Temporary paper church in New Zealand by Shigeru Ban

Japanese architect Shigeru Ban has extensive experience in the realization of temporary structures in disaster-stricken areas: chapels in Japan, schools in Rwanda, residential buildings in Turkey, and emergency shelters in Haiti. He has now introduced a project for a temporary church in the largest city of the South Island in New Zealand. Christchurch was severely damaged by an earthquake this February, which also caused part of the cathedral, an indelible symbol of the city, to collapse.
Ban's project "Cardboard Cathedral", with its footprint and height, pays homage to the destroyed building. The A-shaped cross-section evokes the façade of the former church. Old shipping containers will serve as the foundation for the church, triangular frames will be made from paper tubes, and the total costs should not exceed a quarter of a million dollars (the architect is working without expecting a fee). Local materials will be used for the construction. The temporary church, which will provide space for up to 700 worshippers, will also host concerts and social events. The grand opening is scheduled for February 22, 2012 - a year after one of the most devastating earthquakes in the country's history.