The Cardboard Cathedral is open

Christchurch's transitional cathedral was open to the public for the first time today, though plenty of workmen and machines were still working hard putting on the finishing touches.

The brain child of Japanese "emergency architect" Shigeru Ban, the cathedral was constructed with 96 locally-made cardboard tubes, using shipping containers as foundations. The building’s entire outer skin is translucent polycarbonate. It can accommodate 700 people.

It has been built several blocks from the city's original Anglican cathedral, whose fate is still unclear after earthquake damage. However triangular glass panels at one end of the new cathedral feature images from the Rose Window in the original cathedral.

There is an opening festival for the next week, including an organ concert on the new Rodgers Infinity organ, Sweet Adelines, poetry and readings, a violin recital, jazz, Kapa Haka (Maori culture group) and choirs.

The couple in the aisle was reminiscing about being married in the original cathedral many years ago.