Description:
Since its establishment in 1992 in Paris, Carpenters without Borders (“Charpentiers sans Frontières”) have fostered a movement of wood carpentry professionals who volunteer their expertise on an international scale. Working with green wood using hand tools and ancestral techniques, these dedicated volunteers gather for annual or biannual one-week projects in locations across the globe. Over three decades, Carpenters without Borders have garnered a reputable standing, attracting a steady influx of dedicated members and newcomers. The Carpenters Without Borders movement arose from research conducted by François Calame, an Anthropologist of Techniques, in 1981. At that time in France, all the techniques in carpentry were entirely related to the use of machines, including all carpentry in restoration, as this sector was also guided by industrial regulations. Through encounters with the few remaining craftspeople proficient in the art of working green wood with an axe, Calame‘s investigations laid the foundation for the movement. The first project in 1992 brought carpenters from across Europe together with Romanian artisans who practised the hand construction of houses using freshly felled trees in Moldavia-Bukovina. Subsequently, the movement expanded, organising periodic meetings that facilitated the exchange and sharing of international and intergenerational knowledge. Over the course of 30 years, 15 meetings were convened, gathering participants from 25 different nationalities. The techniques honed and taught through these initiatives have significantly influenced restoration practices, particularly in France.