Architecture at book scale
- Letícia and Tiago’s work is shaped by geometry and spatial thinking
- Their studio has held workshops since its founding in 2017
- They created pieces for Portugal’s Prime Minister’s Office and the New Orleans Museum of Art
Both architects by training, Letícia Burkardt and Tiago Casanova carry an instinct for proportion and structure into their bookbinding projects. "A beautiful, functional object rests on a solid framework," they say. "For us, a book is architecture on a small scale." Their process begins with two questions: what is being bound, and how will it be used? This guides Letícia and Tiago's decisions on paper, colour and technique. Their work spans classical binding, for which they work with Bradel structures, and contemporary binding, for which they use exposed sewing, such as French cross-stitching. With so much now filtered through screens, Letícia and Tiago see their practice as a return to the singular and tangible. "Nothing replaces the physical and emotional presence of something that truly exists," the duo say.
Interview
- How does collaboration between the two of you work?
- Letícia: I am more involved in production and the day-to-day running of the studio, while Tiago focuses more on the project’s overarching decisions, such as strategy, design and communication. Everything happens through constant dialogue.
- Where did you learn bookbinding?
- Letícia: While I did attend some courses in Brazil, my journey truly began during my architecture studies. I spent a semester focusing on design, which included bookbinding. From then on, it became the only thing I wanted to do in my free time. This enthusiasm led me to keep investing in further training, even without a formal education in bookbinding.
- What defines the functionality of your readable yet decorative books?
- Tiago: Functionality is precisely the sum of all these aspects: reading, touch, handling and physical presence. Together, these form an object coherent with its purpose. Reading remains central, but the sensory and material experience carries equal weight.
- Does the environment inform your choices?
- Tiago: We try to prioritise papers with certified provenances and materials with more environmentally friendly characteristics. We avoid plastic and leather whenever possible. While this is not always feasible, our production is still 100% manual, which significantly reduces the waste typical of mass production. Handmaking, in itself, is a green gesture.
Letícia Burkardt and Tiago Casanova are rising stars: they began their career in 2017 and they started teaching in 2017
Where
Letícia Burkardt and Tiago Casanova
