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From the places of the Colonna, Farnese, Orsini and Altemps where, whitin their secret rooms, the papal throne was disputed over the course of centuries, to the magnificent ducal palaces of Venice and Genoa, manifest symbol of the political and economic power of the maritime republics, to the royal splendour of the Bourbon and Savoy palaces where bauty and history wonderfully and indissolubly merged.

This well-illustrated tour through 50 magnificent villas and palaces built by the Italian aristocracy, covers country retreats in Tuscany and the Vento, impressive residences in Rome and Sienna, fortress-like castles and grand villas in Trieste and Sicily, and many more.

A thirty-year career has made Jacques Garcia a worldwide name in interior design in the French tradition. In Paris, chic crowds flock to his celebrated Hétel Costes and Ladurée tearoom, and to his many fin-de-siécle brasseries. Garcia's designs also grace the interiors of the Musée Carnavalet and the Musée de la Vie Romantique-and his most recent tour de force is the restoration of Paris' Hétel Mansart. Garcia's most ambitious project to date, the refurbishment of the Chéteau du Champ de Bataille in Normandy, attracts visitors from across the globe and has become a monument to his art and celebrity.

This new edition of the 1999 book is a continuing tribute to the restoration of the chéteau and to its magnificent gardens, seen here for the first time. Sumptuously illustrated and updated to include Garcia's latest creations, this new edition provides the reader with a privileged view of true French style.

Tradition meets modernity in an ancient land

This book chooses 58 projects in Japan and classifies them into four categories(cultural&commercial, educational, public and multipurpose) in order to describe the kernel of Japanese architecture.

Japan embodies the fascinating cross-section of a country endowed with a rich and varied culture, firmly imbued with traditional knowledge, skill and experience. The book features 50 of the best of Japanese interior design trends in Japan in different categories such as offices, bars, culture, living and shopping, from traditional tatami to modern minimal. The interiors presented in this book offer a glimpse into the eastern design and its philosophy of simplicity: the use of neutral and natural colors to minimize feelings of clutter and the color black to lend definition and form; furthermore, it reveals the ingenious, minimalistic way of living and being.

The great English country house tradition reached its apotheosis in the nineteenth century. Designed by all the most eminent architects of the age, houses constructed during this period were larger, more elaborate, and more lavishly furnished than ever before, and they became famous throughout Europe and America for their luxury, technological innovation, and convenience of plan.

Michael Hall's survey draws on the vast archive of the great British magazine Country Life to present the fullest visual record yet published of the Victorian-era country house in England and Wales. It ranges from the High Gothic of Tyntes?eld to Ferdinand Rothschild's ?amboyantly French Waddesdon Manor and Philip Webb's Arts and Crafts interiors at Standen. These remarkable photographs are in many cases the only record of the great houses in their heyday; those such as Wrest Park, Thoresby Hall, and Hewell Grange were all sold in the twentieth century and their magni?cent furniture and priceless artwork and collections dispersed. Houses that have survived with their interiors intact but are little known or rarely accessible to the public also feature prominently, such as Flintham Hall and the Earl of Harrowby's Sandon Hall.

Spectacular color photographs provide a fascinating look at some of the most celebrated houses of the period, from A. W. N. Pugin's Scarisbrick Hall and William Burges's Cardiff Castle to J. F. Bentley's Carlton Towers and J. D. Crace's astonishing interiors at Longleat. This chronologically arranged survey of Victorian houses spans the decades from the 1830s to the 1890s and includes not only new houses, but also historic county seats that have been in families for generations and were given major renovations or additions in this era. With over 150 superb color and black-and-white photographs specially selected to highlight the century's most signi?cant houses and their architects and an authoritative commentary by Michael Hall, this book provides a thorough overview of a major period in British architectural history.

    The Mediterranean climate, with its mild, rainy winters and hot, dry summers, has always spoken to the imagination of true hedonists and experienced holidaymakers.
    The Mediterranean coast offers a dream setting for architectural tours de force and inspired interior designs: the open spaces, the azure blue skies, the sun-drenched beaches, the rugged natural splendour and, of course, the sea itself, which, with its many shades of colour, has a different appearance every moment.
    All the projects presented in this book have the Mediterranean Sea as a central element, as a main player that determines the interior and the architecture of these buildings.
    With this breathtaking natural landscape as a backdrop, the architect or interior designer cannot help but draw the surroundings into the design. Accordingly, most of the creations in this book have an abundance of glass, of simple, natural materials, minimalist shapes and monochrome colour palettes that bring the ever-present natural surroundings perfectly into the foreground.
    Nature and architecture, outdoors and indoors blend to create a permanent holiday feeling.

Seen from the sea, Bahia’s coast still resembles what the Portuguese found 500 years ago when they first arrived. The tree-lined, white sand desert beaches and warm, clear waters continue to attract more tourists every year. Bahia’s regional architecture makes use of native materials, conveying a natural harmony with the local climate and nature, and is distinguished by the clear influence of the three cultures in the region (indigenous, Portuguese, and African). Bahia is one of the most interesting states in Brazil, notable for its cultural history, music, art, cuisine, and most famously, its laid-back lifestyle and architecture that have turned Bahia into a favorite destination for travellers from around the world.

