Cardboard Cathedral

The building is on a section allocated to the Anglican Church in Christchurch's original 1850 survey opposite Latimer Square.{{cite web|title=Plot of Christchurch, March 1850|date=March 1850 |url=http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Black_Map_Christchurch_1850.jpg|publisher=Wikimedia Commons|access-date=3 August 2013}} It was originally the site of St John the Baptist Church, the first church built in permanent materials by Anglicans in Christchurch, which was demolished after the 2011 Christchurch earthquake.{{cite web |title=Lost heritage Christchurch City D–H |url= http://www.historic.org.nz/theregister/heritagelost/lostheritagecantyearthquakes/lostheritagecanterburyearthquakeschristchurchd-h.aspx?sc_lang=en |publisher=New Zealand Historic Places Trust |access-date=3 August 2013}} The St John parish gave the land, and in return can use the building and will keep it once a permanent cathedral can be used.

File:Cardboard, wood and glass.jpg

File:Cardboard Cathedral a touch of purple.jpg

Following the earthquakes, Shigeru Ban was invited to Christchurch by Rev. Craig Dixon, the cathedral's marketing and development manager, to discuss a temporary cathedral that could also host concerts and civic events. The concept was developed during that visit.{{cite journal |last=Barrie |first=Andrew |title=Future Proof |journal=KiaOra |date=November 2013 |pages=64–66}} Ban, who is characterised as a "disaster architect", designed the building pro bono,{{cite news |last=Dennis |first=Anthony |title=Budget shortfall for Christchurch's tubular cardboard cathedral |url= http://www.smh.com.au/travel/travel-news/budget-shortfall-for-christchurchs-tubular-cardboard-cathedral-20130208-2e3o5.html |newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald |access-date=30 July 2013 |date=9 February 2013}} in collaboration with Christchurch architecture firm Warren and Mahoney.

Initially it was hoped to have the cathedral open in February 2012 for the first earthquake anniversary.{{cite magazine |last=Newcomb |first=Tim |title=New Zealand Cathedral to Be Rebuilt With Cardboard. Seriously. |url= https://newsfeed.time.com/2011/08/31/new-zealand-cathedral-to-be-rebuilt-with-cardboard-seriously/ |access-date=30 July 2013 |date=31 August 2011 |magazine=Time}} A-frame in style, rising {{convert|24|m}}, it incorporated 86 cardboard tubes of {{convert|500|kg}} each atop {{convert|6|m}} long containers. However, it was not until April 2012 that the site was blessed,{{cite news |title=Site blessed for cardboard cathedral |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6788712/Site-blessed-for-cardboard-cathedral |publisher=Stuff|location=New Zealand |access-date=23 April 2012}} and construction began on 24 July 2012.{{cite news |title=Ground work starts on 'cardboard cathedral' |url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Ground-work-starts-on-cardboard-cathedral/tabid/423/articleID/262442/Default.aspx |access-date=2 August 2013 |newspaper=3 News |date=24 July 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140325130715/http://www.3news.co.nz/Ground-work-starts-on-cardboard-cathedral/tabid/423/articleID/262442/Default.aspx |archive-date=25 March 2014 |url-status=dead }} Once the decision had been made that the building would remain for St John parish, it was constructed as a permanent structure.

At the same time as the site blessing, controversy raged about the Anglican Diocese having applied to Christchurch City Council for an annual maintenance grant of NZ$240,000. Such a maintenance grant had for many years been given for ChristChurch Cathedral, but with the Diocese determined to demolish it there was widespread opposition to an ongoing grant, and city councillors declined the request.{{cite news |last1=King |first1=Caroline |last2=O'Callaghan |first2=Jody |title=Cardboard project frontman loses job |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/christchurch-earthquake-2011/8917943/Cardboard-project-frontman-loses-job |access-date=3 August 2013 |newspaper=The Press |date=15 July 2013 |page=A1}}

The Great Christchurch Building Trust (GCBT), co-chaired by former MPs Jim Anderton and Philip Burdon, took the Anglican Church to the High Court, to determine whether the decision to demolish ChristChurch Cathedral breached an Act of Parliament that protects church buildings, and whether an insurance payout for ChristChurch Cathedral can be used for the transitional cathedral.{{cite news|title=Landmark decision: the public's views|newspaper=The Press|date=27 July 2013|location=Christchurch|page=A4}} In November 2012, the church began fund-raising to pay for the NZ$5 million project following the judge indicating it may not be legal to build a temporary cathedral using the insurance payout,{{cite news |first=Thomas |last=Mead |url=http://www.3news.co.nz/Anglican-Church-starts-fundraiser-for-Christchurch-Cardboard-Cathedral/tabid/423/articleID/278558/Default.aspx |newspaper=3 News |title=Fundraiser started for Cardboard Cathedral |date=29 November 2012 |access-date=27 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140110084947/http://www.3news.co.nz/Anglican-Church-starts-fundraiser-for-Christchurch-Cardboard-Cathedral/tabid/423/articleID/278558/Default.aspx |archive-date=10 January 2014 |url-status=dead }} which the judge confirmed as illegal in April 2013.

