For today’s post, we have selected a range of the most unique and best sketchbooks for architects who are ready to shelter art!
To begin with, we would like to say that sketchbooks provide a ground for practicing and mastering at the same time.
Moreover, people use sketchbooks for their versatility. For instance, if you want to save ideas that you’re sure you won’t be able to recall afterward, you can just use a sketchbook!
Professionals like engineers, architects, and seasoned artists know that a sketchbook is a lifesaver!
So yeah, basically, you can use a sketchbook for anything! Be it brainstorming, rough sketching, creating a masterpiece drawing, or just doodling, sketchbooks have got your back! And they are here to help save those brilliant ideas!
Take a look at the 10 best sketchbooks we’ve specifically picked out to suit any need.
Best Sketchbook for Architects
Whether you’re looking for a sketchbook to use for conceptual design, note-taking, or technical drawings, we’ve got you covered. So without further ado, here’s the list of the 6 best sketchbooks for architects.
1. Rocketbook Wave Smart Notebook – Best for Tech-Savvy Users
Let’s kick this off with the Rocketbook Wave Smart Notebook. What can actually beat a notebook that is smart? It only needs to sync with an Android app (Rocket) or iOS and that’s it – your ideas are automatically saved to different locations you want them to be.
Not only does it automatically save your work online but, listen to this: you can erase it by sliding it inside your microwave! Yes, a microwave. Want to know more? Read on!
Experience
Rocketbook is the first ever smart notebook to use microwaving as a process of erasing, and hands down, we simply love this smart notebook!
Just heating it up inside the microwave takes much less time than heating your favorite food. Everything that needs to be erased that’s already saved onto your cloud will be gone in an instant. You have fresh pages just like that. Amazing, isn’t it?
And yes, the saving part! All we have to do is put our designs and ideas in the notebook, open the app, and voila! It scans them in high resolution and saves them to different preferred locations for further editing.
We have found that the notebook is mostly perfect in every aspect except for the fact that you cannot use any other writing material except for the Pilot’s Frixion pens.
What We Like
- Can easily be erased by wiping
- Automatically saves files to preferred locations
- Produces great scans
What We Don’t Like
- Can only accept Pilot’s Frixion pens
2. Pentalic Traveler Pocket Journal – Best for On-the-Go Creatives
Pentalic came up with this pretty and handy pocket journal for quick notes, doodles, and sketches. It is black in color and it contains 160 pages that are about 120GSM each.
It measures only about 8” by 6” and it’s actually a must-have for those with busy schedules to note down important stuff on the go.
Experience
The Traveller Pocket Journal is very convenient for those with active routines who are always hitting the road.
We really like this little sketchbook because we think people who forget things easily will find this very helpful.
But because it is suitable for traveling, we think that it would have been better if the cover is waterproof because you just don’t know when things can get messy. However, to make up for it, the cover is quite hard which will prevent it from wearing out for a long time.
Because of their strength and thickness, the paper also does not easily bleed and allows all sorts of inks on its surface.
It is versatile in the sense that it can be used by anybody and for any reason they want to. It can be used as a reminder, a journal, a notebook, and of course, a sketchbook.
What We Like
- Small and highly portable
- Pages are thick and do not bleed
- Pretty versatile
What We Don’t Like
- Cover is not ideally water-resistant
3. Art Alternatives Hardcover Sketchbook – Best for Large Sketches
And now we have the biggest sketchbook on the list.
If you cannot manage to keep and maintain small journals and you always find them scattered everywhere, you can try this jumbo sketchbook to save all your ideas in one place.
It contains 600 pages that are acid-free and it is 12.5” by 10.75” long.
Experience
The Art Alternative Sketchbook is ideal for long-term use.
Having to keep everything in one place makes organizing so much easier. People who love to sketch and also love to declutter their homes once in a while will find this notebook highly useful and convenient.
Like other plain sketchbooks, this is also very versatile because you can use this as a scrapbook or a platform to collect artwork, a notebook, and many other purposes that you can think of.
Unlike small or medium size sketchbooks, you can do a lot of large sketches on this one.
However, this big sketchbook is not easily portable because it can get too heavy to carry around.
What We Like
- Highly durable
- Can be used to serve other purposes
What We Don’t Like
- Too heavy to carry around
4. Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Paper
The Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Paper is spiral bound and that makes it easy to flip the pages over and comfortably write/sketch on a perfectly flat surface.
Each sketching pad has got 100 sheets that are acid-free for ensuring the longevity of both your work and the pad itself.
The paper is ideal for both beginners and experts to use for any project.
Experience
The receptibility of this sketchbook is amazing since we have tried all sorts of inks and media and it doesn’t smudge any. It is also quite smooth to work on, especially with a pencil.
What is great about the paper is that it can lay down flat for easy use. And you don’t have to struggle with keeping it flat as you do with hardcover notebooks.
We also love the fact that we can tear off pages that we wish to hang or keep separately after we’re done with a project.
