This volume investigates the unique design philosophies and personal requirements that architects prioritize when creating residential spaces for their own use. Walter F. Wagner, a prominent editor in the field of architectural journalism, compiles a curated selection of projects to demonstrate how professionals reconcile their theoretical ideals with the practical constraints of private living. The book argues that these self-designed homes serve as laboratories for experimentation, reflecting the individual architect's professional evolution and personal aesthetic values.

Experts and architectural historians frequently cite this work as a significant primary source for understanding the design priorities of mid-century practitioners. Readers often note that the text provides a rare, intimate look at the creative process when the architect is both the designer and the client.