Alfredo De Vido has risen to the top of the residential design profession by creating homes that are as well-designed as they are cost-effective. Now, in this invaluable guide, written for architects as well as consumers who are thinking about building a new home, he reveals his secrets for successful residential design, from determining budgets and expectations to identifying important aspects of a home's livability, such as privacy, thermal comfort, and safety. His clear and lively text is enhanced by high-quality photographs of homes designed by a variety of architects, hundreds of descriptive line drawings, and floor plans of new and historic homes. For the architect or the layperson working with architects, this is a comprehensive and inspiring companion to the residential design process from start to finish.

• Based on the design methods that De Vido himself has used to build a successful practice, including his innovative "module system"



• Discusses both the nuts and bolts of design along with the intangibles that contribute to good architecture



• photos provide homeowners with a visual wish list

ALFREDO DE VIDO, FAIA, (New York, New York), is an architect who has designed award-winning houses since the late 1960s. He serves on professional award juries and as a visiting critic in architecture schools around the country.