Origami inspired Architecture and Interior Design

Origami is the traditional Japanese Art of paper folding. The Japanese word “origami” is a compound of two smaller Japanese words折り紙“ori” meaning to fold and "kami" meaning paper. One of the most famous origami designs is the Japanese crane that represents an auspicious symbol in Japanese culture. An ancient Japanese legend promises that anyone who folds a thousand origami cranes will be granted a wish by a crane, such as long life or recovery from illness or injury. Two years ago I had the pleasure to visit Japan, in my honeymoon, and in our trip to Hiroshima, we visited the Sadako Sasaki memorial whose touching history I invite you to read here. The Sadako Sasaki memorial is an important symbol in the Nippon culture. Con il termine origàmi s’intende l'arte di piegare la carta, termine derivato dal giapponese 折り紙, “ori” piegare e “kami” carta. Uno dei più famosi disegni origami è la gru che rappresenta un simbolo di buon auspicio nella cultura giapponese. Un’antica leggenda giapponese promette che chiunque faccia mille gru di carta otterrà che si realizzi un desiderio, come ad esempio una vita lunga o la guarigione da un’infermità. Due anni fa, ho avuto il piacere di visitare il Giappone in occasione del mio viaggio di nozze e nella nostra tappa a Hiroshima abbiamo scoperto la storia toccante di Sadako Sasaki che v’invito ad andare a leggere qui. Il monumento dedicato a Sadako Sasaki è un simbolo importante nella cultura nipponica.
Obviously, Origami is not only this, but much more… and nowadays is not only Japan and Japanese art. Such an elegant and distinguished Art has become an important source of inspiration for Architects and Interior designers. A brief look at the following amazing and astonishing creations helps to understand what I mean… Ovviamente origami non è solo questo ma molto, molto di più…e oggigiorno non va più a rappresentare solo il Giappone e l’arte giapponese. Un’arte così raffinata ed elegante non poteva non diventare fonte d’ispirazione per il mondo dell’architettura e dell’Interior design. Una carrellata di creazioni meravigliose e sorprendenti a seguire, vi farà capire cosa intendo…
Klein Bottle House is an inspirational architecture designed by McBride Charles Ryan, situated on the Mornington Peninsula near Melbourne, Australia.
With the opportunity to be folding and unfolding like origami, the Bengt Sjostrom Starlight Theater in Rockford (USA) brings flexible opportunities to its audiences…. leaving them to enjoy starlight when possible.

Origami Modern Sofa is a leather sofa design by Andrea Lucatello for Cattelan Italia. The cool thing of this sofa is that when needed, can be convert into a bed with a simple maneuver of the frame, giving to an overnight guest all the comfort and pleasure of a bed.

Stealth pendant light, designed by Antonio Arevalo. Composed from a single plane of smooth Perspex, and folded into an origami like pyramid, light bursts out of this striking lamp.
This origami chair called “Cardine” came from the imaginative mind of the Korean designer Sooin Kim. It is formed with only one sheet of plastic and two pieces of Velcro and it is also easy to fold whenever and wherever you want!
“Tangram” designed by Daniele Lago, is a particular and versatile bookcase inspired to an ancient Chinese game. It is compound by 7 different geometric pieces that can be assembled in many different ways sometimes taking a curious and funny bookcase shape.
The table “4foldlow” designed by the English designer George Rise for Formtank. It is made by cutting a standard sheet of steel and then folding it by hand, giving to the table an origami shape.
Images Source: www.arthitectural.com; www.archdaily.com; www.tucasainteriors.com; www.freshome.com; www.yankodesign.com; www.lago.it; www.dezeen.com