Doing everything in a project all by yourself can be an incredible waste of time. Every project, concept, drawing and design takes inspiration from other projects, and there is a wide range of tools that can help you with almost every step of the design process. By studying many different projects, you really come to find your own principles, desires and style. We all know Pinterest, but there is a lot more to discover. Furthermore, when making drawings we sometimes don’t realise how useful some tools and websites can be. On this page you find links to websites that highlight projects, show the works of certain firms, and websites that offer useful tools or products such as images for renders or information about a city, the buildings in it, or their residents.
Architecture tools websites
Free Vectorworks license
https://designexpress.eu/nl/vectorworks/onderwijs
Historical maps in the Netherlands
https://www.topotijdreis.nl
PDF maps on scale
http://www.milvusmap.eu/
https://plattekaart.nl/ (non-vector)
Building heights
https://3dbag.nl/en/viewer
CAD maps (2D/3D)
https://cadmapper.com/
https://cadcollege.nl/CADTools/Conversie/Kaarten_AutoCAD_kadaster.htm
Elevation map Netherlands
https://www.ahn.nl/ahn-viewer
Simplified maps
https://snazzymaps.com/explore
Architectural encyclopedia
https://www.joostdevree.nl/index.shtml
Information maps environment Netherlands
https://www.atlasleefomgeving.nl/kaarten
CAD objects/assets
https://www.cadcollege.nl/CADTools/cadtools_symbolen_bouw_OntwerpBestek_Diversen.htm
Graphic design/posters
Icons and symbols
https://thenounproject.com/
Textures
https://architextures.org/textures
https://bgfons.com/
Cutouts and silhouettes of people
https://www.nonscandinavia.com/
https://pimpmydrawing.com/
https://skalgubbar.se/
https://www.mrcutout.com/
Trees
https://meye.dk/
https://www.mrcutout.com/
Color palettes
https://color.adobe.com/create/color-wheel
https://coolors.co/
https://www.khroma.co/train
Font pairing
https://fontjoy.com/
Adobe fonts
https://fonts.adobe.com/fonts
Architecture/urbanism inspiration and news
Atlas of architecture projects
https://divisare.com/
Highlights projects
https://www.archdaily.com/
News on architecture
https://www.dezeen.com/architecture/
Dutch News on architecture and urbanism
https://architectenweb.nl/
Self-education
The contact hours are not the only moments to learn about architecture and/or urbanism. There is a massive amount of knowledge and insight you can acquire without a professor’s help.
Free Vectorworks License!
Visit the website of our partner Design Express to get a free license for Vectorworks.
