Ban experiments with plywood, textiles, and paper. He seeks to develop new yet universally applicable ways of building that will open doors not only for the construction industry but also for the individual who seeks to build his own house with the help of simple yet intelligent systems.Shigeru Ban is concerned with building as a whole, and is not interested only in so-called beautiful architecture: providing assistance in coping with catastrophes is just as important to him. Moreover, Ban knows that simple solutions are often the most difficult to develop--especially when using inexpensive materials.

Rising architecture star Shigeru Ban designs and builds graceful structures using organic materials such as paper tubes, bamboo, and engineered wood. He has designed projects at both ends of the client spectrum, from one-room temporary houses for earthquake refugees to private seaside and urban villas, and has won widespread praise for his humanitarian efforts and innovative use of recyclable, affordable materials as well as for his poetic architectural style. This book, designed in collaboration with the architect, presents his projects in sections -- paper, wood, bamboo, prefabrication, and skin - that delineate the major themes of his work,accompanied by technical information that documents Ban’s pioneering tests on these materials.

PAPER

LIBRARY OF A POET

PAPER HOUSE

PAPER EMERGENCY SHELTERS

FOR UNHCR

PAPER LOG HOUSES

PAPER CHURCH

PAPER DOME

NEMUNOKI CHILDREN’S

ART MUSEUM

Kakcgawa, Shizuoka, Japan, 1999

JAPAN PAVILION, EXPO 2000

PAPER ARCH,

THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART

BOATHOUSE,

CENTRE D’INTERPRETATION DU

CANAL DE BOURGOGNE

Pouilly-cn-Auxois, France, projected 2004

WOOD

GC OSAKA BUILDING

Chuo, Osaka, Japan, 2000

IMAI HOSPITAL DAYCARE CENTER

Odate, Akita, Japan, 200l

ATSUSHI IMAI

MEMORIAL GYMNASIUM

Odate, Akita, Japan, 2002

WICKERWORK HOUSE

Chino, Nagano, Japan, 2002

BAMBOO

BAMBOO FURNITURE HOUSE

Great Wall at Shui Guan, China, 2002

SCHWARTZ RESIDENCE

Sharon, Connecticut, United States, designed 2001

BAMBOO GRID SHELL STRUCTURES

Houston, Texas, 2002; and St. Louis, Missouri,

United States, projected 2004

PREFABRICATION

PC PILE HOUSE

Susono. Shizuoka, Japan, t992

TAZAWAKO STATION

Tazawako, Akita, Japan, 1997

FURNITURE HOUSE 

Lake Yamanaka, Yamanashi, Japan, 1995

NINE-SQUARE GRID HOUSE

Hadano, Kanagawa, Japan, 1997

INSTITUTE,

CENTRE D’INTERPRETATION DU

CANAL DE BOURGOGNE

Pouily-en-Auxois, France. proiecred 2003

SAGAPONAC HOUSE

Sagaponack, New York United States.

prniected 2004

SKIN

HOUSE FOR A DENTIST

Stagaya, Tokyo, Japan. 1994

CURTAIN WALL HOUSE

ltabashi, Tokyo, Japan. 1995

IVY STRUCTURE 2

Azabu, Tokyo, Japan, 2000

NAKED HOUSE

Kawagoe, Saitama, Japan, 2000

PICTURE WINDOW HOUSE

Azu, Shizuoka, Japan, 2002

GLASS SHUTTER HOUSE

Megum, Tokyo, Japan, 2003

PAPER ART MUSEUM

Mishima, Shizuoka, Japan, 2002

SHUTTER HOUSE

FOR A PHOTOGRAPHER

Miriam, Tokyo, Japan, 2003

TEMPORARY GUGGENHEIM TOKYO

Odaiba, Tokyo, Japan, designed 2001