Our students came from...
Testimonials from former students
Great Estival Celebration, August 17, 2024.
- 2024 -
Pol Kerneis, student of the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2024, from Belgium.
« I truly believe that no one can remain indifferent to the beauty of traditional architecture after a summer school in Bruges with La Table Ronde de l’Architecture Asbl. You simply have to read the different students’ testimonies to see that everyone valued very much the teachings they received during this amazing month in Bruges which they chose to take part in when they could just as easily have been basking in the sun in an exotic location.
After spending five years studying architecture in Belgium and becoming interested in traditional architecture in the last year of my studies, I can say that I really found the knowledge and teaching I was looking for during this summer school. This exact knowledge and learning that I wasn't able to access at university will form the basis of how I want to practice architecture in my professional career.
It is very important that anyone who is curious about traditional architecture should try to enrol in one of the INTBAU network's summer schools so that they can fully grasp what it means to build in the traditional way and understand that this form of architecture can be an answer to today's urban planning and architectural problems.
Of course, these five weeks are not enough to teach you everything you need to know about building in the traditional way because of the huge amount of information and knowledge that the centuries have produced, but they do give you a real insight through drawings, visits, lectures and making crafts. In just five weeks, I have dramatically improved my drawing skills, my confidence in hand-drawing, my knowledge of construction techniques and even my social skills.
Indeed, this summer school is already worthwhile for the variety of profiles of people you will meet, who will open your mind to different perspectives, passions, cultures and interests. Living and working for five weeks over the summer with extraordinary people from all over the world was a truly unique experience. »
Isabella Reilly, student of the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2024, from the United States.
« When I applied for The Bruges Summer School, I didn’t not fully know what to expect, particularly since my previous studies were in no way connected to architecture. What I received over the course of the program was beyond what I could have possibly imagined as well as being beyond monetary pricing. Within a short five weeks I was exposed to philosophical debates on urbanism and aesthetics, building code legislation, sacred geometry, skills of practical craftsmanship, and architectural drawing, to name only a few things. The development of my architectural drawing skills was outstanding! I went into the program terrified because I had never done a measured architectural drawing by hand. I left the program amazed by and confident in my drawing skills. Moreover, in my 8 years of higher education I have never experienced professors who gave as much of their personal time and wisdom to their students. The professors were almost continually on-call for students’ questions and would even stay up till 3am helping us complete our drawings. Most importantly, however, were the deeply meaningful personal relationships I formed with both fellow students and professors. I am certain that this program has transformed the way I approach my built environment as well as providing me with very valuable lasting friendships.»
Nicole Pereira, student of the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2024, from Australia.
« My time at the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts was a life changing experience, one that I am grateful to have been offered. I attended the school with the intention of developing and refining my knowledge of traditional architecture, but I left with that and so much more. My time there not only furthered my passion for traditional architecture and design, but left me with an invaluable set of skills and the ability to develop my critical thinking.
Over the course of just five weeks, we covered a number of fascinating topics ranging from the origin of ancient cities, philosophy and mythology, to understanding architecture through archaeology and geometry. We truly were so fortunate to be taught by such skilled architects and craftsmen from all around the world.
The sessions we spent walking around the beautiful city of Bruges, however, was definitely a highlight, as we got to study the typologies of Flemish architecture and understand how the buildings work within their context. These sessions taught us about the importance of traditional building and architecture in today’s world and how it reflects the history and character of a place.
In addition to the engaging lectures, we had the opportunity to learn a variety of traditional crafts during our final week, which was especially fun. From sculpting and glazing ceramics, and plaster work, to carving blue stone, we were able to learn both the practical and theoretical sides of each.
None of this would have been possible without the wonderful Nadia Everard and Noé Morin, who were such incredible mentors and friends throughout the course. They created such a positive learning environment, where everyone was encouraged to share their thoughts after the lectures and engage in complex thought-provoking discussions. These discussions, paired with instructive lessons on constructing geometry and its symbolism by tutor Patrick Webb, created such a fulfilling learning experience. Not to mention the much-appreciated waffle breaks that occurred almost daily thanks to them!
