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Portfolio website feedback/critics needed and some questions about internships
Hello all,
I'm starting my last year in architecture studies in a few weeks (5th year), after which I will be going to find an internship somewhere (I'm wanting to do a part of it in a foreign country in Europe).
(1) My portfolio itself isn't quite up to date and 'perfect' in my eyes yet, but I would like to have some feedback already on my website.
http://www.fredericlouis.be
It features some of my architecture projects from school, some design projects and photography works (a passionate hobby of mine, especially automotive photography).
I have always been interested by technology, how things work (airplanes, boats and of course, architecture) and I find that I'm still missing some input of this in my portfolio and my website. But I'd like to have some feedback on that too.
(2) For those who are interested, I run a photo blog too, it's for me the best way to express my interests and the way I think: http://www.dequalized.com
Then some other questions:
(3) As I said, I'm very interested in architecture and techniques, of how things work, how you can cool down a building, etc. but not in a way as an engineer would think, but to find creative solutions. For my internship, I'm looking for firms in Europe who would appreciate this kind of thinking and I was wondering if you would know some firms? They don't need to be big, because I currently work as a student for already two years in a 6-persons team architecture firm, which I find very good to work with.
Cultural differences would be great, but not necessairly needed. I can speak fluently Dutch, English, quite a bit of French and can understand a basic Deutsch conversation (speaking is yet another thing).
(4) And how about unpaid internships? If I do it in Europe, I can get a Da Vinci scholarship from my school, but I have no idea if this will get me trough the 6 months (for example) of work at a foreign city without any income. I'm not rich, but my parents would always like to pay for something like that, but of course if I can, I would like to earn something myself, because it's still my decision and they shouldn't pay for it.
(5) All other tips and ideas are welcome for future internships in foreign countries.
Already thanks in advance for your feedback and advice.
Fréderic
hey!
do you know about iaeste?
http://www.iaeste.be/
If you're interested in coming to Beirut I can give you lists and lists of places you can apply. A few may pay well even if you are just an intern - but living there is not going to be cheap.
Beirut is not exactly what I was looking for as Europe, was more referring to countries of the EU. Anyway, I probably have a lot of prejudices from the media about Libanon and Beirut, so it would be an adventure, that's for sure.
And living there is expensive? How much more expensive to western standards (I live in Belgium now, everything from taxes to gasoline is expensive too).
@ taga: never heard of it, but will take a look at it.
Thank you already for the comments.
It would certainly be an adventure, significantly different from how the media portrays it - or so say friends of mine who have visited from denmark, england, belgium and the unites states.
in terms of how expensive, there is no way you would be able to rent an apartment in central beirut off a start-up salary. living a little out is possible, public transport is not expensive. there have been 3 spanish architects and 1 american at the office i am currently employed in, so it is manageable for a foreigner who is interested. im yet to meet someone who has regretted living in beirut... gasoline is at $25 for 20 liters (and rising), and you dont get much mileage on 20liters in our signature traffic - public transport is the way to go.
if you want to take a glance check out bernardkhoury.com, hapsitus.com, yousseftohme.com. there's a lot to learn at some of the offices there.
i have one tip: don't do an unpaid internship.
also, when you say europe, do you have any preferences? rotterdam and london are two drastically different european options for example.
Not a particular preference, but I was already thinking of the Netherlands (Amsterdam, Rotterdam), France and maybe the UK.
I will check those websites/firms out, thanks for the tips.
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