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The restoration of the former eighteenth century Patan Palace, Nepal, is described. The fourteen year project, costing $3m and led by Austrian architect Gotz Hagmuller, created a unique art museum to display Newar art and bronzes.

The attractions for visitors of the Pansukian Tropical Resort, Siargao Island, are discussed. The architecture, interior design and landscaping of the resort, and its tropical lagoon-side setting, are described.

A description is presented of the exterior and interior decoration of a house in Japan designed by architect Ryue Nishizawa. The exterior is clad with corrugated steel and features three internal gardens.

A description is presented of the exterior and interior design style of architect Hijjas Kasturi's house in Kuang, Malaysia. The house is a modern design which is based on indigenous forms.

The restoration of an eighteenth century pilgrim house in Bhaktapur, Nepal, which has been undertaken by the Owner Architect Gotz Hagmuller and his wife, is presented.

The renovation of Magsaysay Maritime Corporation Chief Executive Officer Doris Magsaysay Ho's home in Manila, Philippines, by Architect and Designer Conrad Onglao is presented.

Neemrana Hotels Proprietors Aman Nath and Franics Wacziarg have undertaken the restoration of two large houses in Rajasthan, India, for their private use.

Thai architect Lek Bunnag and American landscape designer Bill Bensley have created a 108 room hotel on the Indonesian Island of Lombok. Each room consists of a thatched bungalow. Dining and reception area are open, with thatched roofs supported by palm tree trunks.

Jewelry designer Carolyn Tyler's house near Ubud, Bali, has an open-air blue studio with thirty-foot ceilings which create a feeling of freedom. She does most of her work there. She designed the four main levels of the house with colors based on the Hindu system of the seven major chakras energy centers in the body.

Regional landscape photographer Sherman Hines restored a 17th-century stone house that he had spotted in 1980 while driving down a highway near Halifax, Nova Scotia. He has created a rustic compound around a cottage which had no windows or doors when he started. It's old stone cellar attracted Hines.

Begawan Giri hotel in Bali was designed to compliment the natural beauty of its surrounding. The hotel's owners Bradley and Debbie Gardner wanted the property to be something between a private garden estate and a hotel.

Patsy and Troy Halterman's flat in Manhattan, NY, is simultaneously opulent yet minimalist. This delicate balance, through the design of architect Lee Mindel, was achieved by combining premium materials with spare, understated design.

Interior designers Kevin McNamara and Edward Gianfrancesco converted an Alwyn Court apartment in Manhattan, New York City into a cozy abode. They used classical designs to highlight opulent antiques and Chippendale furniture. The apartment metamorphosed into a comfortable but elegant flat.

The home of late Thai businessman Nai Lert remains one of the most beautiful houses in Bangkok. Lert commissioned the house in 1915 which features two 6,000 sq ft teak buildings with floors constructed without using any nails.

Resort hotel designer Edward Tuttle utilized the architectural style of Thailand's Ayutthaya period in designing his six-room villa in Phuket, Thailand. This allows the villa to accomodate the light and breeze provided by the sunny island.

The Banyan Tree Bintan resort hotel in Bintan Island, Indonesia was constructed with the idea of harmonizing the hotel's structures with the natural landscape of the island. Javanese, Balinese and Thai architecture are extensively used to complement the natural beauty of the island.

The new Rajvilas hotel in India defines true luxury. Guest rooms are furnished with meticulously crafted pieces that contrast with the hard landscape. The hotel, which was designed by Biki Oberoi of the Oberoi Group, combines Hindu, Mughal and Anglo-Indian interior design elements.

Jewelry designer John Hardy's home in Bali is designed to conform with the environment and be as transparent as possible. The house is built without nails and concrete above ground according to the traditional Bornean raised longhouse and is surrounded by vegetable gardens.

A guide to shopping for Japanese folk crafts and home furnishing is presented. Toyko sources described include Takahita Fudo Flea Market, Bue & White, Nuno, Gallery Shun and Kashou.

Sri Lankan architect Geoffrey Bawa spent years in creating his compound, Lunuganga, near Bentota, in Sri Lanka. He remodelled his own plantation house, which originated in the 1930s, by using the old doors and old windows of structures that were dismantled.

The Suan Pakkad Palace in Thailand is a sprawling museum of Thai art that is well preserved. The palace consists of seven buildings that all speak of Thai culture and architecture at its most beautiful state. The palace sits at the heart of Bangkok and is home to the royal family.

Interior designer Thomas Britt draws inspiration from his travels all over the world. His work reflects numerous cultural influences, as exemplified by a new guest pavilion on his Water Mill, NY, property. Its decor is inspired by traditions in Malta, Turkey, India and other European and Asian countries.

