Thirty of the world's most talented architects, including Norman Foster, Thom Mayne, Tod Williams and Billie Tsien, talk about the houses they designed for themselves over the past decade in Architects' Houses. What inspired them, what were the constraints, how did their concepts take shape? Michael Webb explores the creative process and traces the influence of architects' houses over the past two hundred years, from Jefferson's Monticello to the creations of Charles and Ray Eames, Toyo Ito, and Frank Gehry.

Texts, sketches, and plans illustrate houses that differ widely, in size, material, character, and location. Spacious or frugal, ambitious or modest, refined or rough edged, daring or reductive, these adventurous dwellings make a statement. This generously illustrated book brims with ideas and inspiration as these architects' houses show different answers to the question: how can a house enrich lives and its natural surroundings?