I am writing to express my interest, for the internship position at DOOR architecten, as it has always been my age-long ambition to create projects that are sustainable, circular and interdisciplinary. I really admire your circular playground PIT Lab and would love to be part of your team. I believe that constant experimentation is crucial, especially when we treat architecture as a hybrid between long-lasting and short-term uses and goal-oriented and open-ended strategies. This are topics that are of great interest to me and that I would like to learn more about. Let me elaborate.

 

Throughout my past experiences I had a chance to discover topics mentioned above, from a perspective of interdisciplinary teams. Projects addressed subjects like user-participation, sustainability, circular economy, bottom-up activism, future-proof technologies, etc. I believe that my knowledge and skills could make a great addition to your endeavour for a better tomorrow. During my studies in Germany and Slovenia I had an opportunity to learn from interesting and award-winning mentors from all around the world. While studying in Germany I was enrolled in Diébédo Francis Kéré, Pritzker Prize winner, design studio at The Technical University of Munich. As part of the Chair of Architectural Design and Participation, we developed cultural hubs for artists and public.

 

I gained important knowledge and skills trough Stanford University program, focused on developing a high-efficient and sustainable buildings, that addressed topics like sustainable materials and technologies, prefabrication, parametric design, equity, etc. I had an opportunity to work with leading professors and industry leaders in architecture and engineering like Buro Happold. Parallel to our project, that was entirely powered by BIM software, we also tested future-proof communication technologies, like VR glasses in virtual reality environments. Working in international environment with diversified and interdisciplinary team I gained important experiences of team work, collaboration with other professions and team organisation. We even won a competition for high-efficient building, organised by PBL Lab at Stanford University. 

 

I see myself strongly as a participatory architect and I believe that participatory architecture is crucial, for making spaces that fit users needs. As Jane Jacobs put it: "There is no logic that can be superimposed on the city; people make it, and it is to them, not buildings, that we must fit our plans." 

I gained important insight in making of user-tailored spaces while being part of the organisational and architecture team for very fresh and developing Creative district Barutana and while working for a non-profit urbanism studio Prostorož, known for their public space initiatives and activism. I had a chance to work first hand with leading public space initiators, activists and users like artists, students, active local communities, elderly, citizens, etc. 

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Thank you for your time. I look forward to hearing from you!

 

With best regards

Jan Simnovec