Small Environments

A visual look at the architectural details of smaller residential spaces

The Contemporary Design Details series takes a highly visual look at architectural design details that are more often dealt with in a technical textbook format. The books take readers on a tour of the best details designed by great architects around the world. The series provides a powerful presentation of the most challenging and evolving architectural and design categories.

Small Environments focuses on the type of architectural details that make up distinctive residential spaces under 1,200 square feet [120 square meters]. It presents recent work by architects from around the globe in color photographs and architectural drawings. Rather than simply another compendium of small projects, the book is structured according to categories of architectural detail. It includes sections on components essential to the design of small spaces, such as built-in pieces, mobile systems, storage, outdoor rooms, siting strategies and daylighting details.

Yenna Chan has taught design and architectural history in Boston, where she worked for the architectural journal Assemblage and practiced residential architecture at the firm of Robert Luchetti Associates. She earned a bachelor's degree from Cornell University School of Architecture and a master's degree in Architectural Theory from Harvard Design School. Yenna lives in New York, NY.