Founded in 1972 and bringing together more than 1,100 members, including individuals, craftspeople and 70 municipalities, the Association pour la sauvegarde de la maison alsacienne (ASMA) offers an inspiring model for the preservation and promotion of vernacular architecture.
Its mission? To raise public awareness of the historical, cultural, environmental, economic and social value of Alsace’s built heritage, with particular attention to construction techniques and materials in relation to the region’s specific characteristics. How? By providing its expertise and bringing public authorities, craftspeople, property owners and associations together around a shared objective: safeguarding and maintaining Alsace’s urban landscape and preventing the demolition of historic buildings whenever restoration is possible.
Run entirely by volunteers, ASMA structures its work around three core missions: understanding, learning and defending. Its educational activities, delivered through events and training courses, are complemented by advisory services for municipalities and property owners, helping to prevent hasty and irreversible interventions.
This advisory work goes hand in hand with active monitoring. Nearly 300 buildings are demolished every year. ASMA takes action on the ground through a network of “sentinels” who identify abandoned or deteriorating houses, as well as those threatened with demolition, enabling the association to intervene according to the urgency of each situation. More than 30 cases are currently active. In some instances, ASMA does not hesitate to bring proceedings before the administrative court and challenge demolition permits.
This support is further strengthened by connections with an extensive network of craftspeople, architects and engineers specialising in built heritage. During ASMA’s “Stammtisch” discussion forums, anyone can put their questions to volunteer professionals, whether they concern structural issues, insulation, damp, renders or building defects.
As Denis Elbel, a long-standing member and current President of ASMA, states, only the joint commitment of all stakeholders can lead to concrete results.
Mad’in Europe had the pleasure of meeting him in the Alsatian house that he and his wife have been passionately restoring since 2010. Through the unique history of this house, he invites us to discover the distinctive features of Alsace’s built heritage, as well as the challenges involved in preserving it, adapting it to contemporary needs and transmitting the skills required for its restoration.
According to the documents held by Denis’s family, the original building dates back to 1717 but was partially destroyed, probably by fire. Only the stone section corresponding to the cellar remained. As timber-framed houses were considered movable structures that could be dismantled, the family was able to rebuild the farm in 1781 by relocating a house purchased in another village. A register preserved by the family records, trade by trade, the expenses incurred during this reconstruction.
The house described by Denis Elbel illustrates the ability of built heritage to evolve in response to contemporary requirements, particularly in terms of energy consumption. Historic buildings are by no means incompatible with excellent energy performance. Quite the opposite. Natural materials and traditional techniques have proven their effectiveness over centuries and still have a future, provided that craftspeople continue to practise and transmit these skills.
As evidence of this, the building was awarded low-energy house certification thanks to its lime-hemp insulation, heating system and bespoke joinery, incorporating double glazing with an air gap that complies with the requirements of the heritage authorities.
Since 2010, this farmstead, comprising several buildings arranged around a central courtyard, has brought together dozens of craftspeople and served as a genuine experimental worksite, fostering the exchange of skills between artisans from different regions.
This example perfectly reflects ASMA’s mission and serves as a model of good practice, alongside the many other projects documented by the association in its publication, ’s Blättel.