I left Bruges looking positively into the future with a renewed sense of eagerness towards traditional architecture. These five weeks taught me lessons that were more critical to the care we must take when designing and planning for the built environment, especially on how essential the knowledge of traditional arts and crafts are, in ensuring the longevity of structures and communities in our world.
The summer school leaves me with memories I will cherish and an amazing group of people who became family over the summer that are now lifelong friends. It also provided the opportunity to meet notable figures of the traditional architecture world, all of whom were happy to talk and pass on their knowledge. I was given the chance to enter a community that is relentless in their drive for change in this world; change that will continue pushing to maintain the beauty and sustainability of our communities through the built environment.
I am fortunate to have had the chance to immerse myself in an experience as enriching as this one and I am so thankful to La Table Ronde de L’Architecture for making this summer a dream come true."
Sam Galvin, student of the Alsace Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2024, from Ireland.
« As I reflect on the last year, I have been very lucky to finish college, get a job in architecture, and even buy a camper van. Yet, I know the most inspiring experience, the one which will echo through my thoughts for years to come, was travelling to Barr to join the Alsace Summer School of Architecture and Crafts.
The small and charming town of Barr became host to the most fascinating discussions on architecture and urbanism, where many principles of our debates could be applied directly on the town and its hinterlands. From the staff at the boulangerie to the mayor, the people we met were extraordinarily friendly and curious about our endeavours, displaying formidable patience as we blocked streets and endlessly measured and drew their homes. I am so grateful for how welcome we were made feel, and how lucky we were to join them for their Bastille day celebrations, as they joined us for a presentation of our architectural and urban proposals in the Hotel de Ville.
We were treated to the most interesting and inquisitive lectures from a series of practitioners and theorists with the humility to debate each and every point of their presentations with students similarly eager to develop a common understanding of the topics at hand. Often a lecture of just half an hour would provide us with many more hours of further conversation in later days as we continued to grapple with the fresh thinking offered by these tutors.
Perhaps most luckily, I was blessed with the extraordinary company of my fellow students to argue these points with. It’s possible we disagreed more than we ever agreed, but the respect with which we were able to challenge each other’s thinking was impressive, and the joy and enthusiasm I found in each of these people is a constant source of inspiration. I think it would be rare to find a contingent so diverse in background, age, and nationality, yet we had an incredibly strong bond. I will consider them friends for life, even comrades in arms in our shared understanding of the power of a more humanistic architecture as a force for good in our society.
With these people, enjoying the unique sights, sounds, and smells of the Alsacienne campagne was a pleasure. We embarked on many trips to meet masons, carpenters, and craftsmen of the highest calibre, passing through villages with exquisite churches and extraordinary traditional architecture. These men and women kindly shared their time with us, happily engaging with our endless questioning. A rare treat was visiting a clay tile factory, where the handrails were smooth like glass to the touch after a century of use, even as the proprietor eagerly explained how they have updated the plant over time. Clearly these are communities who have not lost touch with their heritage and locality.
The experience of studying vernacular Alsacienne architecture, through drawing, theory, and practice, has taught me exciting new ways of working, of gaining knowledge of the world around me, and understanding the beauty of vernacular architecture. I now hope, as my fellow students also do, to apply these experiences to better appreciating the beauty of the communities and built environment in my home in Ireland.
And so it is no surprise that ASSAC is the experience I will most reflect on this year. In such a short time frame, we learned so much while leaving open so many doors for further thought and exploration. I especially must commend Nadia Everard for her boundless drive and depthless knowledge, and Noé Morin for his humour, kindness, and the obscure philosophical insights which kept us entertained during hikes in the beautiful forests of the Vosges. These individuals, with the strength of their convictions, have built a powerful community that I would encourage anyone to join. »
Simon Harris, student of the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2024, from Australia.
