Japanese architect Shigeru Ban has earned much praise for his wide-ranging activities and innovative approach to addressing contemporary problems through architecture and design, such as using recycled cardboard tubes as a structural material to provide housing for disaster victims.

Besides his dedication to humanitarian efforts, Ban’s interest in materials expresses his minimalist ideology, one that often leads him to choose existing materials and techniques over state-of-the-art solutions. Ban was involved in selecting the more than 100 important works in this publication, divided into five categories, that together reflect a clear departure from other architects of his generation.

Japanese architect Shigeru Ban has earned much praise for his wide-ranging activities and innovative approach to addressing contemporary problems through architecture and design, such as using recycled cardboard tubes as a structural material to provide housing for disaster victims.

Besides his dedication to humanitarian efforts, Ban’s interest in materials expresses his minimalist ideology, one that often leads him to choose existing materials and techniques over state-of-the-art solutions. Ban was involved in selecting the more than 100 important works in this publication, divided into five categories, that together reflect a clear departure from other architects of his generation.