... is not really made entirely of cardboard. The materials used include cardboard tubes, timber, steel, and some stained glass. The roof is of polycarbon, the walls are made from eight shipping containers, and the foundation is concrete slab.
The cathedral was designed by Shigeru Ban, a Japanese architect known for his innovative work with paper, particularly using recycled cardboard tubes to house disaster victims quickly and efficiently. Ban wanted the cardboard tubes to be the structural elements, but local manufacturers couldn't produce tubes thick enough and it was not practical to import the cardboard. The 96 tubes that were eventually used are each 24 inches in diameter. They are reinforced with laminated wood beams and coated with waterproof polyurethane and flame retardants, with two-inch gaps between them so that light can filter inside.
The building serves as a conference venue as well as a cathedral.
© Haydn Thompson 2017