Shigeru Ban, Tokyo
Japanese architect Shigeru Ban arrived on the European scene at the Expo 2000 in Hannover with his Japanese Pavilion. The general public reacted with wonder in observing that it was possible to create buildings out of paper structures. But only few are aware that this manner of construction is not aesthetically driven, but rather acts as a solution for temporary housing in catastrophe areas, which this innovative architect has developed. His emergency accommodations made of paper rolls were first used a few years ago after the earthquake in Kobe. The church he built out of paper is still standing and operational, having lost none of its symbolism.
To reduce the architectural quality and aesthetic of his buildings simply to their exceptional material would be a mistake, despite the fact that his latest design for a temporary museum competition in Tokyo displays such conceptual perfection.
The presentation of the designs for this museum are the focus for this exhibit in Aedes East, along with such other projects as the Canal museum in Puilly-en Auxois, France, the Imai Day Care Center of the hospital in Odate, Japan, and the Unichiyo Memorial Museum in Japan.
Ban’s office won the World Architecture Award in June of 2001 for the Japanese Pavilion from the Expo in Hannover.
Without denying his Japanese influences, Shigeru Ban represents the best aspects of New York Formalism. He received international acclaim with his early Villa designs, each of which concentrated on a theme: „The Forest“, „Nine Rooms“, „Wall-less House“, „2/5 House“, and „Curtain Wall House“. The „Furniture House“ is constructed of ready-made components. His designs are mostly conceptual, as the „Odawara Pavilion“, or often ironic, as the „Curtain Wall House“ which was one of the highlights of the 1999 MOMA Exhibit, „The Un-Private House“. A series of photographs will help explain these projects.
The strength of this architect is his ability to combine disparate architectural methods into expressions which resonate with clarity.
Projektleitung: Ulla Giesler
Speakers at the opening are
Kristin Feireiss, Berlin
Kaye Geipel, Journalist, Berlin
Nishim Ura, First Secretary, Japanese Embassy Berlin
An Aedes catalogue will be published (€ 10,-)
