Cardboard Cathedral

Located at the edge of the city, the Cardboard Cathedral is a quietly powerful symbol of hope.

After the 2011 earthquake forced the closure of Christ Church Cathedral, the Anglican community needed a new home.  The result was the Transitional Cathedral, also known as the Cardboard Cathedral.

The cathedral was designed by renowned Japanese architect Shigeru Ban, famous for his innovative work using recycled cardboard tubes to create dignified, practical buildings for disaster-stricken communities around the world. His philosophy is simple but radical: temporary doesn’t have to mean inferior. It can be beautiful as well.

At first glance, the materials surprise people.  Sturdy cardboard tubes form the soaring roof, supported by timber and steel. Polycarbonate panels let light spill softly inside, while shipping containers make up the side walls. A concrete slab anchors it all. At the front, large triangular stained-glass panels echo the Rose Window of the original cathedral, offering a visual link between past and present.

Inside, the space feels calm and uplifting. Seating around 700 people, the cathedral is intimate yet open. Natural light filters through the glass, creating a sense of peace that invites reflection, regardless of belief.

More than just a place of worship, the Cardboard Cathedral has become a living part of Christchurch’s community life. It hosts services, concerts, arts and music programmes, and public events.

In a city reshaped by disaster, the Cardboard Cathedral stands as a reminder that even temporary structures can carry lasting meaning. It tells a Christchurch story: one of innovation, compassion, and the determination to build something hopeful, even when everything has changed.

"Welcome to you, whoever you are – visitor, new person, regular or occasional churchgoer. You are welcome here, in this Anglican Cathedral for everyone, for people of all faiths and none." Dean Bosco Peters.