“Balancing Architectural Works and Social Contributions” by Shigeru Ban

🗓 June 5
🕕 18:00
📍 Aula Magna, Polytechnic University of Tirana

Shigeru Ban is internationally recognized as one of the most visionary architects of our time, celebrated not only for his innovation in material use and construction techniques but also for his unwavering commitment to architecture as a tool for social change. As the recipient of the 2014 Pritzker Architecture Prize, Ban has consistently pushed the boundaries of conventional design, proving that architecture can be both elegant and empathetic.

This open lecture, titled “Balancing Architectural Works and Social Contributions,” explores the intersection between high design and humanitarian purpose. Ban will reflect on his extensive global portfolio, ranging from disaster relief shelters and temporary housing for refugees to celebrated permanent structures like the Paper Church in Kobe and the Cardboard Cathedral in Christchurch.

With a design ethos rooted in sustainability, affordability, and dignity, his projects challenge architects to rethink their responsibility toward communities in crisis, as well as the planet itself. As founder of the Voluntary Architects’ Network (VAN), Ban has been a global leader in applying architectural knowledge to address some of the most pressing humanitarian issues of the 21st century.