Pros: Makes reader think about incorporating nature and energy flow into the home.
Cons: Isn't that practical if you're not building from scratch.
The Bottom Line: The information and photos in this book are delightful, and learning about Asian architecture helps readers think about how they can create more balance at home.
Shanti's Full Review: Kendra Langeteig - The New Asian Home
Whether or not you're familiar with Asian architecture and feng shui principles, if you have any inclination toward the subject, "The New Asian Home" is a wealth of information.
Asian homes traditionally incorporate the outer environment in a way that Western homes usually don't.
The main characteristic of Asian architecture is that it works in harmony with nature. As architect Jim Cutler says on p. 103, “In traditional Japanese architecture, each material is allowed to completely express itself.”
I like the look of Asian homes, and would consider one myself, if I didn't seem to like clutter so much (not that my home is cluttered; I just like collecting things, like, say tea pots and dishes and various knick knacks -- a no-no if you're going for a sleek, elegant Asian design. Still, I found the book inspiring because it led me think of how I could get more of that natural, clean, sleek look in my home, and how I can work with the flow of energy in my home.
Kendra Langeteig, PhD, wrote “The New Asian Home” to provide examples of how American architects tweak traditional Asian design to come up with structures that integrate both cultures. Her backround is in art, literature and architecture (and she lives in my home state: Colorado).
Her first chapter deals directly with intercultural interpretations of homes; it shows and discusses examples of homes aiming to maintain the idea of creating a harmonious place to live, while still making it practical for American lifestyles. (For example, traditional Asian architecture employes thatched roofs, which isn't so handy for harsh climates.)
Another example might be moving window height up (rather than floor level) to accommodate for furniture while still placing windows in a manner that helps unfold “a gradual presentation of views,” encouraging homeowners to appreciate outdoor landscape more.
Chapter two introduces the flow of energy, or feng shui, and showcases an amazing home in Hawaii that features a 1,000-square-foot central courtyard with a stream, waterfall and stepping-stones. I've dreamed of building a house like this, and even talked my husband into adding an extra supportive steel beam under the living room floor when we built our house, so we could create an indoor pond, but once the beam went in the wood floor went down, he worried about mold ... so, no pond.
The following chapter expands upon feng shui and highlights environmental designers. The focus is on homes that resonate with nature. For example, one homeowner living on oceanfront property created a garden on the other side of the home, in order to balance the strong, masculine energy of the ocean with softer, more feminine energy of a garden.
Chapter four takes a more modern view on Asian-inspired homes, including a rammed-earth home, a prefabricated home and a house made from timbers of a sunken ship (some of the timbers they reclaimed were 40 feet long!).
The last chapter focuses on Asian-style kit homes, and they're actually quite amazing. The Balinese home is nontoxic, made from reused wood. Then there's the Minahasa home, a two-level structure with an open ground floor and an enclosed second floor. These are obviously more fit for tropical locales, but they're also interesting to consider for outbuildings, such as a pool shed.
Overall, the book gives readers a solid understanding of Asian design principles, as well as photos of 23 featured homes, which provide a variety of styles to inform and inspire.
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