It is incredible how time has an entirely different meaning here! For me it has already been three months, and the city and its atmosphere keeps on fascinating me and the same relates with the design process of projects here in New York.
Reflections
Not only has time flown, but it has been one of the most intense months of all, regarding workload and outdoor activities. Since I have started my journey here, everything has been new. Starting with the understanding of the Imperial system, the highest challenge for me goes towards the current project I am working on, which demands to be dimensioned in inches, but requires another portion to be converted to a metric system. Overall, the challenges have always been a part of these months I have been in the office. Never setting aside the steep learning curve, not only technically, but also professionally where I have been expected to prove myself everytime and get as much responsibility as I can handle.
Another difference in comparison with the office in my home country is the internationality and openness that you feel. Here in New York I have always felt that hierarchies are set aside, and everyone has the right to make their statement and contribution to the projects. Everyone is at the same level of having a voice, and everyone can contribute ideas to the table. Therefore, everyone sees each other equally, eventhough we all have different levels of experience and backgrounds.
This entire month has been mostly about a competition project deadline, that brought almost the entire office together in order to make it in time. And can you imagine how it was? Everyday there was a new challenge, and drawings were being updated and hang-up on the wall every single day. It was an intense rollercoaster of emotions and workload, but very satisfying towards the end. Besides, it was the first time for me that I got to experience the deadline of a competition project in the office.
Design process
Moreover, I got to experience how the design process of a project for a competition is handled, and how it is structured. Of course this time I didn’t dive too deep into each part nevertheless, it was a month to understand the integrity of everything in relation to this project. From its , to the development of the idea and context, to finally be transformed into an object which integrates its surroundings. We were sketching over drawings everyday, making diagrams, discussing details and spaces over the physical model, which finally brought us to the final result of the presentation drwaings and documents.
Most of the softwares used in this office are AutoCAD, Rhino, Adobe and slowly starting to integrate Revit into the discussion. Moreover, there is also the most recent acquisition, which is a 3D printer, meaning that the model shop will most likely be alive once again.
If this was only for the first three months, I cannot even imagine what is about to come next.
Until we meet again!
