A manual that conveys the fundamentals of architectonic design while also providing a novel didactic approach to the presentation of course material: classical design strategies and design conventions are questioned, and unlike conventional textbooks, the individual design steps, from the initial idea to the practical realization of the design, are illustrated by student projects.

In addition to the orientation provided within the individual chapters, a graphic navigational structure guides readers through the book as a whole and enables them to scan and home in on individual projects. On analogy with the semesters of an academic year, the book is divided into two main sections, devoted to the thematic areas space, program, technology, context, and form. Each chapter focuses in on a single aspect of architectonic design. Thus, the overall approach is explained step by step.