Howard Slatkin's craftmanship was challenged when he was commissioned to restore an East Coast farmhouse to its 19th century look. Venetian parquetry wallpapers framed with mahogany moldings were used to elicit an 1800 ambience to the house.

Architect Hiroyuki Arima's design of Senko Sumi's house at Fukuoka reveres the ancient Japanese design model. Indoor and outdoor imagery are integrated in the irregularly sized windows that lead to a bedroom. A reserved approach in lines is also utilized.

Indonesian designer Amir Rubik's house in Ubud, Bali showcases the talent and ingenuity of Indonesian craftsmen, as exhibited in the ornate designs of furniture and furnishings.

Japanese folk textiles owe their rich tradition to strict Japanese rules against lavish clothing. This resulted in creative efforts being channeled to the making of beddings, trosseau covers, wrapping cloths and draperies. They are characterized by bold geometric forms and simple white needlework.

Businesswoman Asse Nitriashih has created a villa for her family that incorporates elements of Javanese architecture into a Balinese village-style design. The property holds her collection of building fragments she bought on her business trips to Java.

Bangkok-based Nithi Sthapitanonda has created his own retreat in Mae Rim Valley that features a modern structure that is in harmony with the northern style. This weekend getaway, which has become one of the most talked-about contemporary dwellings in Thailand, consists of four structures, three of which used to be rice barns.

Hannya-en, one of grand estates in Tokyo, Japan, is the former home of industrialist Issei Hatakeyama, located in the Shirokanedai area of the city. The estate is rich in traditional Japanese spirit and detail, and in the collection of Japanese art objects acquired by Hatakeyama.

Gerald Pierce moved from his native Louisiana to Bangkok, Thailand, in 1978 to become the design director for the Jim Thompson silk company and soon began building a luxurious residential compound that was reminiscent of both Thailand and Louisiana.

A couple who owned a 1950s home in New Canaan, CT, decided to have it remodeled and to nearly double the space. They enlisted the services of the Shope Reno Wharton architectural firm, and the decision was made to expand the existing house into an architectural creation worthy of the location.

Shubert Organization Pres Jacobs and Chmn Gerald Schoenfeld have made the theater operator highly successful. Their hits include 'Cats,' 'A Chorus Line,' 'Amadeus' and 'The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickelby.' Jacobs lives in a Manhattan, NY, brownstone decorated with theater memorabilia.

The Mondales wanted to learn more about the history of the US embassy residence in Tokyo, Japan, after moving there in Apr 1995. The building was constructed especially for ambassadors in 1930. The Moorish-Oriental-colonial-style house underwent an $8.1-million restoration.

Garland lives and works in Bali, where she has a showroom that includes articles she has crafted. Bali's population includes wood carvers, weavers, painters, and sculptors. The inhabitants of the island take advantage of its natural beauty by placing crafted items in their homes and yards.

The Ichida Tairyu-San-So Garden in Kyoto, Japan, was finished in 1905. The garden was laid out by Jihei Ogawa, the father of modern Japanese garden design. The garden has been officially designated as an Important Cultural Property.

Architect Seiji Nibe and his wife Harumi prefer the simple and ordinary over the elegant. This attitude is reflected in the design and decoration of their Tokyo home, which exhibits a rare beauty in its ordinary character.

The home of the late Isamu Noguchi is a transplanted, 200-year-old Samurai structure that was restored after it had been moved to the town of Mure. Noguchi wanted to settle in Mure because of its stonecutting traditions. How he became a sculptor and developed his art are examined.

Yuichi and Amy Katoh have preserved a traditional Japanese farmhouse, making it more comfortable and aesthetically pleasing. The house's great room marries natural materials, such as massive wood beams, and material comforts.

The Sankeien Garden in Yokohama, Japan was named after Tomitaro Hara, 1868-1939, who wrote under the pen name Sankei. A successful silk manufacturer, Hara bought most of the garden's buildings in between 1902 and 1922 to preserve traditional Japanese architecture.

Tai Fu Tai, which stands for Important Person's Residence, is a 17-room mansion that is distinguished by its extensive ornamentation. It was designed according to the style of sze-hop-yuen that emphasized privacy, security and natural light.

Canadian-born John McGee settled in Japan in 1970 when he discovered the art of creating Japanese-style tea ceremonies. He bought a 1657-built farmhouse in 1987 and filled it with his vast collection of Asian antiques, crafts and sculpture.

Kawai used the destruction of his home from the 1934 Typhoon Muroto to rebuild the dwelling in Japanese farmhouse style. Openness and simplicity were two important elements. He installed high ceilings to enhance its spaciousness. Illustrations of various rooms are provided.

Western architects have moved from their early-1980's restaurant and boutique commissions to the full range of commercial, residential, industrial and public contracts. Several comment on the cultural, economic and stylistic challenges they encounter in Japan.