Society of
Architectural
Illustrators

Christian Coop (MSAI) is an architect and illustrator with over 30 years of experience leading design at some of the UK’s most prominent architectural firms. He currently serves as an Associate Partner at HTA Design, the 2025 AJ100 Practice of the Year, where he utilizes drawing and watercolour as fundamental tools for contextual analysis and conceptual communication.

Christian is the author of “The London Survey,” a focused mission to document the UK’s built heritage through one of the largest contemporary collections of architectural watercolours, currently exceeding 1,000 landmarks. His work is not merely illustrative but represents a scholarly inventory of the city’s “materiality, proportion, and hidden histories”.

His unique dual identity as a senior practitioner and master artist has informed several globally documented urban concepts, including the “No Shadow Tower” (developed for New London Architecture) and the “Circle Line Travelator.” These projects have been featured extensively in international media such as CNN, BBC Business, The Guardian, Wired, and Bloomberg. His architecture can be seen across London and artwork at the highest levels representing Florence for Cartier and St James for the Crown Estate.

Christian’s work focuses on bridging the gap between visionary urban infrastructure and the preservation of historic character. He frequently teaches and promotes the benefits of freehand sketching as a primary method for understanding complex urban environments.

Explore the complete collection and the Knowledge Hub at: freehandlines.co.uk