Shigeru Ban’s Temporary Cardboard Cathedral Breaks Ground in New Zealand

<a href="http://www.shigerubanarchitects.com/" target="_blank">Shigeru Ban</a>’s <a href="http://inhabitat.com/shigeru-bans-christchurch-cardboard-cathedral-gets-the-green-light-for-construction/" target="_blank">Cardboard Cathedral</a> recently broke ground in Christchurch, New Zealand! The lightweight cathedral will act as a <a href="http://inhabitat.com/kengo-kumas-transparent-temporary-shelter-pays-homage-to-classic-japanese-literature/" target="_blank">temporary</a> replacement for a 19th century church that was severely damaged in a 6.3 magnitude earthquake in February 2011. Like Ban’s other buildings, the 25-meter-tall structure will be secure, waterproof and fire resistant.

The structure - known as the Transitional Cathedral - will be the largest temporary building to date designed by <a href="http://www.shigerubanarchitects.com/" target="_blank">Shigeru Ban</a>.

The Japanese architect is famous for his innovative use of <a href="http://inhabitat.com/shigeru-bans-cardboard-bridge/">cardboard as a building material</a> and his improvised structures built in crisis situations such as natural disasters.

The church will have an A-frame construction, which is said to be the most stable shape for building in areas with high seismic activity.

The <a href="http://inhabitat.com/new-tank-shaped-triwa-pop-up-store-in-poland-is-made-from-900-cardboard-tubes/" target="_blank">cardboard tubes</a> will be stuffed with insulation and stabilized by 20-foot shipping containers and timber beams.

The 700-capacity temporary structure is being built on Latimer Square, close to the city’s ruined cathedral.

Once the permanent cathedral is built, the cardboard structure will serve as a parish <a href="http://inhabitat.com/converted-church-turned-artist-loft-looks-for-new-owner/" target="_blank">church</a> for the city’s St John’s diocese.