WOOD FOR THOUGHT
The power of paper
HIROYUKI HIRAI
Shigeru Ban’ s innovative Kobe Paper Log House in Japan, 1995.
With a keen interest in paper, iconic Japanese architect Shigeru Ban has turned this material into a lifesaver. In 1995 a devastating 6.9 magnitude earthquake struck the coast of Japan with its epicentre at the major port city of Kobe. More than 6 000 people were killed and 200 000 left homeless. Known for his innovative work utilising paper and cardboard tubing as a building material, Ban was invited to respond to the urgent need for temporary relief shelter amidst the crisis.
With its low cost, easy accessibility and simple application, paper provided him with readymade materials to design and build a sturdy, economical and ecologically sustainable home for thousands who were displaced in the disaster. Dubbed the Kobe Paper Log House, this simple building has become the prototype for similar disaster relief structures built around the world for the past 20 years.
Some of Ban’ s other disaster-relief projects include the Cardboard Cathedral( 2013) in Christchurch, New Zealand; a Paper Temporary Shelter( 2014) in Cebu, Philippines; and the Onagawa Container Temporary Housing building( 2011) in Miyagi, Japan.
In celebrating Ban’ s architectural genius, a full-size version of his Kobe Paper Log House was on display at Vancouver Art Gallery’ s Offsite location as part of the‘ Offsite: Shigeru Ban’ exhibition. Under Ban’ s direction, the gallery constructed a version of the 15.8m ² structure using readily sourced materials. The inspiring exhibition also featured a large photomural documenting Ban’ s ongoing design work on global disaster-relief projects, for which he received the 2017 Mother Theresa Award.
It’ s no surprise Ban was profiled by Time magazine in its projection of 21st century innovators in the field of architecture and design.
Candace Sofianos King senior writer