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Today I’d like to share with you a new book that’s come my way that I think many of you will find fascinating. Sketchbooks – Collected Measured Drawings and Architectural Sketches by George Saumarez Smith is a collection of architectural drawings, exclusive artwork and previously unseen images collected over the years by British classical architect George Saumarez Smith. His home, which we’ve seen here on Café Design, is filled with antiques, old books and framed architectural drawings, many of them his own, and quite a few prized sketches by esteemed members of his profession.
A director of ADAM Architecture, George Saumarez Smith is one of the leading classical architects of his generation. His work ranges in scale from garden buildings and new country houses to large housing schemes and galleries. Guided by a keen interest in classical architecture, with all the methods it entails, as well as a deep appreciation of historic buildings, which he’s studied for the better part of the last three decades, Saumarez Smith infuses his projects with classical proportions, scale and a sense of history. He has written several books on architecture and regularly teaches classicism at schools across Europe and North America. He is also known for producing large scale drawings, a selection of which formed the basis of the exhibition ‘Measure, Draw, Build’, held at the Royal Institute of British Architects in October 2017.
Today we’re delighted to see his most recent book Sketchbooks – Collected Measured Drawings and Architectural Sketches published by Triglyph Books. Organized in ten distinct chapters, such as Elevations, Sections and Plans of Buildings, Doors and Windows, Paneling and Fireplaces, Furniture, Geometric Patterns in Floors and Tiles, etc, the book is a fascinating volume not just to architects and designers but to anyone who appreciates the detail and beauty of houses, old and new. In a world where computer-generated architectural drawings are the rule, it’s refreshing and almost nostalgic to see hand-made drawings of such intricate detail and beauty. The book is published in a 10″ x 12″ format, is set to be released tomorrow, September 23rd, and is available to purchase on Amazon.
If you’d like to see more of George Saumarez Smith ‘s home and work, make sure to follow his Instagram account @georgesaumarezsmith where he often shares inspiration or, you can check out the following Café Design story:
Instant Inspiration: George Saumarez Smith
Wishing you a great day!
