Week 5 Recap
After a few days in Dublin with Thomas, we left for an exciting weekend trip to Budapest, Hungary! The city was truly stunning and layered with historical context. As someone whose family comes from Eastern Europe, I was particularly excited to see a part of the world closer to where they grew up. Hungary, of course, is a former Soviet state and is now its own independent country, which recently joined the EU. Both of us loved the tours and museums that gave more context on the country’s role in World War II, Soviet occupation, and its more contemporary issues, especially with Orban.
One of our favorite experiences was visiting the Hospital in the Rock, a museum built into a natural cave system under the Buda Castle district. Originally used as an emergency hospital during WWII, it was later converted into a Cold War nuclear bunker. The exhibit’s immersive wax figure sculpture, coupled with the preserved medical artifacts, made for a really unique experience. As someone interested in adaptive reuse and the emotional impact of architecture and spaces, it was one of the most fascinating museums I’ve ever visited.
Back in Dublin, we kept up the momentum by taking a day trip to the coastal town of Dún Laoghaire and visiting the National Maritime Museum of Ireland. The museum is housed in a former Mariners’ Church and includes a variety of exhibits on shipbuilding, the sinking of the RMS Leinster, rescue missions, and more. Last semester, I designed my own exhibit, now displayed in the Hillman Library. It gave me some context on how difficult it is to condense information into an accessible and interesting experience for a general audience. Once again, this museum made me consider how design can be used for storytelling and historic preservation.
Once the weekend was over, it was back to work for me, but thankfully, I have been working on some engaging projects, so I was actually looking forward to it. One of my main projects this week has been creating SketchUp models of a conservation property our office is working on. The goal is to provide the client with renders that show how the proposed design will feel in 3D space. While I’ve used SketchUp before in a basic way, this was the first time I was using it to communicate with a client. I realized how much I still have to learn about translating vision for others.
Developing Hard and Soft Skills
Over the past five weeks, I’ve realized that this experience has been sharpening a wide range of both soft and hard skills. On the technical side, my SketchUp modeling abilities have improved significantly, especially in terms of making models client-friendly. I’ve learned to think not just like a designer, but like a communicator. I’m also growing in my ability to use digital tools for conservation architecture, where attention to detail and historical context are essential. For example, I’ve been learning how to use MicroStation, which is a different type of Computer Aided Design program than I am used to. Even less architecture-specific things, like using Dropbox with my team, have made me a more well-rounded worker. These skills will serve me well in any future design or preservation role.
One of the biggest transferable skills I have been developing is adaptability. Working in a small firm in a new country has taught me how to quickly pick up on unspoken norms, adjust to new workflows, and navigate ambiguity. I’ve also been practicing communication across cultures. Even though Ireland and the U.S. share a language, there are subtle differences in how people give feedback, collaborate, or express critique. Learning how to present my ideas in a way that resonates in this environment has been incredibly valuable. It’s also taught me that my my of doing something is not always the correct or best way, it’s just a default.
Finally, a transferable skill I am building at this internship is confidence. At the beginning of this experience, I felt very uneasy about providing any actual value to the firm. As time has gone on, however, and I’ve seen a few projects actually progress through different phases, I’ve gotten to see the tangible impact I have made on them with the guidance of my bosses. I am more confident when talking about my designs because I am more knowledgeable about terminology, and I am more confident because I ask so many questions and learn from my mistakes. This experience has taught me to be more engaged and to focus on trying rather than succeeding.
Looking Ahead
As I look towards the last few weeks of my internship, I’m excited to buckle down and make real progress on a few models and ideas now that I am fully settled into my role. The conservation project is most exciting, because it should exchange hands right as I am leaving, and I’m glad to see my renders and photographs actually being used in the upcoming presentations for the clients.
Beyond my professional experience, I can’t wait to visit my friend Elizabeth in Galway for the weekend, as well as take a road trip with a stop in Clonmacnoise to see the site that the Irish Room was originally inspired by.