The Black Sable Podcast

How to be Competitive in Architectural Competitions with Sabela Rey Vila

Insights on Architecture Competitions and Emerging Architects   This podcast episode explores the hidden side of architecture with guest Sabela Rey Vila, an award-winning architect and researcher applying for a PhD in architectural competitions. The discussion covers her journey from Spain to South Africa, the unique aspects of architectural education in different regions, and the pros and cons of entering design competitions. Key elements of successful competition entries are highlighted, including the importance of sticking to one's passion, the role of intuitive design, and the potential for competitions to open new markets and opportunities for young architects. The conversation also touches on the role of competitions in the broader architectural profession and how they can serve as a platform for research and innovation.   00:00 Introduction and Purpose   00:35 Guest Introduction: Sabela Rey Vila   01:21 Sabela's Educational Journey   02:20 Challenges and Experiences in South Africa   08:15 Comparing Architectural Education: Spain vs. South Africa   14:12 The Importance of Competitions in Architecture   16:16 The Role of Passion in Success   22:19 Insights on Architectural Competitions   29:54 Benefits of Competitions for Young Architects   35:02 Valuable Perspectives in Architecture   35:36 The Impact of Winning Competitions   36:12 The Pompidou Centre: A Case Study   37:46 Entering New Markets Through Competitions   38:57 The Challenges of Architectural Competitions   40:52 The Joy of Designing Without Constraints   43:20 The Role of Competitions in Architectural Education   44:24 Networking and Exposure Through Competitions   54:40 The Creative Process in Architecture   01:04:04 Making Competitions More Accessible   01:06:33 Conclusion and Final Thoughts     https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_building [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reichstag_building]   https://calatrava.com/index.php/news/reader/conversion-of-the-old-reichstag-building-for-the-german-parliament.html [https://calatrava.com/index.php/news/reader/conversion-of-the-old-reichstag-building-for-the-german-parliament.html]   https://www.imarabe.org/fr [https://www.imarabe.org/fr]   https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/ [https://www.centrepompidou.fr/en/]   www.blacksable.com [http://www.blacksable.com]   https://www.sabelareyvila.com/

Design, Grit & Corobrik Awards — Tammy Ohlson de Fine

Tammy Ohlson de Fine — former interior designer, MBA graduate, and winner of the National Corobrik Student Architecture Award — shares her unconventional path to becoming South Africa’s top architecture graduate. We talk about balancing motherhood with design school, the sacrifices and rewards of chasing a dream, mentorship, networking, and what it takes to excel in one of the most demanding creative fields. Connect & Explore: 🎙 Listen to more episodes: @blacksableza [https://instagram.com/blacksableza] ▶️ YouTube: Black Sable Designs [https://www.youtube.com/@BlackSableDesigns] 📖 About the Corobrik Award: corobrik.co.za

Dirk Bahmann: Inside the Mind of an Architect, Artist, and Architecture Lecturer

What happens when an architect creates art?  In this episode we explore the intersection between architecture, art and architecture education and the spiritual side of designing with humanity. Having worked in prestigious architectural studios, created award- winning artworks and lecturing at one of South Africa's top architecture schools, Dirk Bahmann, currently busy with his PHD in architecture shares his experience as a student, architect and artist and creating meaningful work. 👤 Guest Bio – Dirk Bahmann -Architect, artist, and PhD candidate -Research focuses on ritual, repair, memory & embodied making -Blends theory with intuitive practice and slowness in design 💡 Key Themes -Memory and energy in old buildings -Erosion, repair, and the poetics of presence -Ritual, resistance, and silence in architectural making -Slowness and “not knowing” as design tools -Theory vs embodiment in academia -Architecture as a carrier of emotion and intuition 🏛️ Buildings & References Mentioned 🕒 17:23 – Punk Culture Reference 🔗 https://paulmcbride.me/2016/11/02/essay-the-punk-movement-in-the-realms-of-subculture-fashion-and-style/ 🕒 13:17 – Wooden Hut in San Francisco (Parasitic Architecture) 🔗 https://www.dezeen.com/2012/02/16/manifest-destiny-by-mark-reigelman/ 🕒 01:21:48 – Villa Savoye (Le Corbusier) 🔗 https://lecorbusier-worldheritage.org/en/villa-savoye-et-loge-du-jardinier/ 🕒 01:31:58 – Kolumba Museum by Peter Zumthor (Cologne) 🔗 https://www.thisispaper.com/mag/kolumba-museum-peter-zumthor-rasmus-hjortshoj 🕒 01:33:52 – Therme Vals (Zumthor Bath House) 🔗 https://www.archdaily.com/13358/the-therme-vals/5fc1415563c017d62c001226-the-therme-vals-photo 🕒 01:59:41 – Sagrada Familia (Gaudí) 🔗 https://www.britannica.com/topic/Sagrada-Familia 🕒 02:14:13 – “Ironman House” in Cape Town 🔗 https://peerutinkarol.com/project/clifton-nettleton-road-iron-man-house/ 🔗 Stay Connected 🎧 Listen to the podcast: www.blacksable.co.za 📸 Follow us on Instagram: @BlackSableZA 🌍 Explore more: blacksable.co.za 📌 Don’t forget to like, comment, and subscribe to hear more from the hidden side of architecture. #BlackSablePodcast #ArchitecturePodcast #DirkBahmann #DesignThinking #PeterZumthor #LeCorbusier #SagradaFamilia #ArchitectureTheory #SlowDesign #HiddenSideOfArchitecture📸 Follow dirk on Instagram: @dirkbahmann

