Stronger, faster, lighter, safer, smarterthese are the textiles of tomorrow. From the carbon-fiber composite bicycle frame to the cardiac constraint sock and the Mars Pathfinder landing airbags, material innovations surround us.

Based in Japan and one of an emerging generation of young, world-class architects, Shigeru Ban (b.1957) designs and builds graceful, serene structures using modest and experimental materials such as cardboard, paper tubes, bamboo and prefabricated wood.