The 2016 Architect Holiday Gift Guide
It’s December! You know what that means – time to start thinking about how to show your love to those special people in your life. If it happens to be in form of a gift or two for that crazy creative in your life, you’ve come to the right place. Thanks to pestering parents and a lack of funds to buy things for myself, I’ve been able to amass a holiday gift list that I think architects will love – this architect at least does. So without further ado, let’s jump into the 2016 Architect Holiday Gift Guide.
Paper Goods
An architect can talk a good talk, but they’re known for thinking in pictures and that means they love quality pens and papers. So first on the list is a nice fountain pen (with a re-fillable cartridge converter). I got the LAMY Safari 6 years ago as a graduation present and I LOVE using it. Since then, I’ve invested in some other pens and inks from Goulet Pens. I would highly recommend you give them a look, and their customer service is out of this world. Specifically, I would recommend the LAMY Safari or the Pilot Metropolitan pens. I’ve had my eye on the second one for awhile and it’s known to be good for sketching, although the LAMY is also great for that and has replaceable nibs. And the Noodler ink – Goulet tests each in before they categorize it and Noodler has options that either dry fast to ensure it doesn’t smudge or bleed as inspiration moves your pen faster than normal ink can dry, or is water resistant if you like to sketch with watercolor.
And now for paper. If it’s idea and note-taking your heart seeks, with the graphed space for sketching, the Leuchtturm 1917 is your notebook. I recently switched from Moleskine to these and haven’t looked back.
Speaking of sketches and ideas, if you’re looking for a bit more color in your gift, you can’t go wrong with a fun coloring book. I was gifted the Fantastic Cities book last year and love it. I’m admittedly still not even 1/4 the way through, but the challenging and detailed designs are surprisingly relaxing.
Organizing
If you’re looking for something to keep your new pens, notebooks, and all your other architect things in – look no further than PUP. People for Urban Progress create quality goods that in turn do good. They have recycled canvas roofs from places like the RCA dome, and fabric from Super Bowls and Indy 500’s past to create a variety of bags to fit your needs. They then put a portion of their profits into urban art and infrastructure. Win-win!
Home
If you’re an architect, your work goes where you go. So it’s important to make sure you’re home is ready to work when you are. That’s why the 2016 Architect Holiday Gift Guide comes home with you. I recently came across Eero and am intrigued. #ThisOldHouse gets bad wifi coverage with all the thick plaster walls, so something that helps let me do work on my back porch as easily as in my office sounds like a dream come true. It’s the priciest thing on the list, but I’ve talked to some friends who’ve purchased this (and work in IT) and they said the maintenance-free functionality and ability to limit screen time for his kids have already made up for the initial cost.
As important as your wifi working is YOU working. We all know the harm of toxins, dust, and increased CO2 can wreak on our energy and health. Well, so does Awair. I saw this about a month ago and have been considering it as I continue to create healthy spaces in my life. It also integrates with other smart home appliances to turn on humidifiers, fans, etc.
Personal
Sometimes in life, you’ve gotta #treatyoself. As an architect after wrapping up a bid set, I know there are a handful of things I look forward to. Bourbon is one of them, so of course it’s on the 2016 Architect Holiday Gift Guide. Makers 46 is my go-to, but I recently came across Willett Pot Still Reserve and have my eye out for it. What bourbons are your favorite?
After a night of bourbon, or every morning for most architects, you’re going to want some coffee. And not just any coffee, but well-made coffee. I invested in a Chemex and stainless steel Kone filter 4+ years ago and haven’t looked back. They help bring out flavors and create no waste. When I’m done, I just tip over the filter into my compost.
Between the bourbon and coffee, you’ll need to rehydrate. This is where the functionality and aesthetics of being an architect make product searches fun. Before heading out on a recent vacation, I did a search on best water bottles and looked at resiliency, temperature, and design. The Hydro Flask made the top of the list. The fact that it’s a US company with a penchant for protecting the parks is just a bonus.
Statement piece
Last but not least on the 2016 Architect Holiday Gift Guide is the statement piece. Architects are known for dressing in monochrome, which makes the simple elegance of a statement piece of jewelry or a watch stand out that much more. Subtle elegance is key.
That’s a wrap on the 2016 Architect Holiday Gift Guide! May your season be merry and your giving be plentiful. If you’re feeling awash with the spirit of giving, I’d happily take any of the items listed above! 😉 Let me know in the comments what’s on your wishlist.
