Asian Elements: Natural Balance in Eastern Design [Hardcover]

Jane Edwards (Author), Andrew Wood (Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1999

An Asian aesthetic has taken root in the West. Asian interiors extol the use of natural materials, and exude a sense of harmony and balance in tune with today's softened minimalism. This sourcebook of authentic Asian styles from Sri Lanka, Thailand, Bali, Japan, Vietnam, Singapore, Hong Kong, and southern India breaks a way from traditional interior design books. It is divided according to the five elements: AIR examines the use of space, light, and indoor/outdoor architecture; EARTH explores Asian gardens, including Japanese Zen gardens, and materials like clay, stone, terra-cotta, and concrete; WATER looks at bathrooms, waterside homes, and water gardens; FIRE focuses on kitchens and materials transformed by fire: metal, glass, and ceramics; WOOD contains furniture, textiles, and wood-related materials from bamboo to rattan.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Asian Elements offers a rich sampling of Asian themes and styles from homes in Sri Lanka, Bali, Hong Kong, and beyond. The perfect choice for devotees of the austere oriental aesthetic, its presentation is divided along the lines of the five elements: earth (gardens, clay, stone), air (space, light, flow), fire (kitchens, metal, glass), water (bathrooms, waterside homes), and wood (furniture, textiles). Is it beautiful? Yes. Is it useful? Well... that depends. Categorizing the material by element is a very photogenic concept, and the book presents a sumptuous assortment of oriental textures and accents. A double-page spread shows items made from wood: bamboo stalks, a staircase, a pair of Japanese geta (clogs), writing scrolls, the bark of a tree--all photographed with warmth and simplicity. While it will provide hours of dewy daydreaming, this may be one book that doesn't make the journey from coffee table to work table when you're making plans to decorate your home. --Jhana Bach

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Soma Books (May 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1579590187
• ISBN-13: 978-1579590185
• Product Dimensions: 11.2 x 9.4 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,745,991 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

21 of 21 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Just Eye Candy, March 12, 2000

By 

Irma Rae "Irma Rae" (Mountain View, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Asian Elements: Natural Balance in Eastern Design (Hardcover)

I was hoping that this book would go a lot deeper into the ideas behind the 5 elements in Asian design thinking. The pictures are nice, but the text, the reasoning and emotional value behind the elements is surface and sparse.

4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book on overall Asian aesthethic, March 31, 2011

By 

Holmes (New Jersey) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Asian Elements: Natural Balance in Eastern Design (Paperback)

This book digs deep into the theory of how to accomplish incorporating Asian design into you lifestyle. Not really an instructional or pictorial example book but very informative nevertheless. If you're serious about Asian design it is an essential.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply fabulous book!, April 9, 2002

By 

The Mad Hatter "M.H." (Hong Kong) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Asian Elements: Natural Balance in Eastern Design (Hardcover)

Wonderfully illustrated book and serves as an excellent source of inspiration Buy this book!