With the holiday season upon us (we can’t believe it either), The Architect’s Newspaper has compiled a list of design-forward gift picks for 2022. From products with fun historical references to stylish contemporary options from leading product manufacturers, we hope this list will simplify shopping for a design-savvy colleague, friend, boss, family member, or even yourself. Spanning the realms of architecture, design, decor, technology, and kitchenware, this list has something for every creative in your life.
Our list is organized by price to provide you with accessibility across a spectrum of price points from affordable accessories and tchotchkes to luxurious decor and appliances. Get shopping today with pre-Black Friday sales already in effect for many of the items below!
$50 and Under
Boston Government Service Center Mug
The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture | $25
The Boston Government Service Center has been at the helm of considerable preservation controversy as of late. In an effort to support its longevity and preservation, The Paul Rudolph Institute for Modern Architecture is donating a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this mug to support the preservation of this iconic brutalist building as well as further advance the foundation’s mission to educate and promote the work of the late modernist architect and educator Paul Rudolph.
Orient Linen Co. | $25
Vending their wares from the historic hamlet of Orient, New York, a mother-daughter duo with an impressive background in the textile industry have produced this heavy, durable 100 percent flax linen tea towel. Its classic Parisian bistro style red or black check pattern is sure to appeal to the sensibilities of a design-driven cook or homeowner.
James R. Thompson Center (N Clark & W Randolph St View) Fabric Bag
Adam Nathaniel Furman | $26
Instantly recognizable for his vibrant use of color across art and design projects of all scales and mediums, Adam Nathaniel Furman brings poppy postmodern design to a host of gift-able items with the Pomo Icons Collection. Our pick this year celebrates the soon-to-be Google office James R. Thompson Center via a fabric bag with cotton handles and rich all-over print.
Sam Jacob Studio | £30
When London architecture firm Sam Jacob Studio isn’t pushing the envelope of architecture and urban design, the firm is poking a bit of fun at the built environment via a small products operation. This Ionic Column Scarf challenges the structural solidity of a classic ionic column by embroidering it onto a soft and floppy fabric. In the studio’s own words, “Who need strong and stable when form becomes warm?”
Casa Ziki | $35
Designed by Australian artist Charlie Bennell, this 285 piece puzzle features The Site of Reversible Destiny in Yoro Park, Japan. The “experience park” based around the theme of encountering the unexpected was built in 1995 and designed by Shusaka Arakawa and Madeline Gins and purposefully experiments with undulating planes, shifting colors, and disorienting spaces.
LongHouse Reserve | $38
Tät-Tat, founded in 1994 near Zurich, produces playful design items that charm the eye and delight the mind. The husband and wife design team are former teachers who work hand in hand with social work programs and institutions throughout Switzerland and Germany, employing up to 300 special-needs persons to produce fine decorative objects such as these carved pencils. Introducing a sculptural nature to the quintessential design tool, these handcrafted pencils are the perfect gift for the architect in your life.
UAU Project | $45
The UAU Project is a design duo based in Warsaw, Poland that focuses on consumer-oriented 3D printing to promote sustainability and accessibility in the design space. This baroque-inspired candleholder can be used on both ends and is made with the highest grade thermoplastic derived from renewable resources that can be composted in industrial facilities.
Vitra | $50
Vitra’s Toolbox RE is made of recycled plastic from industrial waste and is also 100 percent recyclable at the end of its lifespan. Available in a selection of chalky pastels and classic colors, this practical organizer can stylishly store and transport small work utensils and accessories.
Under $100
Eskayel | $70
Known for their artful wall coverings and rugs, New York–based textile manufacturer Eskayel is bringing their aesthetic expertise to the world of gifting. Sold in a set of five 24” x 27” pieces, level up your present game this year with this set of carefully considered wrapping paper—each bundle is uniquely pulled from the company’s hundreds of designs.
Bronto Tableware Collection by Supergroup
Hem | Starting at $79
Comprised of dinner plates, mugs, and espresso cups, the Bronto Collection is a range of solid, handmade tableware by Supergroup, a collaboration between ceramic artist Ian McIntyre and illustrator John Booth. Sold exclusively through Hem, the soft outlines of the rainbow-esque ceramic pieces bring joy and vibrance to the dining table.
Frank Lloyd Wright Store | $93.49
Completed in 1908, Unity Temple in Oak Park, Illinois is often considered one of Frank Lloyd Wright’s most important structures. Wright’s use of a single material, reinforced concrete, and his efficient use of space make Unity Temple one of the first modernist buildings in the world and influenced many future modernist and post-modernists. The Atom Brick Unity Temple set highlights the total structure and use of casted concrete to create areas of interest on the facade. Builders will gain appreciation for the innovation of a building designed and built over 100 years ago.
