Origamitecture

Fig: 1 –Origami is an ancient art that still has the scope of exploration 

Art of Origami

Origami continues to be an arena of exploration right from childhood to college (especially for architects). Origami is finding the third dimension with paper, an idea that converts 2D to 3D. This is one of the first ways architecture was portrayed in 3D dimension, adapted into physical models as we know it today. However, despite being old, origami is still a fun way to explore 3D ideas. The structural form of papers allows exploring plate geometry in 3D in affordable ways.

While the gold standard in architecture is moving towards computer-driven tools, a look back to our past is always a great idea to re-anchor our path for delivering a better-built environment to people.

How will you devise an architecture concept with a sheet of paper with minimum cuts and maximum creativity? 

 

Fig: 2 –Creating architectural concepts through origami
Outline 

The task is simple, create a building concept from a limited piece of paper, explain concept floorplans and spaces within them.  The design challenge looks at developing an architectural concept on the given function and synthesizing spaces, plans, concepts within them.
Only digital technologies permitted are clicking pictures using cameras, scanning and printing them (and uploading them on UNI). Take pictures of the paper architecture model based on the design problem, set a scale and draw its views with a sharpie or a marker.

If you are using drawings ensure that they are either, sketched, drafted hand-drawn.

 

Fig: 3 – How could your orgimatecture look like? 
 

Challenge

The design challenge is to build a flea market and exhibition space for the arts and crafts made by local craftsmen in the city of your residence.

The centre would be able to host 100 visitors and space for setting up flea markets. The scale of the competition and the site area is unrestrained.

However, the design shall be made by only two A3 sheets of paper (less the better) and pieces of it with minimal adhesive/cutting. 

Objectives

• Concept: Develop an origami concept with the above-said sheet limit
• Spaces: How well the spaces inside and outside are identified and crafted in sketches, plans, views?
• Innovation: How well do you synthesize the structural qualities of the inherent origami to create static and dynamic spaces?
• Visualization: How well the entire scheme is delivered visually to deliver your ideas clearly.

Site

The site can be in any city of any scale in the world or ideally hypothetical on a plane ground. The scale of the origami piece can be conceived based on the number of visitors and it will be driven by participants' justification to how well they execute these ideas.