Every aspiring architect dreams of building a house from scratch and experiencing every phase up close, from the design to the finished building. Sometimes this really happens: this book describes an architect's real life experience, wearing multiple hats, of the comprehensive process (planning, design, finance, permits, coordination, construction etc.) involved in the design and construction of a small building in Harlem, New York. Undercover Architect suggests that the way in which architects position themselves in the practice urgently needs to change: the creation of tangible artifacts requires more, not less practical involvement and greater application of comprehensive competencies in the field. Besides providing an in-depth account of the evolution of this specific project in Harlem, it is also aimed at helping the next generation of architects eager to make extraordinary designs through a proper understanding of the playing field and engagement with hands on design-build activities.