(Un)Folding Space

Folding strategies have been explored in architecture as a method to generate complex spatial and structural concepts from simple planar surfaces. The folding mechanism of a rigid material may seem as trivial as folding a sheet of paper. The striking elegance of models folded from paper appear more than just visually interesting. A simple crease along a line or a curve dictates a determined movement for both faces. The basic origami folds include valley and mountain folds, pleats, reverse folds, squash folds, and sinks. The number of basic folds is small, but they can be combined in a variety of ways to make intricate designs.