« My passion for Christopher Alexander led me to the Bruges summer school, but I have left with the feeling that the horizons for the future of architecture are broad and prosperous. As I revisit my journals to write this note, I am reminded of not only the knowledge and discussions that we had but the beautiful friendships and moments that were shared. It is clear why you have chosen Bruges as the site for your school. While there I was simply awash with inspiration and beauty, architecture began to invade my dreams.
To friends I have spoken of this beauty. It was illuminated in lectures from Patrick Webb on sacred geometry, Noe Morin on the history of architecture, Michelle Sofge on Authenticity and many more. La Table Ronde has cultivated a learning experience that truly reminded me of the great schools of history. For me there was a theological nature to the discussions that often followed the lectures. When you bring together a group of people that all hold a belief; that architecture should be aspirational and beautiful, this belief allows for discussions that are not intractable debate but moments of growth, reflection, and creation.
I think to learn and appreciate architecture opens your eyes to a new way of reading the world. Just as when you learn to read and you can no longer ignore the text that fills the world, architecture and its details fill my eyes. This summer school unlocked a new understanding of construction detailing and design theory that I would have not had access to otherwise. Being not only pushed but inspired to draw everyday gave me a level up on my skills I never knew I needed.
I must stress that this experience was totally unique. Mainstream architectural education today lacks the essential spirit that Nadia and Noe possess. For me my experience in Bruges was one of the first times I saw a glimpse of what architecture can be. How architecture can be free from its crippling self consciousness and open to place, history, and beauty. Architecture that approaches the world as its palette full of details, ornament, and technique that you are free to combine as your spirit and knowledge guide you.
Personally for me this summer school not only gave me great focus for my future but also great hope for the future of architecture for all. »
Elea Kolari, student of the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2024, from Finland.
« These five weeks of summer school have been rich in learning, creating, meeting people, making memories and making connections.
I learned so much about architecture, urbanism, sustainability and history from all of our amazing teachers, some of whom stayed with us for the whole course, some of whom visited us briefly to give us lectures, and some of whom stayed with us for a week to guide us through our final projects.
To be able to do something on your own, to create, whether it was a drawing or a piece of handiwork, and not be limited to theory (as interesting as it was), was wonderful. Letting your creativity run wild during the evenings spent listening to music in the classroom friends, as we approached the presentation of our final projects, the solidarity, the excitement of seeing the project soon completed, were unforgettable.
Not only did the wonderful teachers and lecturers teach me a wide range of things, but so did all my classmates. The diversity of thought and opinion of each participant, where they are in life and what got them there is fascinating. Each student was incredibly knowledgeable in at least one area, but the conversations we had taught me not only about their conscientiously considered interests, but also about life and the people who live it.
This unique opportunity prepared me to pursue a future in the versatile world of architecture and allowed me to make the most wonderful friendships with people from very different backgrounds. I will treasure everything I learned and all the conversations I had during the best summer of my life so far. »
Esther Carlsson, student of the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2024, from France.
« Avoir pu participer à l’école d’été de la Table Ronde de l’Architecture a été une chance extraordinaire qui restera gravée dans ma mémoire tant elle m’a apportée.
Les cours tout d’abord, dans leur diversité, nous font réfléchir à l’architecture sous toutes ses coutures, de la philosophie aux matériaux en passant par l’histoire, les savoir-faire et bien d’autres choses. Leurs structures sont variées, touchant autant la théorie que la pratique, se déroulant en classe où dans de nombreux endroits de la ville, dans un contexte dynamique et inspirant où tout le monde souhaite se surpasser et s’entraider tout en avançant à son rythme. Les débats et discussions sont au cœur de cette école, chaque thématique abordée offre l’opportunité de confronter ses avis au groupe, directement après les présentations ou durant les temps libres.
La variété des intervenants nous apporte encore plus de nuances et de subtilité sur les sujets traités, le tout dans une effervescence d’échanges déjà intenses entre les étudiants et professeurs sur place. En effet, l'organisation de l’école garantit une proximité entre tous, elle devient un foyer où les réflexions se développent en même temps que les liens se tissent, permettant aux idées et projets de fleurir par la suite hors de son enseigne.
