Architects are expected to mediate between dream and reality, between the promise of creating urban spaces with flair and the disappointment caused by official over-regulation and standardization.

Can architecture bridge social divides? And if so, in what ways should architecture ideally accomplish this? What message does a building convey to the people who look at it and live there? Unburdened by the frequently complex and abstract academic discourse, architect Christian Heuchel and author Daniel Khafif attempt to initiate a dadaesque debate about the future of architecture. In the form of short, fictional conversations with his alter ego, the puppet Van Heuchel, Christian Heuchel philosophizes about diverse topics such as front doors, participation, home bars, keeping an eye on the big picture and on details, or sleeping.

The chapters of the book are arranged in alphabetical order: from A to Z, it resembles a classic architectural reference work and allows readers to gain an overview. The publication aims to encourage a more humane, a »better architecture« that acknowledges the magic of the unregulated, unfinished, and »alive«.