Shigeru Ban 's cardboard creation builds on previous work using the material , including paper log houses which provided emergency shelter following the 1995 Kobe earthquake in Japan and a `` paper bridge '' which was erected on a site near the Pont du Gard in southern France . A ` ` cardboard cathedral '' has been given the go - ahead for construction in Christchurch , New Zealand . The temporary steel - framed structure will be completed by the end of 2012 . The old Anglican cathedral was badly damaged by the 2011 earthquake which devastated the city . Bishop of Christchurch , Victoria Mathews announced in March that the cathedral would be rebuilt .
A ` ` cardboard cathedral '' has been given the go - ahead for construction in Christchurch , New Zealand . The temporary steel - framed structure will be completed by the end of 2012 . The old Anglican cathedral was badly damaged by the 2011 earthquake which devastated the city . Bishop of Christchurch , Victoria Mathews announced in March that the cathedral would be rebuilt .