Cardboard Cathedral

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 name derives from its unconventional building material, which became its defining feature and brought international attention. Visitors immediately notice how the cardboard tubes form the entire interior structure, creating a contemplative setting that feels less formal than traditional cathedral spaces.

The building sits at the corner of Hereford and Madras Streets in Latimer Square and is easy to locate. Visitors can enter daily, and the space is straightforward to navigate since it feels open and not overly large.

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.

Location: Christchurch City

Inception: January 1, 1864

Architects: Shigeru Ban

Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

Address: Hereford Street

Phone: +6433660046

Email: admin@christchurchcathedral.co.nz

Website: http://cardboardcathedral.org.nz

GPS coordinates: -43.53240,172.64300

Latest update: December 17, 2025 11:12