Nous avons eu la chance d’avoir pu vivre dans le centre de Bruges tout au long du séjour, ville médiévale au décor enivrant qui nous a aussi permis de faire le lien entre les émotions que nous procure ce lieu avec ce que nous étudions en classe.
Finalement, cette école est le lieu idéal pour s’entourer de gens qui partagent le même désir d’une architecture plus humaine, et avec qui il sera plus simple de poursuivre son chemin dans ce vaste monde. Elle est aussi le moyen d’enrichir ses connaissances par les ressources à disposition et les compétences de tous (les personnes que nous rencontrons venant d’une multitude de pays à travers le monde et ayant des parcours extrêmement variés), et, pour finir, d’acquérir les outils nécessaires pour faire mûrir nos motivations personnelles et professionnelles. »
Joaquina Alvernaz, student of the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2024, from Portugal.
« I came to the Bruges Summer School of Traditional Architecture hoping to fill in some of the gaps left by my architectural training. During the five years I spent designing mainly modernist buildings, I came into contact with Christopher Alexander's theory, which opened my eyes to many 21st-century prejudices about architecture and aroused my curiosity about traditional construction. I realised that I had only scratched the surface of the knowledge accumulated by the generations before me, and school was my first step.
It allowed me to get to the heart of philosophical questions such as the role of the architect (and his ego), conservation theory (and his efforts to break with the past) or sustainability (and how beautiful buildings using natural materials last the longest). It was incredible to finally address these issues that had been bothering me and to hear such articulate opinions, especially from Nadia and Noe who have an amazing historical and technical knowledge of architecture. I also had the chance to explore several trades to understand the work of craftsmen. The highlight was spending three days with a group of blacksmiths. I learnt about the time and effort required to create beautiful ironwork, the most essential factor being the human touch. What's more, it's a lot harder than it looks.
Above all, I have been able to meet an extraordinary group of people from all walks of life and discover their unique visions of the world, while sharing our love of beauty and architecture. It was also very reassuring to meet practicing architects who believe in this way of building and to see how they incorporate it into their careers, which gave me inspiration and hope for my own journey.
Overall, I really believe in the architecture of La Table Ronde and would highly recommend anyone interested in this course to take it. You will be learning, drawing, debating or having fun, and the time will fly by. Plus, you will feel like you are part of something altruistic that brings beauty to this world. »
Henrik Wangsten, student of the Alsace Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2024, from Sweden.
« My two weeks at ASSAC were a fantastic introduction to the world of traditional architecture. As a landscape architect I am interested in how we build our societies and the effects it has on the bigger scale, what imprints we create on the land. By studying the traditional way of building we can learn from our ancestors how to create harmony in our landscape and heal the seemingly ever growing gap between society and nature. Situated in the beautiful town of Barr, the wine capital of Alsace, nested at the foot of the Vosges mountains, we were immersed in a beautiful environment, rich in history and with a deep connection to the place. A charming half timbered house was our base, and surprisingly fast it felt like our home. The days were spent observing the houses and our surroundings by sketching and measured drawing, taking care both to detail and atmosphere. Study visits to craftsmen such as stone carvers, roof-tile makers and carpenters gave us a deeper understanding of the work that goes into building and made sense to what we were drawing. During the second week, we worked on a selection of smaller design project for the city of Barr, finishing with a public exhibition in the town hall. The pedagogy of the summer school clearly set itself apart from my previous education. Inspiration was the foundation and our curiosity was the fuel. It felt like the teachers and students were on the very same side with a shared goal of creating beauty, together. Noé and Nadia did a great work selecting interesting lecturers and practitioners, as well as the group of participants, which was diverse in terms of background and age but all with the passion to create more humane architecture. I left the school with new friends, an increased confidence in my drawing skills and a firm belief that the field of architecture can change for the better. It starts with education in the tradition. »
Rafe Donahue, student of the Alsace & the Bruges Summer Schools of Architecture & Crafts 2024,
from the United States.
