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We were thrilled to see the announcement this week that architect Shigeru Ban has won the Pritzker Architecture Prize, one of architecture’s most important awards. Ban is notable not only for his inspired and gorgeous designs but for his humanitarian work using innovative architecture and renewable resources to help refugees and those affected by both man-made and natural disasters. Take a look at his paper tube school in China, featured in our book Dreaming Up:

Teachers and students helped construct this temporary school out of plywood and recycled heavy-duty paper tubes after an earthquake destroyed many buildings in China’s Sichuan Province. Dreaming Up author and illustrator Christy Hale shares why she chose to include Shigeru Ban’s work in her book:

In selecting the architects and structures featured in Dreaming Up: A Celebration of Building I began by considering children’s building play. What materials do they use? Children do not need prepackaged toys; they can build from whatever is at hand. In fact using recyclables encourages two qualities enormously important in creativity: resourcefulness and flexibility—essential for the problem-solvers of tomorrow. After developing my list of children’s construction activities, I then looked for architects working with visually similar materials and design challenges. This is how I made my pairings.

The new Pritzker Architecture Prize-winner, Shigeru Ban said, “Anything can be building structure material.” Ban creates elegant designs from humble materials. He is famous for upcycling industrial strength paper tubes, shipping containers, and even tea bags!

I thought my young readers would particularly like his Paper Tube School in Chengdu, a temporary school built in 2008 with the help of teachers and students after an earthquake destroyed many buildings in China’s Sichuan Province. I also wanted to showcase Ban for his humanitarian work. His architecture efficiently serves the pressing needs of disaster victims while simultaneously honoring them with beauty.

Shigeru Ban’s approach to architecture makes a great entry point when introducing young people to the art form. Use these teaching resources along with Dreaming Up to inspire next generation of architects:

Recycled Building Hands-On Classroom Activity

Great Teaching Ideas for Dreaming Up from The Classroom Bookshelf

LEGO’s Read! Build! Play! Summer Reading List and Activity Guide

The esteemed Pritzker Prize for excellence in architecture has this year been awarded to Kazuyo Sejima and Ryue Nishizawa of the firm Sanaa. Read all about it here.

They designed the New Museum in New York. Click here or on the picture for an interactive audio and slide show about the building (which has been described as a "stack of boxes").





Its all very modern and cutting edge. The art in this museum is the kind that people argue about as even being art. Installations and things that make you scratch your head a bit. This isn't a critique, I'm just saying. I think its great, even though what I do is about as far away from that 'kind' of art as you can get.


Speaking of the kind of art I do, I have to share that I failed spectacularly with my attempt at rendering the cupcake and thorns that I had going last week. The cupcake was divine, then I ruined it by 'fine arting it up' with the thorns. Oh, I get points for conceiving the piece, and getting as far along with it as I did. But sometimes you have to know when to pull back. It was never going to be what I had intended. I will save it though - someday I may look at it with fresh eyes and see some new potential in it.


Back to being a 'regular' illustrator today. I'm working on an architectural children's book as well as a design-y food poster-type piece. So I'd better get back to the board!

I'll do architectural things today.

First up, this year's Pritzker Prize has been awarded to Swiss architect Peter Zumthor. You can read the article about it here in the Times.
Congratulations Mr. Zumthor! I'm sure (and hope) we'll be seeing you on Charlie Rose in the near future.

This is his art museum in Breganz, Austria.
© The Times and Mr. Zumthor

What a cool building! If you read the article, be sure to click on the "more pictures" or mulitmedia feature to see more samples of his work.

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In less serious, but still sort of architectural news, a chuch in Sweden has unveiled its sculpture of Jesus, constructed entirely of Legos.