Cardboard Cathedral

Cardboard Cathedral
Tony Hisgett from Birmingham, UK · CC BY 2.0 · source
Name	Cardboard Cathedral
Caption	The cathedral viewed from the northwest
Location	Christchurch Central City, Christchurch, New Zealand
Coordinates	43.5310, S, 172.6410, E...
Religious affiliation	Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia
Consecration year	2013
Architect	Shigeru Ban
Architectural type	Transitional cathedral
Groundbreaking	2012
Completed	2013
Capacity	700
Materials	Cardboard tubes, timber, steel, polycarbonate, concrete

Cardboard Cathedral. Officially named the Transitional Cathedral, it is a distinctive Anglican church constructed in the Christchurch Central City following the devastating 2011 Christchurch earthquake. Designed by the renowned Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, the structure is notable for its innovative primary building material: large cardboard tubes. Serving as a temporary replacement for the damaged ChristChurch Cathedral, it functions as both a place of worship and a community symbol of resilience and innovation.

History and background

The cathedral's genesis lies in the widespread destruction caused by the 2011 Christchurch earthquake, which severely damaged the historic ChristChurch Cathedral in Cathedral Square. With the future of the 19th century Gothic Revival landmark uncertain, the Anglican Diocese of Christchurch sought a provisional solution. Bishop Victoria Matthews and other church leaders commissioned a transitional building to serve the congregation and the wider city. The project was fast-tracked as part of the broader Christchurch rebuild effort, aiming to provide a functional and inspirational space while long-term decisions regarding the original cathedral were debated. The site chosen was several blocks from the Cathedral Square, on the location of the former St John the Baptist Church, Latimer Square, which had been demolished after the quake.

Design and construction

The design was entrusted to Pritzker Prize-winning architect Shigeru Ban, known for his pioneering work with paper tube structures and humanitarian architecture following disasters like the 1995 Great Hanshin earthquake. Ban collaborated with local Christchurch-based Warren and Mahoney architects and structural engineers from Holmes Consulting Group. Construction began in 2012, utilizing a simple A-frame design that could be erected quickly. The primary structural elements are 98 large, waterproofed cardboard tubes, each weighing around 500 kilograms, sourced from New Zealand's Sonoco factory. These were combined with timber laminated veneer lumber, steel, concrete foundations, and a roof of translucent polycarbonate panels. The building was completed and consecrated in August 2013.

Architectural features

The building presents a striking triangular form, with the cardboard tubes creating a dramatic, rib-like nave that soars to a height of 24 meters at the altar end. The eight-meter-wide tubes are arranged to form a steeply pitched roof, allowing light to filter through the polycarbonate cladding. At the eastern end, a towering rose window made from 49 triangular panels of stained glass incorporates imagery from the original cathedral's Rose Window, designed by New Zealand artist Sarah Smuts-Kennedy. The interior is a single, open volume with a capacity for 700 people, featuring a concrete floor, a plywood chancel, and polycarbonate containers filled with sand serving as foundations for the cardboard columns. The acoustics are enhanced by the material properties and the space's geometry.

Use and events

Beyond regular Anglican services, the cathedral has served as a versatile venue for major civic and cultural events in Christchurch. It has hosted concerts by the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, memorial services for national tragedies, and significant events like the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup welcome ceremony. It is a key stop on architectural and post-earthquake tours of the city. The space is also used for exhibitions, lectures, and community gatherings, solidifying its role as a multi-purpose hub. Its operation is supported by the Cathedral of the Blessed Sacrament and other community partners.

Significance and reception

The structure is internationally recognized as a landmark of humanitarian architecture and sustainable design. It demonstrated how innovative, low-cost materials could be used for dignified permanent architecture in post-disaster recovery. The project earned Shigeru Ban further acclaim and was a finalist for the World Architecture Festival awards. Within New Zealand, it is celebrated as a powerful symbol of Christchurch's resilience and creative rebirth after the earthquakes. It received praise from architectural critics worldwide, including in publications like Architectural Record and Dezeen, for its beauty, simplicity, and profound symbolic value. While intended as transitional, its cultural importance may ensure its longevity as a permanent fixture in the city's landscape.

Category:Churches in Christchurch Category:Buildings and structures completed in 2013 Category:Shigeru Ban buildings