Dwellings (I–III): Fragile Architecture is a photographic book by Karen Weinert, published by Hartmann Books with a planned publication year of 2026. The 176-page hardcover measures 22 × 32 cm and contains 109 illustrations. German and English texts accompany the photographs; the book was designed by Karen Weinert. Essays are contributed by Bertram Kaschek, Agnes Matthias, and Martin Päckert, while the photographs are by Weinert.
The project examines bird nests, described by the publisher as fragile, interlaced structures built from grass, clay, leaves, and other materials, in which birds lay eggs and raise their young. Weinert’s photographs draw on the Senckenberg Natural History Collection in Dresden, which dates mainly from the 19th century and holds roughly 1,000 bird nests from around the world. About 100 miniature habitats from this collection are reproduced, showing a range of nest forms and construction techniques.
Weinert combines artistic and documentary photography with natural science and museology. According to the publisher, she uses three photographic methods: black-and-white photography in an abstract Blossfeldt style, color photography in a neutral documentary style, and scanning technology used with found, abandoned nests. The book is supported by the Cultural Foundation Dresden of Commerzbank and a working grant from the Cultural Foundation of the Free State of Saxony. An exhibition is scheduled from 21 February to 11 April 2026 at Hartmann Projects, Stuttgart.
