This book celebrates the holiday home, traditionally a place of rest, relaxation and escape from the pressures of the 'real' world. Its many incarnations include beach shacks, mountain-top chalets, country estates, ranches and hobby farms, lakeside villas and isolated cabins. The unique styles reflect their owners' very personal approaches to what it means to be 'on vacation'. The architecture of holiday homes reveals the shift in lifestyle that defines a vacation; architects are required to work closely with their clients to achieve just the right spirit. The results of this collaboration can be breathtaking.