International Showdown Breathtaking interiors and decor from Amsterdam to Xi An The first volume of Angelika Taschen's new series on contemporary interiors features the world's most amazing, exquisite, and interesting apartments and houses - from Antwerp to Zurich, via Chiang Mai, Copenhagen, Mumbai, Moscow, Tokyo, and Shanghai. With an inspirational richness and diversity of styles, here are homes, residences, hideaways, and studios to astound and astonish, no matter what your taste. Whatever your preference - flea market romance or space age bachelor pad, minimalism or neo-baroque - you'll find hundreds of fresh and provocative ideas. Highlights include French Vogue creative director and tastemaker Fabien Baron's minimal Swedish countryhouse by John Pawson; a penthouse miniature of Mies van der Rohe's Nationalgalerie atop a war bunker in Berlin, owned by art collector Christian Boros; the Chiang Mai retreat of Thai artist Rirkrit Tiravanija; Roberto Cavalli's Milanese apartment, a perfect reflection of his flamboyant personality; and a fantasy home created by a Dutch stylist and photographer in Shanghai. About the editor and author: Angelika Taschen studied art history and German literature in Heidelberg, gaining her doctorate in 1986. Working for TASCHEN since 1987, she has published numerous titles on art, architecture, photography, design, travel, and lifestyle.