Some architects design houses. Jeffrey Dungan creates sanctuaries — homes that appear less constructed than discovered, as though they’ve quietly emerged from the landscape itself. Renowned for the organic beauty and poetic clarity of his architecture, Dungan has spent recent years working far beyond his Southern roots, and The Soulful House (Rizzoli) gathers that evolving body of work into a single, thoughtfully curated volume.
The book moves through more than ten residential projects, including Dungan’s own home, alongside essays on emotion, balance, and form. Together, they trace the inspirations and guiding principles behind a career built on one belief: that a house, at its best, is an intimate personal expression of a life.
Readers move from a sun-washed retreat on the Pacific to a windswept cottage on the raw coast of Nova Scotia, from a Pennsylvania barn reimagined on a hillside in the Dominican Republic to a ranch settled into the open terrain of the American West. Each project is distinct, shaped by its own site and climate, yet all are united by the same unmistakable hand: warm, livable interiors, thoughtful flow, and natural finishes that only improve with time.
It’s in the details that the book lingers longest — stucco warmed by afternoon light, an alcove shaped quietly by shadow and scale. These are not flourishes added at the end, but the result of a guiding philosophy: that architecture, done well, rises from its surroundings with a sense of inevitability and grace, rather than imposing on them.
The Soulful House: Stories of Beauty, Belonging, and the Spirit of Home
Published by Rizzoli // Photography by Adrian Gaut
Part monograph, part meditation on architecture as lived poetry, The Soulful House is as inspiring for architects and designers as it is for anyone who believes a well-crafted home has the power to shape daily life.
Jeffrey Dungan is one of America’s most celebrated residential architects. His work has earned honors from the American Institute of Architects, the Institute of Classical Architecture & Art, and the Palladio Awards. In 2024, Forbes named him among the nation’s Top 200 Architects.
For local retailers and book signings, follow @jeffreydungan on Instagram. The book is also available through Rizzoli, Amazon, and Barnes & Noble.
