Researchers at MIT’s Center for Bits and Atoms in the United States, with colleagues from the universities of Bologna, Innsbruck and Tokyo, have developed an origami-inspired construction method that produces lightweight, load-bearing structures at architectural scale. The study appeared in the International Journal of Solids and Structures.
Each module is folded from a flat sheet, for example CNC-milled aluminium, and pairs two tripod-shaped units based on patterns created by Ron Resch in the 1960s. The result is a rigid block that connects to others with hand tools such as screwdrivers, without large-scale welding.
Simulations indicate structures about 3.5 times stiffer than other origami-based techniques, using roughly two-thirds of the material. An aluminium sculpture about 7 metres long, called Lexicon, hangs in the Boston Public Library and was assembled in a few days by a team with no construction experience.
The authors point to uses such as emergency shelters or aerospace parts. The next steps are to test larger architectural structures, explore more complex geometries and create an easy-to-use design interface.
