This book marries Stafford Cliff's unerring eye with the remarkable photography of Gilles de Chabaneix to present a marvellous portrayal of the delights of living alfresco around the world. A catalogue of opportunities for getting the best out of outdoor lifestyles, the book is organized in the following sections:

Outside the Home is all about reclaiming nature: how we impose ourselves on the areas around our homes, from terraces in Corsica to gardens in Provence, or villas in Tuscany.

Transitional Spaces looks at the more elaborate structures we create for enjoying the outdoors, while still remaining close to the comforts of our homes: verandas, terraces, patios and backyards.

Rooms Outside surveys the many types of building specifically created away from the main home for the enjoyment of an outdoor lifestyle - from garden pavilions in Bali to a summerhouse in Stockholm.

Bringing the Outside In illustrates the many type of found objects in the alfresco world - stones, bones, wood, dried leaves and seed pods - fascinating and original additions to any domestic environment.

Living Outside is a celebration of the ultimate goal of an alfresco lifestyle - the ability to carry out all the activities associated with normal domestic life outside the home. Eating, cooking, sleeping, bathing all seem more exotic and exciting in the open air, as do visits to markets and restaurants, also included in this section.

Every opportunity is taken to make cross-cultural comparisons and connections within the book, so that the whole is effectively a dynamic compilation of solutions for the wonderful alfresco lifestyle.