One of the joys of working in architecture and design is experimenting with material and color on both big and small scales. While the computer is the primary tool for cranking out plans and sections, pens, pencils, and watercolors are found at every designer’s desk at Feldman Architecture. While working on preliminary designs for a project, we find that pencils and pen are the quickest way to depict several options and convey them to the client. When running to a job site, picking up a pen and sketchbook is required. And in an office of 10, there are nearly 10 different boxes of pens and pencils to accommodate the designers’ preferences! Here are a few of the staples found in Feldman’s office. – Hannah
1. The Pentel Sign Pen and Prismacolor pencils used to sketch an option for one of Feldman’s kitchen remodels.
2. The Uni-Ball Vision Elite is available at any office supply store and was used to sketch the Cliff House from Sutro Baths.
3. Chartpak Ad Markers and Letrasets Tria markers are ubiquitous at any architecture or design firm and are typically used for rendering plans and elevations such as Feldman’s proposal for this renovation.
4. A Papermate Flair felt tip pen and a traveling set of MiniStaff pencils by the Eye Ball Pencil Co. are perfect for sketching on site. This pencil set includes eraser and sharpener so you won’t forget as you run out the door.
5. When traveling, size and weight are always a concern. Many designers travel with a small sketchbook (this one is just 4”x3”) and a Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen for capturing great monuments such as Angkor Wat.
6. Another great travel item is the Van Gogh watercolor set which fits into your back pocket and includes a fantastic array of color.
7. Uni-Ball Deluxe Rollerball pens are also widely available and allow for quick massing studies like this one for a new home in Carmel.
8. If you can’t decide whether to carry watercolors or color pencils, there is no need to compromise with Cretacolor’s Aquarell watercolor pencils. Just add the color pencil to your drawings and brush with water.
9. The ideal sketchbook stays closed in your bag to protect the ideas inside. Three of our favorites are a traditional Venetian leather bound book with leather wrap, a Holbein sketchbook (available with many different paper types – here in grey), and the current trendy favorite Moleskine (available in many sizes, shapes and colors – here in red).