Debris by Office of Tangible Space
Available Items | $99.99
Designed by Office of Tangible Space, an interdisciplinary design studio specializing in architecture, interiors, furniture, and curation, Debris is a box of offcuts and oddities that encourages free-form making. Agnostic to age and intention, participants can build, connect, stack, destroy, keep, discard, end, and begin again. The offcuts are all from Brooklyn furniture woodshops, and the tools and hardware included are all vintage.
Under $500
CW&T | $166
This compact yet powerful product combines two of the architect’s most essentials tools: a pen and a scale. The Special Edition Pen Type-A slides into a laser-etched architect’s scale with values on all four sides. Machined using high precision tools, the pen and scale combo are resistant to wear and promise to deliver sharp and accurate marks and measurements in a compact, easy to transport container.
Profumi Luchino- Palazzo Centauro Candle
Ginori 1735 | Starting at $220
Profumi Luchino is Ginori 1735’s latest home fragrance collection, produced in collaboration with the British artist and designer Luke Edward Hall: five fragrances designed to take you on a journey to the artist’s most well-loved destinations. AN’s pick takes us to Venice with the Palazzo Centauro candle where the olfactory notes of Italian bergamot, incense, cedar wood, birch resin, and patchouli transport you to the floating city.
Villa Savoye Architectural Model
Chisel & Mouse | $265
The digital handmade architectural models from Chisel & Mouse are an easy favorite among architects and designers. This year, the company has rolled out a number of new beloved designs, including Le Corbusier’s 20th century modernist masterpiece Villa Savoye. At five-by-ten inches, this “machine for living” replica is a great addition to any highly curated desktop or bookshelf.
Salvatori |$270
Salvatori has tapped into its vast and diverse stock of natural stone to deliver the Gravity Zodiac Paperweight—a series of 12 solid spheres, each employing a unique stone that corresponds to a different astrological sign. A thoughtful, tailored gift, the spheres are fixed in place with an elegant bronze ring base, but can be easily lifted off for a tactile distraction from the task at hand.
Desk Organizer – Shantell Martin Limited-Edition
Hoek Home | $295
This 3-piece desk organizer from Hoek Home adopts a clean-lined design incorporating exclusive drawings from influential British visual artist, Shantell Martin. The multifaceted product can be broken up, allowing easy configurability for the design inclined. This one-of-a-kind, limited edition desk organizer comes in a custom designed Shantell x Hoek gift box and includes a signed and numbered Certificate of Authenticity.
Puraclenz P750 Surface & Air Purifier
Purcalenz | $299
Puraclenz is a compact air filtration system that cleans indoor air and exposed surfaces using certified, ozone-free PCO technology designed to continuously deactivate dangerous pathogens including viruses, bacteria, mold spores, fungal allergens, and more. Using air as a medium to deliver ions, Puraclenz cleans every exposed surface the air reaches. Puraclenz produces an exceptional density of ions, allowing it to purify airborne respiratory droplets and surfaces missed by hand-cleaning or HEPA filters. The elegant, compact design makes it easy to install on walls or ceilings, or it can be easily transported.
Muuto | $365
The sculptural nature of the Kink Vase, designed by Earnest Studio for Muuto, delivers a contemporary form to the everyday flower pot. The robust curving vase can standalone as a decorative object or provide a unique vessel for blossoms and blooms. Whether using one or both tubes, the unglazed porcelain exterior is a tasteful compliment to any arrangement.
Splurge-Worthy Items
AnZa Coffee | $825
What screams architect more than a combination of concrete and coffee? Wrapped in hand-cast concrete shell, the AnZa Concrete espresso machine features porcelain touch-points and powder coated steel and brass highlights, resulting in an expertly conceived countertop design statement, which happens to also produce high-quality, delicious espresso.
Malala Medium Tote by Nichetto Studio
Angela Roi | $1,050
Both sustainable and stylish, the Malala Tote designed by Italian designer Luca Nichetto for luxury brand Angela Roi uses byproducts from apple processing to leverage otherwise discarded natural material and is the first apple leather product for the vegan handbag brand. Inspired by the shape of fast food containers, Malala’s plentiful pockets were designed to create easy organization for on-the-go work, travel, and day to day activities. Available in black, beige and dark red, the versatile design fits perfectly into the fast paced environments of architecture and design.
Sestiere Vases by Patricia Urquiola
Cassina | Starting at $1,915
Cassina’s Sestiere vases, designed by notable Spanish architect and designer, Patricia Urquiola, provide a contemporary interpretation of the ancient artistry of glassblowing, hailing from the island of Murano, Venice. The collection includes four vibrantly colored vases, each mouth-blown and handcrafted to produce a truly unique piece every time.