How to prepare for architecture internships in India, by Sujith.G.S

Internships are a crucial part of a student architect's life. Presently, the period of internship is for a whole year. It is very important that you get into a good architecture firm for your training, as that will have a huge influence on your future career. One learns a lot more during the internship than from the college, especially the practical aspects of the profession. So it is crucial to get into a good firm for gaining great exposure. 

I did my internship with Ar.Gurjit Singh in Matharoo Associates in Ahmedabad, which is a very professional firm doing some really excellent work and I must say that those six months really changed my life for the better. I learned how a real office works, how projects are taken forward, how one interacts with clients, meaning of professionalism etc, which you never learn in college. That internship really showed me how a professional practice works and how a student has to learn so much additionally to be ready for working in the real world. I can't state enough how important it is to get into a good office for doing your architectural training.

Today, it is very difficult to get into a good firm for internship. This is because there are so many students out there who are looking to get into these limited good offices. Presently, there are around 500 colleges in India as per the Council of Architecture's website. Assuming there are a minimum of 40 students per batch, that means there are at least 20,000 students who would be looking to get into various offices for training in a given time. Of course, a lot of the colleges have more than 40 students per batch and newer architecture colleges are coming up all the time. So the number of students applying for training is only bound to get higher and higher. The competition is really intense.

I can give you a small example. The firm I work in, Stapati, got over 750 applications for internship this year, out of which we could offer internships for only 12 students.... that is,only around 1.5% of the applicants got selected for internships! It is that hard to get selected for training in a good architecture firm.

So how do you go about getting into that dream office for your internship? I would say that it is all about planning and good preparation. You need to start early and meticulously plan your application process till you get into a good architectural firm. 

Ideally, your planning process should start atleast six months before the date you want to join for internship, if not earlier. The first step would be to start working on your portfolio. A good portfolio is the only way in which you could get selected into a good office. So work hard on creating a very well crafted, professional and creative portfolio which would highlight your skills and strengths and show your best academic work.

For those of you who feel that your portfolio needs improvement, then wait no more. I've created a great resource to help you out - How to prepare your architecture portfolio is now available. 

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Parallely you should start doing your research to identify the good firms where you want to apply. This should be a fairly large list and shouldn't be confined to a handful offices only where you will apply. Always remember the competition is intense, so apply to the maximum number of firms. If you get selected for more than one firm, you can always have the option of selecting the one you like and not join the others. That is an ideal situation, for which you'll have to work hard and plan well. Select firms whose works you like. Do a thorough research to identify the good firms. Along with the work, take into considerations things like which city is the firm based, as the larger architectural scenario and culture of the city also plays an important role. Ahmedabad would be a very good city for the architectural intern. Likewise, Bangalore, Mumbai, Auroville etc are a few other places which would add a lot of value to your decision. One other factor to consider would be the type of practice and the size of the firm. There are small, medium and large firms out there, each with its own advantages and constraints. So do factor that also into your decision.

So once you have prepared your portfolio as well as list of architects to do internship with, you start applying to the different architecture offices. Generally you would be required to send in your portfolio along with your application. Some offices require you to email it while some others require you to upload it on their website, while some others even have a dedicated email id for sending portfolios. Make sure you send your portfolio with a good covering letter, to the correct option for each office. Ideally this has to be done 3-4 months before your joint date for internship. 

Once you send in your portfolio, wait for some time and probably after a week or so, give a call to the office to enquire the status of your application. Please be thoroughly professional in your approach. Also, be patient as a lot of the offices some times give the confirmation towards the end only. In the meantime, keep exploring newer architects and architecture offices and send your portfolio to these offices as well. You never know when you'll find the right architecture office for internship.

PREPARATION OF AN ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO

I have been receiving a lot of requests from students for details on HOW TO PREPARE A GOOD ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO. 

Taking this into consideration, I have compiled a detailed booklet on how to create a great portfolio, which will guide you through the detailed process, including identification of materials, ideal layouts, graphics and rendering styles, text placements, photographing your models....an exhaustive list which will guide you step by step.

