Guided self-construction workshops
What is it ?
The association has already designed many models: indoor and outdoor furniture, bicycle carts, professional tools… If you like one of them, we’ll teach you how to reproduce it step by step.
If you have an original project, we’ll help you design, model and build your object.
In all cases, you’ll leave with your construction and, above all, the pride of having built it yourself!
You’ll learn the technical skills involved in design (handling 3D models, reading plans, layout) and construction (cutting wood, assembly). You’ll be able to familiarize yourself with a wide range of tools, such as jointer-planer, router, circular and band saws, and develop your skills.
This self-built workshop is located in Mens, in the Trièves region of France. You can even stay on site if your project requires it: an opportunity to benefit from the peaceful, green setting surrounding the association’s premises, and to enjoy a moment of conviviality with the team.
We believe that by building the objects we need ourselves, we are also helping to build the world we want: a world in which materials come from sustainable and, if possible, local sources, in which no one is exploited on vast production lines far away, where it would be natural and simple to maintain, repair and recycle objects because we would know perfectly well how they were designed! Also, a world where we could trust our imagination and know-how to be surrounded by functional, unique things that match our tastes!
YepYeYep, that’s how it works with us… every time a new object is built in our workshop, we produce a documentation that allows you to reproduce it step by step, and we share it. So, if you’ve opted for the “build a new object” package, you’re giving other people access to even more models! And if you’ve opted for the “reproduce an object from our catalog” package, you’ll benefit from the design work carried out in another workshop.
A project to understand it all
A mezzanine bed with a claustra
project carried out with a private individual
The client lives in a small studio and wanted to separate his sleeping area from his living space. He also wanted more storage. After a phase of research into creative solutions to meet his needs, we decided together to build a bed on a platform, complete with a screen to preserve the intimacy of the sleeping area. The height of the platform provides space for three large storage chests. A staircase with just a few steps provides comfortable access to the bed. Solid spruce, 3-ply spruce panels and OSB were used throughout.
Are you a private individual ?
A workshop can be a great gift idea, or an opportunity to spend a weekend in the countryside and discover woodworking. It can be done individually, in pairs, in small groups…
We look forward to hearing more about your project…
Tell us what you want and need! We’re often asked “How much does it cost? Well, that depends a lot: on the formula chosen, the complexity of the object to be built, the number of participants… to find out about our rates, write to us!
Are you a professional ?
A self-build workshop can be an opportunity to build professional tools, custom furniture for your premises…
For example, we’ve worked with beekeepers to build beehives, soap-makers to design and build custom soap-cutting tools, and gardeners to build planters. To discuss the details of a potential workshop, write to us!