Applications indicating your background and interest in the workshop at:
Do you want to discover the world of Modelmaking while staying in a Natural Park in the North of Spain? Join us!
Atelier La Juntana, in collaboration with the Architecture Official College of Cantabria and the Polytechnic University of Madrid, is organising a new edition of the summer workshop ‘Model Making in the Digital Age’ for creatives and makers (both students and professionals) willing to investigate and discover different techniques and materials, while developing creative architectural and art models. The workshop will particularly observe the relationship between traditional craft and digital design. Led by researchers and architects Armor and Nertos Gutiérrez Rivas, along with interdisciplinary artist Daniel Gutiérrez Adán, the workshops take place at Atelier La Juntana, located in Santander, Spain. Both beginners with little prior experience and those with specific professional interests are invited to participate.
The workshop is a full-time course, starting at 09.30am and finishing at 5.30pm each day, with a total of 56 learning hours.
The overall workshop program offers training in 16 distinct making techniques and materials, divided into two modules: Module A and Module B, each covering 8 techniques. No prior experience is required for either module, and they can be taken in any order.
Participants also have the option to apply for both programs simultaneously and join our extended workshop, completing Module A and Module B together.
Each participant will have their own working space; access to Wi-Fi and the library, printer and plotter; a resting area in the garden; and access to a workshop kitchenette. The booking fee includes all practical materials, an instructional publication, and pick-up service from Liencres village upon arrival. Accommodation in the surroundings of the workshop can also be provided upon request. The course is recognised by the Polytechnic Architecture University of Madrid as part of the University Programme, and students are granted 2 ECTS upon completion.
The course is taught across a series of short exercises combining theory and practice, through which students are challenged to solve a given brief by means of making. Varying in scale and duration, the exercises will be conducted through direct experimentation and manufacturing, and will include techniques such as embossing, etching, carving, moulding, and casting, making the students aware of the production time and process.
Atelier La Juntana, in collaboration with the Architecture Official College of Cantabria and the Polytechnic University of Madrid, is organising the fifth edition of the summer workshop ‘Model Making in the Digital Age’ for architects (both students and professionals) and makers willing to investigate and discover different techniques and materials, while developing an architectural model. The workshop will particularly observe the relationship between traditional craft and digital design. Led by architects Armor and Nertos Gutiérrez Rivas, along with interdisciplinary artist Daniel Gutiérrez Adán, the next workshops will take place at Atelier La Juntana, located in Santander, Spain. Both beginners with little prior experience and those with specific professional interests are invited to participate.
The workshop is a full-time course, starting at 09.30am and finishing at 5.30pm each day, with a total of 56 learning hours.
Each participant will have his or her own working space; access to Wi-Fi and the library, printer and plotter; a resting area in the garden; and access to a small kitchen. The booking fee includes all practical materials, an instructional publication and pick-up service from Santander. Accommodation in the surroundings of the workshop can also be provided upon request. The course is recognised by the Polytechnic Architecture University of Madrid as part of the University Programme, and students are granted 2 ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) upon completion.
The course is taught across a series of short exercises combining theory and practice, through which students are challenged to solve a given brief by means of making. Varying in scale and duration, the exercises will be conducted through direct experimentation and manufacturing, and will include techniques such as embossing, etching, carving, moulding, and casting, making the students aware of the production time and process.
Techniques covered in the Module A
- Woodworking workshop
- Silicon molds for solid casts
- Epoxy resin and acrylic bio-resin casting
- Plaster press moulds, ceramic tiles and glazing
- Cyanotype photo etching & press printing
- Hard ground engraving & press printing
- Aluminium casting on sand molds
- Screen printing
Techniques covered in the Module B
- Plaster sculpting workshop
- Multi-part plaster moulds for slip casting
- Ceramic Slip casting and dipping glazing
- Silicone molds for complex fiberglass sculpting
- Bee-wax, paraffin, and pine tree resin casting
- Wax sculpting workshop
- Lost wax bronze casting and patina
- Woodcut and press printing
Workshop Ethos
What is the meaning of craftsmanship in the Digital Age? The impact of an information society, presumably dehumanised, makes us reconsider the role of craftsmanship as a human action. To what extent can the process of making help us confront the lack of identity and increasing dehumanisation of modern production? In the Digital Era, the everyday object is masked behind a technological veil, which places the product in a world foreign to our own, transforming the object into a standardised catalogue option to be used and discarded without us being part of the making process.
To preserve the essence of objects, it seems necessary to understand the process behind them. It is learning from this process, and not the end result, which provides us with the necessary tools to comprehend the “why” and “how” of production techniques, allowing us to choose, recreate and improve the learnt method in our future practice.
