The Architecture of Japan, MoMA, 1955 Book

Rare original exhibition catalogue published by the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in 1955, accompanying the landmark exhibition on Japanese architecture. A seminal document bridging traditional Japanese architectural heritage and modernist sensibilities, this vintage publication offers an invaluable perspective on mid-century architectural discourse between East and West. About 1st Edition. Hardcover. From the original press release of the book: THE ARCHITECTURE OF JAPAN, a lavishly illustrated survey of Japanese buildings and gardens from early pit dwellings to contemporary houses, by Arthur Drexler, Curator 0f the Museum's Department of Architecture and Design, will be published by the Museum of Modern Art on July 15. It will be distributed by Simon and Schuster. Written in an informative, lively style and illustrated with fine photographs, THE ARCHITECTURE OF JAPAN is for people interested in Japanese culture and history and in modern Western art as well as for professionals who will find the carpenters' details, cross sections of roof framing, plans and other unusual material of special interest. As Mr. Drexler points out in the preface, the importance of Japan's architectural tradition to contemporary Western building is well known, but only recently has the West developed effects common to Japanese architecture at least since the eighth century. Photographs of teahouses, temples, castles, treasure houses and shrines, among them the first authorized pictures of the great Shinto shrine at Ise (which has been rebuilt 59 times in the past 1200 years and will be rebuilt again in 197*0 are in~ eluded along with a readable text giving the historical, cultural and environmental background which has deeply influenced Japanese buildings. Japan is the only major civilization without furniture, and photographs of the interiors of houses and palaces illustrate the ways in which this has influenced the design of houses, clothes and even gardens. Because gardens in Japan play such an important role in architecture they are discussed at length and fully illustrated. Beautiful sand gardens, bridges of moss, and stone gardens (one garden illustrated contains stones considered so precious tha-4they were wrapped in brocade when being transported to the site) are shown as well as a variety of garden fences. A 25-page supplement illustrates and describes the Japanese House on view in the Museum of Modern Art's outdoor exhibition area. Constructed in Japan, it is an authentic reproduction of a l6-17th century house. It was shipped here in 700 crate and re-assembled last year by Japanese craftsmen under the supervision of Junzo Yoshimura, the architect. It is now On view for the second and final summer. Condition Good condition and beautiful patina. The cover has some wear that was prior to it having an acetate cover. Dimensions (approx) 7.75" x 10.5" x 1"