Sandra Woodall’s 30-year journey in the UAE reflects her deep commitment as an environmentalist, architect, and mentor. Leading Tangram Architects’ MENA studio, she blends traditional construction methods with sustainability and modern needs. Her early work with Indian teak, adobe, and coral stone has shaped her influential designs.

Her forward-thinking approach was evident a decade later when she delivered Dubai’s first green-roofed government building, during the development of the emirate’s Green Building Regulations, and her work continues to inspire and shape the future of sustainable architecture in the MENA region and beyond.

Today, Sandra is leading the design of a Woman and Children’s Cancer Care Hospital, featuring a Winter Garden to aid recovery for immunosuppressed children. She is also creating a “Hospital of the Future” that utilizes digital and advanced technologies, decentralising non-clinical spaces to the Metaverse and achieving significant reductions in carbon, energy, water, and waste footprints. Last year, tangram launched its first Virtual Hospital to provide healthcare to remote communities in Africa.

Sandra’s career, marked by sustainable strategies and climate-responsive designs, earned her the distinction of becoming the first Fellow of the RIBA to be based in the GCC region. She serves as the UAE country representative on the RIBA Gulf Chapter Committee, is a member of Caabu, the Council for Advanced Anglo-British Understanding and an Academician at the UK’s Academy of Urbanism.

Her more recent initiatives include co-founding the RIBA Gulf Chapters’ Sustainable Development Group and establishing tangramTERRA to support her regional teaching roles. These platforms share crucial knowledge and tools with professionals and students across the GCC, aiding in the pursuit of decarbonisation targets and delivering the UN SDGs.

WOMEN AND CHILDRENS’ CANCER HOSPITAL WINTER GARDEN
HOSPITAL OF THE FUTURE INTERIOR