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Ho ho ho-ld on a minute. Is that the sound of sleigh bells I hear?
Sure enough, December has arrived, and with it, the inescapable saga that is Christmas shopping. Whether you’re an eager beaver who’s had your tree up since the moment your pumpkin pals took a trip to the compost bin, or you’re a gloomily Gus groaning about the return of festive fever, the holiday season is here. Once again, the excitable elves at Architizer are here to take some of your holiday shopping stresses away. As always, we’re doing the hard part for you and ensuring you stay on top as the ultimate present purchaser again this year.
We all know the Twelve Days of Christmas, but this year, we’re bringing you Thirteen Secret Santa Surprises. This season, we’ve pulled together our best-ever quintessential gift guide, so you’re sure to find something to suit even the fussiest architecture and design enthusiasts in your life. So, why not grab yourself a mulled wine, crack open the mince pies, sit back, relax and bask in the comfort of knowing that at least one present you buy this year will be a winner.
For architects worldwide:
Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture
It really wouldn’t be Christmas without someone around the table shamelessly flaunting their achievements. This winter season, it’s our turn. Architizer: The World’s Best Architecture is a stunning, hardbound compendium of the world’s most inspiring buildings. Featuring both Jury and Popular Choice winners from the 11th annual A+Awards, it’s the definitive guide to this year’s best architecture and spaces. With all the effort that went into creating this wonderful anthology, we’re not shy in saying — it’s an absolutely stunning piece of work that we couldn’t be more proud of.
So if books, buildings and beautiful photographs are your thing, look no further. You’ll be unlikely to find a better coffee table purchase this year.*
*In our humble opinion.
For the architect with allergies:
Wildflower Bouquet 10313 | LEGO® Icons
Is it even Christmas if you don’t get LEGO? Here at Architizer, we’re thrilled to see that the LEGO world is blossoming into the interior decor market.
The vibrant LEGO Icons Wildflower Bouquet set features eight stunning species of flowers for you to build. Sixteen stems with a mix of well-known flowers, including cornflower, lavender, Welsh poppies, cow parsley, leatherleaf ferns, gerbera daisies, larkspur and lupins. With this charming set, budding flower arrangers can tailor the height of the flowers and experiment with different arrangements to make their own unique display that can be featured in any vase.
Best of all, these faux beauties never wilt or need to be watered, so if your loved one sneezes at the first sound of a lawnmower or has a windowsill that resembles a succulent graveyard, perhaps it’s time to trade up to these build-em yourself bouquets.
For the residential architect:
Architecture of American Houses | Pop Chart
Artwork is always a great present, and this detailed diagram of domiciles from Pop Chart is a great gift for any lover of residential architecture or for those folks who are obsessed with all things Americana. From 17th-century post-medieval English abodes to 19th-century Tudors all the way through the “McMansions” of the 1990s, this visual breakdown brings together one hundred and twenty-one American houses in total, each sorted into seven major categories and forty subdivisions.
Printed in the United States via offset lithographic process onto durable, acid-free 100-lb cover stock paper, this museum-quality print is far from a measly poster. Each print ships in sturdy, premium packaging that is suitable for gifting as is. Prefer to frame it first? The unique wall picture measures in at a standard 16 by 20 inches (40.6 x 50.8 centimeters), so it’ll be super easy to find the right frame for this informative gift.
For the architect who refuses to give up a suit:
Ruler Triangle Architect Pair Cufflinks | MRCUFF
I think it’s safe to assume that most office dwellers ditched the shirt and jacket combo as soon as the fashionistas coined the phrase business casual and the notion of wearing sneakers to work was no longer confined to the start-up sector. That being said, there still exists among us the avid traditionalist who, without fail, will be suited and booted from summer to spring year after year. For such a well-groomed person, the Ruler Triangle Cufflinks or Blueprint Architect Cufflinks by MRCUFF are the perfect stocking filler or Secret Santa.
Beautifully presented in a hard-sided box with a microfibre polishing cloth, the witty metal cufflinks arrive ready for gift-giving. Suitable for French cuffs or tuxedos, this unique gift is ideal for the best-dressed architect in your life. (We think your favorite contractor would also love these for a special occasion)
For the architect who’ kicked the coffee habit:
Frank Lloyd Wright, Petite Presentation Box Tea Sampler Gift Set | Tea Forte
With ten handcrafted pyramid tea infusers, this beautifully packaged tea sampler gift set is the perfect gift for your tea-loving architect friend. Presented in an exclusive collaboration box that celebrates design, connection, and creativity, the premium sampler set is a gorgeous gift in the unmistakable style of Frank Lloyd Wright.
