New Zealand Building $4.1M Cathedral ... From Cardboard

Will be 82-feet high and seat 700
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Apr 16, 2012 10:42 AM CDT
New Zealand Building $4.1M Cathedral ... From Cardboard
This undated artist rendering provided by Anglican diocese of Christchurch shows a proposed cardboard church.   ((AP Photo/Anglican diocese of Christchurch) EDITORIAL USE ONLY)

A cathedral made from cardboard. The idea may sound flimsy, but in the earthquake-devastated city of Christchurch, Anglican leaders believe it will deliver both a temporary solution and a statement about the city's recovery. Albeit a pricey one: The plans call for an 82-foot high cathedral constructed with 104 tubes of cardboard ... at a cost of up to $4.1 million. The structure, set to seat 700, will be a temporary replacement for the iconic stone ChristChurch Cathedral and will be used for 10 years while a permanent replacement is designed and built.

Construction will hopefully begin within about six weeks and be completed by the end of the year. The plan is to use traditional materials like concrete, steel, and wood to provide structural support, and the structure will be weatherproof and fire-resistant. Up to two dozen shipping containers inside will provide space for offices, a kitchen, and storage, and the roof will be made of an opaque polycarbonate material. (More New Zealand stories.)

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