From traditional to contemporary metalworking (Adults)
Metalworking workshop (Adults)
The workshop “From traditional to contemporary metalworking” introduces participants to the field of metalworking, exploring the evolution of the craft from folk tradition to contemporary industrial production.
Beginning with the folk art collection housed in the Pyrgi of the Vorres Museum, adult participants will examine metal objects—both functional and decorative—and become acquainted with traditional techniques of casting and iron forging. The workshop will then continue with a visit to the Gavalas Foundry in Keratea, where participants will observe production processes firsthand, gaining insight into the relationship between pre-industrial techniques and their contemporary applications.
The workshop will conclude at the facilities of Qoop Metalworks in Gerakas. There, participants will be introduced to contemporary metalworking tools and methods, ranging from welding and cutting to forming with heavy machinery and laser technologies. In the final stage, participants will design and construct a small object inspired by folk metalworking, applying both traditional and contemporary production techniques.
This educational programme connects metalworking with cultural heritage, highlighting the role of the craft in both traditional and contemporary construction. The workshop “From traditional to contemporary metalworking” promotes an innovative approach to traditional techniques through the use of modern means of production, contributing to the preservation and reinterpretation of intangible cultural heritage, while positioning metalworking as a dynamic tool for artistic and technical creation.
Information
From traditional to contemporary metalworking
Metalworking workshop for adults
The workshop will be conducted by Qoop Metalworks (Nikos Soulis & Christos Spetseris – architects, Giannis Vavelas & Pantelis Palamidis – metalworkers).
As part of the workshop, a visit to the Gavalas Artistic Foundry in Keratea will take place.
Additionally, participants will visit the facilities of Qoop Metalworks in Gerakas.
Dates: Saturdays, 17, 24 & 31 January 2026
Time: 11:30–14:30
Participation fee:€45 (for the full set of the three workshop sessions).
Attendance at all three workshop sessions is required.
Online registration is mandatory.
This workshop is part of the museum’s new educational series “Materials, Techniques and Memory in Contemporary Creation: The Garden and the Tower of the Vorres Museum as Carriers of Cultural Heritage.”
Educational program design/curation: Myrto Lavda
With the support and under the auspices:
Register
To reserve a spot in the workshop, please call us at +30 2106642520 or fill out the form using the link below.
Bio
Qoop Metalworks
Qoop Metalworks operates at the intersection of metalworking and architecture, combining research, design, and the realization of metal constructions. The practice applies a hybrid production model that brings together traditional metallurgy and contemporary technologies, maintaining a strong connection between industrial production and handcrafted fabrication. Its facilities, covering a total area of 400 sq.m., include a design office where the company’s architects analyse and design metal objects, a production workshop equipped with contemporary metalworking tools and machinery, and a multifunctional space that serves both as an educational environment and a product presentation area.
Qoop Metalworks has developed a strong educational and research-oriented practice, focusing on the preservation and evolution of metalworking. In 2022, it was invited by the University of Ioannina to deliver a lecture on techniques for the analysis and production of metal constructions, while in 2023 it acted as sponsor and fabricator of the Greek Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale.
The team consists of specialized professionals in metalworking and design. Giannis Vavelas and Pantelis Palamidis are metalworkers; Christos Spetseris is an architect and head of design; and Nikos Soulis, also an architect and responsible for external collaborations, has served as curator of the DOMa platform since 2010. In this role, he has curated two architectural exhibitions at the Benaki Museum in collaboration with Qoop Metalworks. The team is further supported by three members of the architectural design department and eight specialized metalworkers.