Zofia Przydatek, Weronika Trelka, Kacper Stępień, Zofia Poniatowska -.
podcast #40 of the series "Foundations"
The episode and the entire series are also available on Soundcloud and Spotify:
In the latest episode of the "Foundations" podcast, we talk to Zuzanna Lesik - an architecture student at the Technical University of Lodz who completed a six-month internship in Switzerland. Zuzanna takes us on a very personal and concrete story about what it's like to apply for a foreign internship, what it's like to live and work in Zurich, and what you can really learn in one of the most orderly and architecturally conscious countries in Europe. It's an episode for those thinking of going, but also for those who want to see how different design cultures can be.
Asylstrasse, Zurich.
© Zuzanna Lesik
From decision to application - what does the path to an internship look like?
Zuzanna went on a mandatory professional internship during her master's studies. Instead of looking for an office in Poland, she decided to take a bolder step - a foreign internship through IAST (International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical Experience).
In the episode she tells:
- what the point system and selection of offers looks like,
- what documents are needed (resume, portfolio, language certificate, references),
- how long it takes to wait for the office's decision,
- and what emotions are involved when you actually get the green light to leave.
Sonnenberg Park, Zurich
© Susanna Lesik
This is a very practical part of the interview - no icing and no myths.
working in a swiss office - architecture like clockwork
Zuzanna ended up in the Burkhardt office in Curych - a large, reputable studio that has been operating since the 1950s. She worked in the team dealing with competitions and the conceptual stage of projects.
In the podcast she talks about:
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teamwork and very precise division of roles,
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designing through mock-ups,
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a work culture based on trust and responsibility,
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about how the Swiss approach to architecture differs from the one we know from academia.
Matterhorn peak
© Susanna Lesik
As she says - there you can really feel that architecture is a team process, not a battle of egos.
Life in Zurich - between the Alps and the city.
Outside of work, there is also life. And here Susanna shows a completely different side of the internship:
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What daily life is like in one of the most expensive countries in the world,
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what a student's budget in Switzerland really consists of,
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how to travel around the country by train and learn about architecture "live."
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why public spaces in Switzerland work so well.
Zurich in her story is a city of people, greenery, architecture and conscious spending.
what does a foreign internship really give you?
This episode is not just a story about pretty sights and interesting projects. It's a conversation about growth - as an architect and as a person.
office
© Zuzanna Lesik
Zuzanna puts it simply:
An internship abroad not only teaches you to design differently. It also teaches you to think differently.
Aleksandra Skorupa
Listen also to other podcasts
From the series "Foundations"
33.Studying space design in the Netherlands. What is the path from dream to diploma?
34.Studying architecture in Valencia. Nicholas Zajda on Erasmus, Spanish education and student life
35.Studying architecture and urban planning in Sweden. Marcin Zebrowski's experience
36.From Spain and the Netherlands to working for Helmut Jahn. Mikolaj Zajda about internships abroad
37.Architecture in Swedish. Kinga Zemla about studying in Stockholm.
