Drawing

Written and drawn by Sam Ringman

 This image was originally conceived as a Christmas card for a large architectural firm. It was a ‘gift box’ concept with a ribbon and the firm’s logo, representing a diverse, problem-solving approach to architecture. The buildings are not reproductions of actual buildings designed by this firm or any other, but are generic forms merely meant to portray a range of architectural solutions.

The version seen here, with some design changes including the label ‘Variety Pack,’ can be seen as a broader statement about architecture. Since all of the buildings fit into a box grid, they are largely interchangeable, thereby, reducing building selection to a mere stylistic concern.

Without attaching too much meaning to an image of some toy buildings, it was a fun exercise in designing a variety of buildings for a single context. How often does one get to design sixteen buildings at once?

SAMUEL RINGMAN is an architect and artist in Dallas.