Sandra Teboul

NAME a Memory

My earliest memory in architecture and design comes from big scale models and decors. My mother organised children’s events and I was always mesmerised by how a set design could magically transport one to a different part of the world and/or era be it in India with a miniature entrance of the Taj Mahal, Medieval times in front of a castle doorway or right smack in a pagoda in East Asia. At this tender age, the fact that I could travel through time and space while dreaming and playing at the same time felt like a wonderful first approach to design.

NAME a City

Havana, Cuba. I immediately fell in love with this city, from the first walk by night in the center to the day wanders on the Malecon, under the tropical sun. Its damaged and mysterious beauty tells the story of its people, particularly thanks to its architecture which, whether repaired or in ruins, reflects the fascinating historical layers of the capital.

NAME a Quote

“There is a crack in everything. That’s how the light gets in.” - Leonard Cohen
Leonard Cohen was a wonderful musician and poet. I feel that this quote resonates in a lot of artistic disciplines, as it is by the discovery of a flaw, a trace of time, that we can truly appreciate the beauty of a piece or a building.

NAME a Building

I would pick the National Art Schools in Cuba. These buildings designed by Ricardo Porro, Roberto Gottardi and Vittorio Garatti during the 60s Cuban Revolution illustrate quite well my thoughts on Havana. They went through many purposes since their construction, and even if they are today partially in ruins, the schools are still in use by talented art students. You can sense the romantic will of freedom in its design, enhanced by its tragic unfinished character.

NAME a Material

Bricks, because it’s a versatile material that offers endless possibilities of volumes and patterns. They can be used to build big scale residential buildings in cities like London, but also amazing vernacular projects in the Vietnamese countryside, bringing interesting textures to the facades as well as a sustainable approach to the construction.