Origami, derived from the Japanese words „ori“ meaning „folding“ and „kami“ meaning „paper“ (pronounced as „oɾiɡami“ or „oɾiꜜɡami“), is the traditional Japanese art of paper folding. In contemporary contexts, „origami“ commonly encompasses various folding techniques from different cultures. The objective is to transform a flat square sheet of paper into a sculptural form through intricate folding methods, with modern practitioners typically avoiding the use of cuts, glue, or markings on the paper. When cuts are incorporated into designs, practitioners often refer to them as „kirigami.“

Origami transcends its traditional art form and finds applications across diverse fields, varying from medicine and engineering. In medicine, origami-inspired techniques have been used to create intricate models of biological structures, aiding in the visualization of complex anatomical features and facilitating surgical planning. Origami's principles of folding and unfolding have also inspired the development of innovative medical devices, such as stents and drug delivery systems, designed to be compact during insertion and expand to their full functionality within the body. Origami also serves as a source of inspiration for designing structures with remarkable flexibility, adaptability, and space efficiency. Engineers draw from origami's principles to develop deployable structures for space exploration, lightweight structures for aerospace applications, and foldable materials for efficient storage and transportation. Across several different fields, origami's fusion of creativity and precision continues to spark advancements.

Proceeding to hands-on experiments, we have two different approaches to origami: manual folding and guided folding using pre-prepared patterns called tessellations. Initially, I started with the approach of folding and experimented with different weights of paper, varying from 120 gsm to 300 gsm. I was very interested in a pattern called „yoshimura pattern“, which could be achieved with both approaches.

After noticing how the Yoshimura pattern could create a closed space, I thought about using it for shelter design. However, I realized it might be too limiting, so I decided on a more versatile approach—a foldable space. As I experimented with heavier materials and larger scales, folding became increasingly difficult. So, I turned to a laser cutting machine for assistance. This sped up the process, allowing me to explore different patterns alongside the Yoshimura. Ultimately, I settled on the Yoshimura pattern. I then adjusted the number and length of modules to create a more comfortable enclosed space. In the end, I found that using three modules and halving the length of the outer ones worked best.

Further experimentation involved testing different materials for their sturdiness and foldability. While heavier paper gave promising results, I also explored transparent plastic sheets, cutting them with dashes to aid folding. However, since the material was sturdy, it did not stay in its place when folded. To solve this issue, I designed a very basic string system to secure the structure when folded or open, by passing the strings through the critical edges and with end pieces that fastens the system. I first tried it with the existing model, piercing the edges with a soldering pen, to understand how would it work.

After figuring out how the string system would work, I made one last piece with the holes and the pattern is cleaner. I stabilized the structure to a piece of MDF.