En 1985, Shigeru Ban fundó su propio estudio de arquitectura en Tokio.[9]​ En una visita a su madre en Japón, ella le pidió que le realizara una casa. A partir de allí los proyectos se fueron sucediendo en su país.

La primera edificación de su serie de construcciones hechas de tubos de papel fue el Paper Arbor en 1989. En esta construcción los tubos de papel fueron usados estructuralmente como pilares circulares.[10]​ Cuarenta y ocho de estos tubos fueron protegidos para que fueran impermeables, después fueron colocados en una base prefabricada de hormigón con hendiduras para recibir estos tubos de papel.[11]​.

Tras la crisis humanitaria, consecuencia del Genocidio de Ruanda, Ban propuso a la ONU la construcción de tiendas utilizando tubos de cartón en vez de elementos metálicos. Al año siguiente, el Gran terremoto de Hanshin-Awaji dejó a muchas personas sin casa durante varios meses.[12]​ Entonces Ban contribuyó a aliviar la situación de una manera económica y rápida, diseñando la Casa de papel y el Domo de papel.[13]​.

21st century

Shigeru Ban designed the Japanese pavilion for Expo 2000 in Hannover, in collaboration with German architect Frei Otto.[14] He also collaborated with the Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly with whom he presented a project for the site of the World Trade Center in New York after the attacks of September 11, 2001.[15]

Between 2008 and 2009, the management of the Pompidou Center foundation allowed Ban to build a temporary office, made of cardboard and plastic, on the terrace of the Pompidou Center in Paris to facilitate the preparation of the documentation necessary for the development and management of the Pompidou-Metz Center works.[16]​.

Ban was mobilized again after the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami. To help the victims, he built a “small city” near Ishinomaki, made of containers].[17]​ In the same sense, Ban began a project to rebuild homes for the victims of the Nepal Earthquake of April 2015.[18]​ The structures of the houses are made of framed wood, due to their flexibility, and built entirely with brick walls. Houses are built quickly and easily. Additionally, Nepalese can use them for many other purposes, such as schools.

In March 2014 Ban was announced as winner of the Pritzker Prize,[19] being the seventh architect from Japan to receive the award. The Jury stated that they chose Ban for his innovative use of materials and his humanitarian efforts around the world, citing that he is "a committed teacher who not only represents a role model for the younger generation, but also a source of inspiration."[20]​.

In June 2020, together with other architects, chefs, Nobel Prize winners in Economics and leaders of international organizations, he signed the call in favor of the purple economy ("For a cultural renaissance of the economy"), published in El País,[21]​ Corriere della Sera[22]​ and Le Monde.[23]​.

In 2022 he was awarded the Princess of Asturias Award for Concord.[24]​.

En 1985, Shigeru Ban fundó su propio estudio de arquitectura en Tokio.[9]​ En una visita a su madre en Japón, ella le pidió que le realizara una casa. A partir de allí los proyectos se fueron sucediendo en su país.

La primera edificación de su serie de construcciones hechas de tubos de papel fue el Paper Arbor en 1989. En esta construcción los tubos de papel fueron usados estructuralmente como pilares circulares.[10]​ Cuarenta y ocho de estos tubos fueron protegidos para que fueran impermeables, después fueron colocados en una base prefabricada de hormigón con hendiduras para recibir estos tubos de papel.[11]​.

Tras la crisis humanitaria, consecuencia del Genocidio de Ruanda, Ban propuso a la ONU la construcción de tiendas utilizando tubos de cartón en vez de elementos metálicos. Al año siguiente, el Gran terremoto de Hanshin-Awaji dejó a muchas personas sin casa durante varios meses.[12]​ Entonces Ban contribuyó a aliviar la situación de una manera económica y rápida, diseñando la Casa de papel y el Domo de papel.[13]​.

21st century

Shigeru Ban designed the Japanese pavilion for Expo 2000 in Hannover, in collaboration with German architect Frei Otto.[14] He also collaborated with the Uruguayan architect Rafael Viñoly with whom he presented a project for the site of the World Trade Center in New York after the attacks of September 11, 2001.[15]

Between 2008 and 2009, the management of the Pompidou Center foundation allowed Ban to build a temporary office, made of cardboard and plastic, on the terrace of the Pompidou Center in Paris to facilitate the preparation of the documentation necessary for the development and management of the Pompidou-Metz Center works.[16]​.

Ban was mobilized again after the 2011 Japan earthquake and tsunami. To help the victims, he built a “small city” near Ishinomaki, made of containers].[17]​ In the same sense, Ban began a project to rebuild homes for the victims of the Nepal Earthquake of April 2015.[18]​ The structures of the houses are made of framed wood, due to their flexibility, and built entirely with brick walls. Houses are built quickly and easily. Additionally, Nepalese can use them for many other purposes, such as schools.

In March 2014 Ban was announced as winner of the Pritzker Prize,[19] being the seventh architect from Japan to receive the award. The Jury stated that they chose Ban for his innovative use of materials and his humanitarian efforts around the world, citing that he is "a committed teacher who not only represents a role model for the younger generation, but also a source of inspiration."[20]​.

In June 2020, together with other architects, chefs, Nobel Prize winners in Economics and leaders of international organizations, he signed the call in favor of the purple economy ("For a cultural renaissance of the economy"), published in El País,[21]​ Corriere della Sera[22]​ and Le Monde.[23]​.

In 2022 he was awarded the Princess of Asturias Award for Concord.[24]​.