What to Get an Architect for Christmas (2014)

It’s almost that time again – the overwhelming necessary list of “What to get an architect for Christmas.” This is the 5th Edition of this list and I have to admit, it keeps getting bigger and better every year. Let’s face it, shopping for architects sucks because we are super picky and just a tad bit judgmental about everyone else’s apparent lack of taste and culture. It’s only because my Grinch heart grew three times it’s normal size that I spent the better part of a year cultivating and assembling this list of presents that ~~I want~~ every architect wants.

This year I am trying to step my game up and I have assemble this year’s list into 3 sections – Regular Gifts, Stocking Stuffers, and Books. Hard to go wrong with any item on this list – there’s something on here at almost any price point – and I personally guarantee your architect’s satisfaction. If your architect doesn’t like something on this list, that just means that they weren’t meant to be an architect in the first place … maybe you should get a “How to be a CPA” book just in case.

drumroll please ………………………………………………………..

Tombo Markers (10 piece Gray Scale $18.88) (10 Pack Landscape Colors $15.74)

These pens will take a mediocre drawing and make it fabulous (and who doesn’t want that? Maybe a CPA …) I use these markers myself and I never cease to be amazed how just a tiny bit of color on a sketch makes it look like a pro did it … Oh, guess what? I am a pro (or at least now I can look like one).

Porsche External Hard Drive $89

I work at the office, I work at home, I work on a plane, I work on a train. Okay, I haven’t worked on a train yet but I’m sure there are architects out there who do. Having a small external hard drive that allows you to back up your computer with regularity provides valuable peace of mind. When I was robbed last year, my laptop was stolen. As much as that sucked, insurance took care of replacing the equipment and since I back my computer up, I didn’t lose the stuff that really matters – my work.

Jabra ROX Wireless Bluetooth Stereo Earbuds – $100

I don’t want to listen to your funky beats while I’m working – I’ve got my own funky beats. While some folks are really against people wearing headphones in an office environment, architectural offices typically aren’t one of them. No longer do you have to be tethered to your cell phone – you can continue the jams as you get up and collect your copies from the printer. My advice – go ahead and disconnect before going to the restroom.

Kiwi 10 Piece Shoe Shine Kit $42 – Foot Fitter 6″ Shoe Dauber $12.50

Take care of your shoes – it’s important. Having a nice shoe shine kit even allows someone who operates on a meager income a bit of luxury. Nice shoes can be a proper expenditure if you have the means to take care of them.

Tovolo Ice Spheres – $11

Balls of ice for your fancy prohibition era drinks – pretty cool, right? Since I’m a Texan, I prefer my alcohol brown in color and typically without any Coke in it. Ice balls go well with whiskey and scotch because they add the right amount of chill, and since large ice balls melt more slowly, the tiny bit of water allows the bouquet of the scotch to open up while not overly diluting your drink. Sounds like I take my cocktails pretty seriously doesn’t it? I don’t, I just think ice balls are cool (insert your own joke here).

Strathmore Series 400 Sketch Pads (9×12) – $10

I don’t just use Moleskine sketch pads, I have some Strathmore spiral bound sketch books as well. Whenever I think I am going to be sketching something that I plan on tearing out of the book, I use this Strathmore pad (I don’t want to tear any pages out of my other sketch books). The one I’ve shown above is my favorite – the pages are heavy weight (60lb), and large at 9″x 12″, and there is a super heavy cardboard back so it makes sketching while standing up and out in the field much easier

Jawbone Mini JamBox – $100

I tend to get into work early and on occasion – on occasion – I will work on the weekend. When that happens, I have started “borrowing” my daughter’s Mini JamBox to avoid having to wear my headphones. The sound is terrific, the range shockingly good, and the design is minimally fantastic. It’s wireless and holds a charge for days. Gotta say, I think this Bluetooth technology thing is going to work out.

Sonicare Rechargeable Electric Toothbrush – in BLACK! – $189

It’s a black toothbrush and just by sitting it in the glass it recharges itself. And clean teeth … everybody wins.

STOCKING STUFFERS

Moleskine Cahier Journal (Set of 3), Extra Large, Plain, Black, Soft Cover (7.5 x 10) – $15

I’m a big advocate of sketching, despite the fact that I am not particularly adept in my own sketching “style”. I get a lot of Moleskine journals as gifts but the one I’ve listed above is my favorite. These journals are small enough so that my “doodles” can fill the page. I also like that these journals have a heavy card stock cover rather than being leather-bound. I personally feel that the really nice ones can be a little intimidating to sketch in – they seem a little precious to me. Since half of my sketches are total clunkers, the cahier journals seem just a bit more forgiving.

