Last time, we looked at personal accounts of great architects. This time, we are here to please the fans of architectural sketching.
Sketching is a great tool that is worth practicing from time to time. And by practicing I mean you do not need to be perfect. Sketching is a language and if you can convey the message you want share, that is good enough for me.
There are also many reasons why to sketch. Some architects sketch to solve problems, other sketch to create them. You can sketch to share your idea with the client or you sketch to learn more about existing buildings in our environment. All those reasons are valid and worth exploring. And you will see this variety in Instagram accounts mentioned below. Those talented people have their own distinct style, specific tools they use and their own purpose why they create their little masterpieces.
Judy_sketchbook
Judy Abi Roustom is a Lebanese architect currently based in Bahrain. She co-founded the official Urban Sketchers Lebanon chapter in 2014. Through her sketches, she explores the world around her in order to understand and improve it.
Andreadeng_art
Andrea Deng is an architect and artist based in London. I especially appreciate his hand-made sketchbook that contrasts amazingly well with his simple linework. He seems to love spending time outdoors, observing the world around him, which I think is great, because one can learn a lot by a simple act of observation of reality.
Bulow_ink
David Bülow is a founding partner of Primus Arkitekter and more importantly (at least for the purpose of this article) wonderful sketcher. His drawings have very distinct character and they explore the relationship between humans and architecture both outside and inside of our minds.
I am always excited to see new drawing of David, because it always makes me think and question actions of myself and other humans. His work often takes place in dense urban environment or desolated places and people there are outsiders, often alone, and seemingly questioning their place in the universe.
I am proud owner of one of his prints, a girl smoking on a windowsill. She is there, right by the entrance to my apartment to always remind me to take a deep breath and do not take life too seriously.
Mutonisketches
If you are looking for person working magic with markers, look no further. His plans, elevations and perspectives are always fresh with just the right amount of sloppines. Brave colours and lush landscapes often compliments his architecture.
This is the type of sketches to present ideas and show the possibilities. What can we do and how it can look like.
David_drazil
If you want to learn sketching from scratch or get to know a bit of advanced methods, David is here to guide you through the journey. Over the past years, he made quite a name for himself in the architecture community, he wrote a book and is working on another one.
You can also take his class on teachable. I remember taking his course back in 2018 when it was on Skillshare. At that time I was very much ashamed of my drawing skills. I thought that as an architect I have to know how to make amazing sketches. However I soon realized that first of all, my sketches do not need to be amazing, as long as they convey the message I want to share and secondly, thanks to David, I know the basic rules. So now at least 90% of my colleagues understand what I mean by my scribbles, and that’s solid for someone like me without an ounce of a talent.
On top of that I love his style, which is a bit quirky and presents architecture as an idea to work on, not a finished product.
Mpanceri.arch
Marina Panceri is a wonderful architect and human being and her Instagram is hands-down the most aethetically thought through from this list. Careful arrangement of different types of sketches as well as photography makes this not just an eye candy but the whole eye cake to devour in one sitting.
Her drawings are feminine (is it okay to say it these days?) masterpieces and I often find myself studying her work because it is exceptionally well executed and detailed.
House.of.plots
Alicja Stefańska is an architect based in Berlin. She sketches wonderful and detailed elevations and perspectives. I always admired her dedication, I would have never had the patience to spend so much time and care with each individual drawing.
She also recently started Youtube channel where she pulls the curtain a bit and shares her tips and workflow. And let me tell you a secret, her videography received as much attention as her drawings, so you are in for a treat!
Katie.larsen.dk
Kathryn Larsen observes the world around her with watercolours in her hand. As a citizen of the world, she sketched in the US, Japan, Denmark, Netherlands, and these are just places I know about.
Quick and quirky, capturing the spirit of the place, her illustrations bring joy to everyone. She just finished her book about 5 years in Denmark and you can check it on her website here.
And if you want to hear her personal tips and tactics, head to her youtube channel and specifically this video about urban sketching.
Davidclynk
At first I was not sure if I should put David on my list for a simple reason that his drawings are digital. Yet, despite being digital, they are definitely still sketches, since he is using digital pen. And that shows us even more variety that sketches can take. Digital sketching is used by a lot of people in the product design and is worth having an example here on my list, especially someone as talented as David.
His work is out of this world, experimental drawings, showing us how far could architecture reach if we stretch our imagination. I do not know about you, but I would love to live in his building.
So this was my list, how about you? Do you know any talented people or do you sketch yourself? Share your thoughts with us and together we can learn and discover what other people are up to!
Cheers!
How about @francescoguerini.architetto ? 🙂