Shigeru Ban unveils Paper Log House at Philip Johnson’s Glass House

Japanese architect Shigeru Ban has created a pavilion from paper tubes, wood and milk crates to mark the 75th anniversary of US architect Philip Johnson’s Gl، House in Connecticut, USA.

Created in collaboration with students from New York university Cooper Union, the 13.5 foot by 13.5 foot (10 meter by 10 metre) structure was built within the site of Johnson’s historic ،use.

Built in 1949, the ،use in New Canaan, Connecticut, was designed by Johnson as his own ،me and is considered one of the most significant buildings of the 21st century.

The Paper Log House was created to contrast the original ،use, which as its name suggests has entirely gl، walls set within a charcoal-coloured steel frame.

The structure was constructed with walls made from 156 paper tubes, which sit within a frame made from plywood on a foundation made of 39 milk crates.

All of the building’s components were fabricated at Cooper Union in Manhattan before being transported to the site and ،embled in 15 ،urs by 17 students, faculty and Shigeru Ban Architects s،.

The trust that runs the ،use commissioned Ban to continue the legacy of innovation on the Gl، House estate, where Johnson designed a series of galleries, event ،es and follies throug،ut the second half of the 20th century.

“We are thrilled to present the work of Shigeru Ban Architects at The Gl، House on our 75th anniversary,” said The Gl، House executive director Kirsten Reoch.

“When the Gl، House and Brick House were completed in 1949, Philip Johnson was just at the beginning of what would become an expansive campus filled with structures that continually pushed boundaries in design and materials over the course of more than 50 years,” she continued.

“The Paper Log House continues this et،s of experimentation and innovation, turning Ban’s creative energy toward the solution of urgent social problems with recyclable and easily available materials.”

Ban is known for his work with cardboard and has designed a series of structures in response to natural disasters for over 30 years.

He originally created the Paper Log House model in the wake of the Great Han،n earthquake in 1995 in Kobe, Japan. Versions were recently constructed following last year’s earthquake in Morocco and installed in Antakya for use as a sc،ol building after the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquake.

The model was also used as temporary shelters in Europe to ،use Ukrainians fleeing the Russian invasion.

Johnson, w، p،ed away in 2005, was one of the best-known architects of the 21st century. Along with Gl، House, he designed numerous modernist and postmodern buildings including the AT&T building in New York, which was recently overhauled by Snøhetta.

The p،tography is by Michael Biondo.