Written for everyone who dreams of building a house, 
Essence of Home provides a step-by-step look at the planning  process. Author and architect Liesl Geiger presents seven elements that are  crucial to the success and livability of residential structures: design  origins, site and scale, language and style, openings and light, spheres of  living, flow of space, and sustainability. Twenty of today's leading  architects—Richard Gluckman, Deborah Berke, Ted Flato, Peggy Deamer,  Turner Brooks, William McDonough, and others—offer practical advice and  experience. 
Geiger emphasizes the expectations and opportunities inherent in the architect-client relationship and presents a vocabulary with which clients  can describe their preferences for lifestyle, space usage, and design. Case studies illustrate the principles of the design concepts, offering  tangible and compelling examples of how a customized home is a remarkable  opportunity for personal expression.