Scale: A Retractable Ballpoint Pen by Architect Shigeru Ban

Japanese architect Shigeru Ban designed a refillable ballpoint pen for ACME Studio that’s based on an architect’s scale ruler. Appropriately named Scale, the three-sided ruler is laser etched onto aluminum, which is outfitted with a twisting mechanism to extend and retract the pen.

The pen was designed to fit comfortably in your hand, thanks to its triangular shape. Besides being a writing utensil, it works as a fully functioning architect’s scale.

The Scale pen is compatible with ACME’s P900 and easyFLOW ballpoint refills.

Caroline Williamson is the former Editor-in-Chief of Design Milk and a writer with a passion for modern design, architecture, and creative culture. She holds a BFA in photography from the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD) and can usually be found searching for vintage wares, solving New York Times crossword puzzles in pen, or curating Spotify playlists.

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