Reflection Letter:
Greetings! My name is Imdi Hakeem Dinovhandaru. I am currently a third-year architecture student at Universitas Gadjah Mada and I’m 20 years old at the time of writing this letter. I chose architecture because I have always been a curious person about art and buildings, and end up kind of living it. After 2 years of studying, It was finally the time to apply for an internship. It was very hard to find a suitable architecture firm to apply to. Then, a flash of memory entered my mind.
It was April 12th, 2025, when I first visited a place during an architectural field trip. The place, at first, looked nothing more like an ordinary studio-house with lots of plants and steels? But once I entered it, a flash of thought appeared in my mind. How can this place look so simple from outside, but very complicated and detailed, messy-yet fascinating once you’re inside? Well, the answer is yet to be discovered by me.
The place was Guha, or The Guild House. It is the workplace of a very aspiring architecture firm, filled with positivity and the urge to think forward. For a moment there I think maybe this is the right place to step up my architectural skills and learn from one of the best. And I am sure that someday I will come back to this place, not as a visitor, but as an architecture intern.
And yes, that dream came true. I am, or was, an intern there. Even though my internship period was very limited, only 2 months because of academic requirements, I enjoyed every single day of my internship here. In summary, I was very grateful to be part of the Guha Family. But I wanted to share all of my experiences just to let everyone know my journey from start to finish.
Starting with how I begin my day, I commute approximately 2-3 hours in total every day to get to the office. Even though it is a long journey, it is really worth it because the place is very excellent. I usually arrive at 9 AM, but sometimes I arrive late because of traffic. Despite that, the designers never mentioned it because they also arrive past 9 AM, Haha. Then, I start my internship work by getting an assignment brief from the designers. Sometimes, the brief was very clear and straightforward, but there are few that I do not understand, but that’s okay. Every week there is a general meeting with Kak Rich, where everyone would gather and discuss critical points for all the ongoing projects.
After some work, there’s a 1 hour lunch break at noon and we eat the catering together at the pantry. Then, I usually spend the rest by reading, playing the piano, talking with colleagues, or just resting by the coziest place in the office (The Mezzanine Bookstore). Speaking of the piano, I must say thank you to the brown foyer piano because it is where I began practicing to play it again after years of not practicing it. After the break, I continue to work on my assignments and try my best to deliver great results. Even then, the designers are still far above my skill and capabilities. Honestly, the work rate here is pretty fast and precise. I sometimes lack the pace and get questioned about my progress. Despite that, I’ve always felt this place is like a second home and a place to improve my skills.
In summary, I’ve learned a whole lot of new things about everything, not just architecture, and I must say that RAW Architecture is the best place to apply for an internship. Thank you RAW Architecture for all the knowledge and memories. It will always be remembered as a part of my journey to become a future architect one day. I wish you guys all for the best!
My Mayonnaise Jar 