Jinting Liu
Masters of Landscape Architecture, Rhode Island School of Design (2023)
Intern Reflection Essay
I have been a part of this fantastic team at Landworks Studio since early July. This was my first in-person internship in the U.S., and from the beginning, I was eager to understand and participate in the various operations within the office. Although the studio works in a hybrid format, the office is well arranged and efficient. Over time I learned about the rigorous working mechanism and the pleasant and relaxed working atmosphere of Landworks Studio.
The weekly Monday morning meetings showed me how well organized the team is here. I also learned that the scope of Landworks Studio projects is considerable. Michael often schedules meetings with the head of the Taiwan office across the time difference for various Chinese projects, which makes me admire this team's strong cohesiveness.
I have been involved in two main projects during my internship. The first is the design of the office's backyard garden. We conducted a designed charette every Friday to help determine the program, material selection, and furniture for the space, which all had to fit within a particular budget. This process was especially inspiring as I got to work closely with the team during this hands-on design process. What impressed me the most was that the entire office team came in to test the options and possibilities with a 1/2 scale model. The team respected and challenged each person's ideas, and we later refined them to produce the final design. This process has reaffirmed the importance of using physical models to help refine the design.
The second project I worked on was a master plan for a large development in Abu Dhabi. I learned a lot about drawing specifications and overall uniformity, which is something that everyone must experience and know when they enter the industry. I approached this project as Michael drew plans and zoom-in plan details, such as strengthening the relationship between various retail, plazas, and different types of green spaces. During the rendering process, I clarified the relationship between the various parts of the design. Although initially I was tangled in my personal drawing style, over time and through revisions, I was able to adapt and diversify this skill.
This summer was a unique and very rewarding one. I will make good use of the knowledge and skills I have learned at Landworks Studio. Thank you to everyone at the studio for all the help and encouragement you've given me!
