The projects featured in this beautifully illustrated book reveal how architects bring together spaces, materials, and solutions to create houses that meet the needs of both owner and environment. Drawing from the work of distinguished designers from different generations and backgrounds, it illustrates the delicate balancing act residential architects must perform as they integrate specific elements that influence a structure, such as site and materials, with aesthetic values like harmony and proportion. Each project is analyzed in depth, from the general structure to the smallest detail, to show how each house assumes its own identity and life while still blending in with its natural surroundings. The houses reflect the marvelous diversity of contemporary design, but all meld form and function into an unpretentious style of modern architecture that responds to its owners’ needs and enhances their quality of life.