In a response to the devastating earthquake that struck the Al Haouz province of Morocco on 8th September 2023, Pritzker Architecture Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban has launched a housing project to help the earthquake’s victims. The project is led by the Voluntary Architects’ Network (VAN), a non-profit organization established by Ban in 1995 — VAN was created to offer post-disaster aid in the form of construction. Working in collaboration with the National Architecture School of Marrakech, a mock-up of Ban’s “Paper Log House” design was built at the school. This temporary form of shelter is for people in urgent need.
Shigeru Ban’s Paper Log House was first conceived in 1995 in the wake of the Kobe earthquake in Japan. The design was based around an inexpensive structure that could, in effect, be built by anyone. Despite its temporary status, Ban was keen that the house should have an “acceptable appearance” with adequate insulation — later, it could be easily dismantled and recycled. Similar to the original Paper Log House, Ban’s temporary housing solution in Morocco includes elements that facilitate assembly in a short period of time:
The foundation is made from beer crates filled with sandbags.
Walls are constructed from wooden panels inserted between paper tube columns — the columns are placed at a distance of 1.2 meters (4 feet) apart.
The roof is made from a paper tube frame and plywood. To ensure safety during construction, large holes in the plywood allow people to work from beneath, removing the need to climb onto the roof. A plastic tarpaulin protects the roof from rain.
In late September, Shigeru Ban was in Morocco to share the knowledge and experience he has gained in providing post-disaster support. The architect then assisted with finding potential locations for a roll-out of the Paper Log House. VAN has worked on disaster relief design solutions in Ukraine, Turkey, Syria, and Haiti, to name a few.
Shigeru Ban pictured center:
Since establishing Shigeru Ban Architects in 1985, Ban has explored many ways in which to work with timber, paper, and bamboo structures. A humanitarian architect, he previously asserted: “Architects are not building temporary housing because we are too busy building for the privileged people… I'm not saying I'm against building monuments, but I'm thinking we can work more for the public."
