Workshops in Estonia as part of international cooperation

From March 24 to 28, 2025, a workshop dedicated to sustainable construction took place in Mooste, Estonia. The event was hosted by one of the partner universities of the Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław – EKA (Estonian Academy of Arts), based in Tallinn. The organizer, Gregor Taul, participated in the workshop with a group of eight students.

The event was organized as part of the Blended Intensive Programmes (BIP) – short, intensive formats aimed at students and academic staff. The BIP program follows a workshop format preceded by a virtual component, consisting of a series of online meetings.

Other participating partner institutions included:
- Metropolia University of Applied Sciences based in Helsinki (representative – Merita Soini with seven students),
- School of Arts – KASK from Ghent, Belgium (representatives – Tomas Navratil and Miguel Nicque with a group of thirteen students).

The Eugeniusz Geppert Academy of Art and Design in Wrocław was represented by:
- Dean of the Faculty of Interior Architecture and Design – Dr. Piotr Kuczkowski,
- Head of the Department of Interior Architecture – Dr. Agata Wojtyła-Młynarczyk,
- Students of the Interior Architecture program: Amelia Modzelewska, Aleksandra Reutowicz, Alicja Strączek, Wiktoria Juszczak, and Eryk Krynicki.

The BIP program promotes cooperation among international teams in the context of broad social challenges. The implementation of this cooperation took place in Mooste, Põlva County, in northeastern Estonia.

The workshop, titled “Hands-on architects,” was held at the renowned Eestimaaehitus – Competence Center for Ecological Building. Its goal was to familiarize participants with various aspects of natural building. A holistic and ecological approach was presented, emphasizing the use of renewable materials with simple production processes, offering an alternative to conventional construction practices.

During the five-day intensive session, specialists – Kaarel Kuusk, Malvo Tominga, Mikk Luht, and Sven Aluste – conducted both theoretical meetings on sustainable building materials and practical sessions focusing on specific spatial tasks.

Each participant created a series of prototypes based on multifaceted work with clay and complementary materials. Ultimately, dozens of original objects were created, resulting from both individual and team efforts.

The final presentation took place at the historic Mooste Manor, which serves as the cultural center of the town. Some of the completed projects were added to the gallery’s permanent exhibition, showcasing the creative potential of organic materials.