Transitional Cathedral, Cardboard Cathedral, Christchurch, New Zealand. Architect: Shigeru Ban, 2013. Cardboard tubes.


The Transitional 'Cardboard' Cathedral designed by architect Shigeru Ban is the world’s only cathedral made substantially of cardboard. After the original 1864 Cathedral was significantly damaged in the Christchurch earthquake in February 2011, Shigeru Ban with the support of associate architect Yoshie Narimatsu contributed his time free of charge and gifted the building's design to the Cathedral, Diocese and Christchurch. The Cardboard Cathedral is constructed as a simple A-frame structure from 98 cardboard tubes and 8 steel shipping containers. Each tube is coated in polyurethane, protected by a semi-transparent polycarbonate roof. The geometry is decided by plan and elevations of the original cathedral, with a gradual change in each angle of paper tubes. The triangular window design includes 49 panels and incorporates images from ChristChurch Cathedral’s original rose window. The Cathedral opened in August 2013; it has seating for 700 and also provides a venue for concerts and event


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Photo credit: © Emma Smales-VIEW / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

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