In heritage architecture, collaboration between architects and artisans is essential

This is not the first time our heritage team has published articles highlighting the importance of artisan collaboration in heritage projects—and it certainly will not be the last. In reality, this collaboration extends far beyond construction sites; it begins upstream, within our reflections and our commitment to preserving elements we consider essential to the conservation of heritage.

At STGM, knowledge transfer is a core value and an integral part of every team member’s learning process. In heritage projects, our teams visit artisans’ workshops—often in small groups—to ensure that relationships are built and maintained. The goal is to foster lasting connections with artisans who may accompany them throughout their careers. Accompanied by a senior architect to initiate introductions and contextualize the artisan’s work, these visits are both enriching and formative. They create a close link between theory and know-how—allowing participants to touch and distinguish materials, engage in spontaneous exchanges, handle tools and matter firsthand. They also offer opportunities to better understand the function of machine tools and to share in moments of lived experience: a sculptor at work on a block of limestone, a tinsmith shaping a finial, a plasterer crafting new cornices, or a blacksmith hammering red-hot iron on an anvil. These encounters are moments of genuine joy.

Since their inception, these meetings have enabled the team to approach restoration challenges differently. Collaboration with artisans fosters meaningful exchanges through close cooperation and strengthens confidence in the next generation. Accustomed to sharing and transmitting heritage knowledge, I have been committed to this approach with the artisans around me for over 25 years. Conservation and preservation expose architects to varying conditions and situations from one project to another. Regional disparities can be particularly pronounced in construction methods and material choices. As our work spans multiple regions of Québec, understanding these distinctions is essential.

Often, the team may be called upon to intervene within a single space featuring marbles from several countries, ornamental plasterwork, mural frescoes, and various wood species forming panelling that completes the décor of a single—often monumental—room. Assimilating this information and mastering such complexity is no simple task and requires extensive material knowledge. In return, collaborating with seasoned artisans accelerates understanding of the site and enables a precise grasp of the intentions behind an architect’s or decorator’s choices at a given moment and within a specific context.

In the coming days, we will introduce two highly talented artisans with whom STGM has collaborated regularly for many years. For us, these artisans are references in their respective fields and play a key role in enhancing the architectural quality of our heritage projects.