The Japanese Architect Shigeru Ban is infamous for his use of paper where many of his works primarily rely on this inherently weak material to form the structure of the building. The paper can be manipulated into a variety of shapes such as tubes, honeycomb panels and membranes to create sturdy well-developed structures. In doing so Ban overtly challenges the relationship between strength and sustainability where he explores the innate characteristics of specific materials.
Emergency Shelters in Rwanda
- Ban designed three prototype shelters that primarily used paper tubes as the frame and a plastic overhead sheet for weather protection. This design was not only ethical in principle as it was inexpensive and easy to transport but it also solved an important environmental issue as refugees had Image 2&3
previously been forced to cut down trees to build their shelters creating massive deforestation problems.
The Japan Pavilion for the Hannover Exhibition
- Was constructed from a grid-shell structure of three-dimensional curves that were constructed from paper tubes. A recyclable paper membrane was constructed for the roof. Unlike the common membranes that incorporated the substance PVC that emits toxins when burnt, Ban invented unique water resistant and fire retardant paper roofing, which could be correctly disposed of.
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