Architect Visit: Feldman Architecture in San Francisco

We asked our friends at San Francisco firm Feldman Architecture (a member of the Remodelista Architect/Designer Directory) for a guide to their favorite tools of the trade–from sketchbooks to pencils to watercolors. “One of the joys of working in the architecture field is experimenting with material and color on both large and small scale,” says Jonathan Feldman. “That’s why pens, pencils, and watercolors are found at every designer’s desk in our office. During the preliminary design phase, pens and pencils are the quickest way to depict several options and convey them to clients; and when visiting a job site, a pen and sketchbook is a must.” Here’s a guide to Feldman’s favorite tools:

Above: “We use Pentel Sign Pens and Prismacolor Pencils for sketching, such as this proposal for a kitchen.”

Above: “A sketch of the Cliff House from Sutro Baths in San Francisco, CA, made with a Uni-Ball Vision Elite pen.”

Above: “Chartpak Ad Markers and Letrasets Tria markers are ubiquitous at any architecture or design firm and are typically used for rendering plans and elevations such as this proposal for a renovation.”

Above: “A Papermate Flair felt tip pen and a travel set of MiniStaff Pencils (includes eraser and sharpener) by Eye Ball Pencil Co. are perfect for sketching on site.”

Above: “When traveling, size and weight are always a concern. Many designers choose a small sketchbook (this one measures 4 by 3 inches) and a Faber-Castell Pitt Artist Pen for capturing great architectural moments, such as Angkor Wat in Cambodia.”

Above: “Another great travel item is the Van Gogh Watercolor Set from Talens, which fits in a back pocket and includes a fantastic array of colors.”

Above: “The Uni-Ball Deluxe Rollerball Pen is great for quick sketches, like this one for a new home in Carmel.”

Above: “If you can’t decide whether to carry watercolors or colored pencils, there is no need to choose with Cretacolor’s Aquarell Watercolor Pencils.”

Above: “A sketchbook is an absolute must for any designer. Three of our favorites are a traditional Venetian Leather Bound Book, a Holbein Spiral Sketch Book (available in many different paper types, shown here in gray), and, of course, the Moleskine Sketch Book (available in many different sizes and colors, shown here in red).”