Diener & Diener Architects, based in Basel and Berlin and one of Switzerland's leading contemporary firms, have had a special focus on residential architecture throughout its 40 years of existence. The origins of the work are based in the previous studio of Marcus Diener, founded in 1942 and joined in 1976, and taken over entirely in 1980, by his son Roger Diener.

This new monograph documents comprehensively this 'recherche patiente' of four decades. It discusses 30 realised designs and unbuilt proposals that exemplify Diener & Diener's philosophy, based on their characteristics and individual urban context. Illustrated with photographs, floor and site plans as well as archival images and plans, and drawing on the firms archive and Roger Diener's collected lectures, the authors investigate the typological design process on which each project is based. Diener & Diener update and adapt fundamental types to the requirements and restraints of each new task. The consistency of this approach constitutes the significance of their work in contemporary housing.

Martin Steinmann is professor emeritus of architecture and architectural theory at EPFL in Lausanne. Bruno Marchand is professor of architectural theory at EPFL's Theory and History of Architecture Laboratory 2. Housing is a focus of his teaching and research. Alexandre Aviolat is an architect and teaching assistant at EPFL's Theory and History of Architecture Laboratory 2.