Laura van Santen (1985, Leiden) is an architect (graduated from TU Delft) and collaborates with Diederik de Koning as la-di-da. The design duo combines knowledge of industrial building processes with a love for craft, oscillating between furniture and architecture.
She is currently 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. In 2022, she is also Graduating tutor for the Master students of Interior Architecture (INSIDE).
Recently Laura has conducted a research into bronze surface treatments resulting in a permanent exhibition at MAKE Eindhoven, developed ceramic tiles with Cor Unum for the New Shoe Museum based on iron glaze testing during a residency at the European Ceramic Work Centre, and developed the design and textile at the Textiellab Tilburg for 4000m2 movable walls in the LocHal Library.
She currently teaches Interior Architecture at the Royal Academy of Art, having previously taught at the Institute for Architecture & Landscape at the Technical University of Graz.
Laura has collaborated intensely with Petra Blaisse and Malkit Shoshan on different interiors and exhibitions, amongst which the installations in the Dutch Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale in 2012 and 2016. Her work was published in de Architect, DeMorgenMagazine, Casa Naturale, Architectenpunt, Volume, Domus, Clog and San Rocco.