William Warren (1) (1930–)

Some lovely photographs in this book which is basically about architecture in SE Asia....with a nod to some of the decorative arts (sculpture, weaving, lacquer, ceramics etc). I did feel that it tended to over-emphasise the current ex-pat residences much more so than local residences and I also found myself wondering about the real comfort of all this open air living in the tropics. Yes, it makes for some lovely photographs with all the beautiful vegetation, views of rice terraces and blue swimming pools. But I found myself wondering (based on some experience living in Malaysia for three years, and holidaying in many of the other locations) how they REALLy manage with the mosquitos. Yes mosquito nets look lovely and romantic but they are difficult to manage and complex to negotiate and hard to clean and replace. And the outdoor verandahs also look lovely in the pictures but are quite hot and sweaty when the temperature gets up to around 33 degrees or more.
And, as for libraries in the tropics......my books swelled by about 20% with the humidity and mould was a problem. I also found myself wondering who was looking after the beautiful lotus flowers in the pools around pavilions or bedrooms. Of course, the answer is low-paid local gardeners or assistants. And what happens to these gardens when prosperity rises and the gardeners no longer want to tend lotus ponds but are driving taxis for tourists?
I also noticed that many of these ex-pats had apparently retired to their dream villas and gardens ...but my experience is that such retirement is normally a temporary phenomenon: ok until you are about 80 but after that your health becomes an issue and managing the estate becomes burdensome and the family (if there is any) don't visit very much ........so the owners try and sell-up and return home where there is better medical care and (hopefully) caring family.
Having said all of that, the villas and gardens shown in this book are truly lovely and inspiring and a credit to the architects, designers and owners. I enjoyed it and rank it at about 3.5 stars.… (more)

Realised that I already have a copy of this (a 1995 version). So one of them has to go and as it's the earlier version I will repeat my review here:
Hmm, Just realised that this was one of those purchases that I didn't really need because I already had a copy off the book. Anyway, as i haven't already reviewed it I will do so here and I can donate one of my copies to the Lifeline booksale..or maybe even both copies.
This is one of those lovely modern books on beautiful gardens filled with luscious photos of tropical vegetation, artfully posed with a ceramic urn in the foreground etc. Well the photos really are great. The colours for reproduction are also great and to top it off the text is also excellent. I learned quite a lot about the points of the compass in Bali....more or less ...north means pointing towards Mount Agung...and in North Bali....the mountains are actually to the South but are still referred to as "kaja" (More or less meaning north ..though perhaps better translated as "towards the mountains").
There are sections on gardens in Sanur and Kuta and I've stayed in both places and been enchanted by the gardens there. My first time in Bali we stayed in Kuta...well Legian really at the Legain Beach Hotel if memory serves me correctly and the hotel was very new then and it was referred to as being away from the hustle of Kuta itself. Still even the new gardens were quite lovely. (This was in 1977). Later we stayed in Sanur in a lovely little lodge set amongst beautiful gardens, then in Ubud...more lovely gardens and impossibly green rice terraces. And still later in Nusa Dua in one of the big hotels there. Gardens good but obviously drier and a tougher landscape.
All of these areas are featured in the book; all have lovely accompanying photos which capture both the spirit and the natural beauty of some of the gardens in Bali.
There are also a few photos of the temples which hint at some of the other side of Bali......packed earth underfoot, heat and dust. But rather fewer of these. Also there are a few pics that hint at the way things can get rapidly run-down if left...moss overgrowing statues , pools chocked with weeds and so on.
Anyway, this is really nit-picking about a place which so many artists and travels have considered close to paradise ...and the gardens certainly contribute to this impression. Maybe there is just a tad too much concentration (2 chapters) on the gardens in two of the Hyatt hotels. But maybe it's justified because these are both exceptional gardens. Though I think I would have liked to see glimpses into the private gardens that one never really gets to see.
Bottom line; a lovely book with beautiful photographs.… (more)

Hmm, Just realised that this was one of those purchases that I didn't really need because I already had a copy off the book. Anyway, as I haven't already reviewed it I will do so here and I can donate one of my copies to the Lifeline booksale..or maybe even both copies.
This is one of those lovely modern books on beautiful gardens filled with luscious photos of tropical vegetation, artfully posed with a ceramic urn in the foreground etc. Well the photos really are great. The colours for reproduction are also great and to top it off the text is also excellent. I learned quite a lot about the points of the compass in Bali....more or less ...north means pointing towards Mount Agung...and in North Bali....the mountains are actually to the South but are still referred to as "kaja" (More or less meaning north ..though perhaps better translated as "towards the mountains").
There are sections on gardens in Sanur and Kuta and I've stayed in both places and been enchanted by the gardens there. My first time in Bali we stayed in Kuta...well Legian really at the Legain Beach Hotel if memory serves me correctly and the hotel was very new then and it was referred to as being away from the hustle of Kuta itself. Still even the new gardens were quite lovely. (This was in 1977). Later we stayed in Sanur in a lovely little lodge set amongst beautiful gardens, then in Ubud...more lovely gardens and impossibly green rice terraces. And still later in Nusa Dua in one of the big hotels there. Gardens good but obviously drier and a tougher landscape.
All of these areas are featured in the book; all have lovely accompanying photos which capture both the spirit and the natural beauty of some of the gardens in Bali.
There are also a few photos of the temples which hint at some of the other side of Bali......packed earth underfoot, heat and dust. But rather fewer of these. Also there are a few pics that hint at the way things can get rapidly run-down if left...moss overgrowing statues , pools chocked with weeds and so on.
Anyway, this is really nit-picking about a place which so many artists and travels have considered close to paradise ...and the gardens certainly contribute to this impression. Maybe there is just a tad too much concentration (2 chapters) on the gardens in two of the Hyatt hotels. But maybe it's justified because these are both exceptional gardens. Though I think I would have liked to see glimpses into the private gardens that one never really gets to see.
Bottom line; a lovely book with beautiful photographs.… (more)