Print and Electronic Library Resources for Study and Research

The VILNIUS TECH Faculty of Architecture community and the Embassy of Japan in Lithuania are delighted to invite you to an open lecture by Pritzker Prize-winning architect SHIGERU BAN: “Balancing Architectural Works and Social Contributions” 22 September, 2026 12:00 VILNIUS TECH, T2 209, Trakų g. 1, Vilnius The lecture is free and open to all. Please register by filling out this form. Hear from Japanese architect Shigeru Ban as he reflects on his career to date, including his three decades in disaster relief and humanitarian architecture. Celebrated for his innovative use of renewable materials and rapid-response strategies in humanitarian architecture, Shigeru Ban’s work demonstrates the power of architecture to drive positive change in post-disaster environments, both natural and man-made. His revolutionary work with paper tubes shows how modest materials can achieve remarkable results – from rapid-response emergency structures to elegant buildings intended to last – while his timber structures push the possibilities of environmental stewardship. This approach to materials innovation combined with his deep commitment to architecture’s social responsibility has transformed global disaster response and continues to spark conversations at the intersection of architecture, sustainability, and humanitarian aid. During a time of climate change, escalating natural disasters and global conflicts, the lessons from his work are more urgent than ever, reminding us how resilient and adaptable structures can save lives and rebuild communities. In his 2026 lecture, “Balancing Architectural Works and Social Contributions”, Ban will share his invaluable perspectives on designing after disaster, reflecting on this work within the context of his varied and distinguished career to date. Architect Shigeru Ban Born in Tokyo in 1957. Graduated from the Cooper Union. Started working for Arata Isozaki & Associates in 1982. Founded Shigeru Ban Architects in 1985. Became consultant to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in 1995. Established the NGO, Voluntary Architects' Network (VAN) in the same year to support disaster relief. Selected works include Centre Pompidou- Metz, Oita Prefecture Art Museum, Mt. Fuji World Heritage Centre, Shizuoka, Musical Complex of La Seine Musicale, and Swatch Omega Headquarters. Recipient of multiple awards, including Grande Médaille d’or de l’Académie d’architecture, France (2004), Grand Prize of AIJ (2009) , le grade d’officier for L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France (2010), Auguste Perret Prize (2011), Art Prize from the Japanese Agency for Cultural Affairs (2012), le grade de commandeur for L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres, France (2014), Pritzker Architecture Prize (2014), Medal of Honor with Purple Ribbon, Japan (2017) , Mother Teresa Social Justice Award (2017) and Princess of Asturias Award for Concord (2022). An ambassador among "distinguished thinkers and practitioners" for the New European Bauhaus high-level roundtable (2021), Praemium Imperiale for Architecture(2024). Currently Special Guest Professor at Shibaura Institute of Technology Professor. Event format After the keynote, you'll have the chance to ask questions during an audience Question and Answer session. Please register by filling out this form. Photography and filming might take place during the event. Facebook event Event photo: Hiroyuki Hirai. Mt. Fuji World Heritage Center, 2017, Shizuoka, Japan

You can find the photo gallery at the bottom of the page. September is a time of new beginnings for the VILNIUS TECH community. Familiar faces have returned to the university, while first-year students have opened the university doors as official students for the very first time. During the September 1st celebration, the academic community was invited to start the new academic year with curiosity, boldness, and no fear of making mistakes. In his welcoming speech, Rector Romualdas Kliukas encouraged the more than two thousand new students to experiment, explore, and discover: "We are here to help you prepare to live and work in an increasingly smart world. So that in a few years, you will be able to make high-quality, responsible, and ethical decisions in a world where intelligence is no longer exclusively a human trait. We promise that, like everyone at our university, you will eventually acquire the 'techno-gene'. We will experiment a lot and explore patiently until we find solutions. And we will keep reminding you that every invention starts with play," the Rector said. Recalling his own experience as a graduate of the university's Faculty of Civil Engineering, Dainius Dundulis, Chairman of the VILNIUS TECH Council, highlighted how drastically technology and the work of an engineer have changed over the past few decades. However, according to the alumnus, technological advancement does not eliminate human responsibility. On the contrary, it requires the ability to understand not just individual calculations, but their broader context as well. "An engineer, a technical person, must not only plug numbers into formulas but also understand the structure and be able to modify the entire process even without technology," said the Chairman of the VILNIUS TECH Council. Gabrielė Kovalevskytė, President of the VILNIUS TECH Students' Representation (SA), also welcomed the new students and the entire academic community. Recalling her own first year at the university, she repeated the words she had once heard: the university will offer a student countless opportunities—the most important thing is not to be afraid to seize them. "Be bold, creative, and determined. Ask questions, don't be afraid to make mistakes; fall down, get back up, help your friend up, and move forward with your head held high!" G. Kovalevskytė told the first-year students. According to her, student life is not just about lectures, exams, and assessments. It is also about new friendships, events, discussions, shared experiences, and even mistakes that later turn into fond memories. Therefore, for the new academic year, she encouraged them not only to strive for academic results but to truly experience student life. Following the official part, first-year students were invited to a special first lecture titled "Instructions on How to Fall in Love with the University," hosted by lecturer Žilvinas Beniušis. Meanwhile, international students attended the "Finding Your Way: Real Stories from Senior Students" lecture, organized by the International Studies Centre. In the evening, VILNIUS TECH invited residents of Vilnius to the fifth annual CREATORS' FEST, where guests enjoyed musical performances, entertainment, and a spectacular start to the new academic year. You can find all the moments from the event here: Morning part of the celebration, photos by Aleksas Jaunius Morning part of the celebration, photos by Simas Bernotas Evening part: CREATORS' FEST, photos by Simas Bernotas.