The Cardboard Cathedral was designed by the Japanese architect Shigeru Ban and opened in August 2013.

The building is on a section allocated to the Anglican Church in Christchurch's original 1850 survey opposite Latimer Square.

[2] The St John parish gave the land, and in return can use the building and will keep it once a permanent cathedral can be used.

[3] Ban, who is characterised as a "disaster architect", designed the building pro bono,[4] in collaboration with Christchurch architecture firm Warren and Mahoney.

[7] Once the decision had been made that the building would remain for St John parish, it was constructed as a permanent structure.

[3] At the same time as the site blessing, controversy raged about the Anglican Diocese having applied to Christchurch City Council for an annual maintenance grant of NZ$240,000.

[12] The 96 tubes, reinforced with laminated wood beams, are "coated with waterproof polyurethane and flame retardants" with two-inch gaps between them so that light can filter inside.