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.