Lina Schirmer is a student currently attending Amsterdam University College, completing her Liberal Arts and Sciences Bachelors Degree. We welcome Lina to the team for a month long internship over the course of June. Lina is undertaking her summer internship with Troy Planning + Design in our Amsterdam office, working on a range of research tasks. To learn more about her background and interest in Urban Planning, please see her interview below.
Where are you from?
“Originally Hamburg, but lived in Surrey, UK and Dubai.”
Why are you interested in the built environment?
“My initial interests were in Sustainable Development and also Architecture and Design but after researching various related courses in the UK and Europe, I also became interested in International Relations (violence, conflict, politics) and community development. I decided that the degree programmes I had found were not broad enough considering I am not sure exactly which route I would like to specialise in just yet. Therefore, I decided to undertake a Liberal Arts and Sciences degree at Amsterdam University College and am now studying Anthropology (sustainability, sociology and economics, community in different settings i.e. post place), Environmental Economics and International Sustainable Development.”
Why did you decide to study in Amsterdam?
“I opted to study in Amsterdam due to its vibrant city culture and its connectivity to the rest of Europe and accessibility; I enjoy the ability to move around by bike on a daily basis.”
Most importantly, what kind of bike do you use in Amsterdam?
“I have a lovely second-hand Oma Fiets. It was actually the first thing I bought when I moved to Amsterdam. I chose the bike because of the pigeon blue colour and the beige wheels since it’s not the usual “hard to find when parked” black bike.”
What drew you to an internship with Troy Planning + Design?
“Looking at both London and Amsterdam, I found the larger companies did not provide an ethos or overview of the company and I feared I would be isolated in a particular department. I was looking for a smaller company with a clear and strong ethos and if in Amsterdam, would offer an internship in English. I was attracted to your focus on Community Engagement, Collaboration, Creativity and Design. I think these are really important aspects of placemaking.”
What is your favourite place?
“My favourite place is the ‘Treppenviertel’ in Blankenese, Hamburg. It is a collection of winding, cobbled alleyways, small mansions, and thatched cottages. In summer, you are enveloped by colourful flowers, and if you go down the 170 steps of the ‘Strandtreppe’, you end up at a small beach with the locally famous shipwreck ‘Uwe’ that children and teenagers like to climb. I used to go here as a child and especially enjoyed getting a Currywurst or Fish Sandwich at the bistro.”
