Give the Gift of Design this Holiday Season

Sculptural. Functional. The practical side of design at the National Building Museum.

The National Building Museum's award-winning Museum Shop features a wide selection of gifts inspired by architecture and classic design from around the world. From home design elements and jewelry to building kits and books, you’ll find gifts that combine function and beauty for every person on your list. You can browse the Museum Shop for innovative gifts during regular Museum hours or shop online for unique presents anytime.

Browse a selection of our favorites below. Museum members receive a discount on the listed price.

Gift Ideas

		Sectional Globe Kit This kit lets you construct a paper globe yourself out of 19 interlocking pieces. The 8 outer sections depict the continents and names of each country in either English or Japanese depending on which side you use. You can also color in each country or make travel notes on it. When completed, the globe will lie on your desk or table at a 23.4° angle, precisely the position of Earth's axis. $38.00 Shop now
		Cork Journal (Large) This handsome journal is made with sustainably harvested cork and acid free paper and is available with lined or unlined pages. It also features an elastic closure which allows you to keep little papers snug insde. Since the cover is made of cork, each journal will have a unique design, so yours will be slightly different from the one pictured here. There is also a smaller version available. $18.00 Shop now
		Evolution Eraser Follow the iconic trail of evolution with this fun, two-sided eraser. One end depicts our ancient monkeylike ancestor and the other a modern human. It all adds up to more than just a theory about how to correct mistakes. Erasers sold individually; available in black and white. $8.00 Shop now
		Really Simple Clock Designed by the studio of Thelermont Hupton, this simplified classic mantel clock is made of powder-coated aluminum and beech plywood and is battery operated. Its bold and lively design will create a strong visual presence in any room. $115.00 Shop now
		Mini Taliesin III Lamp This fully-fuctional scale reproduction of Frank Lloyd Wright's corner floor lamp offers all the style of the original with the warm glow of indirect lighting. It is made of cherry wood with a light oil finish and runs on 4 AAA batteries in the base. This piece makes an elegant addition to any desk or bookshelf. $200.00 Shop now
		Mighty Wallet The Mighty Wallet is tear-resistant, water-resistant, expandable and recyclable. Made from Tyvek (think express mail envelopes), these cool wallets resist tearing because of thousands of interlocking plastic fibers spun in random patterns, giving them incredible strength. In addition to the ultimate in durability, Mighty Wallet features: -2 large pockets for cash and receipts -2 expanding credit card pockets -2 quick access business card pockets -a writable surface for quick note-taking $15.00 Shop now
		Jacob Jensen Chronograph Watch 603 Danish designer Jacob Jensen has created this simple and elegant minimalist watch which meets all the requirements of a classic chronograph, but without superfluous features. The award-winning timepiece features a titanium case, sapphire crystal glass, Swiss Ronda movement, a black rubber strap and is water resistant up to 5ATM/50 meters. $450.00 Shop now
		Zub Zirc Watch from Nooka Nooka is famous for its stylish watches with innovative displays. The Zub Zirc combines the familiarity of a clock face with Nooka's intuitive concept of time. Reading like an analog watch, the 12 dots represent hours while the horizontal row counts minutes, with a small window counting up the seconds. The Zirc face rests on a .75" polyurethane band and features an alarm mode as well as a chronograph mode. It is available in black and red. $150.00 Shop now
		Sussu Recycled Tire Inner Tube Purse This chic purse is handmade out of an old inner tube from a truck or tractor. It's from the Finnish design firm Globe Hope which has been transforming unwanted and leftover materials into stylish designs since 2003. Each purse will vary slightly in look since they are made individually. $95.00 Shop now
		BIT Bike BIT is the ultimate machine to help children take their first steps in the world of two wheels, run on their own and develop their balance and coordination. It features wide wheels to help maintain balance and stability, while the ergonomic, innovative handlebar is integrated into the chassis to ensure a good driving position. The handlebar can double as a convenient carrying grip as well as a hanger in small spaces. Includes a practical carrying/storage case. $140.00 Shop now
		Archiquest United States Capitol and Presidents This unique architectural building system promises hours of fun and learning with 203 wooden blocks and an accompanying 86 page hardcover book. Blocks come in 18 different shapes, and each one is laminated with hand-painted artwork featuring motifs inspired by the buildings, monuments and memorials of historic Washington D.C. Realistically painted details and a wealth of information in the companion book make this set both educational and fun. Blocks are packaged in a wooden storage box with a sliding acrylic lid. $200.00 Shop now
		Bamboo Mini Vehicles Take these fun new bamboo cars and truck for a spin. Each of the eight cool styles has a bamboo body, rubber wheels, and style aplenty! Vehicles sold separately. $6.00 Shop now
		Tobbles Balance Blocks Tobbles is a set of six nesting spheres, each of which has a different weight, allowing for endless configurations. Build towers of varying height and alignment, experiment with balance and color by combining different pieces, or just give a piece a spin and watch it wobble! This unique set will help develop hand-eye coordination, a sense of balance and an understanding of spatial awareness. $28.00 Shop now