Avi Friedman is the author of the books "The Grow Home" and "Planning the New Suburbia: Flexibility by Design." He has written extensively on subjects ranging from prefabrication and construction technology to suburban planning and space management.

Dr. Friedman has worked as the head of design for a homebuilding firm in Montreal. He has designed housing prototypes that were constructed by homebuilders in the private sector. The "Grow Home, " a narrow-front rowhouse, received immense media attention and has since been built in communities across North America. The "Next Home, " also the subject of much media scrutiny, is a flexible and affordable housing type. Dr. Friedman's design work and projects have been covered extensively on TV shows such as ABC's "Good Morning America, Dream Builders, " and Stewart Brand's "How Buildings Learn" (British Broadcasting Corporation), in magazines such as "Popular Science, Architecture, " and "Home, " and in newspapers including "The New York Times, Los Angeles Times, " and "San Francisco Examiner." Avi Friedman has been a speaker at meetings of government officials, development authorities, university faculties and students, homebuilders, architects, and planners. He has received numerous awards for his research, design, and teaching, including the American Institute of Architects Education Honors, the Association of Collegiate Schools of Architecture Creative Achievement Award, the Progressive Architecture Research Award, the Manning Award for Technological Innovation, and the United Nations World Habitat Award. He is also "Wallpaper's" designation as one of the 10 people who will change the way we live--an award shared by noted architect Rem Koolhaas, Ingvar Kamprad, founder of Ikea, and Sven Mattisson, co-developer of the Bluetooth microchip.