Vincent and Eleanor Shea Professor of Architecture Edward Ford is the author of a third book published by the Princeton Architectural Press. "Five Houses Ten Details" is an exploration of the five designs Ford created for his own house, one of which he selected as the final design. The book follows his highly acclaimed "Details of Modern Architecture," in two volumes, and according to the publisher, seeks to address two previously unanswered questions posed by his earlier work: "What is a detail?" and "What is a good detail?"

Prof. Ford spent six years designing his house, and each of the five designs is carefully explored, with particular attention to the details.

As the publisher relates: "Detail for Ford is not an accessory to architecture but its essence. Each design in Five Houses, Ten Details explores and articulates one aspect—site, structure, material, joinery, or furniture—at the expense of the others. Each architectural exploration leads to a larger understanding of construction and a larger understanding of how details communicate. Woven throughout with historical references and specific examples of his design process, Five Houses, Ten Details is an accessible and at times personal account of one man's exploration of architectural detail."