Originally spotting an article in the Institute Of Carpenters, UK ‘Cutting Edge’ magazine, about 2-3 years ago, I finally found time in April this year, to begin exploring a future in carpentry within Germany.
I came to this decision through my own personal experience of very limited opportunities in the North-East of England for further education within construction, both in placements and also funding. Things are just becoming more and more difficult for someone over 24 wishing to develop their knowledge with further cuts to adult education.
And so, I set off from the coast of Northumberland in North-East England, to the Holzbau Bildungszentrum in Biberach an der Riss, Baden-Wurttemberg, Southern Germany. I met with Anna Strahl at the station in Biberach. Then on to the well-equipped seminar building at the centre, meeting Markus Weitzmann FIOC; Master Carpenter and leader of the management team of the Holzbau Bildungszentrum.
I was later introduced by Markus Weitzmann to the carpentry company, Ummenhofer (based in Bad Saulgau) where I was to spend my two week traineeship placement, to experience German carpentry work, different materials, culture and language hand-in-hand.
I was made to feel very welcome by Jürgen Ummenhofer and his team, I experienced the great friendliness and skill of the company first hand. I was placed alongside two carpenters; Matthias Lang and Holger Finger. Very much enjoying their camaraderie, whilst being up on a roof in the warmth and sun of the days there; trying hard to remind myself it wasn’t a midsummer’s day in the UK, being around or even above 25°C on more than one occasion. The two weeks working alongside them passed quickly, it turned out to be a great experience and it would be a pleasure to work alongside such people again.
I’m very grateful to Zimmereri Ummenhofer for the opportunity to experience carpentry work during this, my first time in Baden-Wurttemberg.
Staying within Kleintissen, a pleasant small town set in a green and agricultural landscape, though very much inland, reminded me of my home villages in the UK. The weather through nearly the whole time was quite superb, taking notice of the wildlife, trees, woodlands, lakes and blossoming mature apple orchards, making a distinct impression upon the landscape.
Spending the evenings and weekends looking around the local area, Biberach an der Riss, Bad Saulgau, Ravensburg, Bad Waldsee amongst others, each in their own way similar, yet unique.
During these times I took in more of the German culture, language (including the Swarbish dialect), also the great history and architecture within these surroundings. Being a real traditional heartland for beer drinking, I quickly discovered that Meckatzer is indeed a fine local brew. Markus Weitzmann and his family made me very welcome; I’m much indebted to them for their help and friendship throughout the two weeks, a true experience of southern German hospitality.
The thing I noticed in contrast to the UK, though we have regional differences, is that nearly all the houses and buildings are unique. This was a great eye opener, an insight into German thinking and design, myself being so used to the red brick rows of the North-East and the post-industrial landscape. It’s amazing to see that there’s such an element of expression within building, allowing so many different features and elements to be brought together. I think this represents a great movement of acceptance and individuality that can be seen within many parts of Germany itself.
I spent a day in the workshops of Holzbau Bildungzentrum in Biberach, a class with Armin Henschke giving a lecture on the construction of a staircase. Being placed with a group of second year students, I discovered the great emphasis placed upon technical drawing and problem solving, something I’d very much like to develop and improve. I also had the opportunity to meet with David Masey FIOC who moved to the area himself from the UK, after finding it much to his liking. A day before I returned to the North-East of England, I met with a mixed group of construction professionals ranging from a plasterer to architects from different parts of Ireland, but also a young Brazilian working in and studying timber technologies.
Achim Dangel took us on a coach tour, to see passive or energy-efficient timber constructed buildings, pre-construction, wood processing and also gave an insight into traditional German wood fabrication via some of the oldest buildings in the area.
We firstly visited a site overseen by Holzbau Jarde, which clearly demonstrated materials, build techniques used to conserve energy and ‘air tight’ construction. Such as the use of external and internal wood fibre insulation board which I saw before on the roof with Ummenhofer; using this same material but Bestwood® by SCHNEIDER, covered over then by a durable, high quality MAGE® Airtex® membrane. STEICO flex wood fibre insulation, Intello® membrane, a Fermacell® timber frame system and SIGA-Sicrall® tape, were all materials seen in use. Every overlap between the membrane, the joining boards and windows being taped and/or securely foam sealed. P.A.R timbers used throughout, even in concealed areas. To my knowledge every screw used on this site was SPAX, this seen elsewhere during my time in Germany, with no use of inferior, cost cutting materials and many being recycled or recyclable in some way.
We then moved on to the Jarde workshops, witnessing the construction of the prefabrication. The quality of materials, quantity and high grade of timber used was very noticeable throughout this time. The whole complex at Jarde was a busy, productive space, though quietly nestled near woodland and green fields with a back drop of the snow dusted Alps behind. It had me thinking what a fine place to work, looking out onto the Alps everyday, viewed very clearly in the warm sunshine.
Achim Dangel then led us on to Leutkirch’s oldest house, the Gotisches Haus, built in the late Middle Ages, 1377-1379; this 14th century wood-constructed building has many interesting features, including the remains of a Gothic arched ceiling and very clean wood carving. Architecturally at the turning point from medieval to modern, it is one of the most important historical monuments in Southern Württemberg.
The sheer size of many of the timbers used in its construction and the tidiness of its joints was impressive within itself. It was amazing to see so many different building techniques, like the use of large timber structural bracing and traditional pegged joints. A true example of adaptations over the centuries of occupation, were the cut out door frames, over the generations as people grew taller due to changes in social living conditions and diet, they cut out the wall timbers to increase the height and width. The Gotisches Haus, pretty much shows all aspects of traditional German wood construction, plus the development of it through styles and time.
Finally, we found ourselves at Peter & Sohn, looking around their timber processing facilities and workshops. Taking notice of the large machines, seeming very much a match to the timbers being cut, all of the workshops were well equipped, everything greatly organised within each work area, testament to German organisation and fore planning. As well as the modern cutting, planing and moulding machines, there were also many older machines within the facility. The pre-war band saw surviving the destruction of those times, a big cast wheel still running smoothly, complimenting, proving the still present respect for older techniques and machinery. Peter & Sohn is also home to the largest timber yard I have ever seen to date!
I left for home on the 28th, one of the only days with rain, reminding me of the weather I might encounter on the way home in the UK. Surprisingly, it was as if the weather had swapped over…if only for a day or two.
All in all, it was a great experience that has left me wishing to return to Germany for work, to train in German carpentry, but also educating me that many don’t speak a great amount of English. This is a challenge I hope to combat by taking the time to learn the German language in-depth myself, and gaining an employer, so I can pursue a new life in Germany.
I recommend this opportunity – for further information contact Anna Strahl at the centre in Biberach or the IOC directly. I’m more than happy to discuss or meet in person with anyone interested in a similar path.
Peter Morgan (Former Student) North East Northern Region.
This article first appeared in the December 2015 issue of Cutting Edge. As part of the IOC membership, IOC members receive quarterly editions of Cutting Edge magazine and access to all back issues online.
For more information and to join the Institute of Carpenters Click here