Japanese architect Shigeru Ban calls for cities to invest in earthquake and disaster shelters with virus prevention
- Award-winning architect argues social distancing would be impossible in Japan’s shelters now and plans should be made to ease density in them
- His team has designed shelters partitioned off by a frame of sturdy paper tubes with cloth hanging two metres from the top of the cubicle to the floor
Award-winning Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, famous for designing buildings from paper tubes in disaster areas, says the world needs to think about tackling natural catastrophes in the coronavirus era.
And while he hopes the pandemic will lead to less of a crush on Tokyo’s packed commuter trains, he warns against relying too much on teleworking, stressing that hands-on contact with materials is vital for great architecture.
Speaking from his Tokyo office, the 62-year-old says cities need to start planning now to mitigate the nightmare scenario of an earthquake or typhoon striking before the pandemic has run its course.
Ban has won plaudits for his involvement in disaster relief projects around the world and urged city authorities to invest in a stock of shelters that can be deployed quickly with infection prevention in mind. “Shelters will create clusters of people. It will be too late if it takes a few days [to build them],” he says.
His team has designed shelters partitioned off by a frame of sturdy paper tubes with cloth hanging two metres (6.5 feet) from the top of the cubicle to the floor.