At the Water's Edge -- A Quiet Fit -- Between the Garden and the Bay -- The Perfect Site -- The Sand between Your Toes -- Resurrecting a Lakeside Bungalow -- A House over the Water -- A House of Many Faces -- Where Porch Is King -- Preserving Privacy in a Public Place -- A Sense of Scale -- The Elements of Style -- A Roof on the Ridge -- Living Out on the Lake -- Industrial Strength -- Standing Alone -- A Question of Balance -- Grace Notes -- Hugging the Shore -- The Elegance of Simplicity -- Balancing on the Edge -- A Tent on the River -- A Tall House in the Trees -- The Cottage and the Camp -- Architects, Designers, and Builders.

Living at the Water's Edge is an almost universal desire. It's where views are longer, sites are spectacular, and you can almost feel like you own a little piece of infinity. But a house on the water is also something of a public trust. Just as building on a beautiful street has its obligations, building a house on the water requires respect for the public space that surrounds it. A waterside home gives great rewards, but it demands care in return. The 24 homes in this book represent outstanding examples of the relationship of house to water -- seaside, lakeside, and riverside -- with clear explanation of the design and construction details necessary to create a beautiful house that can withstand the sometimes severe conditions at the water's edge. Each home in A House on the Water deals with these issues successfully, and the solutions to these technical problems enhance the quality of the design rather than forcing compromises in it. Whether you are actively creating a home at the water's edge or simply dreaming about it, A House on the Water provides both inspiration and valuable design advice for a home that respects the coastline, fits into the surroundings, and is built to withstand the unique conditions of the site for generations to come.