Lamy USA – $26.50

For less than $30 you can get a great fountain tip pen that has some style to it. This is another worthwhile gift because it looks great, performs great and it’s cost will not break the bank. This is the exact pen that I have had for the last 16 years. Despite having several others, including those with far higher price tags, this one is still my favorite and the one pen I have that never fails to receive some sort of comment of admiration.

PS – get some refill cartridges while you’re at it

Sharpie Ultra Fine Tip pens – $6

These are the pens I use for all my sketching and they are – without a doubt – the very best.

and for some pen weight … get Sharpie Fine Tip pens – $6

White Trace Paper – $10

Trace paper, bum wad, onion skin, trash paper- whatever you want to call it, it’s the life blood of a designer. Trace paper is just what it sounds like – semi-transparent paper that allows you to layer drawing upon drawing on top of one another, which allows you to evolve your design through iterations.

Kingston Digital DataTraveler 64gig 2.0 Flash Drive – $28

Maybe you don’t remember the ~~good~~ sucky old days when flash drives were $50 for a 128kb … that fact that you can now get a 64gig flash drive for only $28 makes my face hurt. But in a good way.

Adonis Jot Pro Fine Point Stylus – $27

A lot of people (I’m not quite there yet) use their iPads to sketch and takes notes on. Whenever I have played around with a stylus they have seemed clunky and unresponsive. Once I experimented with the Adonis Jot Pro, all that went away.

Books

Architectural Registration Exam – (used from $170)

An exam book? For Christmas!?! You might think I’m a sadist for putting this on the list but if your someone special is planning on taking the ARE anytime soon (or should be taking the ARE sometime soon) they will need this book. There is no avoiding it and since it isn’t cheap, this book makes for a wonderful present.

A Visual Dictionary of Architecture – $40

I have this book … in fact, I’m pretty sure that I have every book that Francis Ching has published. They are all that good. As a bonus, even non-architects would like a book like this because it explains the vocabulary that architects use on a daily basis with wonderful sketches that clearly show the subject.

Architectural Graphic Standards 11th Edition – $230

This is another one of those books that every architect will use. If they don’t have it, they are borrowing someone else’s … Don’t let them be THAT person – get them their own copy.

Architectural Graphic Standards for Residential Construction – $165

If the object of your attention does residential work, this is a better gift than the non-residential Graphic Standard book shown above. I just happen to have both because I defy the norm.

Neufert Architects’ Data – $100

This is the German version of the Architectural Graphic Standard … Yes, it’s in English. Cesar Pelli has admitted that this was the very first book he bought when he started his architectural studies and that he still uses it … Okay, I believe the first part of that claim – this is an awesome book – but something tells me that Cesar Pelli hasn’t pulled it out in a while since he’s currently 88 years old.

Graphic Guide to Frame Construction – from $17

I have owned this book since the first edition. When I first got it, it was easily my favorite architectural book – it was full of construction details and since I had never spent time working on a residential job site while I was in school, I came out of college with zero knowledge of residential framing and I devoured the contents of this book. The only word to fully describe it is “awesome”. I suppose you could use another word like “terrific” or “amazing” but I think you get my point.

In Detail : Single Family Housing – $38

Anytime I can find a book on architecture that actually includes details, I love it. So it stands to reason that a book from “In Detail” would be high on my list of books worth coveting. I will admit that I had a hard time understanding all the details because the way they are delineated is more European than American and I couldn’t tell what was what. Since I stare at these books for hours on end, I eventually figured it out and I learned that I am not the only one out there that thinks that details aren’t just details, they’re architecture and frequently make the project.

In Detail : Building Simply – from $145

Same sort of book as the Single Family Housing book shown above – in fact, any book that was edited by Christian Schittich is worth adding to your collection. Ever seen a project so cleanly and minimally detailed that you just want to know HOW DID THEY DO THAT!?! These books show you how.

Lake Flato Houses – $32

It’s hard to be a Texas Architect and not be influenced by the genius that is Lake | Flato. A bad building by Lake | Flato is like a leprechaun … or a unicorn. They don’t exist. This book should come with two warnings – the first warning will alert you to the state of euphoria you will achieve – followed by the second warning of the massive feeling of architectural inadequacy you will feel shortly after the euphoria.

Architecture : The Whole Story – $28

It really is the whole story … this is a picture history book (which to call it that is a massive reduction) but it is one of the better ones I have ever seen. Everything you could want to know starting from the Neolithic Age up and through the 1950’s. Very complete, load of pictures and very concise – basically everything you could want in a curated architectural history book.

The Houses of Louis Kahn – $47

It’s a book of house by Louis Kahn … do I really need to say any more?

If you’ve gone through all of these items and still can’t find something that suits your needs, maybe something from the previous Christmas list posts have something –