« I am not an architect, nor an architecture student, nor an artist nor fine craftsman. I am simply a husband, father, and grandfather, a retired mathematician, an amateur woodworker, and a lover of beautiful things. As such, the TRA summer schools in Alsace and Bruges in Summer 2024 seemed to me a stretch but they resulted in perhaps the most memorable summer in my nearly six decades.
The application for the schools was highly daunting for me: an essay? Three drawings? Any other reasons to accept me? Goodness; if the points were allocated 1, 3, and 1 to those categories, I felt I would be lucky to score 2 points total. So I practiced my drawings and polished and polished and polished my essay and sent my application package to TRA a day before the deadline.
With great surprise and joy, I was accepted in early April and made plans to spend the summer in Europe, six time zones away from my home in Indiana.
The first summer school, two weeks in Barr, Alsace, France with a dozen other students, was an experience unlike any other for me, akin to the scene in Wizard of Oz when Dorothy opens the door of the black-and-white cabin to reveal the magical full Technicolor world of Oz. Every day brought new marvels.
Barr is a small light-industrial town of approximately 7,000 people. Small cobbled streets snake through the city revealing a breath-taking parade of half-timber houses and shops. It is like a Disney fairy tale but filled with real people. After meeting all the students on a Sunday afternoon, class started bright and early Monday morning with a tour of the city and drawing sessions. At once it was obvious that the students there were of a caliber that I previously could only have imagined. Precisely copying local wonders in pencil into sketchbooks in a quality that I could not achieve using my digital camera, they blew me away. But Nadia the instructor, and all the students, were open, warm, welcoming, and accepting of me and my meager skills, providing assistance and tips, tricks, and techniques to aid in my drawings; their patience and tolerance for my weak skills was humbling but I never felt not part of the group.
Over two weeks in Barr and the surrounding Alsace region, we were exposed to the details of design and construction of churches and houses, storefronts and cathedrals, city gates and civic squares. We were taught fundamentals of building arches and trusses, church support pillars and wall buttresses, timber framing, stone carving, and all other manners of local building that Alsacians had been doing for centuries.
And we drew. And drew. And drew. Nadia’s attention to detail and gentle but insistent encouragement to do good work, better work, and excellent work got everyone to give more than anyone thought possible.
At the end of the two weeks, all our projects for adjustments or additions or adornments for Barr were presented to the Mayor and everyone else in the town. The presentation room was packed and students proudly explained their thoughts and plans. It was a Joy to watch the presentation of the gifts of the students to the city be so graciously given and so happily received.
While I was in graduate school way back in the last century, our department chair told us the first day that he sought to give us two things: competence and confidence. A similar gift was given to the students at the ASSAC in summer 2024: in the two weeks we were in Barr, there is no question in my mind that the students picked up both of these attributes in spades, and they did it with grace, humor, and humility.
And then I went to Bruges in Belgium and did it all again at BSSAC, this time with 3 dozen other students.
Again, we learned local traditions and customs for architecture and building. And practiced crafts and techniques. And we were treated to not just the mechanics of architecture and design but also the philosophy behind why people build the way they do. The faculty was first rate, guest lectures from great names from across the globe.
And, just like in Barr, there was camaraderie and companionship, shared learning, and a free exchanging of skill sets and techniques. And it was all done with the good nature, humility, and grace that I found in Barr.
And again we drew like crazy. All by hand. Pencils, straight edges, compasses. Measuring with tape measures and footsteps. And the work that this group produced was equally impressive.
And again, at the end, there was a presentation to a raptured audience. There was Joy in the grand reception of the designs. There was Pride in a team job well done. And there was Sorrow at the imminent departure from new lifelong friends.
All in all, summer 2024 in the TRA summer schools in Alsace and Bruges was unlike any other summer of mine. I saw so much that was new and beautiful, I learned so much that was practical and exciting, I did so much work that was beyond what I thought I could do. All this I owe to Nadia, Noé, and Audity and all those involved with TRA.
