There are several reasons why Shigeru Ban uses cardboard as a construction material for his aid projects: It is always available all over the world, is inexpensive, easy to transport and erect and can be easily dismantled again. Together with other volunteers, he builds emergency shelters for victims of earthquakes and refugees in war zones. In 1995 he set up an aid organization specifically for this purpose, the "Voluntary Architects’ Network”. He wants to use his experience and expertise as an architect to help improve the conditions for those impacted by disasters.

The Cardboard Cathedral. In February 2011 the New Zealand city of Christchurch was struck by an earthquake measuring 6.3 on the Richter scale. The city center, where the cathedral had stood, suffered the worst damage. As the structure had been almost completely destroyed, the parish decided to commission Shigeru Ban to build a transitional cathedral. The replacement cathedral made of cardboard tubes was officially opened in August 2013. It was the first public building in the city to be completed following the earthquake.

The 21 m high roof structure consists mainly of 96 cardboard tubes each 60 cm in diameter and coated with waterproof polyurethane and flame retardants. The walls are made from eight disused shipping containers. Other construction materials used include timber and glass. The building can hold 700 people and has a life span of around 20 years. As well as church services, the building also hosts numerous concerts and exhibitions.

Worldwide disaster relief. Shigeru Ban travels around the entire world to help with rebuilding projects in disaster-struck areas. For example, he has been in the Philippines, Haiti and Rwanda, where he assisted victims to build emergency shelters. Following the severe earthquake in the Chinese Province of Sichuan in 2008, Shigeru Ban was engaged to design a primary school in the town of Chengdu. Working with 120 volunteers he constructed three new school buildings out of cardboard in just 40 days during the school’s summer vacation.

Pritzker prize award. In June 2014 Shigeru Ban was awarded the Pritzker prize, a highly prestigious international accolade for contemporary architects. “I would never have thought I would be considered for this award,” says the prize-winner. “I think this means that I should keep doing what I have been doing.” On the one hand, he was honored for his elegant and innovative buildings for private clients. On the other, the prize was for his creative use of unconventional materials in conjunction with his relief work in crisis zones all over the world.//

Sources:

http://www.shigerubanarchitects.com/
http://www.cardboardcathedral.org.nz/
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christchurch
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cardboard_Cathedral
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Shigeru_Ban
http://www.spiegel.de/kultur/gesellschaft/pritzker-preis-shigeru-ban-bekommt-den-architektur-oscar-a-960591.html
http://aiare.org/quote-129-shigeru-ban/