Customer Reviews

Landscapes for Small Spaces: Japanese Courtyard Gardens

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been through a lot of Japanese gardening books, and many of been a little repetitive, covering the basic design elements and what not. Mizuno has put together a great "Intermediate" read once you've had enough of the basics. The pictures are some of the best available of authentic Japanese gardens, and the captions are short and to the point but with just enough plant identifications to be useful to someone in their planning stage.

Perhaps the best feature of this book is the introductory discussion on the "Omoteya style" town home (traditional Japanese merchant class town home). The text suggest there is a conservation movement to this vanishing style of Japanese home that mirrors the affection American's are beginning to culture towards the Bungalow. As the Omoteya styled homes share similar dimensions with the American city lot (diagrams are provided with the text), this book is a fabulous resource to urban dwellers looking to incorporate the Japanese garden concept to their grassy postage stamp.

Wonderful book with great photos and examples, some from different angles which are very useful to understand the actual lay out of these great Japanese gardens. Could use more in dept explanation of technical characteristics, but non the less wonderful.

This is a beautiful book. I'm giving it 5 stars even though I was actually hoping for a little more reading material and insight - the imagery is wonderful.

This is an excellent resource for persons with some previous familiarity with Japanese landscape design or are in the landscape design field. It is not a "how to" book, rather, it is full of beautiful photographs of actual Japanese courtyard landscapes done in an ancient, classic landscape style. It's a glimpse into gardens in Japan most people will never have an opportunity to visit. In fact, many are in private homes not open to visitors as well as being in small hotels and monasteries. It is a fascinating glimpse into those Japanese homes and shows how they integrate interior spaces to courtyard gardens. It is a good resource for architects looking for ways to integrate spaces for reflection in public or private buildings.

Beautiful pictures and good text. It doesn't contain "how to do" tips but there is a chapter on how the author build one tsuboniwa in a Kyoto house.

This is a very helpful book when considering the elements of small spaces. It provides a leaping off point for one's own ideas. The photos are beautiful. The idea that any little space can enhance one's life is inspiring.

Typical of publications from Japan, this book has stunning photographs. The text is adequate but leaves you wanting more, still an excellent book if for nothing else but to analize the photographs in detail and make your own conclusions.

This book is not only a great picture book, but it also provides wonderful descriptions of the Japanese gardens featured - succinct and informative. If you like landscaping with the Japanese feel, you'll enjoy this book.

The book is excellent but the dust cover was torn obviously before despatch as the packaging was good.
The disappointment was that there was no method of complaint other than returning the product. From Australia to USA not practible.