JP

Organization

Research Division

Disaster Humanities and Social Science Division
International Strategy for Disaster Mitigation Lab
Visiting Professor
Bachelor of Architecture
Research Subject(s)
We carry out activities with students and volunteers, such as improving evacuation shelters, and designing and building temporary/reconstruction houses at disaster affected areas in Japan and overseas.
Key Words
architectural design / industrial design / disaster relief / reconstruction plan
Website
Research Activities

As temporary housings are suitable for flatlands, it is usually difficult to provide the required number of units after disaster strikes. For such case in Onagawa, Miyagi, we used 20ft shipping containers and stacked them in a checkerboard pattern up to three stories. Based on this achievement, we will develop it as a cross-sectional joint project.

After large-scale disasters, evacuees shelter in gymnasiums and are forced to live there for a few months until temporary housings are deployed. It is crucial to maintain privacy and to prevent infections. Our Paper Partition System made of paper tubes and curtains provides private space for each family and are easy to assemble. We promote this system to support disaster victims.

Selected Works

・Centre Pompidou-Metz, France（2010）
・Cardboard Cathedral, Christchurch, New Zealand（2013）
・Oita Prefectural Art Museum, Oita, Japan（2014）
・Onagawa Station / Onagawa Onsen Yupo'po, Miyagi, Japan（2015）
・Swatch Omega, Biel/Bienne, Switzerland（2019）

Selected Memberships
  • First-Class Architect in Japan
  • New York State registered architect
  • Architectural Institute of Japan
  • The Japan Institute of Architects
  • American Institute of Architects
Selected Awards
  • L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France (le grade de commandeur)（2014）
  • The Pritzker Architecture Prize（2014）
  • Medal of Honor, Japan (Purple Ribbon)（2017）
Others

Main affiliation: SHIGERU BAN ARCHITECTS