On the other hand, the paper is only 89GSM which makes it very thin and sometimes it crumbles easily which makes it hard to maintain it.
What We Like
- Lays perfectly flat
- High-quality paper
- Tearable pages
What We Don’t Like
- Sheets are very thin
5. Pentalic Sketch Hardbound
We have another sketchbook by Pentalic that is 8 ½” x 11” big. There are 110 white sheets that are 144GSM each. So the papers are quite thick and are suitable for many uses.
The binding is hardbound and flexible and unlike other regular rigid hardbound notebooks, you can work on this sketchbook pretty easily. Not only does it allow you to work with ease, but the strong hard binding ensures the sketchbook has a long shelf life.
Experience
For the price, you get a very high-quality item in hand. We like that the sketchbook values money. Not only that, but it is also highly durable and it truly goes well with a fountain pen or with any other pen as well.
We recommend this for working with watery media or colors because it does not bleed through. Watercolors work wonders on their surface.
It’s also great to carry around because it is comfortable to hold. Thanks to the soft and textured cover.
One not-so-good feature about this sketchbook is that it does not accept ink very well. When you have to continuously work with ink, it might bleed through.
What We Like
- Flexible hard binding allows comfortable work
- Highly durable
What We Don’t Like
- Does not accept inks well
6. Moleskin Sketchbook Black Cover
The last one on the list is the Moleskin Sketchbook with a hard, black cover. It contains 96 white pages of 165GSM each.
The protective elastic closing strap keeps the notebook secured and adds more beauty to the overall appearance.
Experience
First of all, we cannot help but love the print on the flyleaf that says “In case of loss”. We think that’s very thoughtful of the manufacturers! Besides that, the back pocket is quite handy to keep other papers.
We like to think that the style of this sketchbook is outstanding. It has a lot of features that make it unique.
Moreover, it is quite sturdy and big, allowing you to work with large-scale sketches and other projects.
However, for its price, we think that it could’ve had more pages.
What We Like
- Very attractive
- Unique features
What We Don’t Like
- Contains only 96 pages
Best Sketchbooks For Architects Comparison Table
| Product | Size | Paper Quality | Binding Type | Number of Pages | Special Features |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rocketbook Wave Smart Notebook | 8.5 x 11 inches | 80gsm dotted grid paper | Spiral-bound with plastic coil | 80 reusable pages (when used with Pilot Frixion pens) | Erasable and reusable, smart app integration |
| Pentalic Traveler Pocket Journal | 3.5 x 5.5 inches | 130gsm acid-free, archival grade paper | Smyth sewn binding | 160 pages | Compact size, elastic closure, back pocket |
| Art Alternatives Hardcover Sketchbook | 8.5 x 11 inches | 110gsm acid-free paper | Casebound with hardcover | 192 pages | Expandable inner pocket, ribbon bookmark |
| Strathmore 400 Series Sketch Paper | 9 x 12 inches | 60lb (89gsm) acid-free paper | Spiral-bound with wire binding | 100 pages | Micro-perforated for easy removal of pages |
| Pentalic Sketch Hardbound | 8.5 x 11 inches | 110gsm acid-free, cream-colored paper | Casebound with hardcover | 160 pages | Expandable inner pocket, ribbon bookmark |
| Moleskin Sketchbook Black Cover | 5 x 8.25 inches | 165gsm acid-free paper | Casebound with hardcover | 104 pages | Elastic closure, expandable inner pocket |
Why do architects use sketchbooks?
Architects use sketchbooks for ideation, quick visual exploration, and conceptualization of design ideas.
What is the best sketchbook for interior design?
The best sketchbook for interior design depends on personal preference, but popular choices include brands like Moleskine, Strathmore, and Canson.
What makes a good quality sketchbook?
A good quality sketchbook typically has heavyweight, acid-free paper, a durable cover, and a binding that allows pages to lay flat for easy sketching.
Is it better to have a big or a small sketchbook?
The preference for a big or small sketchbook depends on the individual’s working style. Big sketchbooks offer more space for detailed drawings, while small ones are more portable and convenient for on-the-go sketching.
Is an A4 or A5 sketchbook better?
Both A4 and A5 sketchbooks have their advantages. A4 provides more space for detailed work, while A5 is more portable and can be carried easily.
What are Moleskine sketchbooks made of?
Moleskine sketchbooks typically have a cover made of durable, oilcloth-bound cardboard, and the pages are made of acid-free paper.
Conclusion
We hope our article today has helped you see the individuality of each sketchbook we’ve mentioned. Hopefully, you’ll find one that best suits your requirements and projects.
And with that, we have come to the end of our post!
Until next time!
In this article we have reviewed the best sketchbook for architects overall yet more laser-focused sketchbooks have been reviewed as well on Architecture Lab you can also find the best sketchbooks for ink, the best sketchbooks for markers, and the best sketchbooks for watercolors, cast a glance and fuel your dreams with the right tools!
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