Support act: Shigeru Ban’s impermanent designs leave a lasting impression in Sydney
Humanitarian efforts are best appreciated when experienced at ground level. The centrepiece of Pritzker Prize-winning Japanese architect Shigeru Ban’s first Australian exhibition at the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation (SCAF) best demonstrates this principle. A model of his renowned Cardboard Cathedral in Christchurch, New Zealand – originally built from paper tubes, timber, polycarbonate and stained glass to temporarily replace the 19th-century cathedral destroyed in the 2011 earthquake – soars upon the gallery floor. A large hole piercing its nave permits viewers to immerse themselves within to fully comprehend both its structural ingenuity and ethereal beauty.
Ban’s ethical and constructive principles inform the exhibition, which features prototypes for various projects and outdoor structures. While it links elements of his commercial work, including a 4m-long undulating bamboo model for his Japanese Pavilion at the Hanover EXPO of 2000, it primarily focuses upon his temporary architecture in natural disaster zones over the past 20 years. A display of innovative joinery made from cardboard tubes, plastic sleeves, wood and metal bolts is animated through screened footage of their low cost assembled outcomes: schools, temporary housing and communal centres for victims around the world by his Voluntary Architects Network.
'I love to make monuments, too, but I thought perhaps we can use our experience and knowledge more for the general public, even for those who have lost their houses in natural disasters,' states Ban.
The adjoining courtyard houses two of Ban’s signature disaster relief shelters. They utilise natural elements and cheap, locally sourced materials including recycled milk crates. His first, realised in Kobe in 1995, comprises walls constructed from rows of cardboard tubes, while his most recent, an evolved Paper Log House designed in response to the Ecuador earthquake of 2016, is supported by a simplified frame of cardboard tubes clad in bamboo.
Ban’s exhibition marks the final project presented by SCAF after a decade-long programme. It will evolve into a centre for the exchange of ideas on contemporary culture through the implementation of talks, events and workshops. To coincide with the exhibition’s launch, Ban will present a talk at the Sydney Opera House focusing on his altruistic work.
INFORMATION
’The inventive work of Shigeru Ban: SCAF Projects 34 & 35’ is on view until 1 July. For more information, visit the Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation website
ADDRESS
Sherman Contemporary Art Foundation
16–20 Goodhope Street
Paddington
Sydney NSW 2021
Wallpaper* Newsletter
Receive our daily digest of inspiration, escapism and design stories from around the world direct to your inbox
-
Sydney’s The Darling shows off its playful and sophisticated suites
The Darling in Sydney unveils its recently renovated suites by Fender Katsalidis, paying homage to the surrounding cityscape
By Tianna Williams Published
-
New Rivian R2 and R3 downsize a format to increase the EV company’s standings
The Californian manufacturer has revealed the new Rivian R2 and R3, all-electric SUVs that combine practicality with functional elegance
By Jonathan Bell Published
-
Studio Twenty Seven opens a sprawling flagship in New York
Studio Twenty Seven, the celebrated collectible design platform, joins Tribeca’s gallery scene with a new space that is an extension of the gallerists' own home
By Adrian Madlener Published
-
Rebuilt Shigeru Ban houses launch at the architect’s Simose Art Museum in Hiroshima
A series of rebuilt Shigeru Ban houses become available to experience and rent at the Simose Art Museum, designed by the same architect, in Hiroshima, Japan
By Jens H Jensen Published
-
Shigeru Ban shelter design offers privacy for Turkey-Syria earthquake victims
Shigeru Ban shelter designs, providing disaster relief in Turkey Syria and Ukraine, utilise natural materials
By Hannah Silver Published
-
On the road: these nomadic homes could set you free
By Charlotte Jansen Last updated
-
Powered by solar panels, La Seine Musicale is a new icon for Paris
By Harriet Thorpe Last updated
-
Domestic dynasty: the Japanese house since 1945
By Harriet Thorpe Last updated
-
Big winner: Alejandro Aravena scoops the prestigious 2016 Pritzker Prize
By Ellie Stathaki Last updated
-
Celebrating Japan: an exhibition of architectonic models at La Triennale di Milano
By Sujata Burman Last updated
-
Shigeru Ban encases the new Aspen Art Museum in a woven wood façade
By Pei-Ru Keh Last updated