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Werkraum Bregenzerwald



Workraum Bregenzwald (literally "Bregenz Forest workroom") is an association founded in 1999 by craftsmen and traders from the Bregenz Forest (Austria). The Werkraumhaus was built by the member companies of the Werkraum Bregenzerwald in Andelsbuch in 2013 and was designed by the well-known Swiss architect Peter Zumthor.

Essentially, the hall-like structure serves both as a meeting point and as a showcase for the craft culture in the Bregenz Forest. The building's construction cost 3.8 million Euros. It offers themed exhibitions, workshops, contests, and lectures on craft and building culture, and showcases products from the member firms' workshops. A shop and a café are also available.

There are three centers in Austria run by local, traditional craftspeople for the past 15 years. They have been collaborating with international artists, educational institutions, and craft businesses. Their efforts have helped safeguard their practices for future generations. These are the Werkraum Bregenzerwald, Hand.Werk.Haus Salzkammergut, and Textile Zentrum Haslach.

The centers are providing a variety of public activities to help preserve crafts like woodworking, painting, and textile practices that contribute to a sense of identity and continuity in communities. Governed by associations, with the cooperation of craft businesses, educational institutions, and research institutions, they train students in traditional techniques, such as introductory courses for primary school students, summer camps, and apprenticeship programs.

The classes are taught by local and international experts, who transfer specialist skills pertaining to the various practices. The centers also hold exhibitions and competitions to attract artists and designers from around the world. Additionally, they provide a platform for sharing ideas and experiences between arts and industry, as well as cooperation between cultural, educational, and economic fields. Partnerships are also created, further strengthening safeguarding efforts.

Currently, Werkraumhaus consists of 90 members representing different trades and crafts, including carpentry, cabinetmaking, metalwork, plumbing, electrical engineering, upholstery, construction, clothing, shoemaking, jewelry, and other service sectors. Most workshops have fewer than 10 employees.

While tradition is seen by some as being stuck in the past, for the local craftsmen, Werkraumhaus is one that honors the techniques that have been handed down from generation to generation while always challenging the status quo. By showcasing the craftsmanship of past builders and craftsmen, it offers new ways to envision the future of design.


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