To our readers, I would like to introduce myself as Raymond Farm Center's intern! My name is Dhruvi Rajpopat. I am an incoming fourth-year architecture student completing NJIT's five-year B.Arch program, with a minor in History. Since I was a young girl, I have wanted to make my mark on the world, specifically by creating, whether painting, crafting, or building. My passions crescendoed into architecture, and I have subsequently found myself enamored by the deep romances that past architects have had with the world, and I only hope to grow and learn from their stories. The Raymonds' have an incredibly unique story, intricately intertwined with the most pivotal points of architectural history. When I visited the Center for a class field trip in historic preservation, I found myself relating to Noemi's love for the hands-on, building furniture and creating prints, and Antonin's calling for travel, adventure, and a thirst to prove oneself. They now serve as the most incredible role models for how I'd like to take my architectural career: in leaps and bounds.
This summer, I am not only working as an intern for the Raymond Farm Center but also as an intern at Diller Scofidio + Renfro, an interdisciplinary firm in New York City that specializes in civic architecture, art, and exhibit design. DS+R has been setting the benchmark for architecture and urban design for over two decades.
Within the last month, I have been lucky enough to have been able to contribute to the exhibition of Golconde: The Introduction of Modernism in India at the George Nakashima Foundation for Peace, Arts building, located at the Nakashima Woodworkers compound. Built-in 1936-1948, Golconde is considered the first work of Modern architecture in India.
Witnessing the opposite ends of the grip that architecture (its history and future) has on our world is the biggest privilege a student like me can be granted. I could not be more grateful for such amazing opportunities. As for the rest of the summer, I hope to be of help in getting the Raymond Farmhouse and the "Nakashima's Milkshed" architecturally documented to have it officially part of the Historic Site Survey and its restoration as part of not only the Raymond Farm story but that of George Nakashima, and the Nakashima Woodworkers.
—Dhruvi Rajpopat