Social Media and Architecture – with Mikayla De Gouveia

In this episode, I chat with Mikayla De Gouveia — a third‑year architecture student at Cardiff University who’s also built an authentic online presence sharing the highs and lows of life in studio. We get into: * What it’s really like studying abroad as a South African architecture student * How social media can be both a creative outlet and a pressure cooker * The sleep‑deprived chaos of studio life (and why that’s a problem) * Her hands‑on design‑build experience in Guatemala If you're thinking about studying architecture — or already deep in it — this episode gives a grounded, no‑BS look at the grind, the growth, and the creative spark behind it all. 🔗 Follow Mikayla: @mikayla.deg [https://www.instagram.com/mikayla.deg] 📍 Mentioned: Jewish Museum Berlin [https://www.jmberlin.de/en] designed by Daniel Libeskind — a key stop in exploring how built spaces can tell stories jmberlin.de [https://www.jmberlin.de/en/libeskind-building?utm_source=chatgpt.com]berlin.de+10en.wikipedia.org+10jmberlin.de+10 [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jewish_Museum_Berlin?utm_source=chatgpt.com],   ⏱ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro and who Mikayla is 01:30 – Balancing social media and studying architecture 03:00 – Time pressure and the studio grind 05:00 – Tutor feedback and the design power dynamic 07:00 – Toxic work culture in architecture 09:00 – UK architecture qualification route explained 10:30 – Why many don’t go all the way to registration 12:00 – How Mikayla got into architecture 13:00 – Artistic background and choosing architecture over fine art 14:30 – Study trips: Berlin, re-adaptation, and sketching 15:30 – Jewish Museum Berlin by Daniel Libeskind (@mikayla.deg [https://www.instagram.com/mikayla.deg] ✅ Like the episode? Subscribe and help us grow the conversation. 🖤 Follow us on Instagram: @BlackSableZA [https://www.instagram.com/blacksableza] 📺 Find more on our channel: @BlackSableZA on YouTube [https://www.youtube.com/@BlackSableZA] 🌍 Visit our site: www.blacksable.co.za

Inside the Black Sable Team

In this conversation, our host Jacobus chats to the Black Sable dream team: Mieke van Zyl, Jessica Rogers, and Priyan Moodley. They chat about how they fit together as a team, maintaining a healthy work environment, drawing every day and combating perfectionism.   Want more Black Sable in your life? Connect with Black Sable on our other platforms * Website https://www.blacksable.co.za/ [https://www.blacksable.co.za/]  * Instagram instagram.com/blacksableza/ [http://instagram.com/blacksableza/]  * Youtube www.youtube.com/@blacksableza [http://www.youtube.com/@blacksableza]  * Email podcast@blacksable.co.za [podcast@blacksable.co.za]   TIMESTAMPS   0:00 Intro 0:27 Meet Priyan, Jess and Mieke 3:00 Dealing with team friction 5:21 Positive crit sessions 11:03 Reframing “You vs Me” into “Us vs The Problem” 17:04 The power of iteration 20:32 Drawing every day 32:08 Practice, patience & perfection 35:04 Individual drawing style creating a cohesive studio style 38:16 How personality testing transformed the way we communicate 52:02 Outro Intro & Outro Music: Synapse by Shane Ivers - https://www.silvermansound.com [https://www.silvermansound.com]