Marcia Iwatate – författare

Simplicity, tradition and a deep respect for all things natural—these are the essential elements of Korean design underpinning the nation's fast-growing creative scene.Influences from China, Japan and the West have filtered into Korea, but the peninsula has always maintained its own identity. Spatial, spiritual and material qualities are reflected in the simple beauty of its architecture, while classic objects with a Korean aesthetic are used with panache in interior decor.This is the first book to document Korea's architecture and design scene. Authors Marcia Iwatate and Kim Unsoo present 24 exceptional homes, studios and heritage projects. Ranging from vernacular to cutting-edge contemporary, these showcase the nation's constant drive to invent and create.

This Japanese architecture and design book is a wonderful source of new styles and ideas for those looking to add a distinctively Zen flair to their home. Limited spaces, unlimited technology, a tradition of innovation, and sheer Japanese panache have combined to inspire the 26 stunning homes featured in Japan Houses. Conceived by 24 of Japan''s leading architects and designers, each of the houses forecasts and defines a new trend in residential architecture, reinventing the meaning and use of space, material, and function. Traditional lifestyles are challenged, domestic functions such as cooking and entertaining are moved out of the house into the public domain, while laptops bring work back in. Zen minimalist is juxtaposed with comfortable opulence. Time-honored workmanship is coupled with exciting new materials, resulting in a recognizable style that belongs to Japan, reflecting its culture and craftsmanship, while at the same time being avant-garde and international. The spirit of each of these astonishing houses is captured in beautiful photographs, plans and commentary.

Gain insight into both modern and Japanese styles with this stunning Japanese interior design book. Japan Living presents thirty exceptional houses that transcend function and resonate with spirit. These new Japanese homes, chosen for their inspiring and innovative designs, are special places to dream in. The owners and architects, working as collaborative teams, have created homes that are quintessentially Japanese. Crisp, sharp, transparent and light—these new designs represent a new burst of creativity over the past decade. Many reflect changes in the dynamics of Japanese society, while others represent self-expression and individuality. All of them are marked by a return to traditional Japanese materials and design elements married with such present-day requirements as flexibility, modern kitchens and bathrooms, energy efficiency and electronic gadgetry.

"Don''t be fooled into thinking [a commitment to minimalism] means cold or empty. These are rich, textural spaces that make you think about home in a whole new way. --Capital Times"

Recipient of the 2004 James Beard Award for Best Photography!This innovative Japanese cookbook takes you on a tour of the restaurants and philosophy at the forefront of the Japanese cooking revolution. Just as Alice Waters changed the way Americans thought about food, Takashi Sugimoto has revolutionized the act of dining in Japan.Shunju: New Japanese Cuisine brings you the experience of dining at Tokyo''s most innovative and exciting restaurants: Shunju. Everything about these restaurants is unique—their design, decoration, and lighting—but most especially the cuisine. At the Shunju restaurants the menu changes with the seasons and the specials change daily depending on what is available from the market. The chefs choose from hand-picked farmed and wild vegetables that arrive each morning. The food, though quintessentially Japanese, is fresh and innovative, with unexpected touches from other cuisines.The restaurants'' designs are modern, funky, and often quite bizarre. Sugimoto, the famed interior designer, has incorporated such unusual installations as original sidewalk gratings from the London subway and hand plastered mud walls. In this way, the designs represent the new lifestyle philosophy of Japan''s urban, cultivated youth: that within the chaotic city of modern design and Japanese food, more value should be placed on nature and time, on the textures of genuine materials, the flavors of natural foods.Stunning photographs, shot on location throughout the four seasons, and modern Japanese recipes that are as beautiful in presentation as they are to taste, make Shunju: New Japanese Cuisine a must for both professional chefs and dedicated amateurs.Sections include:The Seasonal KitchenSpring foodsSummer foodsAutumn foodsWinter foods