معرفی
Laura van Santen (1985, Leiden) is an architect and educator currently serving as Studio tutor and Year head for the 1st Year at the BA Department of Interior Architecture and Furniture Design at the Royal Academy of Art (KABK) in The Hague. She also serves as Graduating tutor for Master students of Interior Architecture (INSIDE) since 2022. Previously, she taught at the Institute for Architecture & Landscape at the Technical University of Graz.
Her research focuses on the intersection of material science, sustainable practices, and design education. Key areas include:
- Bio-based building materials and their application in architectural contexts
- Ceramic tile development and waste material repurposing
- Bronze surface treatments and patination processes
- Haptic knowledge and material experimentation in design education
- Industrial building processes and resource flows
Van Santen's work emphasizes understanding material resources throughout the design process rather than as an afterthought. Her research demonstrates how workshops can be the starting point for design projects rather than just execution spaces. She advocates for collaborative, open-source approaches to material experimentation, creating recipe libraries that document material processes and promote knowledge sharing.
Her research projects show a consistent trajectory toward sustainable material innovation, with increasing focus on transforming waste into valuable resources and developing educational methods that instill material responsibility in students. The 'Finger Exercises' project represents a significant shift in design pedagogy, moving from product-focused outcomes to process-oriented material understanding.
Van Santen's contributions have been recognized through nominations for the ARC award, Dutch Design Award, and Architectenweb Award. Her work has been published in prominent design publications including de Architect, DeMorgenMagazine, Casa Naturale, and Domus.
As an educator, she has significantly influenced curriculum development through her involvement in the Design Lectorate Teaching Tools Research Group, implementing changes that integrate material knowledge from the earliest stages of design education. She has successfully secured research funding from the Stimuleringsfonds for projects including the Metallotheek bronze research and ceramic tile development with Cor Unum.
