shigeru ban's latest book celebrates timber in architecture

Shigeru Ban’s latest book, Timber in Architecture

Shigeru Ban: Timber in Architecture is a book that delves into the work of Shigeru Ban Architects, a firm known for its innovative use of wood in construction for over 35 years. Within its pages, the book presents 45 projects from initial concepts to the final realization, offering insights into the challenges and benefits of using wood in buildings. Essays, technical drawings, and striking photographs collectively portray this journey. The showcased projects represent a diverse spectrum, including museum constructions, resorts, residences, and temporary shelters, designed for both natural and human-induced disasters. They highlight structures such as the Centre Pompidou-Metz, Aspen Art Museum, Mt. Fuji World Heritage Centre, and Swatch/Omega Campus, along with ongoing projects, such as the Terrace House in Vancouver, which is expected to be the tallest mass timber building upon its completion. Shigeru Ban: Timber in Architecture emphasizes the importance of considering sustainable construction practices in combating climate change, showcasing wood’s eco-friendly nature and its positive impact on the well-being of occupants, making us feel ‘measurably happier, healthier, and more productive’.

Aspen Art Museum (Aspen, Colorado, USA, 2014)

Shigeru Ban’s Architectural Commitment to Sustainability

Edited by Laura Britton and Vittorio Lovato, with contributions from Shigeru Ban and Hermann Blumen, and a foreword by Paul Hawken, the book celebrates Ban’s approach to using sustainable materials in architecture. It explores more than fifty buildings that demonstrate innovative uses of wood, including mass timber — a fireproof composite material set to transform modern construction techniques. Shigeru Ban‘s architectural legacy is rooted in a philosophy that combines inventive design with sustainable materials, evident in both commercial and humanitarian projects. Timber in Architecture offers an in-depth exploration of how wood contributes to architectural excellence, sustainability, and community well-being without overstating its significance.

Centre Pompidou Metz (Metz, France, 2010)