My friend is one of the top architects in the world. (I cannot give
his name) I want to get him an incredible gift. I am an artist and
would like to expand upon that, but he is also a minimalist.
I have his prepatory sketches which are on that type of parchment
paper that is like wax paper. Architects have it in rolls and roll it
out to write on it with a black marker. The designs are fabulous. I
have some. I want to use them in the gift. These are my thoughts:
(keep in mind-he is a minamalist--he has 4 pieces of furniture all by
Mies van der Rohe-- loves Corbusier's Notre Dame de Haut--loves
african art and modern art, Van Goghe, but not abstract modern, no
pattern--he loves symbolism and God but is inspired by the world's
surroundings for the feeling---only colors in his home are black and
white)

He once mentioned making coffee cups for his firm. This would be a
gift to them, but sort of indirectly to him. This is my only thought
so far. I could use the designs and put them on the cups. However the
cups cannot be ordinary.
Other thoughts are somehow creating wall art (but he only has 1
painting on wall to date. Even photos are in a drawer)

I need something ultra original, cutting edge, and something that has
meaning. Tip: look to anything that is considered the best of the best
(What I mean,is that he only buys what is considered quality by the
best designers from around the world- whether it is for suits, cars,
coffee machines, wine, shoes, etc--- it doesn't matter where it is, he
will get it if it is the best)

In my opinion, this is the classiest coffee mug imaginable. At first
glance, it looks like an ordinary insulated glass mug. But
topologically it is a Klein bottle (a single-sided surface that is an
offspring of the Möbius strip):

http://www.kleinbottle.com/drinking_mug_klein_bottle.htm

Check out the Illy coffee website www.illy.com.  In addition to making
absolutely AMAZING coffee they also have artists design espresso cups
for them.  I'm guessing that these cups would not satisfy your
criteria in and of themselves, but they might give you some
inspiration.

The other idea I had was, what about having an artist make a stained
glass window of one of his designs.  Not seeing his designs I'm not
positive that would work, but it would be possible to keep this very
clean and miminalist (for example only using clear glass with silver
or black solder), but also be something meaningful and artistic based
on his work.  Good luck with this.  You're obviously a great friend.

How about getting it printed on canvas and mounted on a stretcher
frame, can look very stylish and very minamilist as no frame is in
view.

Kate

Everlasting life is available free. You can offer it but only God can
supply it. Revelation 21;4 offers a world without death , sickness and
pain. Psalm 37;11 says where. the meek will possess the earth. Add the
two and it comes to being on earth without death. How do we gain it.
Simple. Matthew 16;24. Follow Jesus' example.

Look at these nice minimalist hi-fi. Drool. 
http://www.hifiplus.com/t-rev11-3.html

Go retro instead.

A nixie clock.

http://www.nixieclock.net/pd1102626684.htm?categoryId=0

Nice (and expensive!) nuxie clocks.

http://www.navtechgps.com/supply/nixiclock.asp

A scope clock.

http://www.cathodecorner.com/sc100.html

Hi,
You can find a unique selection of such items on the Follies Store Site:

http://www.cafepress.com/follies