Shigeru Ban was born in 1957 in Tokyo, Japan. He went on to study in the Southern California Institute of architecture and later on in Cooper Union’s School of Architecture where he studied with John Hejduk, who inspired him to start exploring the so-called ‘three dimensional poetry and geometric elements’ of design. Ban is a renowned architect and his work is mainly focusing on using recycled cardboard paper tubes.

Ban’s work is characterized by constant search for expressing the concept behind the building as opposed to focusing on new and innovative materials or techniques. His eastern roots and western education has given him the chance to blend building techniques. He is famous for utilizing paper and cardboard tubing for constructing houses. This has resulted in him producing disaster accommodation primarily made out of paper which offers low cost of construction and low waste production. One of his most famous constructions includes the Japanese pavilion at Expo 2000 in Hanover which was fully recycled after the end of the exhibition. He is described as an environmentalist, experimentalist and being completely rational about his approach and mode of work.