Max Rutgers, the master artisan carpenter who creates marvelous wooden structures.

Max Rutgers, originally from the Netherlands, has been drawn to the world of wood since he was a child. His passion for art, sculpture, and drawing led him in 1994 to train in France with the Compagnons du Devoir as a structural carpenter.

The Compagnons is a French association of craftsmen whose roots date back to the Middle Ages. The training they offer includes a period of itinerant instruction, known as the “Tour de France,” where apprentices have the opportunity to work alongside various master craftsmen. This program allows them to become familiar with diverse traditions and types of work. For Max, this experience marked the beginning of a journey that has developed both personally and professionally to this day.

In 2007, after working in various places across Europe, America, and Africa, Max settled in the Alt Empordà region of Girona, where he founded his company, Max Madera. As a carpenter specializing in wooden structures, many of his early projects involved creating porches and small roofing structures.

The knowledge of traditional carpentry techniques, their specialization, and the quality of their work has allowed him to engage in significant restoration projects in heritage buildings and to construct or rehabilitate wooden structures for large homes and farmhouses.

“With hand tools, we achieve finer finishes and get very close to the wood. This means that when you need to use power tools, you have a better understanding of both the material and the machine. With traditional crafts, the more you learn, the more you want to learn. The craft becomes part of your life. It’s essential to regain the pride of the craftsman and the love he has for his trade,” Max tells us.

In his team, he brings together experienced carpenters and also intern students who seek the opportunity to work on structural carpentry projects in his workshop. He regularly collaborates with the Compagnons du Devoir and hosts young apprentices from across Europe, providing them with training very similar to what he received during his own formative years.

Among their projects, the restoration of the bell tower of the church of Sant Andreu de Serinyà stands out; the dome of Mas Marroch; the beams and brackets of the Cloister of the Cats at the Monastery of Pedralbes; the complete rehabilitation of Can Buch; and the restoration of Casa Burés, where the recovery of 86 different carved beam heads was carried out.

Project by Max Rutgers