From the Ground Up: 20 Stories of a Life in Architecture brings together 20 of Australia's leading architectural practitioners to reveal, in their own words, what drew them to their calling. Their reflections offer an insight into the values and ideas behind some of the country's most innovative and important buildings. Richly designed and illustrated, the book includes sketches and other conceptual material to provide a glimpse of how each practitioner realises and fleshes out their ideas. A photographic chronology of key works also presents a snapshot of every architect's career and accomplishments to date. Sometimes humorous, often surprising, the stories in From the Ground Up show us just what it takes to succeed in the demanding and intensely competitive profession of architecture. More importantly, though, they provide an understanding of the very human influences shaping our buildings, our cities and our societies.