Exposed cardboard that had become wet before the building was fully enclosed was removed and replaced. While construction was expected to be completed by Christmas 2012, it was pushed back several times.{{cite news |last=Gates |first=Charlie |title=Rain leaves cathedral tubes soggy |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/8937828/Rain-leaves-cathedral-tubes-soggy |access-date=27 July 2013 |newspaper=The Press |date=19 July 2013 |page=A3}} In February 2013, the NZ$5.3 million budget had increased to NZ$5.9 million because of cost escalations.

Following the numerous delays the church hierarchy became secretive about the opening date and The Press reported on 2 August 2013 that the date was still unknown,{{cite news |last1=Mathewson |first1=Nicole |last2=Stewart |first2=Ashleigh |title=Cardboard cathedral work going down to the wire |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/city-centre/8989545/Hopes-festival-will-open-Cardboard-Cathedral |access-date=2 August 2013 |newspaper=The Press |date=2 August 2013 |page=A3 |location=Christchurch}} only for an opening ceremony to be held later that day for a small number of invited guests. The contractor handed a symbolic key made from cardboard to the bishop.{{cite news |last=Stewart |first=Ashleigh |title=Emotional moment for bishop at handover of new cathedral |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/the-press/news/8996908/Bishop-keyed-up-at-cardboard-cathedral-handover-ceremony |access-date=3 August 2013 |newspaper=The Press |date=3 August 2013 |page=A3 |location=Christchurch}}

The building opened to the public on 6 August 2013 with a dedication service on 15 August.{{Cite web |url=http://www.christchurchnz.com/destinations/christchurch/cardboard-cathedral/ |title=Christchurch's Transitional 'Cardboard' Cathedral | Christchurch & Canterbury Tourism |access-date=16 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130813082643/http://www.christchurchnz.com/destinations/christchurch/cardboard-cathedral |archive-date=13 August 2013 |url-status=dead }} It was the first significant building opened as part of Christchurch's rebuild.

File:Shigeru Ban.jpg, the church's architect]]

The building rises {{convert|21|m}} above the altar. Materials used include {{convert|60|cm|adj=on}}-diameter cardboard tubes, timber and steel.{{cite news |first= Charley |last=Mann |title=Work to start on cardboard cathedral |url= http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6750760/Work-to-start-on-cardboard-cathedral |publisher=Stuff|location=New Zealand |date=16 April 2012 |access-date=20 April 2012}} The roof is of polycarbon,{{cite news|title=Rain no dampener for New Zealand cardboard cathedral by architect Shigeru Ban |url= http://www.artdaily.org/index.asp?int_sec=11&int_new=64060#.Ufcj01OhveI |access-date=30 July 2013 |publisher=artdaily.org |date=29 July 2013}} with eight shipping containers forming the walls. The foundation is concrete slab. The architect wanted the cardboard tubes to be the structural elements, but local manufacturers could not produce tubes thick enough and importing the cardboard was rejected. The 96 tubes, reinforced with laminated wood beams, are "coated with waterproof polyurethane and flame retardants" with two-inch gaps between them so that light can filter inside. Instead of a replacement rose window, the building has triangular pieces of stained glass.{{cite news |last=McGuigan |first=Cathleen |url= http://archrecord.construction.com/news/2013/02/130225-Bans-Cardboard-Cathedral-Rises-in-Christchurch.asp |title=Ban's Cardboard Cathedral Rises in Christchurch |access-date=30 July 2013 |newspaper=Architectural Record |date=25 February 2013}} The building seats around 700 people. It serves as a conference venue as well as a cathedral. It was designed to last 50 years instead of being permanent.{{Cite news |last=Anderson |first=Charles |date=2014-09-17 |title=How temporary 'cardboard cathedral' rose from the ruins to become most recognised building in Christchurch |url=https://www.theguardian.com/cities/2014/sep/17/temporary-cardboard-cathedral-ruins-christchurch-new-zealand-earthquake |access-date=2024-05-31 |work=The Guardian|location=London|issn=0261-3077}}

The Wizard of New Zealand, one of the strongest critics of the Diocese for wanting to demolish ChristChurch Cathedral and who had been a daily speaker in Cathedral Square, called the design "kitsch".

Lonely Planet named Christchurch one of the "top 10 cities to travel to in 2013" in October 2012, and the cathedral was cited as one of the reasons that makes the city an exciting place.{{cite web |last=Atkinson |first=Brett |title=Christchurch revival: why New Zealand's comeback city is a must-see for 2013 |url= http://www.lonelyplanet.com/new-zealand/christchurch-and-canterbury/christchurch/travel-tips-and-articles/77531 |publisher=Lonely Planet |access-date=3 August 2013}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category|Cardboard Cathedral}}

• [http://www.cardboardcathedral.org.nz/ Christchurch Cathedral – Transitional (Cardboard) Cathedral]

{{Anglican Church in Aotearoa, New Zealand and Polynesia|state=collapsed}}

{{Christchurch earthquakes}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:Anglican cathedrals in New Zealand

Category:Churches in Christchurch

Category:Churches completed in 2013

Category:Tourist attractions in Christchurch

Category:2011 Christchurch earthquake

Category:Christchurch Central City

Category:2010s architecture in New Zealand

Category:21st-century Anglican church buildings in New Zealand

Category:Shigeru Ban buildings