“Where architecture has often sought stability and thus the lack of movement, modernity has brought a sense of the nite, and a good deal of modesty about posterity and longevity,” writes Philip Jodidio in the opening of his new book, We Are All Nomads. “What more contemporary thought could there be than to seek nothing so much as to move, to grow perhaps, but always to move?”
It’s a thought the writer explores in great detail over the course of 300 lavishly illustrated pages. We Are All Nomads, published by Taschen this month, steps inside some of the most remarkable and innovative examples of nomadic living – ranging from revamped vintage motorhomes to extravagant, under-water houseboats. It’s a visual homage to the mobile home, and a celebration of the people who have chosen a more unusual way of life.
As well as showing off the luxurious side of nomadic architecture, We Are All Nomads also looks into the politically groundbreaking; stepping inside the refugee housing of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban.
“As it should be readily apparent from this summary collection of movable residences from all over the world and in all types of different contexts,” concludes Jodidio, “the nomadic spirit of our ancestors the hunter-gatherers is very much alive in the modern world.”
We Are All Nomads is available now from Taschen.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
You might like
The intricate, intimate interiors of Middle Eastern homes
Living Rooms — Drawn from photographs made over the span of three decades, Middle East Archive has compiled a photobook that explores the insides of homes across the region, spotlighting its family intimacy and hospitality.
Written by: Miss Rosen
What does Holy Week mean to young people in Seville?
As the Spanish city shut down for the week, Leah Rustomjee spoke to the young residents reimagining tradition.
Written by: Leah Rustomjee
The radical history of Black-led self-building in Lewisham
Nubia Way — A new documentary tells the story of an unassuming cul-de-sac of 13 timber framed houses built by Fusions Jameen – London's first Black housing co-op.
Written by: Jade Chao
Otherworldy photos of former Soviet monuments
Brutalism after dark — Photographer Yang Xiao recalls travelling across Eastern Europe to capture a series of Brutalist and Soviet modernist architecture with a distinctly alien feel.
Written by: Huck
The dystopian megacities of anime architecture
Brave new world — A new book celebrating the creative process behind Japan's animated cityscapes offers both architectural escapism and bold imaginings of a near future.
Written by: Gunseli Yalcinkaya
Capturing the secrets of the New York City subway
Underground photography — For two decades, Patrick Cashin worked as the MTA’s official photographer, documenting the ins and outs of one of the world’s busiest transit systems.
Written by: Jonathan Smith