You can now avail this great resource for creating your best portfolio, which is essential in this highly competitive age - either to get into good firms for internships, applying for your masters or for getting that coveted job.

Get full access to 'How to prepare an Architecture Portfolio' 

So go ahead and mail me at ar.sujithgs@gmail.com to order today! 

SUJITH.G.S is an architect and writer, with a passion for travelling, experiencing cultures, studying vernacular architecture as well as contemporary currents, which form the basis for his writing and blogging. He has been recently selected as part of the iGen 2017, the 50 most promising upcoming young architects in India.

You can contact him at ar.sujithgs@gmail.com 

When to start applying for architecture internship in India ?

That is always a very interesting question. When is the right time to apply for architecture internships ? The genuine answer to that question is that there is no definite time period for application which will grant you an internship in a good office for certain. In today's age, when there are so many architectural colleges and so many students competing for those few internship opportunities, it becomes highly important to apply early enough so that your portfolio will be reviewed properly. Most of the firms, especially the really good ones, usually finalise their selection of candidates for internships quite early itself and don't leave it till the last moment. 

The earlier you send your portfolio the better. This is especially so because, this will give the firms a lot more time to go through your portfolio in detail and if it is good then block you or particular seat before considering another applicant. And in my experience, the portfolios send In earlier, which are relatively decent will always be be selected initially itself and the decision will not be reversed.  

Some of the firms, like Rahul Mehrotra Associates, clearly ask for you to apply at least 4 months prior to your date of joining. That means that you have to start preparing for internships minimum 6 months prior to your joining date. You will have to do your research and identify the firms you want to send your portfolio to. Once you have your list of firms ready, you should immediately send your portfolio. You should ideally have a good number of firms identified to send your portfolio. You cannot decide that this is the firm that I want to work, so I'll send it here only. This is because, most getting selected for internship in your choice of office is very difficult. So always be safe and apply to as many good practices as possible. 

PREPARATION OF AN ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO

I have been receiving a lot of requests from students for details on HOW TO PREPARE A GOOD ARCHITECTURE PORTFOLIO. 

Taking this into consideration, I have compiled a detailed booklet on how to create a great portfolio, which will guide you through the detailed process, including identification of materials, ideal layouts, graphics and rendering styles, text placements, photographing your models....an exhaustive list which will guide you step by step.

You can now avail this great resource for creating your best portfolio, which is essential in this highly competitive age - either to get into good firms for internships, applying for your masters or for getting that coveted job.

Get full access to 'How to prepare an Architecture Portfolio' 

So go ahead and mail me at ar.sujithgs@gmail.com to order today! 

Have you ever wished that you had all the details of the best architecture firms in India to for internships? Especially today, when the competition to get into those few vacancies in those good firms is really intense?

Ever wished that you had a single source which gave you the contact details of the best architecture firms in India, as well as brief information on their style and philosophy and a summary on why you should intern in a particular firm?

Well then, look no further!

‘TOP 100 ARCHITECTURE FIRMS FOR INTERNSHIP in INDIA’ is here! 

This single resource gives you the details of the Top 100 firms in the country, as well as their contact details. This list will save you hours of doing futile research on the net and also the contact details at your fingertips! You can choose the firms in your city of choice

So say goodbye to uncertainty and hours of hard work. This list will make your life so much easier and will help you get into that coveted internship position or even that first job that you are looking for!

So wait no more.

Order your copy of ‘TOP 100 ARCHITECTURE FIRMS FOR INTERNSHIP in INDIA’ today.

Mail me at ar.sujithgs@gmail.com for more details.

SUJITH.G.S is an architect and writer, with a passion for travelling, experiencing cultures, studying vernacular architecture as well as contemporary currents, which form the basis for his writing and blogging. You can contact him at ar.sujithgs@gmail.com 

HUNTER DOUGLAS DUETTE ARCHITELLA HONEYCOMB SHADES

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Came across these very interesting honeycomb window shades from Hunter Douglas! Do check it out!

An attractive window and the right light can change everything—from your room to your mood. Hunter Douglas, has mastered the art of window dressing by engineering innovative functions into stylish, versatile looks for every window in your house.

