shigeru ban: architecture and humanitarian activities

a view into the exhibition at art tower mitoimage courtesy art tower mito and blumer-lehmann AG

shigeru ban’s career is brought to public attention in his first major retrospective, currently being shown at art tower mito, in mito, ibaraki prefecture, japan.curated by sayako kadowaki and entitled ‘architecture and humanitarian activities’, the show explores his early works and pioneering new architectural materials, the (ongoing) disaster projects, and the diverse activities in the social housing sector — highlighting the achievements of the architect as well as his vision and spirit to challenge social issues and disasters.

ban’s cardboard cathedral in the largest city on the south island of new zealand is among the latest in a succession of projects he has undertaken at the sites of natural and humanitarian disasters. it was the partial destruction of the city’s original stone-built christchurch cathedral in a february 2011 earthquake that prompted him to suggest building a temporary replacement in cardboard.

ban’s cardboard cathedral in the largest city on the south island of new zealand is among the latest in a succession of projects he has undertaken 
at the sites of natural and humanitarian disasters. it was the partial destruction of the city’s original stone-built christchurch cathedral in a 
february 2011 earthquake that prompted him to suggest building a temporary replacement in cardboard.

 the exhibition features architectural models, mock ups, photographs, videos of his major and important works, furniture, installation and never-before-shown architectural plans. some works are being exhibited as either 1:1 recreations or 1:5 large-scale models, distributed throughout the grounds of the museum or within the galleries, allowing visitors to inspect details and his use of materials up close. these include both completed buildings and a number of projects next to be finished within the year 2013, including the TEMEDIA AG building in zurich (scheduled for completion this may).

shigeru ban — architecture and humanitarian activities at art tower mito runs till may 12,2013.

a view into the exhibition at art tower mitoimage courtesy art tower mito and blumer-lehmann AG

woven timber structure, model of column detail of centre pompidou-metz at 1:5 scaleimage courtesy art tower mito and blumer-lehmann AG

close-upimage courtesy art tower mito and blumer-lehmann AG

woven timber structure columns, detail image of centre pompidou-metzimage © alexandre prevot

close-up of a study for the ‘nine bridges golf club’ columns image courtesy art tower mito and blumer-lehmann AG

TAMEDIA construction modelimage courtesy art tower mito and blumer-lehmann AGsee the designboom article on the TAMEDIA building.see updates

the new headquarters and radio studios for the swiss media company TAMEDIA is situated in the heart of zurich.from an architectural point of view one of the main features of the project is the proposition of a main structural system entirely designed in timber where its innovative character from a technical and environmental standpoint, gives the building a unique appearance from the interior space as well as from the surrounding city. all the joints where horizontal beams meet vertical columns are fashioned with giant wooden pegs — no metal, not even a nail, is used.

close-up of the joinery image courtesy shigeru ban — architecture and humanitarian activities at art tower mito and blumer-lehmann AG

image showing TAMEDIA building under constructionimage courtesy shigeru ban architects

TAMEDIA building under constructionimage courtesy shigeru ban architects

 a view into the exhibitionimage courtesy art tower mito and blumer-lehmann AG

a view into the exhibitionimages courtesy shigeru ban — architecture and humanitarian activities at art tower mito and blumer-lehmann AG

 close-up of construction of pavilionimage courtesy art tower mito and blumer-lehmann AG

‘temporary paper pavilions,’ evacuation center great east japan earthquake, march 2011image courtesy shigeru ban architects

the paper structure and mosquito nets are creating a bit of a privacy setting within the communal spaceimage courtesy shigeru ban architects

cardboard wallimage courtesy art tower mito and blumer-lehmann AG

image courtesy art tower mito and blumer-lehmann AG

UNHCR refugee camp in rwandaimage courtesy shigeru ban architects

full-size mock-up of paper emergency shelter for UNHCR, developed for congo refugees in rwanda, 1999 image courtesy art tower mito and blumer-lehmann AG

VIA the japan times article by julian worrall