A BUILDING implies solidity and permanence, but the history of shelters embraces structures that are impermanent or flimsy. In Houses in Motion (Academy Editions, pp 144, £22.5O pbk), Robert Kronenburg reaches back into the prehistoric to examine the traditional portable structures from tepis to caravans, and into the present for Pink Floyd’s Division Bell tour structure (left), on the way looking at textiles blowing in the wind and emergency shelters. Even more ephemeral is the work of building-wrappers Christo and Jeanne-Claude who planned to wrap the Reichstag in Berlin last week. Their work is catalogued in an eponymous book (Benedikt Taschen, pp 96, £5.99 pbk).
More from New Scientist
Explore the latest news, articles and features

ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ
Unapproved gene therapy for boosting longevity is set to go on sale
News

ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ
Woman with Alzheimer's starts conversing again after taking psilocybin
News

Life
New-to-science spider builds trap that flings ants into the air
News

ÎçÒ¹¸£Àû1000¼¯ºÏ
How menopause radically changes the brain – and what happens after
Features
Popular articles
Trending New Scientist articles
1
Woman with Alzheimer's starts conversing again after taking psilocybin
2
How menopause radically changes the brain – and what happens after
3
People training new AI models admit they just get chatbots to do it
4
New-to-science spider builds trap that flings ants into the air
5
The secrets to keeping your brain sharp in old age
6
‘Fusogenic’ neurosurgery let paralysed pigs walk again – are we next?
7
Faecal transplant makes the brains of old mice act young again
8
A promising natural technique to remove CO2 could backfire
9
Most portable air conditioners suck – but there's an easy fix
10
Fully autonomous drones have killed human soldiers for the first time