The Genesis, History, and Development of the Portable Building, Academy Editions, London, 1995 - Softcover

Kronenburg, Robert H.

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1854903950 ISBN 13: 9781854903952

Publisher: John Wiley & Sons, 1995

Synopsis

This study explores the design of portable, transportable, demountable and temporary buildings. Using numerous examples - indigenous tents, Buckminster Fuller's Whichita House and Nicholas Grimshaw's British Pavilion for Expo '92 - the author looks at the development of these buildings from prehistoric to present day. He investigates the current design criteria for effective, economic portable buildings and examines the ecological advantages of this recyclable genre. He then compares the current commercially available products with the work of innovative designers such as Nick Grimshaw, Richard Hordem, Jan Kaplicky and Renzo Piano and examines the philosophical and technological issues raised by these designers' work and other more experimental and futuristic prototypes.

About this title

From the Back Cover

House in Motion, Second Edition explores the genre of portable, transportable, demountable and temporary architecture. Moving buildings are among the earliest artifacts created by man, and yet they have a persisting relevance that enables a Bedouin tent to exist in the same world as a 90,000–ton aircraft carrier.

In this revised edition of his definitive study, Robert Kronenbourg examines the development of the moveable building from prehistory to the present day, including a entirely new chapter on the influence that new technologies have on the subject. From familiar vernacular models such as the tent, mobile home and houseboat, to developments in military and construction engineering, all aspects of portable architecture are considered.

Kronenbourg makes comparisons between current, commercially available products and the work of innovative designers. He explores the philosophical and technological issues raised by contemporary, experimental and futuristic prototypes, and examines the suitability to purpose of portable building solutions in shelter after disaster situations.

A greater undestanding of the nature of transitory architecture could result in a new, ecologically aware design strategy which prioritises buildings that ′tread lightly on the earth′ and still convey the sense of identity and community necessary for an established responsible society. This book offers readers a unique insight into this increasingly important field of design.

About the Author

ROBERT KRONENBURG PhD RIBA is an architect and senior lecturer at the School of Architecture and Building Engineering at the University of Liverpool. His books include Portable Architecture (Architectural Press, 2000), FTL:Softness, Movement and Light (Wiley–Academy, 1997), and Spirit of the Machine (Wiley–Academy, 2001). His research has been supported by the Building Centre Trust, London, the Graham Foundation, Chicago, the US Fulbright Commission, St. John′s College, Oxford University, and the Leverhulme Trust. He curated Portable Architecture at the Royal Institute of British Architects, London and the touring event Spontaneous Construction, and is a curatorial advisor on the Vitra Museum′s international exhibition Living in Motion

Edition details

• Publisher: John Wiley & Sons
• Publication date: 1995
• Language: English
• ISBN 10: 1854903950
• ISBN 13: 9781854903952
• Binding: Paperback
• Number of pages: 145