Coming from Halifax, on the East Coast of Canada, I have always felt a connection to historic structures and the stories that are preserved within them. During my undergraduate studies in architectural conservation engineering, I became particularly interested in historic timber construction and the unique challenge of working with buildings that were never designed with today’s knowledge in mind. When I decided to come to SAHC, I was hoping to deepen my understanding of how we can analyse and care for existing structures, but I was also excited by the opportunity to step outside of my own perspective and learn from people and places from around the world.

It has only been one month, but already I feel that my understanding of heritage conservation has expanded considerably. Coming from Canada, it has been fascinating to see case studies from completely different parts of the world and realise how much our approach to heritage is shaped by our own history, materials, climate, and culture. More than anything, though, I have been surprised by the people I have met along the way. The professors are incredibly engaging, and the diversity of experiences and perspectives within our class makes every discussion more interesting. Even when assignments become challenging, there is always someone willing to help, share an idea, or work through a problem together. After such a short time, it already feels like I am surrounded by people who could become lifelong friends.

Living in Guimarães has made the experience feel even more special. There is something exciting about studying heritage conservation while walking through a historic town every day, and I have really enjoyed exploring the architecture and surrounding landscape whenever I have the chance. I am especially looking forward to starting the integrated project (SA7) and taking what we have learned into a more hands-on, onsite experience.

SAHC has already challenged me to look at heritage conservation from a much wider perspective, and I am excited to see where the rest of the year takes me!

I’m a Civil Engineer from the city of Maracaibo in Venezuela and after some years of work experience in structural design in my homeland, and several others in the implementation of projects in historical buildings in culturally significant areas such as Jerusalem, I felt motivated to enroll in the SAHC program in order to deepen and complement the experience acquired so far.

One month has passed since the beginning of the program, and the experience has been, on the one hand, highly intense and demanding and, on the other hand, interesting, exciting, and motivating. Working alongside talented fellow students who are equally driven and eager to give their best has made this journey even more inspiring.

The clear and evident commitment of SAHC’s professors and staff to providing high-quality training shows the spirit of professionalism and deep vocation for sharing knowledge that stands behind their contributions as individuals and as a team. This fact is an added value that makes the SAHC experience unique and personally encourages me to give my own contribution with the same spirit and vocation during and after the program.

I’m grateful for the experience and I’m looking forward to the next steps.