Workshop Timber Frame in Portugal, VILAMATERIA

atelierencaixe
Apr 22
2 min read

Updated: May 15

When a workshop evolves into a space for learning through practice and wood construction.

Over the past years, Atelier Encaixe has established itself not only as a place of work, but as a space where wood is studied, tested, and transformed — with time, precision, and respect for the material.

This path naturally brought people from different backgrounds. Students, trainees, and collaborators from various countries have passed through the workshop, particularly within Erasmus+ programs, contributing to an environment of practical learning and continuous exchange.

Without a formal teaching structure, but grounded in real practice, a way of learning has developed — based on making, observing, and repeating processes.

With the move to Quebradas, this direction became clearer. The space, the context, and the scale allowed what was already happening to grow with more consistency: an environment where work and learning coexist naturally It is within this context that VILAMATERIA emerges.

More than a new project, it is a direct continuation of Atelier Encaixe’s path, now with a clearer focus on creating structured learning experiences while maintaining a strong connection to real practice.

VILAMATERIA begins with its first timber frame workshop in Portugal, focused on wood construction and the principles of traditional carpentry.

This workshop proposes a direct approach: working with the material, understanding joinery, and actively participating in the construction process. It is not only about acquiring technical knowledge, but about integrating a way of thinking and making.

The first edition will include the participation of James Thomson🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

https://www.thomsontimber.co.uk/

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p1jeWKuP6ks

An international reference in timber framing, whose experience brings an additional technical and cultural dimension to the workshop.

This moment marks the beginning of a new phase — one that is unprecedented in Portugal — where Atelier Encaixe expands its activity beyond the workshop itself, creating a space dedicated to sharing knowledge through practice applied to

In a context where learning is increasingly detached from direct experience, VILAMATERIA proposes a return to the essentials: learning through making, in direct contact with materials and processes.

Wood remains the starting point. But the goal is broader — to understand, to build, and to pass on.