Origamic Architecture
Origamic architecture (OA) and pop-up cards are a type of kirigami. When compared to paper snowflakes, these paper art forms are like the “extreme sports” of kirigami.
Kirigami Cut-Outs
Most people will remember kirigami as the paper snowflakes made by school-aged children. However, you can cut paper to form masks, animal silhouettes, logos, and coat-of-arms. If you have the patience and tools, the possibilities are endless. [Photo by Marivi]
Origamic Architecture and Pop-Up Cards
OA was developed by Masahiro Chatani
Most origamic architecture designs are viewed when the paper is open half way (90° angle). This type of OA requires cutting and folding. An example of this would be a pop-up card. You can also design models which are viewed when the paper is opened completely (180° angle). This requires cutting, folding and gluing. This is seen in some pop-up books. Less common are the designs which are viewed when the paper is opened 360°.
[Photo by Jagoda]
Other Paper Arts
There are many artists who create dazzling designs by cutting paper. These can be flat cut-outs, pop-ups, or 3 dimensionals (as in globes and spheres). [Photo by T & C Taviori].
Check out this lampshade made by Peter Ayres. It was made by cutting one piece of paper in a repeating pattern. [Photo by P Ayres].
As one might expect, artists who can do one form of paper cutting can usually do the other forms. It is just a matter of preference as to what they choose to create. Indeed, one can argue that there is no difference between origamic architecture, pop-ups and other paper-cuts.
Easy Pop-Up Projects
There are a few easy pop-up projects that children can make. You will need scissors; a sheet of white paper; and a colored sheet for backing. We recommend that an adult help with the projects. The projects themselves are easy but the problem lies in the topology. The conversion of a flat piece of paper into one with dimensionality can be challenging for some children: in other words “how do you get this thing to pop up?!”
Tools for Making OA
True, hard core origamic architecture takes a lot of patience and skill. It’s really not for children. For those who wish to enter the world of OA, there are some essential tools. Please note: children should not be allowed to use an X-acto knife. These knives are very sharp and can do much harm even to adults. [Photo by T & C Taviori]
- pencil, eraser, removable tape
- an X-acto (craft) knife (see X-acto knives
here)
- a metal ruler or a ruler with a metal edge (see metal rulers
- a self-healing mat (see self healing mats
- paper or cardstock (see card stock
- a creasing tool like a folding bone (read about folding bone here or purchase bone folder
- The above equipment is not necessary if you have access to a laser cutter
here)
How to Make 90° Origamic Architecture Card
First you need to get a pattern or a design. You can get a pattern from a book, from the internet, or design one yourself. This web site provides mini lessons on how to start designing your own OA patterns.
- learn to design easy OA here
- patterns from an Origamic Architecture book
- patterns from the internet
- Evermon and O-Deer from evermore.com
- Coat of Arms tutorials from Marivi’s Heraldry
- buildings in Asian & Europe, holiday patterns from Willem’s Origamic Architecture.
- More free patterns from origami-art.us
- Transfer the design onto your paper or cardstock. If it is from the internet, you can print it out. If it is in a book, you can hand copy (or photocopy) it to your card stock.
- Tape the card stock onto the self-healing mat.
- Use a ruler and an X-acto knife to carefully cut the paper on the lines indicated.
- Remove the paper from the mat. Examine the instructions carefully. Use your creasing tool to fold the paper in regions designated as mountain or valley folds.
- Slowly close the paper or cardstock making sure that the folds are in the proper orientation. When you open the card again, the design will pop out.
- If you used a pencil to transfer the pattern, erase the pencil marks from your cardstock. Some people photocopy or draw the pattern on a separate thin sheet of paper and layer this ontop of the cardstock. When you cut, cut through both layers. When done, discard the top sheet with the pattern.
- Glue this paper onto another sheet as a backing (optional).
Great Galleries
These web sites have beautiful OA and paper artwork.
