Abstract

This book is a complete guide on Japan’s renowned architect Shigeru Ban who is the recipient of the 2014 Pritzker Architecture Prize. It introduces not only his works around the world (including the most recent La Seine Musicale in Paris), but also his life from the boyhood days and how he came to be what he is now. Enjoy the beautiful photographs of Ban’s sophisticated works and read about his dedication to helping with disaster relief around the world.

Chapter 01
Running to help the disaster-stricken areas
The work “Cardboard Church” constructed in Nagata-ku, Kobe City after the Great Hanshin earthquake made the name of Shigeru Ban known everywhere. Without being asked, he designed and constructed the architecture in the disaster-stricken area, using paper tubes, a low-cost material. This cardboard church determined the direction for his future works.

Chapter02
True picture of the architect Shigeru Ban
He flies all over to foreign countries and disaster-stricken area across the world. He is not confined to traditionally used materials and structures, but instead, seeks out innovative ideas. Shigeru Ban’s works are borderless, and it is difficult to see who he truly is. We looked back to his boyhood, memories from his early stage in his career, the way he works, and interviewed people, hoping to learn more about Shigeru Ban.

Chapter 03
Paper tube architecture keeps evolving for the future
Shigeru Ban realized the power of “paper tubes” in the exhibition of ALVAR AALTO in 1986. He was determined to take chances on using paper tubes for his architecture. In the year 2000, he finished what would be the largest scale among the paper tube architecture – the Japanese Pavilion for the Hanover Expo 2000. Intertwining with his activities in the disaster-stricken area, his paper tube architecture became his fundamental axis.

Chapter 04
Materials and technologies into forms
In many of Shigeru Ban’s works, the materials and technologies used are important factors that determine the form of the architecture. Plywood, cardboard, rolling shutters, elevators, furniture, containers… these are usually the supporting parts but in Shigeru Ban’s architecture, they play important roles. Where does he get his innovative ideas? The answer can be found in the interview with Tomohiko Yamanashi who is also a famous Japanese architect.

Chapter 05
Challenging with wood
These days, Shigeru Ban has been strongly interested in wood materials. Wood is obviously not a new material, but there were only a few of large-scale, wooden architecture featuring the characteristics of the material. The encounter with an engineer with whom he worked on the Centre Pompidou-Metz opened Ban’s eyes. He challenges wooden architecture from new standpoint “using weak materials as they are” which he learned from working on his paper architecture.

Author’s Information

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