Hunter Douglas is a leader in light control, energy efficiency, operating systems and motorization, which makes your home smarter, your days easier, and every room that much prettier.

Since developing the first lightweight aluminum blind in 1946, Hunter Douglas has led the industry in creating the highest quality, innovative window coverings for homeowners. Our products provide solutions for everyday, practical needs - from privacy to safety to light control - while also satisfying your desires for a stylish furnishing that transforms your home.

Exclusive fabrics, energy-saving innovations. Our state-of-the-art, patented design for these attractive shades incorporates three insulating air pockets reducing heat loss at the window by 40%. Most people are unaware of the enormous energy lost through windows and of the energy and cost savings available to them by adding energy-efficient Hunter Douglas window fashions such as Duette Architella honeycomb shades to their windows. By installing Duette Architella shades, a homeowner can reduce heating, cooling, and lighting energy needs in three significant ways.

Reduce HEAT flow

·        
Heat flows through closed windows when there is a temperature difference between the inside and the outside. Heat always flows from warmer to colder, never the other way around.

· In the infrared photo, the window covered with a Duette Architella shade (right) is shown to allow much less energy loss than the bare, bright red window (left).

· The measure of a product's ability to resist heat flow is called R-Value. The higher the R-value number, the more insulation the product provides and the better it is at reducing heat flow.

· In the winter, as much as 40% of the heat that escapes a home flows through the windows. But, a homeowner can reduce up to 30% on their energy bill when they select Duette Architella shades for their home.

· If you live in a cold climate requiring significant heating for more than half the year you should select a window covering that adds at least one point of R-value to offset heating costs.

R-Value comparison: # Duette Architella 3/4” Semi-Opaque R-Value of 6.25;  

                                  #Duette 3/4” Semi-Opaque at an R-Value of 5.16

              (R-Value measured on a low-e double glazed window)

Control SOLAR heat

· The portion of solar energy that passes through a window to become heat is measured using the SOLAR HEAT GAIN COEFFICIENT (SHGC). SHGC is a decimal fraction between 0 and 1.

· The lower a product’s SHGC, the less solar heat it transmits, which can help a home stay cooler in the warm summer months.

· Standard double-pane windows have a solar heat gain coefficient (SHGC) of 0.76—meaning 76% of solar heat gain gets into the home.

· If you live in a hot climate, or anywhere summers get hot, you need a window covering that effectively reduces solar heat gain.

· Duette Architella honeycomb shades can reduce solar heat gain from 76 % (bare glass) down to 17% depending on the fabric chosen.

SHGC comparison: # Duette Architella 3/4” Semi-Opaque SHGC of 0.24

                                # Duette 3/4” Semi-Opaque SHGC of 0.36

             (SHGC measured on a standard double glazed window)

Enhance DAYLIGHTING

·   Using natural light to illuminate home interiors is called DAYLIGHTING and when properly controlled, can be an effective way to reduce electric light use, thus saving energy.

· Duette Architella honeycomb shades have fabric options that filter up to 99% of the harmful UV rays while in the closed position.

· The goals of daylighting are to even the intensity of incoming light and bring light deeper into the room. The best way to do this is by diffusing light.

· Duette Duolite™ shades, which combine Duette Architella fabric with a Semi-Sheer or Sheer fabric, will diffuse light into the room plus add visual variety to any window.

   

Duette® Architella® honeycomb shades offer luminous colors and crisp, consistent pleats. Lower them for privacy, or raise completely for maximum light and view—they’re beautiful either way. Also consider our Architella Trielle™ Elan® shades. Their five insulating air pockets make it our most energy-efficient design yet. 

Contact details:

Hunter Douglas India Pvt Ltd. –

Mumbai : +91 22 67617500/552

www.hunterdouglas.in

SUJITH.G.S is an architect and writer, with a passion for travelling, experiencing cultures, studying vernacular architecture as well as contemporary currents, which form the basis for his writing and blogging. You can contact him at ar.sujithgs@gmail.com