It is no secret that architecture is an expensive profession. As architecture students, it’s easy to get lost in the world of stationary, and not really know what you really need and most importantly, don’t need. This is why we have compiled a list of stationery that you will truly NEED for the five years of your architecture degree that won’t actually burn a hole in your pockets.
Stationary Essentials for an Architecture Student:
Having a good set of pencils in hand is very important because you are constantly looking for inspiration to sketch, or submit your drafted BCM sheets.
The Staedtler set of 6 pencils is handy to have in your bag everywhere you go, because line weights matter, and you need your pencils.
Drafting requires fine liners of good quality that basically won’t bleed into your sheets, making you redo it in the middle of the night.
Micron fine liners are a good quality and affordable option for fine liners.
Your set square is needed for drafting your Architectural Graphics sheets, Building Construction sheets, and manual drafting of plans.
A larger set square gives you maximum coverage on paper making it easier for you to draft.
TScale will be the first thing on your to-buy list as soon as you enter your first semester.
It’s important to get a good quality Tscale for good precision. 24″ TScale will be the ideal size for carrying to the studio and for drafting.
It’s often best to have a one-meter scale to pair with your scale as it will help you reach all parts of your sheet, or help you draft when you don’t really want to use your Tscale.
You don’t want your lines going off, so it is always good practice to stick your A2 or A1 sheets in place on your drafting boards or tables before proceeding.
3M Scotch Magic tape is preferred over regular ones as they don’t tear your sheets when you remove them from your drafting boards.
Anywhere you go, be it site visits or a trip, it’s always good to carry around a handy measuring tape to understand dimensions whenever you need them.
Avoid the bulky ones. The Stanley short measuring tape will be the ideal choice for you during travel.
Chart holders are the safe haven for your sheets against the weather. They keep the sheets clean and unfolded, which becomes really important during your presentation.
Buy a chart holder that expands to allow for more sheets and more sizes of sheets. Kabeer Expandable Chart Holders are sturdy and will last you longer.
Whether you want to do some travel sketches or need them for your classes, it is always important to have a good few sketchbooks in hand. Have a Brustro A5 sketchbook to take notes and sketch on the go.
A3 sketchbooks are best to use for assignments. Remember not to skimp on the GSM of your sheets as the better quality ones do make your assignments look much more presentable.
The Brustro 110 GSM A3 Sketchbook will be perfect for your sketching exercises. Go for a 140 GSM if you are looking for watercolor sheets.
None of us are perfect, especially when drafting. Keep a good set of white pens in hand, they will last you throughout your five years.
The Sakura White Gel Pen Set will be the ideal choice for a corrector as they don’t bleed and are quite opaque.
You will always need tracing paper, whether it is for your conceptual ideation, or your scheme drawings, experimenting with different ideas and iterations is best done by layering tracing paper and redrawing.
A1 Gateway Tracing Papers are especially nice to present as your progress sheets during your final submission. You can never end up having enough tracing paper, a good roll of tracing paper will certainly be a good investment.
You will need a good cutter for both your models and for sharpening your pencils. Prefer a larger one so that it can be used for multiple purposes.
The Stanley 18mm Plastic Cutters will be an ideal choice as they are of good quality with replaceable blades.