But all that aside, what I will remember most about summer 2024 is the wonderful people I met. I have come to realize that those things that are of the world - the stones and staircases, the drawings and doorways, the canals and croissants, the interlaced arches and ice creams, the buttresses and beams - will pass away. What will remain are those things that were real: the Excitement of trying difficult things, the Joy of working as a team, the Love of finding new friends, and the Wonder of learning something new.
I returned home to Indiana a much richer man than when I left and for that I am forever indebted to the folks at TRA. »
Great Estival Celebration, July 29, 2023.
- 2023 -
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Paula Mariscal Romero, student at the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2023, from Spain.
« This last month of July, I had the privilege of taking part in an exciting summer course on traditional architecture. This experience not only expanded my understanding of architecture but also provided me with the opportunity to explore my passion for building design and construction, drawing and it opened my view on so many fields of architecture.
The summer course covered a wide range of topics related to traditional architecture. From the history of architecture to the best ideas of traditional and sustainable design, each day was a deep dive into the world of building and architectural design. I also got to understand how traditional buildings work in the Flemish surroundings and learned about so many different cultures.
One of the highlights of this experience was the quality of the instructors and the diversity of my fellow course mates. The instructors were experienced builders, architects and craftsmen who shared their knowledge passionately and accessibly. Additionally, interacting with people from different backgrounds and cultures enriched my perspectives and provided me with a global view of architecture.
Throughout the course, we had the opportunity to work on practical projects that challenged us to apply what we were learning. From drawing urban plans and understanding our environment to designing a building for the city of Bruges, each project pushed us to think creatively and effectively to solve architectural problems.
As a result of this summer course, I gained a deeper understanding of the fundamental principles of architecture and learned the importance of conserving our history and patrimony. I developed practical skills that I am confident will be valuable in my future academic and professional world. I learned to appreciate the importance of history in our cities, to defend traditional ways of building, to value the importance of craftsmanship, and I really developed my drawing and project skills.
In summary, my experience in the summer architecture course was an enriching adventure that allowed me to explore my passion for building design and construction. I am excited about what the future holds for me in the field of architecture and am grateful for this transformative experience. Ultimately, the summer course provided me with inspiration and confidence to continue pursuing my dream of becoming an architect. »
Deniz Erensoy, Student at the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2023, from the UK.
« My month at La Table Ronde de l'Architecture’s summer school was a valuable and unique experience, and one that I am grateful to have been offered. The new skills, connections, wisdom and perspectives I gained in one month at this summer school could rival an entire year of university.
The approach was holistic in nature. I had expected to simply sleep in dorms and go to class every day but what I got was so much more. It was a taste of a different world and lifestyle altogether. My month was defined by a sense of harmony, curiosity and groundedness which was imbued in everything from spending time with fellow students to drawing a roof plan. Education came not only in the form of lectures, classes and field trips but also more subtly in the form of our way of life. As students, we enjoyed convivial communal living in a beautiful environment that inspires and elevates you, rather than weighing down on you like many of the educational institutions of today.
No task was ever forced on the students by Nadia Everard or Noé Morin. Nothing, from the timetable to how we use our time after/in-between lectures, ever felt rigid. We had freedom and yet we still chose to engage with enthusiasm. It was not strictly required of us but we did so simply out of an genuine eagerness to get involved. This was the true magic of the experience. It felt like the return of a lost art in education. There was an enjoyable spontaneity to non- school hours. Architects visiting from far and wide to give lectures or teach would be staying in the same building and would join the students in the common room after hours, engaging in invigorating conversations or giving informal lectures on things they were passionate about.
My fellow students were diverse in background, age, aspiration and opinion which in itself made for good conversations, new connections and unlikely friendships (and food recipes).
The type of architectural wisdom this course provides is unique and a rarity in our day. Important and overlooked flaws in modern construction and design were brought to my attention and presented from an entirely new perspective. The level of in-depth expertise of the teachers is vast and far removed from your typical architect or university teacher. Small details and common misconceptions that usually go unaddressed are given proper attention and equip students with a kind of wisdom that other aspiring architects are unlikely to discover without similar guidance from seasoned masters in traditional architecture and crafts.
