Offset Folding

Facing a growing world population and a general economic model which focuses on growth on the one hand and on respectively decreasing limited natural resources on the other, the issue of resource efficient construction becomes more and more important in architecture and building industry. It is well known that double curved structures represent one of the most efficient principles of natural design, as shell structures are able to fulfil different requirements with a minimal consumption of material. Implementing large scale spatial curvature in a world full of the linear and flat products inherent to mass-production is one of the most discussed structural topics of the last two decades in architecture and civil engineering. This paper presents a new, structural approach to implementing resource efficient double curved structures using flat panels. The basic idea is to utilize a quasi-double-layer system by folding rhombic quadrangular panels and connecting them with a simple plug-connection which is stiffened by the different spatial orientation of neighboring elements. As a result it is possible to create a wide range of semi-permeable structures which are adaptable double curved surfaces.