Bali, April 2021

Synposis of the book: Contact: book@escapenomade.com

Haute Couture Architecture: The Art Of Living Without Walls by Anneke van
Waesberghe is so much more than a book about tented green building architecture.
It is the story of a very personal journey and memoires from the excesses of modern
times to a new state of being, one in which rampant consumerism has been
replaced by a more thoughtful design for living sustainably and in harmony with
the rhythms of the planet. She leads readers to encounter a new paradigm by
showing the soothing luxury of simplicity and the beauty of small things. 

Applying her design for the environment principles, van Waesberghe chronicles this
transition in a highly individual account of her journey from a successful social
entrepreneur to an enlightened designer. Specially made for this book are beautiful
full-color photographs, delicate watercolors, and compelling illustrations. The book
is part design manifesto, part personal diary, and part manual for future
sustainable living.

The central theme is the author’s discovery of the freedom offered by life beneath
canvas in her tented sanctuary in Bali over the past 12 years. With this knowledge
learned through global travels and life-experience, van Waesberghe established a
luxury tented design company in Bali and extended its fundamentals to all aspects
of her existence. From the use and production of sustainable materials, the
amalgamation of local culture, household, kitchen, and most importantly, her
appreciation of a life lived within Nature.

“I was mentally ready to dive into a life of simplicity,” she writes, “to live by
satisfying only my basic needs, and let go of everything. This longing for simplicity,
over time, led to a series of painless moments of growth that made me want to
challenge others to follow my example towards simplicity and happiness.”

Ultimately Haute Couture Architecture: The Art Of Living Without

Walls bridges the gap between Nature and Architecture. It is the tale of one
woman’s odyssey to find true meaning in life and to manifest its beauty into a
way of living that sets a blueprint for our future existence on Earth.

The book arrives at an appropriate time. Conceived at the onset of the Covid
pandemic, Haute Couture Architecture: The Art Of Living Without Walls dovetails
seamlessly with the challenges we now face on a global scale. Yet, at its heart, it is
a proclamation for a return to pre-Fall innocence.

“We have been the thieves of our own greatness,” writes van Waesberghe. “We have
robbed ourselves of the beautiful thoughts we had when we were kids, when we
dreamt of doing something extreme or different. Instead of living outside the box,
we replaced our dreams with unimportant daily routines.”

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