Two-and-a-half years after the massive tremor that rattled Christchurch, New Zealand, the city has new cardboard cathedral. Source: Huffington Post
The original cathedral was severely damaged in that earthquake.
Now the ChristChurch Cathedral is again open for services in a transitional home designed by none other than disaster relief housing specialist, environmentalist, and cardboard building proselytizer architect Shigeru Ban.
Located a few blocks from the semi-demolished ChristChurch Cathedral in Latimer Square, Ban’s A-frame style structure with a capacity allowing for 700 parishioners was built from timber, steel, and 98 polyurethane and flame retardant-coated cardboard tube-encased beams.
Topped with a polycarbonate roof, decked with striking triangular stained glass windows etched with images from the original cathedral’s rose window, and anchored by walls formed by eight recycled shipping containers, the concrete-floored Cardboard Cathedral will also serve as an event space, concert hall, and defacto tourist destination.
Despite its temporary status as plans to build a permanent replacement for the 131-year-old Gothic Revial ChristChurch Cathedral move ahead the Cardboard Cathedral is built to last with a lifespan of five decades — when the non-cardboard replacement church is due to be completed.
It’s also 100% up to earthquake code.
“The strength of the building has nothing to do with the strength of the material.
“Even concrete buildings can be destroyed by earthquakes very easily. But paper buildings cannot be destroyed by earthquakes,” said Ban.
During a small ceremony held recently, control of the structure was at long last handed over from contractors to the Anglican diocese (naturally, a giant cardboard key was involved).
The building is now officially opened to the public and a grand dedication service is scheduled for 15 August.
