Create, research and connect: From 6 July, Domaine de Boisbuchet will once again be inviting participants to its Summer Workshops, which will feature internationally renowned designers such as Fernando Laposse, sustainable materials and plenty of space for fresh ideas.
Over 30 years ago, design collector, curator and former Vitra Design Museum director Alexander von Vegesack founded Domaine de Boisbuchet on a historic estate in the idyllic village of Lessac. Since then, it has become a place of creative exchange centred on nature, architecture and community. Designers, students, and international experts gather here to learn from one another, experiment collectively, and explore new ways of thinking and working. At the heart of the programme are the Summer Workshops, led each year by acclaimed architects and designers with a hands-on approach rooted in the principle of learning by doing.
Here are some programme highlights:
Beyond Plastics: The Potential of Seaweed – with Rodrigo García
13 – 19 July 2025
This workshop, led by Rodrigo García, founder of the sustainable packaging start-up “Notpla”, focuses on imagining and shaping plastic-free futures. Together with participants, the designer will explore the artistic potential of seaweed as a renewable, biodegradable material.
Fiber Explorations – with Fernando Laposse
13 – 19 July 2025
Mexican designer Fernando Laposse works with natural materials such as sisal and corn husks, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design. His workshop goes beyond the creative process to address the political and ecological contexts of the materials used.
The Story of Objects – with “the thing” Magazine
10 – 16 August 2025
How do objects tell stories? In this workshop, Nina Sieverding and Anton Rahlwes, the founders of the independent social media magazine “the thing”, will explore the emotional and narrative power of everyday objects through a combination of storytelling, art and craft-based production.
At the End of the World – with Mariam Issoufou
17 – 23 August 2025
Mariam Issoufou, an architect from Niger, invites participants to explore an architectural vision of the future that moves beyond Western norms. The workshop focuses on the use of local materials, resilience and innovative spatial concepts, offering new perspectives from an African context.
The workshop fee includes not only participation in the course itself, but also accommodation in a guesthouse. Mediterranean-style meals are prepared daily using produce from the estate’s own garden. All materials and tools required for the workshops are also included in the price. The programme is enriched by architectural tours, talks by the tutors, exhibitions, and a wide range of leisure activities – from yoga and swimming to campfires and costume parties.
As places tend to fill up quickly, early registration is recommended. Some workshops are already fully booked, but there are still spaces available in other sessions.
Creative work, shared meals and evenings by the fire: Impressions from Boisbuchet. | Photos: Zito Tseng, Takami Kawai Michelangelo © CIRECA, Domaine de Boisbuchet
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