Japan Style

Description

Japanese homes speak to the soul and provide a contemplative environment from which to experience the world. Japan Style offers rare glimpses into twenty exquisite traditional homes in Japan. The lavish photographs in this volume demonstrate how Japanese design achieves a timeless tranquility using a few very simple, natural elements. Wood is the preferred building material since it is considered a "living" material; the country's Shinto and Zen Buddhist roots have inculcated a deep respect for nature. The houses in this book are a wonderful reminder that there are alternatives to "big is beautiful"—and that neither timelessness nor modernity has to be about using cold steel, glass and concrete. The wabi-sabi ideal, translated loosely by Frank Lloyd Wright as a "rusticity and simplicity that borders on loneliness," is considered the epitome of sophistication in Japanese interior design. The houses in this book invite us to rethink the wisdom of our hurried modern lifestyle and return to a simpler, slower life. The quintessential Japanese aesthetic can be seen in a 100-year-old minka farmhouse, an old merchant's machiya townhouse in Kyoto, a sprawling country Samurai villa, and in a modern seaside cottage. This book offers insights for architects and homeowners alike by providing inspiring and surprising alternatives, relevant to the design of homes anywhere in the world today. Review: Good Starting Point for Japanese Architecture/Design - Beautiful book with plenty of examples of traditional and modern Japanese homes. Good for anyone with an interest in Japanese interior design, architecture, or just an interest in Japanese aesthetics. The only "issue" with the books is that in terms of actual history and explanations, this may as well be a picture book for adults. That's not to say it's completely void of any text, but if you want a detailed explanation of ikebana displays, Japanese woodworking, and so on, you're better off getting an actual book on those topics. That being said, it's a good starting point to see examples of things unique to Japanese homes and interior decor like tokonoma, tatami, and kamidana. Regardless, if you're looking for a Japanese-inspired design inspiration for your home, concept art, or just to spark your imagination then this book is definitely worth a look. Review: Japan Style - Lots of great pictures of interiors of Japanese homes with information on history and development of the style. I’m downsizing and getting rid of clutter, so the goals of the Japanese style (eliminating the inessential, using humble unembellished things, and seeking beauty and harmony with nature) are appealing to me. My goal is to bring a cozy spacious feel to my small home and this book will help me.