Architecture is an exciting and interesting field of study and work. From creating designs for new construction projects to alterations and redevelopments for existing buildings, architects need excellent construction knowledge and high-level drawing skills.
That’s why any architect needs to be equipped with the best tools to aid them with their everyday tasks. Here is a round-up of the best gadgets and accessories that any architect should have in their office.
Drawing hangers
Whether you are self-employed or work for a company, the chances of drawings and sketches building up are quite high. You will soon find that your desk is full of papers and designs, all of which are important and need to be kept safe.
A drawing plan hanger is a horizontal bar that holds sheets of paper. You can secure your drawing to the plan hanger so that it is suspended, making it easy to access and less likely to be damaged or creased.
It’s important to choose a hanger that fits the type and capacity of paper you work with. Drawing hangers that specify the dimensions of paper will only work with that specific size so, if you regularly work with different paper sizes, you should purchase a hanger that is able to store various sized sheets.
A great benefit of drawing hanger systems is that you can remove only the hanger that holds the sheet you need, and take it with you to a meeting or to work on at home.
A high-quality notebook and pencil
Architects have to do a lot of sketching and drawing, which is exactly why a notebook is essential. However, not just any notebook will do. It needs to be of excellent quality and finish to provide the best surface for drawing plans and jotting down ideas.
Good quality notebook paper has high opacity and a smooth finish, and will produce minimal feathering when you write and draw.
You will also need a high-quality pencil. You can choose between a mechanical pencil or a classic wooden pencil. The latter is widely available to purchase and is best used for freehand sketching, whereas mechanical pencils let you create measured lines with precision and accuracy.
A self-healing cutting mat
Rotary cutters, craft knives and other sharp, cutting tools during an architect’s crafting and manufacturing process can damage and scratch a desk, leaving it with unsightly marks.
A self-healing cutting mat will be very handy as it quickly ‘heals up’ to provide a smooth cutting surface with no marks or grooves. Made from unique composite PVC vinyl materials with solid plastic cores, some mats are also available with a printed alignment grid, which is very helpful when creating a scale replica of a design.
A wireless flash drive
Technology is advancing at an extremely rapid pace. Keeping up with digitisation can be hard, especially as there are so many different types of device, operating systems and software.
That’s why it is so important to keep a backup of our work on the go using a flash drive. This way you can ensure the safety of your work, and the benefit of having it on a wireless flash drive is that you can take it with you wherever you go. This comes in handy if you need to make a presentation at university or at work as you can find all your projects in your pocket.
Laser tape measure
This is an exciting and modern gadget that will come in useful for any architect. A laser tape measure is simply an alternative to a traditional tape measure that makes the process of measurement much more convenient.
It works by sending a pulse of laser light to the target surface and calculating the time taken for the reflection to return. It can be used on buildings, walls, floors or anything up to a distance of 200 metres.
A laser tape measure is much quicker to use than a conventional one, plus you can avoid the inaccuracies that can be caused by twists and snags. Furthermore, it’s easier to read a digital display of the measurement than to spend time counting the little lines on a tape measure.
