Struktur und Gestalt in Japan – Structure and Form in Japan by Werner Blaser (Artemis Verlag, 1963) is a study of the construction of traditional Japanese wood buildings.
The contents is divided into three themes: sensibility to material and articulation, and to function and form; flexibility of structure; and the integration of man, nature, structure and form. The building examples are the Imperial Palace at Kyoto, a simpler dwelling-house and its spatial arrangements; the street as a succession of different house fronts; the farmhouse with its diversified patterns; and the tea pavilion.
The texts are in German and English. The rich illustration consists of black-and-white photographs and some architectural drawings that clarify the structural logic of some of the constructions.
The copy in our stock is in nice condition. The pages are clean without any markings, and the binding is fine. There is some age-related yellowing on the edges of the pages, and the covers show some signs of use. The dust jacket (if there ever has been one) is missing.
