Former architect drawing all London buildings.

Jack Hines, a former architect, has recently made the decision to embark on an ambitious project: to draw every single building in London. This includes not only houses and workplaces, but even public toilets. Jack, who grew up in London, is determined to document the ever-changing city and capture its diversity before it disappears.

Although he has only completed 0.177607% of the Greater London area in two and a half years, the 30-year-old is fully committed to seeing the project through. He told Metro, "The idea of drawing every single building was super fascinating for me. I wanted to capture the diversity of London and preserve it. My deadline is my death. I know this will take a lifetime to do, but I am absolutely committed to finishing it."

Jack's journey began when he left his job as an architect, feeling disenchanted with the industry. He took up drawing as a creative outlet and eventually decided to dedicate his time to this project. Each drawing takes about three days to complete, although some have taken up to a week for him to perfect.

He explained, "I was ready to leave the architecture industry as I was becoming disenchanted and I wanted to try a different path. I took this up as I was already sketching most days so it didn't feel like too much of a jump. This is a project which encompasses all of London, and I loved the idea of drawing every single building. I want to capture the diversity of London and preserve it."

While Jack's main focus has been on older buildings, such as ancient pubs and historic landmarks, he has also taken on commissions to draw more modern structures. He sells his sketches on his website and takes custom orders as well. Although he admits that the more modern buildings can be "boring" to draw, he is determined to cover every angle of the city.

He said, "In the beginning, I chose buildings which caught my eye. At the moment, I am focusing on getting London Underground stations done. I also have had to do a few public toilets, which is unappealing but I'll have to do them eventually."

Despite the challenges, Jack remains passionate about his project and sees it as a way to capture the essence of London. He said, "I see London as the perfect city to draw in its entirety, not just for my deep personal links, but due to its rich history and distinct architecture. I hope to take a snapshot of London’s long lifetime, by drawing the city in the span of my own lifetime. I see London as one of, if not the greatest city on the planet – I may be slightly biased, however I believe there is no greater reason to draw every building this city has to offer."

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