Shigeru Ban has been awarded the 2026 American Institute of Architects (AIA) Gold Medal, recognizing his pioneering contributions to architecture through innovative use of sustainable materials and humanitarian design.
Award Significance
The AIA Gold Medal, established in 1907, is architecture’s highest honor bestowed by the institute and one of the profession’s most prestigious awards. Past recipients include Frank Lloyd Wright, Le Corbusier, I.M. Pei, and Norman Foster. The award acknowledges lifetime achievement in advancing the field through design excellence, leadership, and societal impact.
Shigeru Ban’s Contributions
Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, born in 1957, is renowned for his advocacy of paper and cardboard as viable structural materials, particularly in disaster relief housing. His firm, Shigeru Ban Architects, has designed iconic projects such as the Centre Pompidou-Metz, the Mount Fuji World Heritage Centre, and temporary structures using shipping containers and paper tubes for refugees following earthquakes in Japan, Turkey, and Haiti.
Ban founded the Voluntary Architects’ Network (VAN) to provide pro bono disaster relief architecture and has taught at institutions like Harvard and MIT. His work emphasizes environmental responsiveness, cultural sensitivity, and rapid deployment in crisis zones.
Selection Process
The 2026 recipient was selected by the AIA College of Fellows through a rigorous jury process reviewing nominations for exceptional contributions to the profession. The award will be presented at the AIA Conference on Architecture in 2026.
This recognition underscores Ban’s influence in shifting global architecture toward sustainability, social responsibility, and material innovation.
Cover image: Shigeru Ban, photographed on July 17, 2019, in Tokyo by Nobuyoshi Araki via NY Times.
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