We have searched high and low for Bahia’s loveliest homes and spots, from typical fisherman’s huts to sophisticated modern homes. Highlights include the house of Brazilian’s most brilliant and prodigious singer and composer Caetano Veloso in Salvador, a treehouse by sculptor and environmentalist Frans Krajcberg an experimental house with a bamboo roof, and a house perched on a cliff built by artist Joao Calazans.

In a world without walls: balinese homes in harmony with nature. Loved by travellers for its lush, tropical scenery, and charming people, Bali is considered to be one of the most magnificent places on earth. Spirituality and nature are integral parts of everyday life for the Balinese, so one can easily see why the island's traditional architecture has a peaceful presence to it, mimicking its surroundings and sometimes blending in with them. When it comes to Balinese houses, walls are not compulsory, wood is everywhere, earth tones are dominant, and thatched roofs abound. Opening onto gorgeous green landscapes, majestic mountains, or beautiful coastlines, the homes herein ooze relaxing, contemplative vibes. Gazing at these opulent examples of simple and elegant living, one wonders why more people aren't rushing to move to Bali...

In a world without walls. Balinese homes in harmony with nature

Loved by travelers for its lush, tropical scenery, and charming people, Bali is considered to be one of the most magnificent places on earth. Spirituality and nature are integral parts of everyday life for the Balinese, so one can easily see why the island’s traditional architecture has a peaceful presence to it, mimicking its surroundings and sometimes blending in with them. When it comes to Balinese houses, walls are not compulsory, wood is everywhere, earth tones are dominant, and thatched roofs abound. Opening onto gorgeous green landscapes, majestic mountains, or beautiful coastlines, the homes herein ooze relaxing, contemplative vibes. Gazing at these opulent examples of simple and elegant living, one wonders why more people aren’t rushing to move to Bali...

The photographer:

Swiss photographer Reto Guntli, based in Zurich, regularly travels the world shooting for international magazines. He has published numerous books and contributed to TASCHEN publications such as Inside Asia, Living in Japan, Living in Bali, Great Escapes Asia and Great Escapes Europe.

The author:

Anita Lococo decided to make Bali her home 15 years ago. She has worked as a scout for Architectural Digest and has written many articles about lifestyle and interiors in Bali for numerous international magazines. British Traveller named her the expert for Bali travels.

In a World Without Walls. Balinese homes in harmony with nature

Carved wood, secluded courtyards, and frangipani blossoms: soak up the Eastern elegance of these heavenly Indonesian interiors. Opening onto gorgeous green landscapes, majestic mountains, or beautiful coastlines, these Balinese homes exude relaxing, contemplative vibes. Unwind and refresh with this compact showcase of rustic paradises, updated with fresh, never-before-seen images.

Loved by travellers for its lush tropical scenery and charming people, Bali is one of the most magnificent places on Earth. Spirituality and nature are integral parts of everyday life for the Balinese, so one can easily see why the island’s traditional architecture has a peaceful presence to it, mimicking its surroundings and sometimes blending in with them.

When it comes to Balinese houses, walls are not compulsory, wood is everywhere, earth tones are dominant, and thatched roofs abound. Opening onto gorgeous green landscapes, majestic mountains, or beautiful coastlines, the homes herein ooze relaxing, contemplative vibes. This portfolio of Southeast Asian living features a swath of fresh and never-before-published photographs and comes in a compact size, so you can take a little bit of paradise with you wherever you go.

Gazing at these opulent examples of simple and elegant living, it’s a wonder why more people aren’t rushing to move to Bali.

The photographer:

Swiss photographer Reto Guntli, based in Zurich, regularly travels the world shooting for international magazines. He has published numerous books and contributed to such TASCHEN publications as Inside Asia, Living in Japan, Living in Bali, Great Escapes Asia and Great Escapes Europe.

The author:

Anita Lococo decided to make Bali her home 25 years ago. She has worked as a scout for Architectural Digest and has written many articles about life-style and interiors in Bali for numerous international magazines. British Traveller named her the expert for Bali travels.

The editor:

Angelika Taschen studied art history and German literature in Heidelberg, gaining her doctorate in 1986. Working for TASCHEN from 1987, she has published numerous titles on art, architecture, photography, design, travel, and lifestyle.

About the series:

Bibliotheca Universalis — Compact cultural companions celebrating the eclectic TASCHEN universe at an unbeatable, democratic price!

Since we started our work as cultural archaeologists in 1980, TASCHEN has become synonymous with accessible, open-minded publishing. Bibliotheca Universalis brings together more than 100 of our all-time favourite titles in a neat new format so you can curate your own affordable library of art, anthropology, and aphrodisia.

Bookworm’s delight — never bore, always excite!

Great walls in China

Splendid and traditional homes in the People’s Republic

Dating back more than six thousand years, China is the world’s oldest civilization and most populous nation. With its remarkable history, rich culture, and diversity of ethnic groups, China is an endlessly fascinating country. Sneaking a peek at an array of different homes, from ancient to modern, Living in China brings you to places that most will never have a chance to visit. Whether it’s the Bamboo Wall by Kengo Kuma, a 600-year-old round earth house in Fujian, the artsy Shanghai apartment of a celebrated but banned Chinese writer, the Hong Kong residence of the owner of the China Clubs and Shanghai Tan, or an artist studio and home in the largest art community in the world, all of the interiors featured here capture intriguing facets of life in China today.