Michiel Brouns, founder of Brouns & Co, the leading maker of historically accurate sustainable linseed paints from the UK, has launched new approved courses with the American Institute of Architects (AIA) to offer online and in-person accredited continuing education sessions free of charge to AIA members.

Brouns has been a provider of accredited continuing professional development training for the UK’s Royal Institute of British Architects for some years, and has delivered more than 60 in-person workshops to US architects and contractors over the last seven years.

“Linseed oil and paint was widely used in the US when the founding states were first settled, and right up to the 19th century before polymer-based paints took over the traditional treatments for wood and metal,” explained Brouns.

Brouns works closely with preservation organisations in the UK, helping preserve a great many historic buildings and properties including London’s Natural History Museum, Buckingham Palace, Windsor Castle, and Chatsworth Estate.

He is a published expert on the application of linseed paint, a global authority on its history and production techniques, and is currently working with US architects and preservation bodies on numerous projects in the United States, including the painstaking restoration of President Washington’s Mount Vernon summer home in Virginia.

“We’ve been working with architects in North America for a number of years, and we’re very proud to now be in partnership with the AIA to offer our training workshops to all its membership to help ensure they meet their continuing professional development requirements, and learn how centuries old materials and methods are seeing such a resurgence because of their sustainability and performance,” he added.

The presentations and workshops cover the history and use of linseed oil paint, original usage contexts and the reasons for its decline in popularity.  The recent resurgence of its use, technical aspects of its application, and its performance on both historic properties as well as new build projects are also covered in detail, with case study references.

The asynchronous AIA online training workshops can be booked by AIA members at no charge online at the AIA booking page on the Brouns & Co website, and group sessions, hosted live via a choice of online platforms, or in-person if possible, can be booked as a second stage to enable interaction, discussion and deeper learning for groups.

Brouns & Co has seen a tenfold increase in demand from the US since it began shipping initial orders to North America in 2015. The company views the market as a key area for growth, driven by a combination of consumer preferences for natural products, regulatory changes and the huge volume of wooden homes that are built and maintained in the US due to climate differences.

“We’re evangelistic about the benefits of linseed oil paint, and we’re really looking forward to sharing our knowledge and helping architects better understand where it fits in projects in 2025 and beyond,” Brouns said.