From the modern, flat-roofed concrete home to an energy-independent cob-walled house in the countryside, this guide shows seventy single-family homes that showcase the best of contemporary design. Each home is identified in terms of eight design considerations, including challenging lots, homes in the country, houses with a view, small spaces, unusual shapes, additions and remodels, zoning restrictions, and adding in-law or guest suites and office spaces. Packed with beautiful color images of both interiors and exteriors, floor plans, and details about the materials and types of construction used, this book is a valuable source of inspiration for architects and homeowners planning their dream house.

Nine years after the first major monograph on the work of the architectural office Lederer Ragnarsdóttir Oei, a second volume marks the tentative culmination of many years of harmonious collaboration between the three partners. From the outset, the office committed to the guiding principle: “First the city, then the house.” A second principle: “Inside is different from outside,” is also reflected in its buildings. The external form of a house, as part of the public realm, is committed to the city, whereas the interior of a house is dedicated to the private needs and lifestyle of its residents. Buildings are not industrial products, but individuals in which the creative influence of hand and intellect are manifest.