From Spain and the Netherlands to working for Helmut Jahn. Mikolaj Zajda on internships abroad

Ola Skorupa

15 of January '26

Podcast Foundations #36

Mikolaj Zajda -
podcast #36 of the series "Foundations"

The episode and the entire series are also available on Soundcloud and Spotify:

In the second part of the conversation with Mikołaj Zajda in the "Foundations" podcast, we return to the topic of internships abroad, but this time we go much deeper - from the first internship in Spain, through Dutch design offices, to working for one of the world's most recognizable architects - Helmut Jahn. This is a story about consistency, courage in decision-making and the realities of working in the world's most demanding architectural studios.

a path that was not obvious

Nikolai's story does not begin with success. By his own admission, he didn't get to study architecture the first time. Instead of giving up, he chose another path, enrolled in a drawing course and tried again. He succeeded the second time - and this experience made him treat his studies very differently from people who got into them "by chance."

From the very first years, he knew that he wanted to do something more than just pass more semesters. When it was not possible to go on the classic Erasmus, he found an alternative - Erasmus+ Internship, which allowed him to find an employer on his own and go on a paid internship abroad.

first internship - Spain and Gras Architectos

The first major step was an internship at the Spanish studio Gras Architectos in Mallorca. Nicolas ended up there while he was still a student, together with a colleague from his year. The studio developed luxury villas, hotels, golf courses and recreational facilities for high-end clients.

This internship proved to be a watershed moment - it was a smooth transition between his studies and the professional world of architecture. It allowed him to understand how a design office really works, what it is like to work with big budgets and demanding clients, and the importance of organizing the design process.

The Netherlands - ZZDP and entry into BIM

The next step was the Netherlands - a country that for years has been recognized as one of the centers of innovative architecture in Europe. Nikolai ended up in the ZZDP office in Amsterdam, where he worked on larger-scale projects: office buildings, renovations and residential developments.

It was there that he learned how to work in BIM and Revit, which, he stresses, had a huge impact on his further professional development. Working in a team, clearly defined processes and a high technical level of projects allowed him to look at architecture in a more systemic and professional way.

MVRDV - an architectural laboratory

The natural next target was MVRDV - one of the most recognizable architectural studios in the world. The recruitment process was very demanding: portfolios, forms, verification of real skills and huge competition - up to several thousand candidates per semester.

During the internship, Nikolai worked in teams of several people on competitions and implementation projects. He dealt with both conceptualization and development of projects in the design development phase. As he says, MVRDV is a real laboratory of architecture, where innovation, design courage and thinking outside the box count.

Working for Helmut Jahn - American-style architecture

After graduating, Nikolai decided to take the next, even bigger step - the United States. Sending out hundreds of personalized emails with his portfolio, he eventually landed a job at the studio of Helmut Jahn - the legendary architect responsible for some of the world's most iconic skyscrapers.

The hiring process was unusual - a face-to-face interview with Jahn proved to be crucial, as he evaluated the candidate's mindset, approach to architecture and personality more than his portfolio.

Working in this office was extremely demanding. No margin for error, tremendous time pressure, large-scale projects and strict hierarchy. Nikolai has worked on, among other things, the renovation of a skyscraper in Frankfurt, high-rise projects in Moscow and the 1000M skyscraper in Chicago, which is currently under construction.

The conversation also includes an important comparison of the realities of working in Europe and the US. Nikolai points out the differences in attitudes toward vacations, working hours, responsibility and money. The U.S. system is much more ruthless, but at the same time offers higher wages, bonuses and faster advancement - provided you can stand the pace.