Internship at MUUM: What was it like to do an architectural internship in an agile working environment? Experience of Ali Haydar.

Hello! My name is Ali Haydar Taşpınar, and I am a fourth-year architecture student at Istanbul Technical University. During the summer of 2024, I had the opportunity to complete my three-month mandatory office internship at MUUM.

My journey with MUUM started in an interesting way. I had already heard about the firm through my friends and had been following their work for some time. While exploring their website, I realized that their design philosophy and work environment aligned with my professional vision. Later, during our mandatory office internship applications at university, our professor Çiğdem Eren informed us about a program by the Istanbul Freelance Architects Association. This program, originally designed for earthquake victims, had limited applicants, so it was opened for architecture students like us to apply. I decided to participate and was thrilled when I was placed at MUUM.

My internship experience was both productive and enjoyable. The friendly atmosphere in the office made me feel like an integral part of the team. Throughout my internship, I mostly worked on CAD drawings, particularly focusing on fire escape staircases and facade designs. Additionally, I contributed to modeling tasks to support the rendering process.

The work environment at MUUM is incredibly warm and welcoming. One of the most energetic and cheerful people in the office was definitely Ebru Bulca, the office manager. The team dynamic was excellent, and I always felt comfortable asking questions and seeking guidance.

If I were to summarize my internship experience in three words, I would say: structured, teamwork-oriented, and enjoyable. My time at MUUM was an invaluable period of both professional and personal growth. I am truly grateful to the MUUM team for this incredible opportunity.