A Kind Note to Internship Applicants

If you’re reading this because you’re searching for your first opportunity in architecture, I want to start by saying something important: I understand how you feel.
Twenty years ago, I was exactly where you are now—sending portfolios, writing emails, knocking on doors, hoping someone would give me a chance. It can be incredibly frustrating. You work hard on your studies, you build a portfolio you’re proud of, and then… silence. Or rejection. Or no reply at all.
So first of all: your effort is not invisible, and your frustration is valid. Many of us who have been in this profession for years remember that moment very clearly.

Why We Don’t Accept Unsolicited Internships

Every day, our studio receives at least five unsolicited CVs or internship requests.
If you do the maths, that’s roughly 1,800 CVs per year sent to a studio that simply does not have internship positions available.
We truly appreciate the enthusiasm and courage it takes to send those applications. But the reality is that we cannot respond individually to everyone, and we cannot create positions that don’t exist.
To be transparent and respectful of your time and effort, we want to clearly say: please do not send us CVs or internship applications unless we have explicitly posted an open position.
This is not a judgment about talent or motivation. It is simply the reality of how our studio works.

The Reality of Architecture in Catalonia

Another important part of the conversation is the professional landscape.
In Catalonia, the number of registered architects is extremely high. There are thousands of registered architects, and if we include those not officially registered, the number is even higher.
In practical terms, this means:

  • A lot of competition
  • Limited opportunities for stable work
  • Small studios with limited hiring capacity
  • Very few internship openings

Running a small architecture practice in Barcelona often means working with very small teams and experienced collaborators rather than large groups of interns.

How Our Studio Works

Many of our projects require collaborators who must speak Catalan, Spanish, and English fluently.
For this reason, we do not currently have the structure to host interns or trainees.
Again, this is not about talent—it is simply the reality of our workflow and scale.

Where You Might Have Better Chances

If you are an intern or recent graduate looking for opportunities, I would strongly encourage you to look at larger architecture offices, especially those working on international competitions and large projects. Some examples include:

These kinds of firms are much more likely to have the scale and structure to host interns.

Consider Looking Beyond Barcelona

Barcelona is an incredible city for architecture—but it is also one of the most competitive places to start a career.
You may want to consider looking at countries where architects are currently in higher demand, such as:

  • Sweden
  • Norway

These places often offer:

  • Higher salaries
  • More stable work conditions
  • Greater demand for architectural professionals

Sometimes the best opportunities appear in places you didn’t initially imagine.

A Story From My Own Beginning

When I was in my early twenties, I was completely obsessed with the idea of working in London.
So I did something a little crazy.
I spent one week walking around the city, visiting architecture offices I admired, spreading my portfolio and knocking on doors.
The result? Absolutely nothing.

No offers, no interviews—just a lot of walking and a very heavy portfolio.
Then someone told me about a creative opportunity in Murcia (yeah, go search that on google maps).

It was summer. It was incredibly hot. I was sweating all day.
But I worked on an amazing project with the architect José María Torres Nadal.

He was extremely kind to me. And one day he said something that changed everything.
He told me he knew someone in Rotterdam, and that there was a huge architectural scene there with many large international offices.

So I did it again.
Another week. Another stack of portfolios. More knocking on doors.
And eventually, I got my first international job at MVRDV.

I’m still incredibly proud of that moment. And beyond the job itself, I made friends for life there.

A Few Small Pieces of Advice

Architecture careers rarely follow straight lines.
Sometimes the opportunity appears:

  • in a city you never planned to visit
  • through someone you meet unexpectedly
  • after many rejections

So keep going. Stay curious. Stay generous with people.
And while you navigate the chaos of the profession, here are two books that helped me a lot along the way:

Both are about resilience, confidence, and building your own path.

Finally

If you’ve already sent us your CV and we didn’t reply, please don’t interpret it as a rejection of your talent or your ambition.
It’s simply that we don’t have internship positions available.
We truly wish you the best in your exciting journey, and we hope you find the place where your work and energy can grow.
Wishing you courage, curiosity, and a little bit of luck. 🍀
Architecture is a long journey — enjoy the ride.

architectBarcelona

(I’ve been there too)