There is little Bulgarian artist Christo has not wrapped – from the German Reichstag to Pont Neuf, from trees to beaches. Plastic often plays a central role in his installations, and will do so again this summer, when he will cover a lake in the Italian Alps with walkways made of PE cubes. “The Floating Piers” (www.thefloatingpiers.com) will allow visitors to Sulzano and Monte Isola to literally walk on water to the island of San Paolo.

Whether the Bible was one of the sources of motivation for the piers remains unclear. What is clear is that once the installation has run its course – it is expected to be open for just 16 days – nothing will remain of it but photos and people’s memories. By using mostly plastic for the project, Christo has ensured that all the materials used in it will be recycled.