Thirty pioneering
houses designed by architects for themselves over the past decade,
revealing the ingenious ways they have addressed the challenges of
creating a contemporary living space. With projects from Australia to
Austria, by architects Including Norman Foster and Jim Olsen and
detailed in 400 photographs, line illustrations and plans.
Texts, images, sketches and plans are interwoven to illustrate houses
that differ widely, in size, material, character and location. There are
urban infills, rustic retreats, experiments, and fusions of new and
old. They all make a statement, modest or ambitious, and each reflects
the personality and tastes of its owner. These architects have accepted
the challenge of doing something out of the ordinary, turning
constraints to advantage. They give different answers to a crucial
question: how can a house enrich lives and its surroundings? Spacious or
frugal, refined or rough-edged, daring or reductive, these adventurous
dwellings will inspire other architects and everyone who would like to
design or commission a house that is one-of-a-kind.
Table of Contents
Introduction • Norman Foster • Buzz Yudell & Tina Beebe • Smiljan Radic • Richard Murphy
Jennifer Beningfield • Thom Mayne • John Wardle • Hans van Heeswijk • Anton García-Abril
& Débora Mesa • Todd Saunders • Jim Olson • Mauricio Pezo & Sofia von Ellrichshausen
Helle Schröder & Martin Janekovic • Peter & Thomas Gluck • Robert Konieczny • Scott
Johnson • José Selgas & Lucía Cano • Don Murphy • Andrea & Luca Ponsi • Cristián
Undurraga • Susanne Nobis • Remo Halter & Thomas Lussi • Ramon Bosch & Elisabeta
Capdeferro • Kulapat Yantrasast • Kerry Hill Maarten & Jetty Min • Brigitte Shim & Howard
Sutcliffe • Benny Govaert • Tod Williams & Billie Tsien • Günther Domenig