The Doldertal, a small valley in the north of the city of Zurich, is primarily known in architectural history as the residence of Swiss architectural theorist Sigfried Giedion, whose book "Space, Time and Architecture" (1941) is considered a milestone in the historiography of modernity. In 1936, Giedion commissioned the construction of two houses designed by Alfred Roth and Marcel Breuer, known as the Doldertal residential houses, which remain among the most significant works of the New Building movement in Switzerland.

In 1959, the architect couple Flora Steiger-Crawford and Ruedi Steiger built their own property in Doldertal, in close proximity to the Doldertal residential houses. Crawford and Steiger are important representatives of the Swiss avant-garde; additionally, Flora Crawford is the first woman to receive a diploma in architecture from ETH Zurich. In the same year, Alfred Roth designed another building, the Fellowhouse, right next to the Steiger house.

"House Steiger 1959: Flora Steiger-Crawford and Rudolf Steiger" offers a deep insight into the creation of this masterpiece of modern Swiss architecture for the first time. Detailed analyses illustrate the central floor plan and outline the chronology, typology, and construction of the building. Further contributions shed light on the relationship to the local typography, the cultural context of the building, as well as important historical and contemporary architectural references, including the famous neighbors of the Steiger house.