The American Idea of Home: Conversations About Architecture and Design

In this thoughtfully organized, nicely illustrated, and sufficiently well-documented publication, documentary filmmaker Friedman, director of American Homes and managing partner of documentary development and production company Flying Mind, interviews more than 30 leaders in the architecture field. His focus is on the American idea of home and the many types of housing that embody it. Award-winning and renowned architects, interior designers, and architectural critics, including Denise Scott Brown, Kenneth Frampton, Paul Goldberger, Charles Gwathmey, Tracy Kidder, Thom Mayne, Richard Meier, Lee Mindel, Robert A.M. Stern, Robert Venturi, Sam Watters, and others, discuss five overarching themes: the functions and meanings of home; history, tradition, and change in residential architecture; activism, sustainability, and the environment; cities, suburbs, and regions; and technology, innovation, and materials. An insightful collection of conversations, this publication sheds new light on U.S. residences, architectural design and practices, new building and computer technologies, and much more.