Teachers: Patrick Webb & Nadia Everard
* On request, professionals (25+) can choose to register for this week only - fee/week: 350 EUR
IV. CORE CURRICULUM +
GOTHIC ARCHITECTURE + HANDS ON CRAFTS
Duration: 7 weeks ⎮ Date: 2nd to the 20th of August ⎮ Fees: 2 240 EUR
WEEK 7
Hands on craft
Debate, lectures, observation drawing, measured drawing & scale model projects
Lectures & workshops (Bellem): Materials extraction, production and transport / Woodwork / Stonework / Ironwork
Study visits (Belgium): study visits of craftmen workshops - carpentry / ironwork / stone quarry / clay pit / sawmill / roofmaker
Teachers: Jean Marie Tong & Nadia Everard
* On request, professionals (25+) can choose to register for this week only - fee/week: 350 EUR
ACCOMODATION & FEES
The accommodation is situated in the Bellem Castle Estate.
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Shared room with two single beds and a shower room - 140 EUR/week
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Single room with a single shower room - 210 EUR/week
Each room has at least one window overlooking the estate and is equipped with a desk.
You can organize your own accommodation outside Bellem Castle Estate but take into account that the courses start everyday at 9.30 am in the Estate or in Bruges.
TESTIMONIALS ALUMNI
Fourth year Architecture student from Bangladesh, Audity HAIDER, attended the Belgian Summer School 2022 precisely because it offered a different kind of architectural education than that offered on her course; one that she herself had sought out to help her to learn how to ‘create beautiful spaces that promote a better quality of life.’
Matheus TEIXEIRA had just finished his studies from university in Brazil when he decided to apply for the TRA Summer School.
“I always wanted to peruse a career in traditional architecture but I felt quite limited by my university and surroundings. During my courses, I felt really discouraged to study and develop different architecture styles and as for now, there’s a lack of debate on traditional architecture and urbanism in Brazil.” In his experience “coming to Bruges to learn in depth the techniques and theory behind what makes architecture beautiful was really life changing. It was a great opportunity to get to know people that are into traditional architecture and urbanism all over the world and thus opening a way into the community.”
Weeks after the summer school Matheus was employed by a traditional architecture firm in France where he currently works.
Riccardo BURATTI, an Italian architect specialising in sustainability, attended the course in Bruges in 2022.
"Denied the opportunity until now to learn about traditional methods of design,’ he claims his ‘academic school system systematically reject[ed] traditional architecture and urbanism’. The course in Bruges provided him with the opportunity to make ‘new friends, exchange ideas, gain experience and above all, gain confidence in his ability to shift to traditional architecture, interpret and understand it."
APPLICATION
The standard application deadline to be considered is 30th April 2023, 00:00 (CET).
To apply for the 2023 edition of the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts, please fill in the following form and send us by email a letter of motivation (in French or in English max 2 pages in PDF) and three hand drawings (JPEG). You can also add to this application any piece of writing that you feel is relevant (poem, opinion piece, essay on architecture, etc).
Applicants under 18 years of age must produce a letter from their legal guardian authorising them to take part.
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The priority application deadline to be considered for a scholarship is 31st March 2023, 00:00 (CET).
If applying for the priority deadline, please explain in your letter the circumstances that lead you to apply for a scholarship.
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Admissions decisions will be communicated in early May 2023.
Email: contact@latablerondearchitecture.com
If you have any questions, please contact us by email at contact@latablerondearchitecture.com