Located in dramatic settings across North America--from Napa and Sonoma to the Michigan lakefront to the spectacular coastline of the Hamptons and New England--these remarkable houses reveal the architect's emphasis on the importance of context and his dedication to exploring the nature of space. Each house invokes the vernacular architectural heritage particular to its region while gracefully reflecting its unique natural surroundings. Whether they are shingle style "cottages" by the sea, colonial Georgian country estates, or elegant Regency designs, these houses are unique both for their timelessness and their ability to evoke a conversation with the past--a dialogue Stern and his partners believe lies at the heart of architecture.
Also featured are apartments in the many residential towers the firm has designed in New York, Philadelphia, Toronto, and Los Angeles. Foremost among them, of course, is 15 Central Park West, acknowledged as the most successful condominium in New York.
To give insight into the design process and client goals, each of the partners describes his own designs, focusing on the plannng and interior finishes. Stern is contributing an overview essay on the overall direction of the firm and linking the projects together.