Architectural tools of the trade include
plenty of pens and pencils, clips and tacks, and an endless variety of
miscellanea – all necessary to coordinate the incredible amount of
information that goes into even the simplest project. Staying organized
is serious business, but Desktructure offers a fun and flexible approach
with modular design in fine porcelain.
These cute little cinderblock magnets are another way to stay organized in style – and they’re made of real concrete, a detail sure to delight any architect. In the rare instance when there isn’t anything to hang or display, multiple packs would allow for the creation of fun 2D structures on the desk or whiteboard.
Venetian designer Luca Nichetto created this flexible silicone organizer with inspiration from a scale model of Manhattan, naming it after the movie “Inception” and its famous scene depicting New York City folding into itself as if it were made of rubber. It works well as a sorting tray for mail, a dish drainer for the kitchen, or as a decorative object for any fan of city skylines.
Made by architects, for architects – these iconic wooden toys are from Denmark’s ArchitectMade, whose design philosophy revolves around creating products that will inspire and last for generations. Designers include Kristian Vedel, Paul Anker Hansen, Hans Bølling, and other names your recipient will surely recognize.
Is your gift recipient an admirer of architects like Walter Gropius, Marcel Breuer, or Ludwig Mies van der Rohe? This beautiful Bauhaus Chess Set is sure to inspire. The pieces look simple at first glance but hide an internal meaning and extremely functional form, their shapes demonstrating the moves that each piece can make: the knight has the shape of an L, the bishop an X, the king is a singular sphere on a cubic pedestal, etc.
Made of laser cut wood and paper, this miniature drafting table model kit is easy to assemble with just a bit of glue. It’s a great weekend project for an architect who likes to get hands-on.
Designed by Jean-Marie Massaud, the W083 table lamp is all about balance. It swivels and turns easily thanks to a heavy rounded base – and the warm 3000K LED is ideal for nighttime sketches when inspiration strikes.
This stylish alarm clock is the work of Danish architects Jonas Bjerre Poulsen and Kasper Rønn of Norm Architects. Jonas focuses on shape and tactility in his work, whereas Kasper is more interested in tech and inventions. Here, their collaboration resulted in a clock with a rounded no-tilt design and no button to turn off the alarm. Instead, one simply turns the clock upside down to silence the ringing, ideal for the overworked architect who wakes up groggy and doesn’t want to slap at a button in the dark every morning.
Extreme attention to construction, purpose, and proportion makes these tumblers a work of art any architect can appreciate. It naturally swirls the drink when set down and fits the hand like a carefully tailored glove. Designed by Daniele Semeraro, the Cupa-Rocks ICE set contains a pair of hand-blown frosted glass tumblers set in a well-constructed gift box for a perfect presentation.
Long nights at the drafting table and long days running from site to site require an ample amount of caffeination – that means it’s easy to forget to work water into the equation. A gorgeously designed refillable water bottle might be just the thing an architect needs to remember to hydrate throughout the day. It’s produced in Holland and created with a zero carbon footprint, a nice gift for an architect who supports sustainable design initiatives. Dopper gives 5% of sales to water and sanitation projects.
Designed by architects, the Bottle Grinder doesn’t look like any other spice containers out there. The smooth shell contains a ceramic mechanism that produces a beautifully consistent and even grind with adjustable coarseness. Because the spices come out of the wooden top, no remnants can fall out to dirty the table.
Spark the imagination of the architect in your life with the miniature SPACES collection from Material Immaterial studio. These modular forms are made of concrete, and look beautiful freestanding or grouped together.
Architect’s office lacking a rooftop garden? There’s a planter for that. This piece features careful drainage design ideal for succulents and mosses – no green thumb necessary.
This architecturally inspired planter boasts incredible detail, complete with miniature balconies, stairs, glass windows, and metal rails. The windows are the coolest part because you can peer inside and might even catch a glimpse of some roots.
Hand-welded epoxy-coated steel makes this unique fire escape shelf as sturdy as it is inspiring. It’s even stackable to create a unique and customizable landscape to suit the storage needs of its owner. The photo shows this neat design holding photos and plants, but it would work just as well to hold jewelry or small books too.
As one of the best ergonomic work chairs out there, the famous Aeron Chair is an iconic design that feels right at home in the office of a creative. Architects spend hours sitting in front of a computer each day – so while the price may not be something everybody is comfortable with, a good chair pays for itself by reducing the risk of harm to the back and joints. Of course, don’t forget to move around frequently no matter how luxurious the chair may be!
After a grueling day hunched over the draft table or computer, what could be better than… that’s right, THE Eames Lounge Chair, perhaps the most iconic chair in the world. Okay, so this one is a replica, but the price of the true licensed original is not for the faint-hearted. Getting a lookalike for $660 is quite a steal, especially with this attention to detail. Materials match the original and include top grain Italian leather, rosewood plywood, and a sturdy aluminum base. Any architect would be giddy to receive this.