The open lid reveals a detailed tasting menu and a distinct collection of ten scrumptious grounding teas that have been expertly curated and crafted to pay homage to the iconic architect. From robust classics to spiced warming blends, each tea evokes the connection to nature, beauty, and tradition that the architect was so recognized for.
The premium tea bag set offers the perfect way to introduce yourself or someone else to the extraordinary experience of a Tea Forte brew.
For the budding architect:
The Architect’s Activity Book | Archidoodle
As practicing and therefore inevitably jaded architects and designers, we might find it hard to comprehend that there are lots of young people out there who want to follow in our footsteps. There are. And, this innovative book is a great way to fuel that interest. We think it might even help to reinvigorate some of the most cynical of grown-up architects too.
From Archidoodle, this interactive book is the first of its kind to provide a fun, engaging way to learn about architecture. Filled with an array of beautiful and elegant drawings, it poses all manner of architectural challenges for the user: from designing your own skyscraper to drawing an island house or creating a Constructivist monument, plus many more.
Aimed at anyone who loves drawing buildings, it encourages the user to imagine their own creative solutions by sketching, drawing and painting in the pages of the book. In so doing, they will learn about a whole range of significant architectural issues, such as the importance of site and materials, how to furnish a space, how to read plans and even begin to learn how to create sustainable cities.
The book also includes numerous examples of works and ideas by major architects to draw inspiration from. This fantastic gift is a great way to help encourage the architects of the future.
For the architect destined to enter the A+Vision Awards:
Medium Landscape Hardcover | Leuchtturm1917
Sometimes, all we want for Christmas is something we actually need, and for any designer, you can’t go wrong with a good quality sketchbook.
Described as “Better than Moleskin,” the Leuchtturm1917 – Medium Landscape features 112 pages and is suitably compact at 8¼ inches by 5¾ inches (145×210 mm).
With two ribbon page markers, a gusseted pocket on the inside back cover for loose paper storage, and a set of self-adhesive labels for indexing the cover and spine, this beautiful landscape sketchbook is all any architect needs. Filled with thick 150 gsm paper, these sketch notebooks prevent even dark and wet inks from bleeding through; they are ideal for use with pencil, charcoal, chalk and ink, and the FSC-certified “MIX” paper is made from responsible sources.
We think it’s the perfect sketchbook for getting your architectural doodles down on paper while you prepare for this year’s Vision Awards.
For the mindful architect:
ProMarker Set, 24 Count, Architecture Wallet | Winsor & Newton
And now you’ve got the sketchbook covered; some new pens wouldn’t go amiss either. Winsor & Newton are renowned for their fantastic markers, and these duel tip graphic markers have both a fine bullet nib for sharp, detailed lines and a broad chisel nib for full coverage and multiple line widths.
They are filled with high-quality alcohol-based inks, and the professional standard pens give incredible tonal range and vibrancy with flawless, streak-free coverage. All colors can be easily layered or blended without worrying about smudges and blotches and can be used on paper, acetate, glass, wood, or plastic. The highly pigmented and vibrant art markers are built to last against fading and are the ideal gift for the architect who loves to give their concepts a bit of color or for the architect who likes to wind down with a coloring book at the end of a busy week.
This set contains Ice Grey 0, Ice Grey 2, Ice Grey 4, Ice Grey 6, Warm Grey 0, Warm Grey 2, Warm Grey 4, Warm Grey 6, Champagne, Apricot, Caramel, Raw Sienna, Burnt Orange, Burnt Sienna, Pine, Forest Green, Apple, Midnight Blue, Cobalt Blue, Grey Green, Black(x2), and Blender(x2)
For the architect who’s always on the road:
Premium Scented Candle | Homesick
A candle? A little unimaginative, you might think. Think again. These nostalgic scented jar candles are a special gift for the designers and architects (or any other profession, for that matter) in your life who spend more time from home than they would like. Made by Homesick, each 13.75 oz scented candle is expertly crafted to capture the essence of your home state, favorite city or country.
