In this episode of the Black Sable Podcast, host Jacobus Uys delves into the intricacies of architecture competitions with guest Sabela Rey Vila, an architect and researcher. They discuss the significance of guidelines for competitions, the unique aspects of studying architecture in different countries, and Sabela’s journey from Spain to South Africa. Sabela shares her experiences with major architectural competitions, such as the Concentrico in Spain and the Kew Gardens in London, highlighting the benefits she derived from participating. The conversation covers the importance of being true to one’s design vision, the role of competitions in career advancement, and how they contribute to the professional development of young architects. With a focus on making the profession more accessible and manageable, Sabela reveals her aspirations to create frameworks that could support emerging architects in the competitive landscape.

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: The Black Sable Podcast🌍 Black Sable Designs: blacksable.co.za📸 Instagram: @blacksableza▶️ YouTube: Black Sable Designs📖 About the Corobrik Award: corobrik.co.za

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

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📍 Mentioned: Jewish Museum Berlin designed by Daniel Libeskind — a key stop in exploring how built spaces can tell stories jmberlin.deberlin.de+10en.wikipedia.org+10jmberlin.de+10,   ⏱ Timestamps: 00:00 – Intro and who Mikayla is01:30 – Balancing social media and studying architecture03:00 – Time pressure and the studio grind05:00 – Tutor feedback and the design power dynamic07:00 – Toxic work culture in architecture09:00 – UK architecture qualification route explained10:30 – Why many don’t go all the way to registration12:00 – How Mikayla got into architecture13:00 – Artistic background and choosing architecture over fine art14:30 – Study trips: Berlin, re-adaptation, and sketching15:30 – Jewish Museum Berlin by Daniel Libeskind (Link)18:00 – Emotional responses to buildings and overstimulation20:00 – Looking ahead: graduation, internships, and fear of the unknown22:30 – Big firm vs small practice: where to start your career25:00 – Who actually makes it through the architecture degree?27:00 – The wide skill set architecture school builds30:00 – Content creation, building community, and staying authentic33:00 – Sharing vulnerable moments online (and the crying TikTok)35:00 – Dealing with negative comments36:00 – Starting a studio: the business side of architecture39:00 – Social media and getting clients41:00 – Hiring graduates — and what firms actually want44:00 – Guatemala design-build experience with Cocoon Studio48:00 – Real-world construction vs architecture school52:00 – Being a woman in architecture and calling out bias54:00 – Is studying architecture worth it? 📍 Mentioned: Jewish Museum Berlin by Daniel Libeskind 🔗 Follow Mikayla: @mikayla.deg ✅ Like the episode? Subscribe and help us grow the conversation.🖤 Follow us on Instagram: @BlackSableZA📺 Find more on our channel: @BlackSableZA on YouTube🌍 Visit our site: www.blacksable.co.za

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/  Instagram instagram.com/blacksableza/  Youtube www.youtube.com/@blacksableza  Email 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