Katsura, Hermitage and Gardens, a Moment of Perfection, French Book, 1986

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Katsura, Ermitage et Jardins - Un Moment de Perfection (Katsura, Hermitage and Gardens, a Moment of Perfection), French Book by … Read more Katsura, Ermitage et Jardins - Un Moment de Perfection (Katsura, Hermitage and Gardens, a Moment of Perfection), French Book by Office du Livre, Vilo Editions Paris, 1986. Book by Arata Isozaki and Osamu Sato; photographs by Yasuhiro Ishimoto; French translation and commentary by Pierre and Suzanne Rambach. A visit to Katsura, the imperial villa, is a circuit of an hour. One emerges amazed, astonished, and dazzled. What remains are the intense images captured by the eye, captured by the moment that flees without recourse. Amid its garden and the four tea pavilions that border the central pond, built in the 17th century by Prince Toshihito, on the banks of the river that flows through Kyoto, Katsura remains the image of refinement. Villa, also known as Katsura Rikyū, is an architectural gem located in Kyoto, built in the 17th century by Prince Toshihito. Designed as a place of relaxation for the imperial family, this villa embodies not only the elegance and serenity of Japanese architecture but also the perfect harmony between man and nature. Visionary architects Bruno Taut and Walter Gropius of the Bauhaus movement, as well as Frank Lloyd Wright, Alvar Aalto, and Le Corbusier, were influenced in their designs by the Katsura Imperial Villa, particularly by its minimalist approach, clean lines, and profound respect for the environment. This helped to disseminate and integrate the principles of Japanese architecture into the modern movement. The elegance of this princely "hermitage" and its tea pavilions creates an atmosphere of serenity and highlights the natural beauty of its surroundings. Its landscaped gardens, true contemplative gems, feature a meticulous arrangement of ponds, bridges, rocks, and vegetation, creating a subtle harmony. It is said that the brilliant gardeners of the Katsura Villa brought about a revolution: for the first time, they introduced into the landscapes they created by imitating nature elements that could only come from man: straight lines, regular geometric curves, or, conversely, skillfully rhythmic ones. In short, the Katsura Imperial Villa is a cultural and architectural treasure offering a fascinating insight into traditional Japanese aesthetics and philosophy.
The Author: Arata Isozaki (磯崎 新, Isozaki Arata), born on July 23, 1931, in Ōita, and died on December 28, 2022, in Tokyo, was a Japanese architect. He won the Gold Medal of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1986. He was awarded the 2019 Pritzker Prize, presented by the Hyatt Foundation, in recognition of his architectural work and career: "for his deep knowledge of architectural history and theory while remaining close to the avant-garde."

Features:
Title: Katsura - Ermitage et Jardins - Un Moment de Perfection
Author: Arata Isozaki and Osamu Sato
Language: French.
Full-color illustrations. 2
74 pages.
Dimensions: 10.63 in by 13.75 in (27 x 35 cm).
Published in 1986 by Office du Livre, Editions Vilo, Paris. See less