Cubic Hinge

An Undoable Piece of Paper

2017 | CAAI School of Architecture
Event Formation Studio
Tutor: Farshad Mehdizadeh
Design Team: Houman Riazi | MohammadReza Taghipour

2017 | CAAI School of Architecture
Even Formation Studio
Tutor: Farshad Mehdizadeh
Design Team: Houman Riazi | MohammadReza Taghipour

A paper rocket clearly exemplifies the Undoable feature since the behavior of a simple paper is changed into a flying object by applying certain geometric folds. In fact, here, Apart from the joyful function of paper rocket as a toy, there is a multiple connection between technique, material and geometry as vertexes of Structure Triangle. In other words, folding, as a technique, dictates a specific geometry to the surface of paper and provides an aerodynamic feature for the paper to move through three-dimensional space.

Because of the characteristic of the side the mosque needs to be put inside the old warehouse of the existing train station. Accordingly, the mosque can be seen as an object, put it better, as a machine (mosque), inside another machine (Stazione Centrale).

A paper rocket clearly exemplifies the Undoable feature since the behavior of a simple paper is changed into a flying object by applying certain geometric folds. In fact, here, Apart from the joyful function of paper rocket as a toy, there is a multiple connection between technique, material and geometry as vertexes of Structure Triangle. In other words, folding, as a technique, dictates a specific geometry to surface of the paper and provides an aerodynamic feature for paper to move through three-dimensional space.

Based on the undoable feature and by considering some parameters—such as fixed dimensions (A4) and keeping the surface without any cutout—as limits for increasing the control on design procedure, structure of paper was examined, and its behavioral changes were observed. Accordingly, a range of possibilities was found which led the project to define different scales of cells and study the options for its growth as a gene.

Accordingly, a cubic cell was chosen for its potential in extension from six sides as a perfect joint.

▲ Drag and Move The Cursor for 3D-Rotation

▲ Joining Potential of the Cell

▲ Cubic Prototype No.1

▲ Cubic Prototype No.2

▲ Cubic Prototype No.3

▲ Cubic Prototype No.4

Combination of eight cubes provided the first medium-cell in which the folding feature of the hinges were examined through real-size modelmaking.

Derived from this first study, a simplified hinge was found as the gene of the project; a micro-cell for the systematic extension of the same form. Following the same logic, two medium-cell produced as possible alternatives of forming the final mega-cell.