Sketchbooks of Chris Wilkinson

Despite being at the forefront of high-tech innovation in architecture, Chris Wilkinson OBE RA is an architect who believes passionately in the importance of drawing by hand. Where many practices are now dominated by computer-aided design, Wilkinson still uses drawing as a way to think through ideas, to grapple with design problems and as a tool of communication. This volume brings together images selected from twenty years of Wilkinson's sketchbooks, presenting a fascinating record not just of draughtsmanship but of the creation of architectural narrative. Covering every stage of the design process, this unique insight into the working drawings of a hugely influential architect includes sketches for many of his practice's most groundbreaking works, from structures for the London Olympics to the restoration and reconstruction of the three Grade II listed gas holders in Kings Cross, London. A gazetteer also features, containing photographs of the final projects. The Sketchbooks of Chris Wilkinson is both an essential purchase for anyone interested in the development of architectural draughtsmanship and a powerful demonstration of its importance. Chris Wilkinson OBE RA made his reputation with a series of long-span, lightweight structures rooted in the high-tech movement. After working with Norman Foster, Richard Rogers, and Michael Hopkins, he set up Chris Wilkinson Architects in 1983; it later became Wilkinson Eyre. The firm has twice won the Stirling Prize for the best building of the year by a British architect. SELLING POINTS: . A detailed look at the rich and varied work of Chris Wilkinson OBE RA . Explores how Wilkinson expertly combines high-tech architectural innovation and traditional draughtsmanship . Illustrated with a range of intriguing images from Wilkinson's sketchbooks 70 colour, 55 b/w