Angelo Ferrara is an architect and carpenter specialising in the construction of buildings using wood, straw and natural materials.
He was born in Sicily, where he grew up playing on the street, making most of his childhood toys out of used wooden planks. After completing his university studies in Italy and Portugal, he travelled and worked in Spain, Brazil and Slovenia.
He has been living in Austria for over ten years. Together with his partner, he founded CaravanAtelier, an architecture studio and small construction company with a multidisciplinary approach.
Under one roof, in Krems an der Donau, Caravanatelier lives and designs its architecture, paints fabrics with natural pigments and manufactures wooden furniture. CaravanAtelier has been invited several times to take part in practical training workshops for students and has had the opportunity to talk about its passion for building at conferences and presentations. www.caravanatelier.com
Christian Ditlefsen is a Danish master thatcher based in Aarhus, Denmark. He’s been working with thatched roofs since 2015 and in 2018 he won the SkillsDenmark as a thatcher. He’s since then worked for and with different Danish master thatchers on various projects. Christian was the secretary in Stråtagets Kontor, the national branch office for thatched roofs until it closed in 2024. He’s now part of the thatching information website. www.stråtags-info.dk
Christian has been part of the DDS (the scouts and guides of Denmark) since he was a kid, doing several different value-based leader training workshops and courses for volunteer leaders and trainers.
He founded his company Dit Tæk to be able to spend more time with his family, and from time to time be a stay-at-home-dad, whilst choosing to freelance on different exciting thatching projects as well as working on own projects. This has also made it possible for him on occasions to focus more on educating, knowledge sharing, and doing workshops. www.dittaek.dk
Photo: Hampus Berndtson
Photo: Flavia Matei
Selection of Projects
Angelo Ferrara
- Das Jutes Haus Vienna (AT), 2024 a project by Sandbichler Architekten Small house with wooden frame structure, jute insulation and earth floor screed.
- Strohfloh Murstetten (AT), 2022 a project by Juri Troy Architects. A weekend house, with wooden frame structure, insulation with straw bales and earth and hemp screed.
- Courtyard House Summerau (AT), 2018 project and construction managment. family house, with a wooden frame, straw bale insulation and clay plaster.
- Summer School Skyhill Bârz (RO), 2019 workshop leader and construction of ‘Immensity in a room’, a temporary pavilion made of recycled wood and straw- bales.
- Summer School Hello Wood (HU) 2017 workshop leader and construction of ‘Caravanserai’, a temporary pavilion made of wood and fabric
Christian Ditlefsen
-
Molio since 2023
Teaching about the use of thatched roofs in education, certified sustainability counsellor. -
Tankevækkende Tækkeri (DK), 2024
Thoughtful Thatching at the Cultural Week in Skive. -
Høst til Hus (DK), 2022
Harvest to House with DJERNES&BELL. -
Kulturnatten København (DK), 2022
The Cultural Night Copenhagen - thatching demonstration in the House of Industry. -
Kanonbåden, the Canon Boat (DK)
A thatched, floating museum at Randers Fjord, with Østjysk Tække- & Tømrerfirma. -
Fløjstrup
Private project, rethinking the thatched roof of a half-timbered house near Aarhus (with Hemmed Tækkefirma ApS). -
Sikkerhedsstyrelsen
At the Danish Safety Technology Authority, teaching about thatched roofs to more than 400 construction experts.
Workshop Content
Can a thousand-year-old craft be relevant in modern architecture? - Let‘s find out with our own hands!
In this workshop you will have the opportunity to learn hands-on what lies behind the beautiful exterior of a thatched roof and how straw walls are constructed.
In the part of reed, we’ll work in small groups and try the Danish way of thatching – traditional and modern. You’ll learn to understand the process of thatching and the secrets behind a long- lasting construction.
Through his firm believes of constructing, maintaining and repairing thatched roofs in ways to make them last as long as possible, Christian will undertake the education and supervision of the workshop with a deep and humble respect for the old craft and with young eyes looking for new ideas and possibilities. With a playful and hands-on approach, we’ll discover the possibilities in working with reed on different constructions and enjoy the environmentally friendly material.
In the part of straw, we will build several wall samples, trying out different construction techniques, within wooden frames. You will learn to understand straw bales, their density and moisture and build test walls, including installation layers and earth plaster. Participants will benefit from Angelos experience as architect and craftsman.
Together, we are planning to create a small pavillion, with straw walls and a thatched roof.
Photo: Christian Daschek
Photo: Christian Daschek
Workshop Motivation
I love when I’m able to combine my passion for thatching with my passion for people.
I hope to be able to share my love for thatching and reeds and my believes in the sustainability of circular, organic building methods so, together, we might be able to make the world a better place one straw at a time.
Christian Ditlefsen
With the eyes of an architect and the hands of a craftsman, I‘ve been able to explore the potential of straw, wood and many other natural and sustainable materials.
I am convinced that a practical and participatory approach, like the one proposed in the workshop, is fundamental for spreading a culture of construction that is more aware of and respectful of the environment.
Angelo Ferrara
