Courtesy of Shigeru Ban Architects
“Shigeru Ban is a tireless architect whose work exudes optimism. Where others may see insurmountable challenges, Ban sees a call to action. Where others might take a tested path, he sees the opportunity to innovate. He is a committed teacher who is not only a role model for younger generation, but also an inspiration.” — Pritzker Jury 2014
Citing his innovative approach to structure and material as well as his commitment to compassionate design, the Pritzker Jury has selected Japanese architect Shigeru Ban as the 2014 winner of the Pritzker Prize. Ban is the thirty-eighth recipient of the Pritzker Prize and its seventh Japanese recipient.
Ban first gained international recognition for his experimental, creative use of unconventional materials, particularly paper and cardboard. However, he has more recently gained fame for bringing low-cost, high-quality design to those most in need of it, such as refugees and victims of natural disaster.
According to the jury, the Pritzker Prize recognizes architects who both display “excellence in built work and who make a significant and consistent contribution to humanity.” Shigeru Ban, whose approach is as innovative as it is humanitarian, “reflects this spirit of the prize to the fullest.” Click here for a selection of some of Shigeru Ban’s work.
Haesley Nine Bridges Golf Club House, Korea, 2010
Photo by Hiroyuki Hirai
Curtain Wall House, Tokyo, Japan, 1995
Photo by Hiroyuki Hirai
Cardboard Cathedral, Christchurch, New Zealand, 2013
Photo by Stephen Goodenough
Post-Tsunami housing project in Kirinda, Sri Lanka. 2007
Paper Log House, Bhuj, India, 2001
Photo by Kartikeya Shodhan
Paper Emergency Shelter for Haiti, Port-au-Prince, Haiti, 2010
Photo by Shigeru Ban Architects