Saturday, January 3, 2009

Kathmandu Valley Style

Another exquisite book has come off the press from Serindia Publications:

KATHMANDU VALLEY STYLE
Lisa Choegyal, Craig Potton, Gautam SJB Rana
“Kathmandu Valley Style is an important addition to Nepali identity—the text and photographs acknowledge the past while addressing what is possible in the present and in the future as well. HIGHLY RECOMMENDED.” Mikel Dunham (see full review and his blog at www.mikeldunham.blogs.com)

Summary:
KATHMANDU VALLEY STYLE is not another so-called “style” book, it is as much a Serindia’s classic — it celebrates the art and architecture of Nepal’s Kathmandu Valley and honors those pioneers who have made Kathmandu Valley their homes over the past few decades. Here for the first time we have a rare glimpse of the the historic and contemporary private residences in Newar, Tibetan and Rana styles and world-renowned restorations such as the Kuthu Math house, the Patan Museum, Baber Mahal Revisited, the Dwarikas, the Garden of Dreams, and other inspiring contemporary interiors and architectural works.

Full Description:
Nepal is widely acclaimed for its unique art and architectural styles. The ancient palaces, temples, courtyards and streetscapes of Kathmandu Valley are protected as no less than seven World Heritage Sites. Shrines are worshipped daily as part of Nepal’s vibrant living heritage. Recent efforts to preserve the architectural heritage of Kathmandu have carefully and authentically restored many of the Valley’s important public monuments.

Lesser known are the recent imaginative and adaptive use of Nepali architecture and decorative styles into new buildings and private homes. Kathmandu Valley Style captures the wealth of the past and illustrates how influences from the Malla Newar, Tibetan and Rana architecture have been incorporated into present-day buildings and lifestyles. Using traditional themes and building techniques in the restored historic and new structures has breathed fresh life into Kathmandu’s rich living cultural heritage, and provided additional attractions for visitors.

Kathmandu Valley Style features over 40 historic and new buildings, many of them never before photographed or published. Reinforcing national pride in Nepal’s vernacular architecture, this unique collection demonstrates how traditional art and architecture can be successfully incorporated into homes for today’s changing world. The book will appeal to residents, visitors, tourists, and all who love Nepal, as well as devotees of fine books on art, architecture, and interior design."

You can find out all about Serindia's other magnificent books on Tibetan, Himalayan and Asian culture on their website:

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