Architects’ Sketchbook

Architects’ Sketchbooks
(Image credit: press)

Ask any architect about the genesis of their work and they'll usually say something about the importance of drawing. In the digital era, the sketch is perhaps the last bridge between the architect and artist, an umbilical cord that reasserts their claims to creativity. Architects' Sketchbooks is a new monograph that brings together the thoughts, squiggles, sketchbooks and first drafts of a huge number of prominent contemporary practitioners. Contributors include Will Alsop, Shigeru Ban, Tony Fretton, Sean Godsell, 3Deluxe, Eva Jiricna, Norman Foster, Alessandro Mendini, Narinder Sagoo, Paul Raff and Terry Pawson.

The term 'sketch' is pretty loosely interpreted. Some of the imagery is computer-generated, some of it is three-dimensional models, some painting and collage. Working methods are rarely laid completely bare, but aptitude and spatial sense is more apparent in some entries than others. Shigeru Ban's precise diagrams for the Centre Pompidou-Metz imply the formal elaboration was already fixed and immutable, while Will Alsop's characteristically abstract paintings give little indication of architectural form. Other examples are most linear, like the heavily worked tracing paper roughs by Boidot Robin Architects which eventually evolve into neat card models. Or Brent Buck's densely layered pen sketches and meticulous notebooks or Sean Godsell's obsessive, small scale form-making.

The era of the grand measured perspective, along the lines of Frank Lloyd Wright or Paul Rudolph, are probably over for good. But Architects' Sketchbooks offers convincing proof of the role of drawing in architecture, be it as a playful means of expressing ideas (Narinder Sagoo's elegant, cartoon-like project descriptions for Foster + Partners, for example) or as an expressive way of exploring form.

Cartoon-like project descriptions

One of Narinder Sagoo’s elegant, cartoon-like project descriptions for Foster + Partners

(Image credit: press)

An image of Sketch

Sketch 

(Image credit: Shigeru Ban)

Heavy pencil sketch

Heavy pencil sketch 

(Image credit: Norman Foster)

Watercolour of the Kimmel Centre

Watercolour by Rafael Vinoly of the Kimmel Centre

(Image credit: Rafael Vinoly)

Sketch of the Tokyo Hall

Sketch of the Tokyo Hall 

(Image credit: Rafael Vinoly)

Sketch by Rafael Vinoly

Sketch 

(Image credit: Rafael Vinoly)

Drawing by Luke Pearson

Drawing 

(Image credit: Luke Pearson)

Drawing of the Flowershop axonomic

Drawing by Point Supreme Architects of the Flowershop axonomic

(Image credit: press)

Computer rendering

Computer rendering by Point Supreme Architects for the Benetton Competition

(Image credit: press)

Sketch by Alessandro Mendini

Sketch 

(Image credit: Alessandro Mendini)

Coloured pencil drawing

Coloured pencil drawing 

(Image credit: Peter Clash)

Sketches by 3deluxe

Sketches by

(Image credit: 3deluxe)

Computer rendering

Computer rendering by Junya Isigami & Associates

(Image credit: Junya Isigami & Associates)

Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.