Hip Hotels Orient [Paperback]

Herbert Ypma (Author)

Book Description

Series: Hip Hotels | Publication Date: May 23, 2005

The Orient has held sway over the Western imagination since the days of Marco Polo and Genghis Khan. And that remains true in the 21st century, even if the world east of Istanbul is today a very different place, where potent symbols of age-old cultures exist alongside bold expressions of modernity and futuristic style. These are some of the most extraordinary Hip Hotels yet. Live like a maharaja - with a maharaja - in the Umed Bhawan Palace in Rajasthan, a splendid art deco fantasy designed between 1929 and 1932. Or relax in a guest villa of King Sihanouk, now the setting for Cambodia's sophisticated new Aman hotel. One of the most remarkable projects here is the Commune by the Great Wall, a highly innovative development by an all-star cast of Asian design talent for a stunning location beside China's most famous ancient monument. And then there's Benesse House on the remote Japanese island of Naoshima, the Zen-like retreat designed by renowned architect Tadao Ando. From Istanbul to Indonesia, from Luxor to Laos, Hip Hotels: Orient promises to be Herbert Ypma's most exciting book to date.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

The hotels in this gorgeous book aren't just hip: some are funky, some are sophisticated, some are minimalist. Many are an experience in and of themselves, and all are marvelously luxurious. In his introduction, Ypma (who's penned eight previous Hip Hotels books) finds that what makes the Orient so compelling is the prevailing "passion for the new in terms of art, architecture and interiors" matched with "the historic appeal of the old." Flipping through the pages of this book is itself an escape: lush ferns at the Begawan Giri Estate in Bali practically cover an ancient-looking stone staircase; a frothy bubble bath awaits a lucky visitor to Amankora in Bhutan. Outdoor terraces with pillowed benches are centered around small fireplaces at Aman-I-Khás in Rajasthan, India, and a veranda on the upper floor of a room at Puri Ganesha Villas looks out over the Bali Sea. Ypma offers a two-page description of each hotel, explaining its history, architecture, interior and amenities. Contact information (as well as rates, in baht, US dollars, Hong Kong dollars and other currencies) is given for each hotel as well. Full-color and b&w photos.
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Review

"'Edgy, gossipy text... the combination of soundbitey text and sumptuous photography fills the reader of his books with more hope and longing than even the best Sunday broadsheet travel advertising' - Ali Smith, The Guardian 'The primary chronicler of all that is chic in the world of sleep' - Attitude"

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Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Thames & Hudson (May 23, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0500285136
• ISBN-13: 978-0500285138
• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 8 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,301,426 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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