This volume investigates the state of residential architectural design in 1984 through a curated selection of exemplary projects. The editors of Architectural Record utilize their industry standing to compile a survey of contemporary homes that reflect the aesthetic and structural trends of the mid-1980s. The text serves as a documentation of the period's architectural discourse, focusing on how architects balanced site constraints with client requirements and evolving material technologies.

Architectural historians and professionals frequently reference this volume as a primary source for understanding the specific design vernacular of the mid-1980s. Experts highlight the publication as a foundational record of the era's residential architectural output.