Shelter Made From Paper (Emergency and More)!

By guest blogger Kable Young

 

 

When one thinks of something as simple and mundane as paper, people imagine a wide variety of things from newspapers to cardboard boxes. However, buildings constructed from paper are often not on that list. One architect has decided to change that perception. Shigeru Ban, a native of Japan, has taken paper tubes and their use to a whole new level. His journey started in 1986 when he experimented with the tubes as a construction material. As he worked with them, he discovered that they were much stronger than he originally imagined. He continued with his experimentation and discovered ways to both waterproof and fireproof the tubes. In 1990, he built the first temporary structure using these paper tubes. He continued to construct iconic structures including the Japanese Pavilion at Expo 2000 in Germany. The greatest advantage of this pavilion was the fact that once it was demolished it could be completely recycled resulting in no industrial waste. Even though these feats are incredibly impressive, Ban endeavored to take the project one step further.

As he continued his work, he became disappointed that he was not working for the betterment of society. He decided that he would involve himself in the construction of temporary housing for people affected by natural disasters. In 1994, Ban went to Rwanda to help the refugees of war. The United Nations had provided the refugees with tarps; however, it was up to the refugees to gather the materials they needed to build a shelter. The common practice was to cut down trees, but this soon led to heavy threats of deforestation. The UN then started sending aluminum pipes to halt deforestation; however, the pipe was expensive and the people started to revert back to trees. At this point, Ban stepped in with his idea to use the paper tubes as a structure for these people. With the budget of fifty dollars per unit, he built fifty units to test the durability in various weather conditions. The next year, after an earthquake and subsequent fires in Japan, Ban decided to rebuild a church for the people out of paper tubes. The church was originally intended to stand for three years; however, the people loved it so much that it stayed for ten years.

This is just a small sample of his philanthropic work using these paper tubes. It is people like Shigeru Ban who are actively demonstrating the values of the paper industry. His innovation has changed the lives of millions of people all because he decided to experiment with paper tubes. The paper industry provides us with so many great opportunities for advancing society. Shigeru Ban has truly taken the initiative and reached new heights through his incredible work with paper tubes and his dedication to serve others.

See more from Shigeru Ban’s TED Talk.