Cardboard Cathedral, Anglican pro-cathedral in Christchurch, New Zealand
The Cardboard Cathedral is a house of worship in Christchurch constructed from 96 thick cardboard tubes forming an A-frame that rises approximately 24 meters high. The roof uses translucent material while shipping containers form the walls, giving the building an innovative yet temporary appearance.
The original building suffered severe damage from a powerful earthquake in 2011 that struck the city. A Japanese architect designed this quickly built replacement structure, which opened in 2013 to serve the community during the reconstruction period.
The nickname comes from the 96 cardboard tubes used in the walls and roof; the formal name is Transitional Cathedral. The tubes also appear inside as choir stalls, a lectern, collection boxes and a candle holder, and the small chapel is ringed by smaller tubes. The building hosts concerts and civic events as well as services.
The building stands on the corner of Hereford and Madras Streets, facing Latimer Square, a few blocks from the old ChristChurch Cathedral site. The main entrance is at ground level through the glazed front, and the 700-seat interior is a single open hall, so orientation is immediate. The floor is a concrete slab with level access throughout.
The cardboard tubes were treated with special waterproof coating and contain flame retardants to achieve durability. While visitors cannot see these technical details, they reveal that this seemingly temporary structure was actually built to last.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,420 contributors worldwide.
