Kevin Utsey, Clark Nexsen, Charlotte, NC
"Napkins of New York II: Corner of Leonard and Hudson Streets"
Whenever architect Kevin Utsey lands a project, he uses the drawing table to sketch his concepts. “The sketch is still, in my biased view, the best way to explore and share ideas,” he says. Even when he’s not working, Utsey carries a sketchbook and draws the places he visits. “Over the years, I’ve saved the drawings and have made a few efforts to have them published,” he says. “I’m still crafting the story to go with them.” This spring, Utsey went to the AIA National Convention in New York, where, one morning, he marveled at how Herzog & de Meuron’s Jenga-like tower at 56 Leonard Street soared above the surrounding historic streetscape. He couldn’t resist the urge to draw it. Says Utsey: “It was a contrast I had to capture.”
Michelle East, Walt Disney Imagineering, Glendale, CA
"Zagarolo, Italy"
While an architecture student at the University of Southern California, Michelle East studied abroad in Italy, where she visited Zagarolo, a town outside of Rome. “I was fascinated with how clearly you could read the layers of history, as new structures, pathways, and utilities climbed up the medieval town walls,” she recalls. Recently, the designer looked again at a photo she had taken during the trip. With her sketch, East tried to capture the beauty in what she remembers as a “chaotic patchwork.” Realizing that the pen she used was too sharp to make clean lines on a napkin, East opted for a different method: pointillism. “That style ended up forcing me to slow down and be intentional with each dot,” she says.
Eric J. Jenkins, Washington, D.C.
"Flight Delay #3"
Michael Pope, Modus Studio, Fayetteville, AR
"Hwange Bush Tower"
Amy Shouder, ZGF Architects, Seattle
"3AM"
Jose Rosado, Julian C. Penabad, AIA, Parque De Aroiris, PR
"Tjibaou Cultural Center"
Ryan Rankin, HKS, Dallas
"Urban Square"
David Lieberman, Design Development, Agoura Hills, CA
"Homeless Case Study 2"
Michael B. Baker, Lubbock, TX
"Grain Elevator and Red Locomotive"
Enrique Ramirez, Midland, TX
"Container-Ville"
Les Burke, Midland, TX
"Building Section Study"