The skills I was able to develop and hone over the course of a month were also invaluable. In a matter of weeks, my ability to draw a freehand urban plan in my sketchbook while on- site improved drastically. The same goes for my confidence in sketching, be it for measured or freehand architectural studies.
I left Bruges with a set of skills and knowledge that I completely lacked before going in (despite a year’s worth of studying urban design at university). This is proof that these programs are not merely helpful but also necessary and supporting them allows society to slowly normalise and embrace the value of a traditional approach to architecture and crafts such that it can eventually be integrated into mainstream education.»
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Alex Peacock, student at the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2023, from Ireland.
« We had fascinating lectures almost every day from talented and noteworthy visiting architects, craftsmen, and architectural thinkers. Within only a few weeks an absolutely impressive roster of figures had visited to lecture and join us on our walks and tours in Bruges and surrounding places of interest. All of the guest lecturers were genuinely very enthusiastic, smart, thoughtful, and helpful people, concerned with the practice of architecture and actually teaching the students.
Our sketch tours in the city of Bruges were brilliant; together as a group each morning we would have breakfast together and get the train, for free, to Bruges, where we would walk through the beautiful city in the morning to meet our lecturers. Typically, we would visit a series of interesting buildings, observing them, sketching them, and learning about their history. We would walk between the locations, through the streets of Bruges, getting the opportunity to chat with the lecturers, and we would all have lunch together in the pleasant restaurants and cafes of Bruges. During our study visits, we would draw plans, measured drawings, details and sections of notable and modest buildings of our choice. In the evenings, we would all go for dinner and drinks in Bruges, then get the train back to Bellem Castle. We worked on our projects, the designs for various new traditional buildings in Bruges, for an intensive week, and then presented our work to an esteemed jury at the “Great Estival Celebration”.
The Bruges Summer School has doubtless been the most important thing I have ever done; the world and community I have entered, is exactly the profession I would like to progress in, and the lifelong contacts and friends I have made in various companies and cities is utterly invaluable. The summer school is a great network which will be of immense help throughout the rest of my career. »
Tarini Sharma, student at the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2023, from India.
« The Bruges Summer School has taught me a lot. I came to the school with a casual curiosity about traditional architecture and left with a profound love for it. From the very beginning, I was encouraged to question everything I had already been taught and look at things in a new light. This made me discover so many new things about tradition, material, culture, and society. My conversations with Noé Morin helped open my mind to a different kind of future for architecture, and I loved exchanging book and movie recommendations that consisted of some very thought-provoking suggestions. Nadia Everard was a great mentor and friend. She taught me so much in such a short span of time and if it was possible I would spend every summer learning more from her. Nadia’s love for traditional architecture and desire to bring about a change in the built environment built up such an exciting atmosphere within the school. She was there every step of the way to answer all my questions and help with every drawing. In fact, every mentor, teacher, architect, craftsman, and artisan who came to the school left behind such an impact. They were all very eager to help and share knowledge and would stay with us from morning to night at times to work on our projects. The school has really helped me decide what I want to do next in my architectural journey and provided me with the confidence and support I need to go out into the architectural world. I am very grateful to have been a part of this community and will continue to remember this experience for the rest of my life. »
Christopher C. Davis, student of the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2023, from the UK.
" The week ‘The Art of Gothic Architecture’ was spent in and around Bruges, and was a most valuable insight into the development of Flemish Gothic. It proved to be a wonderful opportunity to study traditional design in a scholarly environment with enthusiastic and like-minded people from around the world.
Two days were spent undertaking detailed investigation of the construction and design of some of the medieval and revival Gothic buildings in Bruges, on a large scale and in detail. This involved observational drawing as well as the measuring and recording of smaller elements. As a new visitor to Bruges, understanding the character of the place through the examination of the local architectural language was fascinating - especially comparing and contrasting the Flemish Gothic school with those I am more familiar with England, France and Italy.
