Architecture

Japanese Architect, Shigeru Ban, wins Pritzker Prize

Shigeru Ban, a 56 year old Japanese architect was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize.  Creating enormous structures throughout the world from cardboard tubes was ingenious enough to enable Ban to win the industry’s most prestigious award.  Putting the spotlight on Ban’s humanitarian work and focus on conscious architecture, this accolade is important for many reasons… making temporary housing out of recyclable materials such as paper rolls, Shigeru Ban has been able to create shelter in places such as India, Haiti and Rwanda after massive destruction and loss.  Makes you wonder if Mr. Ban is actually “anti-architechture” with his focus on the temporary vs. permanent monuments.

Image from Arch Daily

Photo is of Shigeru Ban’s Japan  Pavillion for EXPO 2000 in Hannover, Germany.  The theme was to create structures from entirely recyclable materials and leave as little waste as possible.

Image from Arch Daily

Photo is of “Paper Temporary Studio” in Paris from 2004.  The purpose of the structure was to accommodate the team working on the Centre Pompidou-Metz during the study phase of the project.  The structure was built entirely from paper tubes.