With an average burn time of 60-80 hours, Homesick Premium Scented Candles are hand-poured in the USA with a natural soy wax blend and are perfect for calm and meditation when you find yourself missing your home comforts.
Featuring distinctive scents like Los Angeles. A blend that exudes bright mornings, star-kissed nights, clean sea breezes, and the smell of desert sand that makes LA such a unique place. With fragrant top notes of orange, bergamot and rose; mid notes of ylang-ylang and lemon; and base notes of jasmine and musk.
Or if a walk along the San Francisco shoreline while waves roll up against the wharf and steaming coffee at Blue Bottle is more your idea of heaven. Then feast your nose on top notes of coffee and chocolate alongside mid notes of sea wave, iris and clove, finishing with base notes of sea moss and musk.
These candles are the perfect gift of nostalgia for your home, your office or to accompany you on those longer trips away.
For the architect moonlighting as a magician:
Architectural Wonders of The World Playing Cards | Bicycle
Bicycle continues to be one of the most trusted producers of playing cards in the world. Their reputation for providing a consistently high-quality feel and handling across every deck of cards they print is unquestionable. Simply put, everyone knows what to expect when opening up a Bicycle deck.
So, with that being said, The Bicycle Architectural Wonders Of The World Package is the perfect gift for any architect framing themself as a bit of a trickster or who enjoys a little wager after work hours. The unique pack contains fifty-four beautifully hand-illustrated cards, each with a classic air-cushion finish for ease of shuffling and optimum performance. Every card depicts one of the world’s most well-recognized architectural marvels with embossed details and foil accents. The elegance of this special deck can’t be overlooked.
We also think these cards would look fabulous framed as artwork for someone’s wall.
For the arts and crafts architect:
Custom DIY Paint by Numbers | VATO
Art and architecture often go hand in hand, but unfortunately, many of us, despite our best efforts, still need some improvement on the artistic talent front. However, fret not. With Custom DIY Paint by Numbers from VATO, anyone can embrace their inner Monet and become the artist they’ve always dreamed of.
The process is simple. Choose a favorite photograph (a spectacular building, perhaps?) and the expert design team at VATO will optimize and convert it into the perfect custom paint-by-numbers canvas.
Paired with high-quality acrylic paints that give fantastic coverage and a broad spectrum of colors, these clever creations are a brilliant way to become reacquainted with your inner painter. Allowing you to recreate your favorite architectural masterpieces in whatever style you wish.
For the designer who already has everything:
Magazine Subscription | Elle Decor
What do you do when you’re faced with buying for someone who already has everything, says they don’t want anything or the person you’ve known for so long you’ve literally exhausted all your gift ideas.
One word — subscription!
They are the gift that keeps on giving throughout the year. By signing your gift receiver up to their favourite design publication you can not only show how great you are at listening to their interests but they can be reminded every month for a whole year what a wonderful present buyer you are.
For the interior designer in your life. Elle Decor showcases the most advanced international designers and their innovative ideas in architecture, home fashions and the decorative arts. It provides the latest information on the top interior designers and architects and offers a detailed shopping guide in each issue.
You can even appease the eco-conscious friend by signing them up to the digital edition so they can happily read without worrying about the environmental impact of print media.
For the ocean-inspired architect:
Coastal Charm: Waterside Living
By Architizer’s contributing writer Francesc Zamora
Architecture can be an all-encompassing career that can make taking time off whenever we want a bit of a challenge. However, while we here at Architizer will always advocate for taking every opportunity for holidays and self-care, sometimes a bit of escapism is all it takes to leave behind the stresses of the day and start planning our next adventure.
Coastal Charm: Waterside Living is a stunning collection of architecture and interior design showcasing some of the most beautiful coastal homes from around the world. The breathtaking book captures the essence of waterside living, with inspiring examples of homes that blend seamlessly with their surroundings, utilizing natural materials and taking advantage of the stunning coastal views. From beachfront villas to cliff-top retreats, the carefully curated book by talented Francesc Zamora offers a comprehensive look at the best in coastal architecture. With detailed photography and insightful commentary, even the most landlocked of designers will be dreaming of crashing waves and the smell of fish and chips.
Coastal Charm is an essential guide for anyone looking to create their own coastal paradise or simply seeking inspiration for their next seaside escape.
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