The course “The Building Trades in Contemporary Architecture” has been organized by the Institute for Continuing Education of COAM in collaboration with the Traditional Building Cultures Foundation.
Aimed at architects, urban planners, students, construction professionals, and others interested in expanding their training, the course considers traditional architecture, urbanism, and building as a solid foundation from which to address, from a contemporary perspective, the cultural, technical, and environmental challenges faced by today’s built environment.
This program proposes to explore the potential of local materials, vernacular building techniques, and traditional environmental strategies as the foundations of a sustainable architecture and urbanism, rooted in their physical and cultural context and capable of responding to present-day challenges. Through a transversal and applied approach, it provides tools and references that are especially useful both for those beginning their careers and for professionals seeking to redirect their practice toward an architecture more deeply engaged with place and its building culture.
The course combines theoretical sessions with practical workshops led by master craftsmen of the building trades, where participants will be introduced to contemporary applications of masonry techniques, lime and plaster finishes, timber structures, traditional carpentry, and earth construction. This hands-on training is complemented by the analysis of architectural projects that demonstrate how these skills can be successfully adopted and reinterpreted within contemporary professional practice.
The program also provides access to a network of professionals and master builders committed to the recovery and renewal of vernacular building systems and built heritage, while promoting an architectural and urban practice that is more context-aware, better grounded, and capable of adapting to the needs of today’s world.
This course will be held in person at the COAM headquarters (Calle Hortaleza 63, Madrid).
– Practical information –
Dates: November 5, 11, 12, 14, 17, 19, 24, 26, 28, 2025 and December 1, 3, 10, 2025
Schedule: 4:30 pm – 6:30 pm
Duration: 24 hours
Format: In-person at COAM (Calle Hortaleza 63, Madrid) and online
– Content –
- Introduction to the Practice and Preservation of Traditional Building, Architecture, and Urbanism: Current Situation and Future Perspectives
- Masonry Workshop for Contemporary Architecture and Rehabilitation
- Traditional Architecture in Contemporary Practice
- Environmental Models and Contemporary Practice
- Urban Design and Sensory Experience: Fundamentals of Neuroarchitecture
- Roof Structures Workshop
- Young Architects and New Design Strategies Based on Local Tradition
- Workshop “Wood in Architecture: The Art of Carpentry in the 21st Century”
- Earth Construction Workshop
- Urban Design Based on Local Typologies
- Workshop on Scagliola and Traditional Lime-Based Paints
- Traditional Trades in Heritage Restoration
