INTERNSHIP EVALUATION
Peter Kovac
Architectural Intern Spring 2020
Field of education:
Architecture
School:
University of Ljubljana, Slovenia
Describe your school and field of study:
I am a Masters student at Faculty of architecture, University of Ljubljana. The aim of my study programme is to educate future architects – generalists. The basic goal is to train experts for responsible tasks concerning architectural design and planning, as well as spatial management.
Why did you apply for an internship at DOMUS?
Before finishing my thesis, I wanted to gain some additional experience abroad, possibly in an international environment. I was searching for small to mid-sized teams as I wanted to be involved in all design stages. I think I have found and experienced all that at DOMUS.
Can you list some of the projects you worked in during your internship at DOMUS, and your role in them?
I have worked on projects of all scales and in different design stages. At the beginning of my internship I was involved in the preliminary design stage of a housing renovation project in Espergærde. After that I worked on the presentations for an office building in Blegdamsvej. The last two months I have been earnestly involved in the stage of obtaining the construction permit for a housing project in Birkerød.
Besides the professional work on all the projects mentioned above, me and Karen (another intern) have been working on a fresh project called DOMUS University, which focuses on research and analysis of sustainable approaches in the built environment. Together we have been researching new ways of living, current trends in housing projects all over the world and their influence on sustainability.
What kind of assignments and tasks have you worked with during your internship at DOMUS?
For the project of housing renovation in Espergærde I had to design a new entrance canopy and gable balconies. That included the 2d and 3d sketching, rendering and presentation. For the project in Blegdamsvej I was responsible for creating different presentation diagrams which mostly required skills in graphic design. For the housing project in Birkerød my assignment was to draw and complete the documentation that is required to be submitted to the municipality. That included the drawing of existing state, overhaul of the existing buildings and designing new row houses. During the process we were encouraged to visit the site, which helped a lot in terms of profoundly understanding the project.
Describe the difference between studying and working as an intern at DOMUS?
Working professionally in an international team like DOMUS cannot be compared to the studies back at home. The nature of tasks and responsibilities in the office are just on another level.
What did you learn at DOMUS?
I learned how to work in different design teams at the same time, manage work and communication in an unexpected crisis time and to meet the deadlines efficiently. I also gained some valuable perspective on
contemporary and sustainable design, met different professionals with different design approaches and perfected my software skills.
Did the internship change your perspective on the building industry?
Throughout my internship I noticed the very pragmatic approach in both design and construction stages, which challenged some of my views on the industry. The projects that I have worked on were all well-thought out and designed efficiently yet sustainably and this is something I will always strive to as a future professional.
Did the internship expose you to unknown areas within the building
industry or unexpected interests?
Having worked in the Danish building industry unveiled to me some new and interesting construction solutions, that I was not aware of before. Especially my knowledge and interest in prefabricated construction has definitely deepened throughout my internship.
Did the internship teach you something you can use in your future
education/career?
Besides the practical experience and skills, being a part of a successful architectural practice for half a year I have witnessed a well-organized workflow and professional attitude. This is something I will definitely strive
to in my future career.
Which skills did you acquire during your internship at DOMUS?
I have gained a lot of knowledge in Autocad, SketchUP and Maxwell as well as improved my communication and planning skills.
Other comments:
All in all, I would really like to thank everyone in the office! Everyone that I have closely worked with was professional and supportive. I am sure the experience at DOMUS arkitekter will have a great impact on my future professional career.