It is time to close AutoCAD and Revit, turn off the computer, and put away the ultimate architect's uniform: black clothing. Summer is here, and with it, vacation season. Whether for a few weeks or just a couple of days, here are some activities to clear your mind without leaving the discipline behind.
Light Reading
If you enjoy reading, this is an excellent opportunity to dive into a good book. Check out the following articles published on ArchDaily for some interesting examples:
Drawing with Light (Taking Photos)
You don't need to travel; you can walk through your own city with a tourist's eye and capture the best postcards. In my experience, this is great training for the eye in terms of proportion, light, and framing. You can learn by taking photography courses or getting inspired by our Architectural Photography section, featuring several of our contributors, such as Gonzalo Viramonte, Javier Agustín Rojas, Erieta Attali, and Hisao Suzuki.
Time to Learn
Vacation can be the ideal time to keep learning. There are plenty of options, from exhibitions and events to documentaries, videos, and online courses. Find some interesting options below:
Urban Dérives
Without realizing it, we often spend a vast amount of time sitting in front of a computer. Going out to visit museums, art exhibitions, or a park can help keep us moving. But in this regard, how often do we walk in a rush on autopilot? Always the same streets, the same places. The Urban Dérive (a term coined by Guy Debord) proposes experiencing the city from a different perspective. Instead of focusing on the final destination, pay attention to the journey. Lose yourself in the streets, follow your emotions, and break the routine.
Reflecting on the city and documenting it through drawings—such as urban sketchers—maps, or simple diagrams allows those blank maps provided by GPS to reveal, through our own records, the things that caught our attention: the coolest square to read or have a picnic, the neighborhood cafe worth visiting, the most beautiful facade, the shortcut you didn't know existed, the areas we like and those we don't, and so on. In this way, maps come to life, and we obtain curated information about the city.
Organization and Planning
“An orderly space makes for an orderly mind,” as the saying goes, and I must confess I find it quite true. If you are one of those people who find tidying up relaxing, this might be a great time to organize your materials, pencils, and pens. See which ones you actually use, which ones you don't, and which are still in working order. If you have materials you don't use, there are several social media groups where you can offer them to those in need. Finally, take stock of what you need to repurchase and restock. Similarly, we recommend keeping up this practice throughout the rest of the year to help you stay organized and keep on schedule.
Travel Journal
In a small notebook, write down and sketch everything you did at the end of each day. You can print out your favorite photos and add them with captions. This way, when the vacation ends and it's time to open AutoCAD again, you'll be able to relive your best moments.
This article was written by Mariana Etulain. The translation is powered by AI.
