As every year, Ateliers d’Art de France and Vieilles Maisons Françaises (VMFAAF) take advantage of the International Cultural Heritage Fair to recognize an artisan or initiative that contributes to heritage preservation and sustainable construction. For this 2025 edition, L’Atelier du Châtaignier (The Chestnut Workshop), founded by Gabriel Darcy, was highlighted. A look back at the craft of shingle making, an exceptional skill.

In Archignac, in the heart of the Périgord Noir region, Gabriel Darcy perpetuates one of the rarest skills in France: that of shingle maker – or manufacturer of wooden shingles. At the head of L’Atelier du Châtaignier, he is one of the eleven French artisans who still master this centuries-old art, and has just received the VMFAAF “Crafts & Built Heritage” 2025 award. National recognition for exceptional work, at the crossroads of heritage, innovation, and sustainability.

Unrivaled Durability

The wooden tiles made by L’Atelier du Châtaignier are renowned for their remarkable longevity: up to a century for roofing, and even longer for cladding. This resistance stems as much from the quality of the local chestnut tree, naturally durable and rot-resistant, as from the mastery of traditional craftsmanship. The wood, sourced exclusively from forests in the Dordogne and neighboring departments, is harvested in accordance with PEFC certification, guaranteeing responsible resource management. Gabriel Darcy has deliberately chosen to maintain a minimally mechanized production method, combining manual precision with efficiency. After working entirely by hand for several years, he incorporated some mechanical tools to meet growing demand without compromising quality. It was his design of a machine tool to facilitate the creation of finishes (points, scales, and chamfers of the shingles) according to the rules of the craft that earned the artisan this honorary distinction, rewarding a balance between tradition and adaptation, true to the spirit of the trade.

A company deeply rooted in the region

Founded in 2020, L’Atelier du Châtaignier (The Chestnut Workshop) has quickly established itself as a leader in the sector. The shingles produced in Archignac are shipped to construction sites throughout France, where they adorn both roofs and facades. The Vieillecour estate in Saint-Pierre-de-Frugie (Dordogne), where the 60-year-old shingles were replaced with those from the workshop, testifies to the durability of this material. Gabriel Darcy also participated in the restoration of the bell tower of the church in Évres, in the Meuse region, an emblematic project illustrating, if any further proof were needed, the importance of traditional craftsmanship. But the company's work is not limited to built heritage: chestnut shingles also appeal to eco-construction professionals and individuals seeking local, aesthetically pleasing, and environmentally friendly solutions. Thanks to their natural performance and minimal environmental impact, they find their place in contemporary projects combining thermal efficiency and authenticity.

An Innovative Project Serving the Craft

The VMF-AAF prize in 2025 recognizes a particularly innovative project: the design of a machine to assist in shingle manufacturing. This invention aims to reduce the physical strain of certain tasks, notably shaping the points, scales, or chamfers at the visible end of each shingle, without compromising the handcrafted quality of the finished product. The objective is clear: to lighten the workload without altering the craftsmanship. By partially automating certain dangerous or repetitive operations, the craftsman will be able to increase the production rate while maintaining manual control over the finishing. In the short term, this tool will offer the possibility of creating jobs accessible to unskilled workers or those in training, by eliminating the risks associated with the use of sharp instruments and awkward postures. This is a crucial development for a profession whose transmission remains fragile. In the long term, this productivity improvement will reduce manufacturing lead times, open doors to public contracts, and increase the workshop's competitiveness. By combining technical innovation with respect for traditional skills, Gabriel Darcy is breathing new life into a craft often perceived as unchanging, demonstrating that it is possible to combine heritage preservation with modernity.

A Passion for Wood

The journey of this exceptional craftsman illustrates a remarkable career change. Before becoming a shingle maker, he worked for twenty years as a gardener specializing in topiary. It was while searching for wood for his creations that he discovered the craft of hoop making, a disappearing skill linked to the processing of chestnut wood. Fascinated by this local species, he learned to work it in all its forms, eventually embarking on shingle production after several years of experimentation and study. Self-taught, he honed his skills by consulting old carpentry treatises, archaeological dig reports, and practicing with traditional tools: a splitting wedge, a mallet, and a drawknife. It was while restoring the roof of his own barn that he earned the respect of traditional roofers. In 2020, he founded his workshop and devoted himself fully to this activity, which now represents almost all of his turnover.

A Future-Oriented Business

After five years as a sole proprietorship, L’Atelier du Châtaignier became a limited liability company (SARL) in 2025, marking a key milestone in its development. The craftsman plans to hire his first employee in 2026, followed by a second the following year, to ensure the business's sustainability and the transmission of his expertise. In the meantime, he works alone, but occasionally calls upon independent carpenters or craftspeople to bolster his team during peak production periods. This collaboration, beyond efficiency, is based on a principle of skills sharing and mutual training. For Gabriel Darcy, each project becomes a learning opportunity, a way to keep alive a craft that connects the forest, the craftsman, and architecture.

Exemplary Craftsmanship

Through L’Atelier du Châtaignier, an entire local ecosystem is being redefined: that of a regional timber industry capable of creating value around an emblematic species, while meeting contemporary ecological and sustainability requirements. Gabriel Darcy proves that a single craftsman, armed with patience and passion, can evolve a craft and anchor it in the future. The VMF-AAF prize recognizes this approach: a demanding yet humane enterprise where tradition does not oppose innovation, but rather extends it. Between hand and machine, between forest and rooftop, L’Atelier du Châtaignier embodies a model of balance and commitment, serving heritage and sustainable construction.

By Brice-Alexandre Roboam

Photo credits: Gabriel Darcy/ Atelier du Châtaignier/ Domaine de Vieillecour

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