Aprilea S. Ariadi – Universitas Diponegoro

My name is Aprilea S. Ariadi, and I am currently studying Architecture in Universitas Diponegoro, Semarang, in my fifth semester. I am a quite active participant in architecture design competitions and call for papers, having been a finalist in one. Outside my studies, I am a staff in Himpunan Mahasiswa Arsitektur Amoghasida, to be exact, in Creative & Media Department, in which I handle publications, websites, and the likes. Also, I am an active participant in architectural events, be it as a committee or as an attendee. Recently, I have just returned from being a delegate for Arcasia Student Jamboree 2016 in Hong Kong, which was being held simultaneously with the 17th Asian Congress of Architects, along with other 30 delegates from various universities in Indonesia, and over 100 delegates from other countries in Asia as well.

My introduction with the world of architecture began when I was still a mere baby, not even born yet, in my mother’s belly. My mother was an architecture student, and she used to tell me that she carried me around until late stages of her pregnancy, to lectures and studio works and excursions. I remember it like it was yesterday, that my love for architecture grew when I was 6. My mother, having postponed her graduation until I was big enough to be on my own, was busy doing her final project. I was really curious and I scoured my mother’s staggering pile of architecture books. The images and sketches mesmerized me. At that time I haven’t quite grasped the idea and meaning to all of those images, they just seem spectacular to me. But that was enough to make me say, “I want to be an architect when I grow up.”

Having an engineer who specializes in high-rise buildings as my father is also one of the catalyst, or the leading factor, for me to be introduced to the world of construction since my early age. When I was little, my father used to take me to construction sites and teach me about building elements–a luxury that not all of my friends could have. An unfair advantage, as one would say. To this day, I still frequently discuss various things with my father, in particular about buildings.

In junior high school, I started to travel around the world. I experienced a lot of buildings, spaces, you name it. My horizon widened. I recalled my first ever encounter with an architectural landmark in Barcelona, La Sagrada Familia. The weirdly shaped church captivated my eyes, and intrigued my mind (still does). As the tour guide explained the meaning of this and that, I had an epiphany. So, this is architecture.

Semarang, October 10, 2016

My first encounter with Mr. Realrich Sjarief happened in 2015, when my team and I were attending a national seminar in Surabaya, held by Universitas Kristen Petra. We were there as the finalists for a call for paper. I remembered Mr. Realrich’s presentation about his studies, his works, a bit of his personal life, about Heino Engel’s Tragsysteme (I would then directly run to the library when I got back in Semarang and look for the book) and in the last one, he referred to his team at RAW as ‘his children’ and that he ‘wouldn’t be here without them’. And I thought to myself, “Must be incredible, being a part of such an amazing team.”

Since then, I have been going to several occasions in which Mr. Realrich was the speaker, namely Anabata’s Open Talk in Semarang a few months ago. There, he talked more about his recent projects. I was greatly inspired.

With that said, I would love to have the opportunity to be a part of the team, as an intern. I would love to broaden my perspective in architecture, meet amazing people in the team, work with them, and learn from them.

Thank you for considering my application. Looking forward to hearing back from you.

Regards,