"The Frustration Became a Design Brief": Why an Architect Left 20 Years of Practice to Map the World
Karl van Es spent twenty years as a practicing architect before walking away to solve a problem every architect faces: the resources to travel like a professional simply do not exist. Mainstream guidebooks and travel apps rarely highlight the buildings that truly matter to the architectural community. Åvontuura was born from that frustration — an independent publisher of illustrated architecture guides created by an architect, for architects. Its latest release, Madrid, maps 70 of the city's most significant buildings, representing a mission to bridge the gap between architectural interest and travel logistics.
Åvontuura Founder Karl van Es with his Architecture Guide to Toronto
Karl van Es spent twenty years as a practicing architect before walking away to solve a problem every architect faces: the resources to travel like a professional simply do not exist. Mainstream guidebooks and travel apps rarely highlight the buildings that truly matter to the architectural community. Åvontuura was born from that frustration — an independent publisher of illustrated architecture guides created by an architect, for architects. Its latest release, Madrid, maps 70 of the city's most significant buildings, representing a mission to bridge the gap between architectural interest and travel logistics.
