Measure and Construction of the Japanese House (Paperback)

~ (Author) "The earliest and most primitive architectural space was the minimum volume required to contain the family..." (more)
Key Phrases: ken grid, picture recess, shutter compartment (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

About the Author

Heino Engel studied architecture in Germany immediately following the end of World War II, then traveled through Egypt and Arabia, spent more than a year in India, Burma, Malaysia, and Thailand, before arriving in Japan. There, in his own words, he "realized that the Japanese house is as invaluable an experience for the contemporary architect as are the ancient Acropolis of Athens in Greece and the modern high-rise office towers of the United States." He remained in Japan for three years, concentrating on the study of the Japanese house, people, life, language, and culture, and also becoming a member of the Architectural Institute of Japan.

Product Details

• Paperback: 152 pages
• Publisher: Tuttle Publishing; 1st edition (December 15, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0804814929
• ISBN-13: 978-0804814928
• Product Dimensions: 10.2 x 7.6 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.2 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #35,244 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #4 in	Books > Arts & Photography > Architecture > Historic Preservation
  #35 in	Books > History > Asia > Japan
  #39 in	Books > Home & Garden > Home Design > Buildings & Construction

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

79 of 81 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great reference about japanese architecture, May 4, 2000

By	ROBERTO "rofernan" (MIAMI, FL 33181- 1137, FLORIDA USA) - See all my reviews

If you are an architect interested in japanese constructional systems, this is THE BOOK for you. If you aren't but find japanese culture a fountain of inspiration for living, you must read this extraordinary piece of art. Perhaps it don't shine like a jewel, but once you open it, you'll find the work of a man who decided to share his mastery. In this book, diagrams, materials, craftmanship, even detailed descriptions of the human space requirements are fully explained with precision and simplicity. Every page, and every example in them, is a world that must be carefully examined. And when doing so, you'll find that what the author is showing us, is more than a book about japanese houses: is the heart of the japanese carpenters and architects living in its pages.

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clearly Illustrates Traditional Japanese Construction, July 28, 2001

By	Barbara Nostrand "Barbara Nostrand" (Syracuse, NY USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Anyone who wishes to build a Japanese tea room either in the garden or attached to their house could do well to start with this book. You can also use this book to design accents for a single room, or to craft an entire house. It was written by a German architect who lived in Japan several decades ago and carefully measured surving older buildings as well as studying architecture there. While there are more detailed books in Japanese, this may well still be the best available book in English.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding "How to", not a coffee table book!, October 24, 2008

By	Rose A. Kings "a reader" (Santa Ana, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I am a professor and I use this book to introduce beginning architecture students to working with a grid system and putting a beautiful space together. It is actually an excerpt from a very old and hard to find volume, which I have seen and I would have to say that this volume does a great job of taking the essentials of how to design and construct a Japanese structure and making it extremely affordable. There are lots of scaled drawings and diagrams, but no pictures (the bulk of Engels' research and work was done a lifetime ago). Great reference book, but not a glossy coffee table book.