Tempel und Teehaus in Japan by Werner Blaser (Richard Paul Lohse, Armin Hofmann]

Tempel und Teehaus in Japan by Werner Blaser, 1st. ed., 1955. Urs-Graf-Verlag, Olten und Lausanne, Switzerland. 9.5 x 12.5, pp. 156 with German text and German, French and English captions. Beautifully printed in Switzerland in black and white with uncoated and coated papers. With a functional book design by Richard Paul Lohse and an expressive hand-lettered cover by Armin Hofmann.

Temple and Teehouse in Japan was compiled by the Basel born, Swiss architect, Werner Blaser after a trip to Japan in 1953. Blaser’s studies of traditional Kyoto wooden buildings feature minimal, grid-based structures highlighted by sharp black and white photographs, a few in color and various architectural line drawings. This landmark publication contributed to the influence of Japanese aesthetics on Western modern graphic design, art and architecture; apparently Mies van der Rohe gifted copies to friends.

Hofmann’s unique cover experiments with hand-drawn “non-western” uppercase letterforms and is also a testament to the influence of Japanese aesthetics. His rectangular forms are perhaps influenced by Japanese seals/crests or the modular simplicity of Japanese architecture. In contrast to his cover, Lohse’s interior pages are objective, functional and sparse utilizing a strict grid, and sans-serif, justified typography. Heavily illustrated with over 100 examples.

A very good glazed hardcover with light wear, some soiling and a scratch along the text “JAPAN”. The interior pages are unmarked and fresh with a tight binding. Uncommon in the United States. Highly recommended!