University
Community
International Students
Studies
Research and Innovation
For Business
Faculties
Back
  • University
  • News and events
  • Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban to visit Vilnius: When Architecture Becomes a Source of Support for People

Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban to visit Vilnius: When Architecture Becomes a Source of Support for People

September 9, 2026

On September 22, Shigeru Ban, one of the most prominent figures in contemporary architecture and a Pritzker Architecture Prize laureate, will deliver a public lecture in Vilnius. The Japanese architect views architecture as a means of helping people affected by natural disasters, conflicts, and humanitarian crises.

This will be Shigeru Ban’s first visit to Lithuania—he will be a guest at Vilnius Gediminas Technical University (VILNIUS TECH), where he will deliver a presentation in English titled “Balancing Architectural Works and Social Contributions.” During the lecture, the architect will share more than thirty years of experience, covering both innovative architectural design and humanitarian work.

In 1995, the architect founded the nongovernmental organisation “Voluntary Architects’ Network,” which assists people affected by disasters. That same year, he became a consultant to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). For his creative work and social contributions, the architect has received numerous international awards, including the 2014 Pritzker Architecture Prize.

Shigeru Ban is one of the world’s most renowned architects: the Centre Pompidou-Metz in France, the Mt. Fuji World Heritage Centre, and the Oita Prefecture Art Museum, are just a few of the many he has designed that have gone down in the history of world architecture. Paper tubes, wood, and architecture that builds resilient communities—this is the innovative direction of the creator, which is something we all desperately need in today’s world.

The lecture is organised by the VILNIUS TECH Faculty of Architecture community in collaboration with the Embassy of Japan in Lithuania. A question-and-answer session will follow the lecture.

The lecture will take place on September 22 at 12:00 p.m. in Auditorium T2 209 at VILNIUS TECH, Trakų g. 1, Vilnius. Attendance is free, but please inform about your participation by filling out this registration form.

The event will be held in English. Photography may take place during the event.

If there are any further questions, please contact agne.vete@vilniustech.lt

Photos:

  1. Architect Shigeru Ban
  2. Mount Fuji World Heritage Center, 2017, Shizuoka, Japan. Photo: Hiroyuki Hirai. 
  3. Pompidou-Metz Center, 2010, Metz, France. Photo: Didier Boy de la Tour. 
  4. Cardboard Cathedral, 2013, Christchurch, New Zealand. Photo: Brigit Anderson.

Galerija

Related news

FBM to Host a Guest Lecture on Leadership
FBM to Host a Guest Lecture on Leadership
This year, on October 13 at 14:30, at the invitation of the lecturer of the Department of Management, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Laima Jesevičiūtė-Ufartienė, the Cognizant Lithuania team leaders Rasa Žėkaitė and Eugenijus Kaupas will give a lecture “Values-Based Leadership and Ethical Leadership”. The lecture will be held in English in S3 (SRK-I), Room 109. In this session, guest speakers from Cognizant will explore what defines good leadership and what distinguishes a true leader from someone who merely holds a formal leadership position. It will emphasise that becoming a good leader is a continuous journey of development shaped by values and ethics. Particular attention will be given to the relationship between organisational values and leadership, highlighting how leaders bring organisational values to life through their behaviour and become ambassadors of these principles. Don’t miss out on this valuable and engaging session! Lecture moderator: Assoc. Prof. Dr. Laima Jesevičiūtė-Ufartienė
More
2026 Nobel Prize in Literature Awarded to Canadian Poet Anne Carson
2026 Nobel Prize in Literature Awarded to Canadian Poet Anne Carson
The Nobel Prize in Literature has been awarded to Canadian poet, essayist, and translator Anne Carson (b. 1950) "for her bold and inventive oeuvre that, in playful dialogue with the classical tradition, has created new forms for contemporary literature." According to the Swedish Academy, Anne Carson’s work is characterised by her ability to connect ancient literature with contemporary literary forms. In her writing, she freely combines poetry, prose, essays, and translation, interpreting classical texts and myths from a contemporary perspective. Anne Carson rose to prominence with works including Eros the Bittersweet, Autobiography of Red, Men in the Off Hours, and Nox. One of her best-known works, Autobiography of Red, is a novel in verse based on the ancient Greek myth of Geryon and Herakles. She has also translated works of ancient Greek literature. The Nobel Prize in Literature is awarded for outstanding literary work. The Swedish Academy announced the 2026 laureate in Stockholm on 8 October. The prize will be presented on 10 December, the anniversary of Alfred Nobel’s death. We present a selection of books by Anne Carson available in the VILNIUS TECH Virtual Library. E-books are available free of charge to members of the VILNIUS TECH community via VPN.
More