Shigeru Ban to speak at RIBA

In partnership with the Japan Foundation, the RIBA is proud to host a lecture by the 2014 Pritzker Prize Laureate Shigeru Ban on Tuesday 23 February. Speaking for the first time in the UK for seven years, Shigeru Ban will discuss his work with disaster relief projects through the Voluntary Architects’ Network (VAN), an NGO established by the architect in 1995. He will also talk about his other projects worldwide.

Shigeru Ban’s 2015 Nepal Project is currently on display in the Creation from Catastrophe: How Architects Rebuild Communities exhibition at the RIBA Architecture Gallery. The project demonstrates Ban’s unique approach to rebuilding after disasters, using sustainable and vernacular building techniques and materials such as paper tubes, bamboo and brick rubble.

Born in Tokyo in 1957, Shigeru Ban graduated from the Cooper Union and started working for Arata Isozaki & Associates in 1982. He founded Shigeru Ban Architects in 1985 and became consultant to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1995.

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Notes to Editors:

1. For further information contact Beatrice Cooke in the RIBA press office: beatrice.cooke@riba.org; 020 7307 3813.
2. For further information about the Creation from Catastrophe exhibition go to: https://www.architecture.com/Explore/ExhibitionsandEvents/CreationFromCatastrophe/CreationFromCatastrophe.aspx
3. The Architecture Gallery at RIBA is open from 10am – 5pm Monday to Sunday and until 8pm every Tuesday. Free entrance. RIBA is at 66 Portland Place, London, W1B 1AD. Nearest tubes are Oxford Circus, Regent’s Park and Great Portland Street. The exhibition is part of a RIBA season of wide ranging events and workshops, designed for all ages and experience levels. For further information go to: www.architecture.com
4. The Architecture Gallery opened in February 2014 in the RIBA’s Grade II* listed Art Deco HQ. Through regular, free exhibitions that explore the past, present and future of our built environment the gallery programme will help visitors discover and explore architecture. The gallery offers the opportunity for the RIBA to display its world class collections contained in the British Architectural Library.
5. The exhibition and talks season is supported by The Japan Foundation, London www.jpf.org.uk
6. Ruskin Air Management sponsors the Creation from Catastrophe exhibition. It is a market leading UK manufacturer within the building services industry providing natural ventilation equipment, clean air systems, air distribution and fire safety products. Formed of 6 brands; actionair, Air Diffusion, naco, Airolution, Trion and Envirco Ruskin offers a wealth of specialist knowledge. With their own testing laboratory built to BSRIA standards Ruskin are able to fully demonstrate the capabilities of their products and success of their systems. For further information go to http://www.ruskinuk.co.uk/
7. RIBA champions better buildings, communities and the environment through architecture and our members. www.architecture.com @RIBA
8. The RIBA is a registered charity and it relies on the generosity of individuals, companies, trusts and foundations to preserve its world-class collections, to maintain free public access to its exhibitions and develop a diverse and exciting public events programme.