( CNN ) -- Fourteen months to the day after an earthquake devastated Christchurch 's 19th century cathedral , work is starting on a new center of worship reflecting the spirit of 21st century design . The `` cardboard '' cathedral designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban is a temporary structure which will accommodate 700 worshipers while a new permanent cathedral is built . `` The Transitional Cathedral is a symbol of hope for the future of this city as well as being sustainable and affordable , '' Richard Gray from the Transitional Cathedral Group said in a statement . The A-framed structure , which uses cardboard tubes along with timber , steel and a concrete base , is also the most stable shape for buildings in earthquake zones , according to Ban . Designed by English architect George Gilbert Scott , Christchurch Cathedral was badly damaged in the earthquake which struck the city on New Zealand 's south island on February 22 2011 claiming 185 lives . The initial 6.3-maginitude shock toppled its spire with aftershocks in the following months causing further destruction , including the west wall and its ornate rose window . In March this year , Bishop Victoria Matthews announced the cathedral would be demolished because of the `` staggering '' costs of repair estimated to be up to NZ $ 100 million ( $ 82 million ) . The new building will go up on the site of St John 's Latimer Square , another church nearby which also collapsed in the earthquake . 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 . The cathedral is the largest emergency structure he has designed and will cost around NZ $ 5 million ( $ 4 million ) to complete . `` It 's a symbol of life . New life in Christ for Christians , and it 's right beside a place of death , and life is stronger than death , '' Bishops Matthews told TVNZ . The building will also be used for concerts , exhibitions , civic and community events according to the Christchurch Cathedral web site and is expected to be completed by the end of 2012 .
A `` cardboard cathedral '' has been given the go-ahead for construction in Christchurch , Christchurch . The temporary A-framed structure will be finished by March . The old Japanese cathedral was badly damaged by the 2011 earthquake which struck the city . Bishop of TVNZ , Shigeru Ban 's announced in March that the cathedral would be condemned .