The Manggha Museum of Japanese Art and Technology in Kraków has opened Shigeru Ban: Architecture and Social Contributions, a major exhibition celebrating the work of Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban. Running until 3 May 2026, the exhibition offers an unprecedented insight into Ban's career, spanning cultural landmarks, innovative material use, and humanitarian projects.
© Manggha
Ban, renowned for his pioneering use of wood, paper, and cardboard, has redefined the relationship between aesthetics, function, and social responsibility in architecture. Highlights include the Centre Pompidou–Metz in France, Japan's Simose Art Museum, and the Paper Partition System designed for emergency shelters in Poland and Ukraine.
The exhibition features original models, drawings, diagrams, photographs, and reconstructions from Japan, France, and Ukraine, illustrating Ban's technical ingenuity and commitment to social impact. Ban's philosophy emphasises collaboration and empathy, exemplified through his work with Arata Isozaki, Frei Otto, and the Voluntary Architects' Network (VAN), which provides dignified shelter in times of crisis.
"Shigeru Ban: Architecture and Social Contributions demonstrates architecture's power to respond to human needs while inspiring innovation and change," said the museum.
About Shigeru Ban Architects:
Founded in 1985, Shigeru Ban Architects (SBA) operates from Tokyo, Paris, and New York, delivering projects globally with a focus on sustainability, structural ingenuity, and socially conscious design. Ban has received numerous accolades, including the Pritzker Architecture Prize (2014) and the Praemium Imperiale for Architecture (2024).
For more information:
Manggha Museum
[email protected]
www.manggha.pl