Workshop facilities and equipment
The Workshop is separated into three different areas: the working space, where all the handling equipment is located; the research area, with access to computers, Wi-Fi and the library; and the resting area, with sleeping and cooking facilities. In addition, certain activities take place in the garden surrounding the Workshop.
- Carpentry and wood workshop
- Ceramic, clay and plaster workshop
- Slip casting workshop
- Metal melting and casting workshop
- Mould-making and resin-casting workshop
- Photography and cyanotype workshop
- Engraving and press printing workshop
- Glass workshop
- Vacuum-forming workshop
- Laser cutting studio
- 3D printing studio
Workshop Objectives
- Investigating different techniques, tools and materials to produce architectural models, mock-ups and prototypes.
- Connecting the creation methods of architecture and art with digital design and automated production.
- Exploring the border between architecture, fine arts and product design, while encouraging work in the overlapping areas.
- Enabling a sensorial experience through direct contact with materials, tools and handling.
- Encouraging the exchange of ideas and experiences between students from different backgrounds, in an open-minded research environment.
Workshop Objectives
- Investigating different techniques, tools and materials to produce architectural models, mock-ups and prototypes.
- Connecting the creation methods of architecture and art with digital design and automated production.
- Exploring the border between architecture, fine arts and product design, while encouraging work in the overlapping areas.
- Enabling a sensorial experience through direct contact with materials, tools and handling.
- Encouraging the exchange of ideas and experiences between students from different backgrounds, in an open-minded research environment.
Location: Dunas de Liencres Natural Park, Quebrada Coast and Picota Hill
The Workshop takes advantage of its unique location at the centre of Dunas de Liencres Natural Park, the largest protected natural area on the north coast of Spain. A mix of green and blue landscapes, it has five different beaches located within 10 minutes’ walking distance of the Workshop: Somocuevas, Valdearenas, Canallave, La Arnía and El Madero. The River Pas estuary, the Liencres Pine Tree forest, the Quebrada Coast area and the Picota Hill area are also located within the Natural Park, all within walking distance. In the evenings, different activities and trips provide the opportunity to discover this special location.
In parallel, part of the Workshop exercises take part in the surrounding areas, using materials collected from the forest and beaches and through direct interaction with the landscape.
How to apply?
Application deadline
June 2026
Applications indicating your background and interest in the workshop at:
Application deadline
June 2024
Applications indicating your background and interest in the workshop at:
Model Making in the Digital Age Workshop - FAQ
Have questions about the workshop? Here are some of the most common ones to help you prepare.
The workshop is open to students, professionals, and anyone curious about creative processes, materials, and the culture of making. No prior experience with techniques or materials is required. The program fosters cross-disciplinary collaboration and group learning.
To apply, please email us your background and motivation, ideally including a short CV. Workshop fees vary, with discounts available for students, local practitioners, and groups. Once we receive your application, we will confirm the applicable fee.
The workshop has 25 workstations, though groups typically range between 20–25 participants. We adjust the number of tutors to ensure an excellent tutor-to-participant ratio, providing a fully immersive learning experience.
All tools, materials, and equipment for the exercises are provided. You may wish to bring your own sketching tools and a camera to document your process. A laptop is not required, but you are welcome to bring one if you would like to develop designs digitally
Participants are responsible for their own meals. Apartments booked through us include kitchen access. Lunch is taken at the workshop, while dinners can be enjoyed in your apartment or at restaurants in Liencres. For workshop lunches, we recommend preparing food in advance and bringing it in a container, along with cutlery and a reusable water bottle. Alternatively, there are supermarkets and bakeries in Liencres for sandwiches and snacks.
Please bring comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting a little messy during the exercises. The workshop is a 15–20 minute walk from the apartments, and weather in northern Spain can change quickly. Bring a raincoat or umbrella, and don’t forget beachwear for post-workshop sessions by the sea.
The closest airport is Santander (20 minutes by taxi to Liencres, or a 15-minute bus to Santander city followed by a 30-minute bus to Liencres), Google Maps usually provides accurate timetable information. Bilbao Airport is also an option, with a direct bus to Santander taking about 1 hour 15 minutes. The workshop is located a 15-20 minute walk from the village of Liencres.
All artwork created during the workshop is yours to keep. We provide packing materials and a heavy-duty tote bag to carry your pieces. Everything produced will fit in this tote bag or a standard backpack, making it easy to transport with your luggage. Typical outputs include resin and metal castings, ceramics, prints, and etched plates, among others.
The overall workshop program offers training in 16 distinct making techniques and materials, divided into two modules: Module A and Module B, each covering 8 techniques. No prior experience is required for either module, and they can be taken in any order. Please review both booklets and select which module works better for you. There is also the option to apply for both programs simultaneously and join our extended workshop, completing Module A and Module B together.
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