Product Description

Tropical Asian Style is the first book to showcase contemporary residences throughout Southeast Asia-from Chiang Mai to Bali, Kuala Lumpur to Java. Featured are houses in more than 20 different locations in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia.
Each home is designed to achieve perfect harmony with its tropical surroundings. In this book, the essential design elements of these homes are presented thematically, to show the various ways in which this harmony has been achieved-through the use of breezy verandahs, outdoor pavilions, refreshing pools and elegantly decorated bedrooms, bathrooms and living areas that open onto lush tropical gardens. Superb objets d'art and hand-crafted Asian fabrics and furnishings from around the region are an important hallmark of Southeast Asian homes. Silks, batiks, terracotta tiles and lacquer wares from Thailand and Indonesia, stone garden sculptures from Bali and antique furniture from Java, are only several examples of the many beautiful items examined and illustrated in this book.
This book contains over 400 color photos by world-renowned photographer, Luca Invernizzi Tettoni. Well-known architects, designers and authorities on Asia's cultural heritage provide insightful views on the houses and their design elements. A final section on tropical decorating provides helpful tips on selecting Asian fabrics, furniture and artifacts.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1013872 in Books
• Published on: 2007-12-15
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 224 pages

Amazon.com Review
With its vivid yellows, glowing reds, cool blues, and lush greens, Tropical Asian Style evokes the riches of Southeast Asia. Gorgeous color photos of homes from Chiang Mai to Kuala Lumpur demonstrate essential design elements: living spaces open to nature, and accents of wood, textiles, and earthenware. This is a coffee-table book that will enlighten and entertain with its discussion of local crafts, such as basketware, batik, lacquerware, furniture, terra cotta, ikat weaving, Thai silk, garden sculpture, and more. Its sumptuous full-page spreads--from a saltwater pool above the surf in Phuket to a lovely open-air bathroom accented with old beams and seashells--will beckon you to exotic locales and entice you to add a little Asian flavor (a carved teak daybed, a decorative weaving, or more simply, a hammock on the veranda) to your home. --Jhana Bach

From the Inside Flap

About the Author
Luca Invernizzi Tettoni, a world-renowned photographer who has lived and worked in Asia since 1973, specializes in books on aspects of Asian culture. Among his many books are Balinese Gardens, Bali Modern, Contemporary Thai and Bali Houses. For Tropical Asian Style, he traveled the region tirelessly, searching out unusual homes and photographing them. He currently lives in Singapore where he runs the photo agency Photobank.

Customer Reviews

Truly Gorgeous Overview of Tropical Asian Luxe
This is an excellent look at the best examples of tropical Asian luxury living.

It is not a detailed exploration of regional design elements (look to Bali Style, Thai Style, Tropical Garden Design, et al, for the next degree of depth). It is, however, a rich overview of the best of SEAsian luxury architecture and furnishings.

Every page is simply gorgeous, with photos "bleeding" out past the paper, one trait of a good coffee table or style book. There is little or no image repetition in the coverage of the homes or boutique hotels featured, and each photo is perfectly focused, every composition seen in its best light.

In all the shuffle of Thai grandeur, Balinese earthiness, and Malaysian simplicity, the book might at first glance seem to be presenting a kind of fusion. I think it's fair to say that there is plenty of contemporary blurring of the distinctions between regions, but the reader can also look for regional elements and quickly learn them. Each property is given its own mini-chapter, which helps a lot. And the regional details and sensibilities really come alive when you read the accompanying texts, which are the work of expert style writers.

In fact, the contributors list reads like a who's who of style gurus. There is the clever and quippy Made Wijaya, descriptive Diana Darling, the meticulous William Warren, and details-minded Robert Powell. It's a great read!

Enchanting and Inspirational
I bought this book just to reminisce about my childhood journeys all-over Asia and to bring inspiration to my "East meets West" Style, as an Interior Designer. Well, after reading the book I was compelled to go an another journey, a well deserved vacation, perhaps... I just came back from 3-month Antique buying trip in Asia. I visited China, Philippines, Hongkong, Thailand, Indonesia,Myanmar, and Singapore. This book will take you to the same places and show you more than what I covered in three months. Tettoni is truly great...! Check out his other books on Asia, and you'll sure save a lot on airfare...!

Definitely some of the best of Southest Asia...
I am a collector of Luca Invernizzi Tettoni's work because ALL of them is a visual feast for the eyes. This talented man has a knack for details and never fails to capture the vivid and glowing nuances that represents the best of Southest Asia's style. Take it from me, living in the same environment, I sometimes take it for granted. This book is more than just a coffee-table piece, to complement the gorgeous photography , the text , written by various specialists, will enlighten you with well researched information on local crafts and traditions. It also shows the transformation that SEA architecture and interior designs have undergone; overall a fascinating mix 'n' match of vernacular designs and contemporary style.