Consideration was given to the pattern of the evolution of the medieval city. Looking at this in the wider context of contemporary trading patterns – namely of wool - was of particular interest, especially as this is manifested in the shared vernacular of the nearest regions of England such as East Anglia, which had significant exposure to Flemish culture in the medieval period, and vice versa.
A further day was spent at Loppem Castle, which as a 'total work of art' is considered a masterpiece of Gothic Revival design in Belgium. Spending time sketching and measuring is undoubtedly the best way to learn about how these buildings are created.
We also made a visit to Ghent, where we studied the development of the urban plan and some further buildings constructed in the C14th and C19th. Nadia, Noe, Patrick and Ric were incredibly insightful teachers and each were fountains of knowledge; it was a joy to spend time studying architecture in their company.
As with many aspects of traditional architecture, the study of geometry and proportion is often neglected in modern architectural education. Although in practice it is straightforward to use a computer for geometric constructions, a deeper understanding of hand-drawn techniques and their proportional relationships is indispensable in the understanding of traditional forms.
The days were also interspersed with debates and discussions regarding the retrospective philosophy and theory behind medieval design as developed by Ruskin, Morris and others. The course was an excellent and rare environment in which to be able to converse in such detail with others, and to truly delve into the Gothic spirit. There is no doubt that what has been learnt will be of great use to all attendees as they pursue their future endeavours."
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Nikolai Brummer, student at the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2023, from Finland.
« I spent five weeks at La Table Ronde de l’Architecture summer school. To me this was an important step towards my dream of studying architecture and one day built beautiful places.
The courses opened my eyes and I will never forget what I learned there. I now understand what makes architecture beautiful and durable and on the opposite side, I see what makes most of modern constructions so ugly and obsolete. Although I have lived all my life in the same city, Helsinki, I now notice and appreciate its architecture details like never before. That is something natural with traditional buildings, you always see something new, a door, a window, an ornament or even a material shade, that you have never noticed although you have looked at that building hundreds of times. The traditional architecture of Bruges will always be beautiful and, as it ages, it will charm us all the more (if it is maintained with love). Something I have not thought of or noticed before are for example the brick bond used in the masonry or the geometry of small gothic quatrefoil on façades. Drawing has also become more natural. Now my dear friend Alex Peacock, that I met during the summer school, and I are making simple tutorials on social media for people to learn how to make geometrical and gothic shapes, knowledge we got during the fifth week of the school.
It was wonderful meeting people who share similar ideas and a love for humane architecture. The friendships created during my time in Bruges, the amazing community I entered will always be part of me. »
Tasneem Zraikat, student at the Bruges Summer School of Architecture & Crafts in 2023, from Jordan.
« The time that I have spent at La Table Ronde de l’Architecture summer school in 2021 and 2023 has highly enriched my path as an architectural designer. With this enrichment came a feeling of arriving home to a place where everything that I have been learning makes sense.
The education we received was packed with immense theoretical and hands-on practical knowledge that had been passed down throughout the centuries. The most important lesson I learned while studying traditional architecture is that past models of practice contain a wealth of wisdom and innovation that are still relevant today. The modern idea that we need to place past models aside as artefacts and come up with new "innovations" based on very little foundational knowledge is misguided. There are already plenty of innovations that have withstood the test of time, some of which are yet to be re-explored and applied to present situations. I also learned that beauty and durability come hand in hand, and that beauty in itself is sustainable.
Nadia and Noe have been wonderful mentors and friends throughout the summer school. They are two of the most passionate, knowledgeable, and caring mentors when it comes to teaching and sharing what they know, which was done in a warm, fun, and nurturing environment where we also shared meals and thoughtful discussions. They have created an ever growing community that shares their passion, with teachers, craftsmen, and architects who came from all over the world and left us mesmerised with the knowledge and methods that they shared with us. I am so grateful for the friendships that I have formed during the summer school and to be part of such a beautiful community of students and experts who are all working towards a common good. »