Sketches are informal drawings that are generally intended for the personal use of the creator - either as a prelude to a more formal work of art or as a quick method of recording the visual nature of a subject. Architects generally use sketches to record ideas that could be used in future projects, and when travelling architects tend to use sketchbooks to document vernacular architecture Francis D.K. Ching is an architect, author and illustrator. This book offers a glimpse of his visual thinking and reveals aspects of his creative process. Most of the drawings featured in the book were done in and around O-okayama, southwest of Tokyo. The subject matter ranges from street scenes to traditional construction details.