Thing

Unit origami is a fun and creative pursuit. Oftentimes, units can be assembled in different ways. So you can create a different object based on how many units you have and how you assemble them. Consider the object below.


What is it exactly? I'm not sure. But it certainly is something.


This figure is made up of 24 identical units. Each unit was formed from one 3"x6" blue rectangle and one 3"x6" gold rectangle, folded together. The units were then assembled into the final form. It took me something like 3 hours and 45 minutes to create the rectangles (by ripping squares in half) and fold and assemble the units. I found this to be startlingly relaxing.

The pattern for the units may be found in Floral Origami Globes by Tomoko Fusè ("Alternate Fixes / Type II"... what does that mean?). I adapted the assembly instructions from a different part of the same book ("24-unit structure").

The secret of the small dish

So what exactly is this "secret" we made reference to last week? Look and see, gentle viewer, and all will be revealed...


Here we see the "small dish" from last week, as well as a mirror-image version. (Why a mirror-image version? That's part of the secret, folks.)


Here we see the same two dishes, each with three "flaps" extended. The flaps are normally inserted into the base of the bowl as part of the locking mechanism. However, they can be extended...


...and combined! We are now privy to the secret: the small dish can be combined with it's mirror-image counterpart to create this geometric figure, known as a regular icosahedron. (A regular icosahedron is a solid figure that consists of 20 identical triangles. Geeks like me will also recognize it as a d20.) Such shapes have been studied by mathematicians for thousands of years, and are favorite subjects for unit origami designers.

The icosahedron was constructed from 12 sheets of 5-7/8" square origami paper and stands roughly 5" tall. It was designed by Tomoko Fuse; a folding pattern for it may be found in her book Unit Origami. (Just like last week, huh?)

Silver and gold cube

This is the silver and gold cube (aka the "Burl Ives cube") which currently resides at my friend Kate's house. This lovely modular design consists of 12 identical units fitted together into a cube and takes advantage of the dual-sidedness of origami paper, incorporating the reverse side into the pattern.

My first attempt at this design was affectionately called the "skunk box"; it was black with white stripes. Alas, it did not survive moving day, perishing along with some of my other, fragile, possessions.

The silver and gold box is notable because I did not use two-sided silver-and-gold foil paper. (I now own such paper, but that is beside the point.) I was pretty set on the color scheme, so I actually made 12 separate units consisting of 1 sheet of gold foil placed atop 1 sheet of silver foil very carefully folded together as if it was one piece. (A saner person would have glued the sheets together.) So this piece is ultimately constructed of a hefty 24 sheets of paper.

This cube was designed by Lewis Simon. A folding sequence for it may be found in Practical Origami by Rick Beech.

Hot and cool cubes

The hot and cool cubes were fun models to make. When I make a box, I usually pick out the colors I want to use first and then decide on the design. With other types of unit origami, however, I generally choose my design first and then decide on the colors. In this case, I decided I wanted to make two interlocking cubes and then decided to do them in hot and warm colors. It was an easy decision. I like using the six primary and secondary colors all together (as seen in earlier posts), and the three-dimensional symmetry of the cube model lends itself well to using three colors apiece. I think the decision to divide the colors into hot and cold (instead of some other, arbitrary divisions) was an unconscious desire to maximize contrast between the two cubes.

The units (and interlocking cubes themselves) were designed by Tomoko Fuse. Folding patterns for them may be found in her excellent book Unit Origami.