Q:My best friend is going into 4th year in architecture and I would love to get him stuff that could help him with his final year as well as with the transition to (hopefully!!) masters. I know you've mentioned to get books - are there specific types of books? And if not books, what else - things that can increase his efficiency and prevent numerous all nighters (haha :() ?

Anonymous

Hmmm. This is a tough one because everyone works different, likes different kinds of books, and uses different types of media. There are numerous tools which help facilitate workflow, like an “Easy-cutter” for cutting wood for models, but I would think that just asking him might be a good way to go. Lol.

But thinking about it at another angle, honestly, the best thing in school when you are freaking out and having a few all nighters in a row is when an outside friend brings you food in the studio. That might just be a personal thing, but I will say that it is seriously the best.

A. That means someone cares about you.
B. You are usually starving but can’t take to time to leave your desk. And
C. It allows your mind to slow down for a minute while you sit and talk about something other than your project to an “outsider” lol.

Not sure if that will help. I guess if i were to recommend some books I would say I really like any graphics or rendering books, and any books with competition architecture is really good too. Competition architecture books give a wide array of different building typologies and have great representation drawings such as plans, sections, elevations, and perspectives of projects that win prizes all over the world.

Hope this helps and sorry for the delay in writing you, I am traveling through Europe for my study abroad program and the Internet is few and far between where I am.

Thanks for the question!!