Julia Supeł -
podcast #4 of the series "Foundations"
The episode and the entire series are also available on Soundcloud and Spotify:
In the next episode of the "Foundations" series, we talk to Julia Supeł - an architect and engineer, who talks about combining two fields of study, working professionally since her second year, and her passion for space architecture. Julia shares her experiences of designing in extreme conditions: on Mars, in Iceland and in challenging locations in Poland. She also tells how ADHD, persistence and good organization allowed her to get through college and work at the same time, without giving up her ambitions.
Julia Supeł
A student at the Technical University of Lodz, who concurrently completed her master's degree in architecture and is continuing her engineering studies in construction. Since the second year she has been professionally active - currently working at AQUAPROJEKT s.c. in Lodz, where she implements complex projects in difficult field conditions.
In her design work she is fascinated by minimalism, brutalism and architecture integrated with nature. Her passion for space resulted in her master's thesis on a realistic Mars base project based on scientific research. Her engineering, meanwhile, was devoted to a self-sustaining educational center located at the boundary of Iceland's tectonic plates.
college memories
© Julia Supeł
Mars base - architecture for extreme environments
Julia Supeł's master's thesis is the design of a research base on Mars - realistic, functional and based on existing scientific data. The project was based on an analysis of atmospheric conditions, feasible technologies and assumptions of self-sufficiency. Work on the base required analysis of numerous scientific publications and confrontation of theory with engineering practice.
Iceland - a self-sufficient center for geological education
The subject of Julia's engineering work was the creation of an educational facility in Iceland, located at the boundary of tectonic plates. The design called for maximum energy independence and full integration with the harsh volcanic landscape. It was one of the most challenging, but also the most developing projects of her student career.
Geological Education Center in Iceland
proj.: Julia Supeł
architecture and construction - parallel paths that complement each other
Julia Supeł simultaneously studied architecture by day and construction in absentia, which allowed her to develop both the creative and engineering sides of design. The knowledge she gained in construction helped her better understand structures and effectively collaborate with engineers at the implementation stage.
By her own admission, she learned a lot from her mistakes - from a barn that " had no right to hold up" to a cantilever that was missing from a nightly section for a master plan. These experiences shaped her approach to design: informed, critical and humble.
college memories
© Julia Supeł
a day from work
© Julia Supeł
Julia talks openly about how ADHD helps her do many things at once, but also requires a lot of self-discipline. During her studies, she simultaneously wrote two theses, did professional projects and took care of relationships. Her motto is: sometimes it's worth it to mess up - the results will come later.
Asked for advice for younger colleagues, Julia answers with a smile: Do projects in strange places - Iceland, Mars, Africa - because no one knows the rules from those countries and it will be harder for you to accuse something on defense.
Aleksandra Skorupa
Maria Cipinska
