Frank Lloyd Wright described traditional Asian buildings as having a "timeless vernacular". Today"s Western aesthetic incorporates the best of uncluttered living and technology with a softer modernism, which is very similar to Eastern design. While the Asian continent is rapidly changing, its daily life is still imbued with a spiritual mysticism steeped in ancient religious and traditional beliefs. Asian homes are an essential haven of peace, a private sanctuary from the chaos and the hectic pace of the outside world. The interiors selected for Asian Elements are unified by an appreciation of uniquely beautiful natural materials; a restrained decorative style, a "less is more" attitude. Air, the first chapter of the book, focuses on how space and light are used in Asian dwellings, examining the flexible and open organisation specific to traditional homes and how light can be harnessed to add to that spiritual experience. Central to the Earth section are gardens and landscapes and Wood looks at buildings made entirely of wood. The Asian kitchen is examined in the chapter titled Fire and the final chapter Water looks at bathrooms, courtyards and swimming pools. Asian Elements is a beautifully illustrated introduction to Eastern design aesthetics.